The Spoon Drawer

The last few weeks of the summer months are always a challenging period for school-goers, either it represents the end of weeks' of freedom, or for those who have recently undertaken exams, it can mean either commencing higher education, or the daunting prospect of entering the workplace. There is no doubt that it is an important period in a person’s life, the results achieved can have long-lasting effects; failure to attain a desired grade in a subject can lead to having to choose a new university, or abandon entering higher education completely. However, it certainly is not as critical as it once was. Changing times and technology are presenting an abundance of previously never thought of career opportunities. So much so, that many young people are carving out niche opportunities for themselves from unlikely sources, such as being an ethical hacker or a vlogger.   The majority of these opportunities do not require any or at least the same level of qualifications...

The NHS is a wonder to perceive and in 2014 was responsible for putting the U.K. ahead of  11 other Western countries  in terms of healthcare. Yet despite its astonishing existence, this monolithic national treasure is still in the dark ages technologically speaking. This article looks at three advantages that bringing the NHS into the digital light would have. Communications Efficiency A report conducted by The Commonwealth Fund scored the NHS highly for its efficiency in running, quality of care, and value at patient level. Given that most NHS records are stored offline, for it to have achieved this status in its current paper based state, speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff. With these credentials, the potential for improving the efficiency of this service by digitalising is huge. An example of this would be the time saved in transferring patient documents between GP surgeries and hospitals themselves. This is currently done via p...

Source: https://dotincorp.com/shop/product/dot-watch-1-a/  I have previously touched upon the subject of how smart tech has been and is currently being developed to improve the quality of lives for those with additional needs. These pieces of technology are being designed to blend in with everyday items, like watches, while improving the lives of individuals. In the UK alone, there are around 2 million people that live with sight loss. Statistics also show that by 2020 this will increase to around 2,250,000. There are various companies that have already started developing watches that will improve the quality of life of those suffering from sight loss. The brand Dot has created a sleek, modern watch, which connects to the user’s phone and vibrates and translates text messages and notifications into braille. Even more recently than smart watches, are devices like Alexa from Amazon. These voice-activated technologies have huge potential to assist the elderly and...

There are constant advancements in sporting tech, ranging from simple fitness trackers, to more advanced training machines, and around this time of year, cyclists can start hitting the road more thanks to the drier weather. With the 100th edition of the Giro d'Italia underway, and the Tour De France around the corner, it is time to see what cycling tech is up to and how it can help improve our rides. Mobile Apps Whilst some of us may not quite be on the level as those more seasoned cycling athletes, we can still train, enjoy, and incorporate cycling into our everyday lives. The popular Strava app has announced an innovative new blog feature , where riders can discuss their most recent rides. Although it is not available to everyone yet, this feature will encourage the cycling community to share tips and recommendations for future rides, including key points of interest. The University of Bradford has recently been granted £60 million funding for an augmented rea...

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/smart-watch-apple-technology-style-821559/ Wearable technology was the buzzword scrawled across the notebook of every budding tech journalist upon launch. Months on, it seems that we were expecting far more than current technology was capable of. As such, demand saw a sharp decline . However, recently there have been incredible and innovative advancements in wearable technology and sales are slowly increasing. Is a resurgence in wearable technology on the horizon, and is the new generation anything more than a fad? Watches Previously, product developers and marketers had been experimenting with blurring the lines between smart and traditional watches. But was this the right approach? The first consumer model of any new technology is going to be rough around the edges, but usually the PR and hype around the first iteration is enough to carry sales and consumer interest through, while developers improve on the existing product. Then...

Pixabay Last Saturday morning as I lay in bed slightly worse for wear, I began scrolling through the internet on my phone reading up on the latest developments worldwide. I somehow managed to stumble upon the story of Lucy Earl stuffed between the latest Trump idiocy and analysis of Theresa May’s ‘strong and stable’ snap election decision. Lucy is 22-year-old who is managing to earn £30k a year by from her vlog on Youtube . That might not surprise many reading, especially as other vloggers are reported to be earning significantly more money, Casey Neistat for example. However, what is surprising is that Lucy is doing it by while teaching the world about the oddities of the English language. This story got me thinking about the future of my career in English tutoring.  Tech in Teaching While teaching virtually via the internet is not a new phenomenon, we are beginning to see new and innovative ways of using it. Previously the main forms of ...

There are hundreds of ways to furnish your bedroom, however it can be costly to get the look you want. Thinking of redecorating a space can be an exciting prospect, but doing it on a budget can make it slightly trickier. My advice would be to do some research on what you need, and find the best price or alternative. Below, I have compiled a list of the staple things you will need in your bedroom and how to find the best deal. Mapping your room You will need: ·          Pencil ·          Paper ·          Tape Measure Before you begin buying or re-arranging furniture – map it out. Grab your pen and paper and start drawing out the shape of your room from a birds-eye view. Then outline how you would like your furniture to be laid out – this doesn’t have to be perfect.  Once you have your plan, it’s measuring time! The worst thing to do would be to ...