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Appreciating the Good Life By Surrounding Yourself With the Best

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After all of your basic needs are met, maybe you have a little bit of extra time to think about conveniences and luxuries. In a world full of technology, gadgets, cool stuff, and entertaining electronics like computers and gaming systems, it’s nice to have a little bit of mental room to stretch every once in a while, and you can collect some of these things that you enjoy.

The good life starts with the necessities and then moves towards things that you don’t need, but that add to your quality of life. From a technological standpoint, you can buy and use computers and various other gadgets that give you access to a lot of information and entertainment. If you’re looking to improve your standard of living at home, you can purchase all of the elements of a smart home piece by piece, and you’ll start feeling like you’re living in an early version of the Jetsons. And then there’s the matter of luxuries. What kinds of things can you incorporate around yourself that will allow you to think that you’ve gotten over the struggling phase of your life?

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4 Ways To Make Money Directly From Your Phone

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If you were to ask 100 people whether they like having more money or less money, chances are the majority will answer, “More money please!” Having money means having more means to do and buy things which are enjoyable. Living hand to mouth isn’t as nice as being able to buy a few extras here and there.

Even if you’ve already got a day job, wouldn’t it be nice to make a little more money? And what if you could do it all from the palm of your hand? Well, thanks to modern technology and those handy little things called Smartphones, we totally can. Here are some of the ways that you can actually make money directly from your phone. [Read more…]

Ways Technology Is Helping Take Care of Aging Parents

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We all have parents and if we are blessed enough, they will live a long and productive life. Playing with grandchildren, answering our late night calls about how to discipline our children, and the ongoing stress they have watching us stumble through the obstacles of life takes its toll on them. This doesn’t even include the normal day to day tasks our aging parents tackle on their own. It is a natural part of life for us to eventually take care of our parents as they took care of us. Below are a few ways that technology is now able to help us do a better job. [Read more…]

5 Ways To Recover From Technology Overkill

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For as much as technology is a great thing, it’s definitely possible to go overkill. And once you’re suffering from technology burnout, you may be wondering what exactly you can do about it. If you already go to technology when you’re trying to relax, then moving away from technology in order to relax might feel a little awkward.

But, a few options that will lead you in the desired direction include getting a massage, reading an old classic book, turning off all of your devices, walking through a park, or even just taking a moment to remind yourself about the positives of technology so you don’t get caught up in negatives. [Read more…]

Signs, Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments For Technology Addiction

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Technology addiction has recently become a worldwide issue. Young and old alike are investing far too much of their time into mobile devices, computers, and gaming consoles.

Widely prevalent in Asian-Pacific countries, technology addiction is now recognized by psychologists in the region as a real mental illness. Though treatment for technology addiction is not easy to find in the United States, awareness is spreading like wildfire. [Read more…]

Five New Techniques To Fix Old Bad Credit

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Bad credit can constantly come back to haunt you, which is why many people are turning to new techniques (or at least new habits) to help them combat this old adversary. Because bad credit is usually the result of ingrained habits, sometimes breaking out of the cycle can be hard, but it’s definitely worth it when you’re back in the black with your credit scores.

Five techniques in particular that you can use to help your situation out include making sure that you pay your bills on time no matter what, consolidating and attacking your old debts, cutting the cords on your entertainment, using new credit cards wisely, and searching and destroying potentially incorrect black marks on your credit history. [Read more…]

The Latest Techniques To Fix Your Money Troubles

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Money troubles are as old as the idea of money itself. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to them like most of the rest of the population. Instead, use as many of the latest techniques and methods as possible to get yourself above the financial waterline and then stay there.

Five techniques in particular that you can use to do this including making sure that your credit is fixed, getting digital with budgeting, using autopay whenever possible, getting rid of any subscription holdovers, and working the investment system when you have the option. [Read more…]

Level-up Your Home Automation Game

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Home automation is working its way from Disney’s city of the future into your everyday life.  From simple lawn sprinkler timers to holistic systems that learn from your daily life, automation levels span an incredible gamut of choice and cost.  What is the best level for you to enter in.

Remote control

Remote Controls provide the easiest entry point into automating your home.  Remote control lighting, garage doors, microwave timers…etc.  If you directly control when it goes on and off with minimal programming, it’s a remote control.  Remote controls are the most simple entry point, but are becoming more sophisticated in what they control every day.

Command level control

Command level control uses macros (simple programs directing actions or other macros) to control the status of a device within your home.  The macro could be a touch that turns on lights, opens blinds, starts a hot tub, etc.  The program is entered through a computer or a controller.   Command level controls only act upon your direct influence.  They are incapable of reacting to conditions.

Conditional control

Conditional controls operate on the basis of programmed conditions.  An example would be to turn on a sprinkler system if there is no rain for 2 days.  These if-then scenarios are programmed via a computer or dedicated controller.  You can set these systems to turn the lights off a set time after you leave a room or change a room’s temperature after you leave.  The systems range in size from sensors in light switches to motion detection devices connected to computer controlled heating systems.

Interactive control

Interactive controls use web sites or apps for real time, monitored control of home devices.  Through apps or online portals you can assess the real time status of your home, make changes, and monitor the changing situation. You can choose from a wide variety of control apps, some specific to devices, some broad ranging monitoring apps.  Light bulbs have apps for controlling the color of your room.  Baby monitors can be controlled via your phone.  The opportunities are as unlimited as the the apps being developed.

Learning Controls

Learning controls monitor your behaviors and make adjustments based on your actions and habits.  Lights can be turned on based on your usual arrival times, heat can be turned on ahead of you getting home.  The system learns as you live, adjusts to your life, and changes as you change.  These are very sophisticated systems that require dedicated programs and controllers.  These systems are professionally installed and are part of the design and structure of the home.  

Your options are continuing to evolve as rapidly as technology does.  From simple to complicated there is a point for you to enter into home automation.  As you open your garage door, maybe you already have entered the future.

5 Gadgets, Apps, And Software Tricks To Help You With Dating

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Dating has never been easy. But with the way social norms are flying all over the place these days, it can seem more complicated than ever. That’s why you need to use all of the resources at your disposal to give yourself the best chance of meeting the right person. And that means technology has to be on your side.

To help with that, consider five gadgets, apps and software tricks to help you with dating, including starting with basic search techniques, trying Tinder-style apps, creating your own pro-con dating profile, using photo apps to help you present yourself, and remembering to use spelling and grammar correctors in your profiles. [Read more…]

How To Enjoy Your Gadgets In Comfort

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We all love our gadgets. The most common ones that come to mind in terms of entertainment and usefulness tend to be our phones, tablets, and gaming systems, and that will be the focus of this particular set of ideas about comfort.

Because really, one of the things that keeps us away from enjoying our gadgets as much as possible is discomfort and distraction. Outside interference from the experience of gaming, entertainment, or communication is a pretty big draw away from full immersion in the sensory exposure of what we’re trying to accomplish. So to that end, consider the following ideas.

Defining Comfort On a Large Scale

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Take a moment to consider comfort on a large scale. Think about a beautiful, immersive theater, complete with installed epic theater seating. Think about how comfortable that is for you and the people you’re with. What if you could have this kind of experience every time you sat down to enjoy a movie on your iPad, or every time you sat down to enjoy playing a quick game on your smartphone? How wonderful and relaxing would that be? Now you have a goal. [Read more…]