Leading Hands Through Technology

The text replacement feature of iOS (find it under Settings/General/Keyboards) is a useful tool to speed up typing, especially as a way to quickly post repetitive things like Instagram hashtags.

However, there’s a limit of 128 characters, and it’s not always easy to figure out how close you might be to that limit when you’re creating your text replacement shortcuts.

Here’s a great online tool that quickly checks anything that you cut and paste into it. I use it often.

https://www.lettercount.com/

Discover the easiest way to find manuals online. We’ve all been there before, we lost the manual to the product and we need to look something up. If you need to glance at instructions, then look no further than ManualsLib!

Their database consists of more than three million pdf files. All you have to do is enter the keywords in the search field and find what you are looking for! Search results include manual name, description, size and number of pages. You can either read manual online or download it to your computer.

https://www.manualslib.com/

A friend of mine told me the other week they booked their travel through Google Flights. I discovered you can find plane tickets, track flights, and find the best fares on flight prices with Google Flights. You can also find out which airlines have bag fees and what currency you’ll need depending on where you are traveling.

If you are looking for a great way to book your flight, check out Google Flights.

https://www.google.com/flights

Do you get stuck in Excel, Google Sheets, and Outlook? I found a blog that provides some great tips to make your work in spreadsheets more efficient and save time. Discover Excel tutorials, functions and advanced formula examples. The blog is sponsored by Ablebits, a software company that adds capabilities to spreadsheets, and they do a nice job offering free advice as a public service.

https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/

Do you need a quick tool to turn a PDF into a Microsoft Word doc? I found this free tool called PDF2Doc that works surprisingly well.

https://pdf2doc.com/

What if your phone only rang for important calls? A friend of mine shared his hack to make a silent ringtone on iOS. You basically make a silent ringtone for all calls but your most important callers. Here is the instructions to do it.

http://www.cultofmac.com/188109/ignore-unwanted-contacts-with-a-silent-ringtone-ios-tips/

Learn to Play Music Faster with Modern Educational Technology

Studies have consistently shown that technology helps improve learning. From mobile apps and online courses to software and even games, modern teaching and learning tools are clearly a great way to enhance the overall learning experience. They’re not only fun and convenient, but they also allow students to learn at their own pace.

Get the physical tools ready

When it comes to learning how to play a musical instrument, however, you can’t rely solely on your apps and other e-learning tools. You’ll also need the physical gear before you can get started. This includes the instrument you want to play and all the other related accessories required to make it work.

Let’s say you want to learn how to play the electric guitar. Aside from getting the instrument itself, you’ll also need things like strings, instrument cables, picks and a good guitar chair to sit on. If you pick the drums, on the other hand, then you’ll need a kit, several pairs of drumsticks and good soundproofing materials. Keep in mind that the best way to learn is to integrate theory and practice, and these physical tools will allow you to do just that.

Find a medium that works for you

According to Andrea Leyden of GoConqr, learning through apps is the future of education—which is probably true considering the rate at which educational apps are improving. However, the choice of what you should use to learn your chosen instrument should still ultimately depend on the type of learner you are and what medium you’re most comfortable with. If you need formal instruction, for example, then a structured online course would be your best bet. If you prefer a more fun set-up, on the other hand, then more game-type tools would suit you better.

Of course, having a clear goal in mind should also help you make this decision much more easily. For example, if you want to learn chords first, then you should get a tool that helps you do that. Want to learn songs more easily? Then get an app or software that allows you to make music play slower or faster.

Consistency is key

At the end of the day, however, whatever modern learning tools you choose to use, if they help keep you motivated to continue playing, then you’ve made the right decision. After all, skills like playing music rely heavily on consistent practice. Long story short, the more you play, the faster you get better at doing so.

When I was kid, I remember a specific scene in The Last Starfighter that blew my mind. A simple device was clipped to the lapel of Alex’s space suit and suddenly it translated all the alien languages around him. The teenager that was asked to save the galaxy could now properly communicate with other international  starfighters. Now this same technology is here with translating ear buds from Pilot. You don’t have the save the galaxy but perhaps you can travel through it productively 🙂

The Pilot translating earpieces:

1. Translate 15 different languages
2. Stream music
3. Answer calls

The reviews on this earpiece and app seem positive so it might be worth giving a try. If you’ve used them please let us know. Welcome to the future – the future is now.

http://www.waverlylabs.com/pilot-translation-kit/

Did you know that your breath is fuel for your body, the number one indicator of your mindset, and is in your control? The easiest way to monitor your stress, activity and sleep is to breathe. Spire is an app that gives you control of your breath. You put on a monitoring device on your waist and it communicates with the app to help you breathe and stay calm. Check it out and see it for yourself!

Spire.io

Need to improve the vocabulary and your overall writing skills for your next essay? IELTS Vocabulary means using a more academic style and word choice (Lexical Resource) when writing your essay. Using Topic Specific Vocabulary, collocations and words from the Academic Word List will help considerably. Topic Specific Vocabulary also contains lots of collocations, so you can expect a thorough explanation on what they are and how to use them.

This tutorial focuses on what to learn, the importance of context, and how to learn / memorize these new terms so you can improve your writing. The site gives you plenty of detailed explanations, tips, examples and resources for practice on this subject.

https://www.ieltspodcast.com/ielts-vocabulary/lexical-resource/