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STACK ’ s TECH tips

MARCH TECH Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user-friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

Video calls are the way of life for many working from homers in 2023.The following are a few tips to help you look good and get the best experience from a call.

1 It sounds obvious, but jump on and check your tech is working before the call starts. Waiting for software updates before you can join the meeting is not ideal. 2 While it can be tempting to sleep in a little later when working from home, don’t jump on a call looking like you’ve just woken up. Clean, uncreased clothes with a plain pattern are best, and flatten that cowlick! 3 Position the camera at eye level, never below – it’s not our most glamorous angle… 4 The best light is natural, so lift the blinds or draw the curtains. If that isn’t possible, use a ring light behind your monitor. 5 Find a quiet space to take the call and use a decent pair of headphones – not all audio on video calls is easy to catch. 6 If your surroundings are messy or untidy, choose a virtual background. 7 Most video call services offer a preview before you begin the call.This is an excellent opportunity to check exactly how you will look to others on the call.

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What was the hottest tech in…

Today, smart home automation technology is used daily in homes right across the globe. But close to 40 years ago, a product emerged that promised to revolutionise the ‘80s American home. When two inventors brought the idea of a sound-activated device for the house to the doors of Joseph Pedott, a clever marketer with manufacturing means at his fingertips, the shrewd American spotted an opportunity. That opportunity was the Clapper. It promised the future, a Star Trek-like fantasy where clapping hands together could turn on a light, a coffee machine, or a TV. Two devices were plugged directly into the Clapper; one was activated by two claps, the other by three. Inside the Clapper, a microphone puts the sound signal through filters, identifying a clap's correct (read as approximate) sound frequency. Pedott devised

Do you have a tech horror story? Has tech come back to ‘byte’ you hard? Have you sent a text to the wrong person or deleted your employer’s hard drive by accident?Well, we want to hear about it. Send your terror byte to editor@stack.com.au This month, J. Bianchi recalls her tech nightmare. T his was more of a tech nightmare for a friend I strongly suspected was seeing my boyfriend at the time than it was for me. I needed some hard evidence, and it was simple to get. One afternoon after work, the three of us met up for drinks. After about 30 minutes, I excused myself to use the toilet but not before, after pretending to rummage in my bag for something, hitting record on my iPhone. I was gone for a good ten minutes, and sure enough, when I got home later that evening, details of their recent romantic liaison and a future planned catch-up had been recorded. It was everything I needed to say goodbye to the two of them.

Clapper

On The Radar Our April big feature in tech is always cameras, and next month we’re going to be pulling together a comprehensive look at what’s new in that space. We’ll also be tapping the minds of some professional photographers for tips on the craft.

a television campaign that drove viewers mad, but the campaign worked - unlike the actual Clapper, that didn’t really work. It wrecked some TVs and was so sensitive that sounds on the television could activate it. Even dog barks, a similar sound frequency to a hand clap, would set it off. Pedott turned to another inventor who re engineered the Clapper, so it did work, and two years later, the product was relaunched as the fiscally successful Smart Clapper. The Clapper is still produced today in the U.S. as a novelty gift in the lead-up to the festive season.

MARCH 2023

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