Moms and dads, it’s time to tune in, turn on and plug in. Find new ways to save time and money and get more out of your digital lifestyle with my tips to make your family-life easier and richer through modern technology, such as the Internet, wireless devices and digital television.
Black Friday ads leaking out
The much-hyped “biggest shopping day” of the year is just around the corner. I’m not usually a go-out-at-midnight shopper, but I might find something to tempt me this year.
The ads for big retailers are starting to leak out and tech deals are at the top of the list. If you are shopping for some new gear this year (like HDTVs, cameras, netbooks, computers, and more) check out these deals and plot your plan of attack.
And of course, don’t forget Cyber Monday.
in which your medicine texts you a reminder
This just about blew my mind. In an interesting Newsweek article by Daniel Gross, he discusses how most text messages from companies are ignored and ineffective, but those that correspond with a receivers wishes (like wanting to save money) can be useful.
In the article he mentions a test underway by pharmaceutical company Novartis. In the study, patients are implanted with a receiver in their shoulder and then they take pills for their medical condition that are embedded with tiny chips. When the patient takes the pill it sends out a signal that texts the patient to remind him or her to take the next one.In the small study, it has boosted compliance from 30% to 80%.
Other companies such as MedPrompt and iReminder have reminder systems using phone, text or email.
As someone who is supposed to take medication daily for a chronic condition, I think this could be helpful for me. Unfortunately with time I would probably just ignore them. What do you think?
CPR–there’s an app for that
There is a new PocketCPR for iPhone app from ZOLL Medical Corporation that can help prepare you to perform CPR. Using Real CPR Help, a technology used in ZOLL’s debrillators and AEDs, the app coaches you through realtime feedback on the rate and depth of compressions. The app provides clear visual and audio step-by-step instructions and feedback.
With practice on a manikin or resilient foam cushion, the iPhone internal accelerometer measures the movement of your hands as you simulate compressions, giving feedback to guide the usuer to the recommneded rate of 100 compressions per minute and depth of 1 1/2 to 2 inches.
Note: the training app is not cleared by the FDA for rescue use, but the company hopes that in the future a similar application can be.
Over 325,000 Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest, and it is believed that over 70 percent of the time the arrest occurs in the presence of a family member or acquaintence. High quality chest compression can mean the difference between life and death.
iPhone App $5.99
Pinx! to track prices for online gifts
Christmas is coming, and I have started my kids’ wish lists over at Kaboodle.
This year I am taking it one step further with registering the prices for items I want with PricePinx!, an online price-watching service.
It’s free, and they do all the time-consuming work. No need to keep checking multiple web sites daily to see if prices have dropped. Just Pinx! them and then you get an email when the price drops or when it reaches a pre-determined price.
You just have to sign-up for a free account and then add the Pinx! tool to your bookmarks. When you find an item you want to watch, simply highlight the item’s price from the product description page and then click the Pinx bookmark. The site will track your item and send you email updates with price notifications.
A penny saved is a penny earned. Let PricePinx! help you save them!
Bottle Cap Tripod
Carrying around a camera tripod isn’t always convenient, but this bottle cap tripod is good to go.
Made with a flexible rubber socket that slips over the top of most bottles and a standard tripod screw, the ingenious design turns your water bottle into the extra set of hands you need to take awesome pics.
The device works best with point and shoot cameras and bottles that are at least half full for obvious weight reasons.
It can also pivot about 15 degrees for extra flexibility. Cost about $10.
Cool.
Found via Rachel Ray magazine
HealthSync helps you keep track of your medical records
HealthSync, a new iPhone app, helps you keep track of your health records and those of your family.
Especially if you have a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease or allergies, the application helps users keep track of frequent tests and monitoring. The information is input by the user and stored locally on the device. Future version will support data sharing to enable users to manage data via Google Health’s web-based interface.
The app is $2.99 via the iTune App Store.
Office Live–Microsoft’s answer to Google Docs
If you have used Google docs you know the convenience of having your docs available wherever you have internet access and shareable with whoever you want. Now Microsoft has joined the cloud computing world with Office Live. People will enjoy its seemless interface with your existing Microsoft products. You can view the doc online or click “edit” to have it open in your computer’s Microsoft programs.
Office Live also boosts working with a team b/c it tracks comments and actions allowing multiple people to work on the same document–no more searching for the latest version.
I’ve already found it useful b/c I work back and forth b/w two computers. Rather than emailing myself stories or information, I can now just put it “in the cloud” so I can access it wherever I happen to be.
Best part–it’s free!
Found via Hands on Small Business conference ( a free small business technology workshop coming to cities across America )
And a child shall lead them
There is a disturbance in the Facebook force. An uproar over the redesigned Live Feed/News Feed pages on its uber-popular website.
Of course, like anything on Facebook, when people get upset about something they start a group. In this case, it’s the “CHANGE FACEBOOK BACK TO NORMAL” group and it boasts more than 1,500,000 members.
Who’s in charge of the group? A 14-year-old from Apex, NC near Raleigh named Jonathan Woodlief. His parents had no idea until reporters started calling the home to talk with the boy.
He actually didn’t start the group, but noticed it didn’t have an administrator so he “clicked a button” to make himself the admin.
It’s just another in a line of controversial choices by the powers-that-be at Facebook. Facebook contends that it made the changes in response to feedback from its users.
Some have posted workarounds for the new reality, but nothing makes it like it used to be exactly.
The only thing certain in the social media world is change.
For the ultra-germaphobe
Vioguard has released its new self-sanitizing keyboard just in time for flu season.
The keyboard uses UV light to destroy germs that cause H1N1, MRSA, and more.
Vioguard’s product incorporates a standard keyboard and touchpad and requires no software or special hardware to function. The Vioguard system automatically retracts the keyboard and touchpad into its clean, light tight enclosure where it is flooded with germicidal ultraviolet light to safely disinfect the keyboard and touchpad surfaces after every use.
This would be a really great idea for businesses where multiple people use the same keyboard or public areas such as libraries where lots of people are touching the keyboard througout the day.
The system is $899 and will be available via Amazon.
Guardians of Their Smiles
The NY Times article Guardians of Their Smiles looks into the debate of the pros and cons of posting photos of your children online. It begins with the story of a mom whose daughter’s picture was taken from Flickr and used on a Brazilian chat site.
It serves as a stark reminder to make sure that you are using privacy settings on social sites and blogs (just like you tell your kids too!) I go back and forth on using my kids names on sites like Facebook. I generally don’t on my personal blog. I don’t want some employer years from now looking them up and seeing their baby pics.
A grayer area is what about when someone else is posting a photograph of you or your child. What is the etiquette for this new social taboo?
Read the article. It is definitely worth thinking about.
