Protect Yourself

Software for inputting millions of username and passwords combos make cracking effortless for a good hacker and the right target, for instance. Hackers don’t even always have to break your security measures — using “social engineering,” web-raiders can use Facebook, Twitter, many different mobile applications and even the phone book to find all the information they need to score your password. It is important to be creative with passwords and not be such predictable and lazy humans that we try not to be but often fail and fall back on the one password that we use for 10 plus sites. If you are going to get hacked, this is the way that it is going to happen, I guarantee it. There are many different password programs that help with creating and remembering passwords. Think about it now, not when your account gets opened and exploited, especially when money is involved.

Better Conversations

We all want to be better communicators in life and at work, there is no doubt about it and there are some things that a communication service cannot do for us. One of the first things you should do when talking with someone is to show a real interest and give them your full attention. This means that you should probably not be pulling out your phone all the time. Also ask questions so that they elaborate. There are two words that are like magic when it comes to conversations, "tell me". It is important to avoid asking simple yes or no questions. You can even ask what the other person thinks after you have explained a point. When someone speaks to you, listen with your whole body. Nod, make eye contact, and be fully engaged in what they have to say. Always permit the other person enough time to finish their thought before you respond. Your patience and thoughtfulness will be appreciated.

Work Life Balance

It seems like it would be an unachievable feat. Utterly out of our reach. If we are of that mindset than we already made a mountain out of a hill and made the climb that much harder. We need to have that balance to be able to succeed in work and life, and be productive and efficient no matter how many mobile applications you use. There are several tricks and tips to consider when it comes to finding that beautiful middle. Employees need to have an open dialogue with their managers and managers need to understand what works and what is possible. Different jobs require different approaches, but everyone can benefit from having an open and honest conversation about what balance means. There is always another email to reply to or a problem to work, but you need to personally respect your own boundaries. If you don’t then you can't expect others to respect them. Lastly, embrace the off button. Don’t bring your cellphone to the dinner table. When you are on vacation, be on vacation. Don’t bring your tablet to the beach.

The Techy Grim Reaper

You are one day going to die. This should not come as a shock...unless you are a vampire. In that case, why would vampires concern themselves with such tiny blogs as this? Possible entertainment? Anywho, there are a lot of mobile applications and website applications that can give us reminders that we are mortal. Some of us need it more than others. A Chrome extension called Mori gives you a graphic representation of the weeks you have left, if you live to be 80 years. At Deathtimer.com, for instance, you can enter some basic personal data and receive the site’s prediction of the day you’ll die (based on life expectancy stats). What’s driving all this morbid innovation? In part, it’s merely the latest extension of a long-standing human fascination with mortality. But adding a veneer of data-driven precision to the familiar “make the most of the time you have” message indirectly links these tools to the more optimistic world of body-monitoring fitness trackers and life-quantifying productivity software.

Internet Connection

When the internet just came onto the scene, the majority of the traffic came from laptops and desktops. It is estimated that by 2018, only about half of the traffic is going to come from laptops and desktops while the other half is from smartphones, tablets, and other connected things. Part of that is due to the rise of the mobile revolution and usage of mobile applications as well as internet phones. The number of smartphones that are shipped and owned by people have already surpassed the number of simple cell phones. With the increase in the number of devices with more computing power and features we see that there is a real momentum towards increased use of internet time on portable and other non-PC devices in general, away from PCs. Not to mention that there are more things online that you would not expect such as appliances and cars. As for me, the laptop is not going anymore because nothing compares to be able to type on a regular keyboard. Even the hybrids between laptops and tablets are not really cutting it.

Internet Pitfalls

A long time ago, chat programs did not have this little signal: Back then, after you were done typing, you'd just have to stare at the screen and wait, with no clue whether your partner was typing a reply, off drinking coffee, or browsing through lolcats. People eventually got tired of this, and nowadays the majority of chat and instant-messaging mobile applications feature an ellipsis, a moving pencil, or some other sign telling you that the person you're talking to is about to complete a thought. Things get a bit awkward on both ends because of that pause. Another thing that the internet makes out of people is some serious personality changes. We are talking about people who are perfectly articulate in real life but, when online, turn into 13-year-olds who have overdosed on cough syrup. It is amazing how we can switch personalities like that and even more interesting is the reason behind it. I am guessing there is none...?

Who are you?

There are plenty of stories, books, article, you name it out there about finding out who you are and your true identity. But the thing that a lot of people fail to mention is that you do not have to do it alone. What if the person you are with brings out the person that you really are? Kind of like making your beautiful colors stand out brighter and bringing out the best of you. I have heard it said that being away from someone can help you keep your identity. Doesn't that argument seem a bit flawed? We spend our life figuring things out and there are those lucky few people that get to do it with someone that fully completes them lets them be part of something bigger. It is not something that can be kept up through internet phones or anything like that. You have to actually be able to see the person and be with them. When I look at my other half, I am still in awe that I got to be one of those lucky ones.