Upgrading School Tech

Connected learning can refer to being able to bring more resources into the classroom but it is also defined as using technology to "fuse young people's interests, friendships and academic achievements through hands-on production, shared purpose and open networks." These connections might enable students to help each other and further their education. This is kind of the same model that is used in scientific settings such as labs. The movement seems to be catching on because there are a lot of mobile applications that are being developed to facilitate the learning and collaborating. The way that students learn needs to reflect how the real world works. This means that it is not able getting the best grade but being able to leverage knowledge. What do you think of the overhaul that is on the cusp of the educational system?

Working From Home

Working from home is not easy. Agreed, there are plenty of software that is supposed to help with it such as internet phone services for video conferencing and other communication services. None of it matters though if you are not disciplined, motivated, and more importantly a self-starter. One of the best things you can do to get the day going is to start the day like you are going to work and doing things like taking a shower and actually getting dressed. You should also set up your office and have a dedicated space to working. Even though you are working from home, you should still stay connected with your employees using tool such as Skype. Lastly, it is very important that you are able to close the door at the end of the day, so to speak. Your business will suffer, actually, if all you do is focus obsessively on it.

Towards That Beautiful Middle Ground

It is a tough market out there, I get it. We do things to make ends meet and sometimes it comes at the cost of our free time or family time which can induce loads of stress. One of the best tips is to set daily goals before going to work the next day. This way, you can be more focused and knowing exactly what you have to do will ensure that you procrastinate less and be more productive. It is lower stress and make you feel a bit happier going home. Another great tip is to delegate. This will let you get more done when you don't try doing everything yourself. Also, prioritize what you need to get done. That way, you won't be constantly worrying about completing these vital software development projects and can relax (a little bit) after they are complete. Lastly, the most important thing to remember is to never procrastinate. It will enable you to be more flexible when life decides to throw you a curve ball. Good luck finding your happy middle ground.

Smart Shoes

An Indian company called Ducere Technologies has created sneakers and insoles called Lechal that pair with an app and Google Maps to help you get from place to place. The shoe and insole are both connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. You input a destination on the app and then as you walk around, your left or right shoe vibrates to show you which way to turn. And you thought that all that mobile application development for footwear was for naught. Shoes are pretty great things to begin with, they keep you from stepping on very uncomfortable things and keep your feet looking great. It could be used for amazing purposes such as helping blind people navigate but on the flipside, if your shoes are connected to bluetooth with a geolocation, there is always the possibility of someone tracking someone else.

The Creative Wall

When we are writing an article, photoshopping that photo, or write the perfect mobile application or business application, we have all be confronted by creative blocks and just hit a wall sometimes. So how do you keep those juices flowing? One of the best things that you can do is just stop what you are doing and get out of the building. Chances are that you are sitting at a desk staring at a computer for far too long. Getting out of there and changing environments is a great stimulant. Now that you have left the building, you might want to get some exercise. Exercise allows your conscious mind to access fresh ideas that are buried in the subconscious. Go for a walk, run, or even try some yoga poses, as long as it’s keeping your mind off of the task at hand. Lastly, it might be a good idea to get enough sleep and rest. Your mind needs to be fully functional for those creative juices to start flowing and to get somewhere in your work.

The Broken Internet

Recently, the FCC passed laws that are supposedly protecting the open internet. Well here is the rundown of what really happened and how it could affect web development. The truth is there are only so many lanes of highway (without laying new highway) and everything travels at the same speed (the speed of light). The FCC rules just passed allow cable companies to reserve lanes on the highway for billionaires, forcing the rest of us to use the remaining lanes. Now, your highway goes from a 12-lane superhighway to six-lane highway. During rush hour you will be stuck barely moving while wealthy people will be humming along at 70mph to their destination. This means that services like Netflix will increase their prices. The FCC is asking for public input on how they should change the rules.

Ways Smartphones are Making Us Dumber

Most people have a smartphone or at the very least access to technology and the internet. With the vast amount of information that people have at their fingertips, it has only marginally advanced humans. Here are a couple examples. You are able to stay in contact with anyone around the world through the use of internet phone services and other mobile application but too many people are using it for keep tabs of exes or family members. Even better, you can use it to text the person right next to you. Books, newspapers, magazines — your smartphone has almost anything you'd ever want to read. But there's also Candy Crush. When are they turning that into a novel? On the other hand though, the internet and technology has opened so many more doors for us in terms of databases. We are now more free to analyze and think critically than before. What are your thoughts about these smartphones? Would you ever go back to regular phone?