Life can start to get overwhelming with brand new technology constantly being released. Whether it is keeping your several technological devices organized or your laptop from overheating, these inconveniences can add up. Sometimes you may even feel like giving up on technology. Before you do, acknowledge that there still may be hope! Fortunately for us, there are simple tips and tricks we can use to make life a little bit easier. Here are a few easy “life hacks” to help you fight through your day!
Problems with poor cell phone battery life?
Turn “airplane mode” on during periods of time you don’t need your phone. This will shut down the cellular signals coming to and from your phone and save battery life. Not only can this function be used for saving battery life, this nifty little trick can also be used to speed up the time it takes to charge your phone! Turning on “airplane mode” can also help you avoid interruptions if you get easily distracted![i]
Too many tabs?
If you love to have multiple tabs open in your web browser and often find yourself running out of tab space, this trick may be perfect for you! In Chrome or Firefox, (***check if this works in Safari? Or IE?)simply right-click on a tab and select “pin tab”. This will change the tab to a little icon and keep your tabs open even after restarting your browser. Once you’re finished with the tab, right-click and select “unpin tab”.[ii]
Keep your cords organized!
A neat way to organize your power, USB cable, charger, and monitor cords is to use binder clips and velcro zip ties. You can use them to bundle your cords together and mount the clip onto the wall or desk. Also, naming bread clips to attach to power cords can help label and distinguish different power cords.[iii]
Accidentally close a browser tab?
If you accidentally close an important browser tab, have no fear! Browsers, such as Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox have a feature to re-open the tab. For example, Chrome will show you a list of “recently closed tabs”, on the browser’s side bar (where the settings feature are.) The hotkey (aka shortcut) for this action on Windows machines is CTRL+SHIFT+T and for Apple machines it is COMMAND+SHIFT+T.[iv]
Are your keyboard legs broken?
Use binder clip handles to replace the keyboard legs. Their similar shape make a perfect substitute for keyboard legs. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it serves its purpose.[v]
Is your laptop overheating?
If you’re not in the mood to buy a fancy and expensive cooling pad, try using overturned egg cartons. The grooves in the egg carton allow plenty of airflow for the laptop to stay cool. This may not be the finest looking setup; however, it is cheap and gets the job done. At the end of the day, an ugly looking cooling pad is better than an overheated laptop.[vi]
Cat lover?
If you are a cat owner, you have probably witnessed your cat stepping over your keyboard while you were trying to type. As many cat lovers may already know, cats love boxes more than anything
and this trick takes advantage of that love. As you may have already guessed, simply place a box beside your keyboard and your cat will be too distracted with the box to step on your keyboard.[vii]
Any more questions?
Last but not least, any questions about computing accounts, computer labs, printing access and technical support can be answered at the Arts Computing Office Helpdesk! We can be reached at extension x33190, or emailed at acohelp@uwaterloo.ca. Also, feel free to drop by with your questions as well! We’re open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays in PAS 1077.[viii]
I hope these tricks and tips make your daily endeavors with technology easy and efficient!
[i] “Incredibly Useful Computer Life Hacks.” Incredibly Useful Computer Life Hacks.Guff. Web. June 1. 2015. <http://guff.com/awesome-computer-life-hacks/cable-storage>
[ii] Klosowski, T. “Master Your Browser’s Tabs with These Tricks and Extensions.” Master Your Browser’s Tabs with These Tricks and Extensions. Life Hacker. Web. June 1. 2015. < http://lifehacker.com/5883299/master-your-browsers-tabs-with-these-tricks-and-extensions>
[iii] “12 Brilliant Life Hacks for Your Computer.” 12 Brilliant Life Hacks for Your Computer. Gadget Pics. Web. Jan 1. 2015. <http://www.gadgetpics.com/gallery/6379/12-brilliant-life-hacks-for-your-computer>
[iv] Ibid
[v] Ibid
[vi] Cho, D. “10 Tech Hacks You Need to Know for Your Computer.” 10 Tech Hacks You Need to Know for Your Computer. Complex. Web. June 1. 2015. <http://ca.complex.com/pop-culture/2014/03/10-life-hacks/keep-desktop-clean>
[vii] “12 Brilliant Life Hacks for Your Computer.” 12 Brilliant Life Hacks for Your Computer. Gadget Pics. Web. Jan 1. 2015. <http://www.gadgetpics.com/gallery/6379/12-brilliant-life-hacks-for-your-computer>
[viii] “Arts Computing Office.” Arts Computing Office. University of Waterloo. Web. June 1. 2015. <https://uwaterloo.ca/arts-computing/>
[vix] [Technology Life Hacks]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eX0acWMTc60/maxresdefault.jpg.
