January 11, 2016 – Thank you all so much for your participation! It was fun to read how everyone benefits from technology in a personal way. The winner of this giveaway is rpfarrah@gmail.com – “I am very task-oriented. I work off of a priorited daily task list and PI helps me take all of this with me across all of my platforms: office windows computer (Outlook) and my android tablet and cell phone. The more info I have at my fingertips, the more likely I am to meet my goals.” Please contact amy@fanaticsoftware.com to claim your prizes.
Today is National Technology Day. I know, it seems like there’s a “day” for everything, right? But this, this is one that I celebrate gladly! While we have all had moments where we crave the simplicity of a technology-free life (think Amish) I doubt very seriously that we would be willing to give it all up for very long. We depend upon it to make our lives easier. I would not want to wash my clothes by hand, cook over an open fire, light my home with candles, etc. It just doesn’t excite me. I embrace the advances and devices that walk with me through my days.
Keeping in touch with family is so much easier with technology. My eldest son is in the USAF, and stationed overseas. When we were sending him off I couldn’t help but think of those mothers in the past who sent their sons off, not knowing when they would hear from them again or see their faces. We are blessed to not only be able to text, speak on the phone and email, but we face-time quite often. He even joined in on our Christmas morning via face-time. We propped the phone up on the entertainment center so he could see, and “the little man in the box” was able to enjoy the time with us. 🙂
In my family we are extremely grateful for medical technology. I have two children who would not be alive today if we were dependent upon the medical expertise of the past. My youngest son is type 1 diabetic, and is able to live a full and successful life due to medical advances. My youngest daughter is a stroke survivor, and lived for 10 years with epilepsy. In 2013 she had brain surgery to disconnect the left side of her brain, and has remained seizure-free since. What a blessing that we reap the benefits of medical technology for both of these precious children!
And of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the technology that allows me to smoothly move through my days – my Informant. I personally use it on my iOS devices and my Macbook, so it’s literally at my fingertips at all times. Remember the days of the bulky personal planners? Yikes! So glad we don’t have to do that anymore. It’s second nature to whip out my phone and put in appointment information (I don’t even bother with the little reminder cards) tasks to be completed, checklists and more. I love it!
So, how do you benefit from technology? Comment below and be entered in a giveaway for the Informant product of your choice, plus a $25 Starbucks gift card. Coffee and technology…they just go together, right? 🙂
*One entry per person. Duplicates will be automatically disqualified. Winners will be selected at random, and announced Friday, January 8, 2016.
Amy Sandlin
Marketing
I benefit from technology in many ways, such as being connected with my family when out and about (thanks to texting), being able to capture special memories (thanks to handy smartphone cameras), and being able to keep my day organized (thanks to Informant and a host of productivity apps)!
I teach technology to K-5th students. My enthusiasm for learning new aspects of technology is passed on to them. The need to be a responsible digital citizen is an area that is stressed. I share with them how I use technology in my everyday life with my Informant Calendar, my to-do lists, taking pictures, playing online games, and keeping an online journal. I want them to be inspired to not just use technology, but eventually create it as well!
I benefit so much from technology. From using a typewriter to a computer things are much easier in typing reports. They way the computer technology has linked the world is amazing. I can find information at the tips of my fingers. Much time is saved in researching or even going to the store to purchase an item. Technology has linked my friends and family closer than ever. I would know what is going on with family overseas and even friends I have not seen in years.
I use tech in just about everything I do! I will claim that I’m a geek, but it helps me a ton. I am a pastor and I use PI for my schedule, tasks and projects, Evernote for meetings and counseling notes, I preach from my iPad (my notes are on my iPad) and I’ve used AirPlay to read kids’ stories in services at special times.
My kids use their devices for school, reading and play. We use our phones as our main cameras. GPS is huge. Staying connected with people via texting, email, FB/Twitter is important.
Ultimately, I’m pretty connected…the struggle (that I try to always stay aware of) is to have balance with tech…and not let it control me or my family.
I use technology to keep in touch with everything in my life. Friends, schedules, job, all on the hub that my iPhone has become. My laptop is much less used, only for stuff that’s long, better done on a big keyboard or using a big screen. Photoshop is better on my laptop for now, as Autocad also is. Recently, I added Philips Hue lights to the tech in my life, and that made lighting right for my needs. When I need it, I can get the right color and intensity for the time of day.
Tech is to make your life easier, not harder, and I think that a balance has to be reached and maintained. I don’t think you should let it compete with your life. Tech can become a time hog, expensive, complicated, or just make you lazy. Balance! It’s a tool!
How did I survive before the abundance of technology that exists today? I use it to schedule time with my clients (pocket informant is my go to app). Texting is great for quick communication. Checking weather. requestion books from the library. Of course, there’s facebook. That’s how I ended up here. My phone is an extension of my body. I feel naked if I am without it.
I use it on all my devices on a daily basis because I like the colours I am set it to.
I benefit in more ways than I can count. My entire career as a mobile entertainer & multimedia creator puts technology in the forefront of my daily work. It allows me to make better content for my customers, and give them a more interactive live experience. And it helps me thrive in an unlikely industry for such a small local market by connecting me with a customer base around the globe. On the family side, we have a very broad family that can keep on top of what’s going on with the kids by sharing photos through the cloud. As I go through old VHS tapes trying to digitize memories of my childhood to share with my kids, I realize that sharing their childhood memories with their children will be so much easier. My fiancé works with adults with special needs, and technology allows some of her clients with nonverbal skills to communicate daily. My dad’s diabetes is managed with ease thanks to his insulin pump compared to his father’s manual injections every day. The stents in his chest keep him alive after some very worrisome heart difficulties. For my day-to-day, it lets me keep up with news and recreational reading from wherever I happen to be, and keeps me organized as I run a company, balance school & PTO schedules, run a team at my church, and the many other things I get involved with every day.
Technology has not only allowed me to keep in touch and reconnect with old friends all over the world but it has allowed me to use the power of video messaging with my brother when he was in Japan for the first Christmas he was away as well as my dads wedding. It also really helped me when taking care of my grandfather and living an hour away. I could get al types of updates and check in remotely. The world we live in is changing for the better and it is a good thing we have the technology advancements in all areas. Even for my job-technology has opened up doors to users who need accessibility and I am lucky to see it put into practice daily.
I am very task-oriented. I work off of a priorited daily task list and PI helps me take all of this with me across all of my platforms: office windows computer (Outlook) and my android tablet and cell phone. The more info I have at my fingertips, the more likely I am to meet my goals.
Congratulations! You are the lucky winner of this fun giveaway! Please contact amy@fanaticsoftware.com to claim your prize.
My life could not function without technology. As soon as I made the switch to iOS/Mac ecosystem, I started looking for a calendar app. I spent a great deal of time trying a few out because I cannot keep my busy life organized without one. I use Pocket Informant on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and now my watch. I have used electronics to organize my life since they were available. Siri is my personal assistant. I use technology to teach and reach students who have so many different ways of processing information. I can use multi sensory approaches and polls. I can’t imagine driving without map apps. I can’t even remember life without technology- even though my first computer had a 10gb hard drive!