STACK #207 Jan 2022

TECH LIFE JANUARY 2022

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STACK ’ s SCHOOL'S BACK TECH TIPS

1 Check with your school and determine the student technology policy, as all schools will differ. Often, each school will have a prerequisite for the type of technology that is required, so before you splash the cash on a $1500 laptop, ensure that it’s compatible with the school. 2 Work to a budget, and more importantly, make sure you stick to it. Look to where you can save money. Aim to buy devices that are future-proofed. 3 Make sure that you have suitable parental control systems in place. Well-known internet browsers have filters and security options in place for you to utilise. 4 It’s essential to have an excellent security solution installed on your devices that protects against viruses, malware, and identity theft. 5 Many schools will have a safety policy surrounding charging devices (and it can be expensive, too), so opt for a device with a battery that will last the day. 6 You can never have enough storage in your devices. 7 You’ve seen the way your kids behave with their possessions around the house – now multiply that by ten while they’re at school. Investing in a good protective case or bag for their device is essential. 8 Utilise a good cloud-based organisational tool so you – and your kids – can stay abreast of all upcoming important dates, meetings, and deadlines. 9 It’s a good idea to make all home learning public, like the living room or kitchen, so you can monitor what’s being done. 10 Ergonomics are just as important at home as they are in school. Promoting ergonomics early can help prevent back, shoulder, and neck issues later in life.

Images: Taylor Wilcox & Mche Lee, Unsplash

W ith Christmas in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to start thinking about the inevitable return to school. With each new year comes a new set of tech challenges and requirements. Technology is a primary focus for today’s budding students, and it’s important that they have the right tools at hand. As parents, navigating the ever-changing world of tech can be a perilous proposition. With often high costs involved, making the right choice and future-proofing a purchase is essential. To help tackle the tech minefield, we’ve put together a school’s back guide for this month. From Chromebooks to tablets, portable power to storage solutions, and even bags, we’ve covered all the essentials for the road back to class in 2022.

What was the hottest tech in… 1983 Ah, the 1980s and '90s. A time folk were regularly subjected to seven-hour holiday video marathons. Yes, the advent of the humble camcorder meant dads all over the world immediately imagined themselves to be the next Steven Spielberg, spending half of the time trying to work out if the focus was working while filming their shoes. And it all started in earnest with Sony’s Betamovie BMC-100. The first consumer camcorder captured all the dullest holiday moments directly to a Betamax tape. In what was considered a pioneering leap in technology, the Betamax tape, once ejected from the BMC- 100, could be inserted directly into a Betamax video recorder for everyone’s enjoyment… Rested on the shoulder for YESTERYEAR ' S TOP TECH

On The Radar Our attention turns to Uni in February, and we’ll highlight all the tech you’ll need to kickstart 2022, from premium laptops and Chromebook solutions to the right gear for your ears. We’ll also be looking at smartphones and covering the latest smartwatches launching in January.

operation, the unit was well designed and compact for its time, and would kickstart the camcorder revolution. But as for the Betamax format? Well, we all know that story.

JANUARY 2022

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