Tech-savvy travelers are always on the lookout for new gadgets that can make their travels easier or more enjoyable, and drones are rapidly becoming the hot new device to take on vacation due to their portability and ease of use, with newer models being more compact than ever. As drones continue to increase in popularity, they could eventually rival the selfie stick as the go-to item to pack for a trip. Drones are not only becoming more and more popular for tourists, they are also changing how those in the travel industry approach business. In recent years, there has been a surge in the demand for aerial footage, and many media outlets are willing to pay a premium for the shots taken by drones. The main reason for this is that audiences are more engaged with dynamic aerial footage as opposed to standard footage taken on the ground. In terms of tourism, a variety of larger resorts have toyed with the idea of integrating drones into their custom VIP packages for their high-end guests. If these resorts go through with their plans, drones would be made available to guests so they can show off their beachside suites or luxury vacation rentals. In this article, we’ll explore how you can get the most out of taking a drone with you on your next vacation. 1. Know the rules regarding traveling with a drone.With so much involved in getting through security checkpoints in the airport, many people are curious about bringing their drone onboard a plane. Surprisingly, taking a drone with you is a fairly simple process, provided you know the rules ahead of time. Today’s drones are being made more compact than ever before, which allows them to neatly fit into carry-on luggage. When bringing a drone along for your next trip, keep in mind that you’ll need to place any extra batteries in TSA-approved plastic bag. It is also a good idea to research local laws about drone activity at your destination. Despite their popularity, drones are still a new form of technology, and there are still valid concerns surrounding them regarding privacy as well as air safety, and the rules governing their use tend to change frequently. If you are visiting a destination that requires prior drone approval, make sure to secure this approval before you arrive to avoid possible confiscation of your drone. If you’re unsure about the legality of flying a drone at your vacation spot, a good way to find out is to search online for the term “RC fields” followed by the name of your destination. For example, if you are flying to London, you would enter “RC fields London.” You can also view a list of global no-fly zones at www.dji.com/fly-safe/category-mc?www=v1. 2. Understand how to operate your drone.Before you use a drone, it’s imperative that you understand how to properly fly it, as improper usage could possibly ruin your drone and put others at risk. Getting a new tech device is always exciting, but lacking the skills or knowledge to fly it properly could quickly turn a great vacation into an unpleasant one. Whether you read the owner’s manual or view instructional videos online, thoroughly understanding how to operate your drone will help keep you and those around you safe. For tips on flying drones safely and legally, check out the “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” page on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website. 3. Record amazing photos and videos of your trip.Photographic technology has progressed significantly in the past decade, and a variety of apps and sophisticated cameras are now available to the hobbyist and professional photographer alike. However, drones can outdo even the best photography apps and high-end cameras due to their ability to capture spectacular aerial shots with amazing clarity and quality, giving you access to images that you would not otherwise have access to.
Drones give photographers the ability to have a bird’s-eye view, which can capture some pretty spectacular scenes typically only seen in movies or professional photography publications. Those who are skilled at using drones for taking photographs often remark on how surreal it is to take such breathtaking pictures and liken it to being able to fly. Although the price of airfare has dropped significantly in recent years, many people still prefer to travel by car. Road trips offers travelers the opportunity to experience a variety of sights and landmarks close-up along the way, rather than to simply view them from a distance. From travel-focused mobile apps to in-car technology, the following explores some of the best travel technology available for you to use on your next road trip. 1. TuneIn Radio For long car rides, listening to music from a preset playlist can become repetitive after a while. TuneIn Radio provides you with access to more than 100,000 international radio stations, so the chances that you will become bored are virtually non-existent. From podcasts to concerts to talk shows, there’s likely something to entertain every traveler in the car. The TuneIn radio mobile app is available for Android, iPhone, Blackberry, and Windows smartphones. 2. GlympseWith the majority of people carrying smartphones nowadays, texting and driving has become a major safety issue. Texting and driving is not only dangerous, but it is also illegal in the majority of states. Glympse solves the problem by automatically sharing your location with friends and family, which is particularly helpful when you are sticking to a group itinerary. In order to maintain your privacy, Glympse only sends your GPS location to pre-selected contacts at regular intervals of your choice. This keeps your attention on the road rather than on updating your travel partners via text. Glympse is a free download available for Android and iPhone devices. 3. In-Vehicle TechnologyWith more than 1 billion vehicles on the road, safety has never been a higher priority. Technology has also increased consumers’ demand for more sophisticated safety and entertainment features integrated into their vehicles. The Open Automotive Alliance brings technology and automakers together in order to provide a safe, easy-to-use in-vehicle experience. Many newer model cars have successfully incorporated technology through mobile apps and interactive touch screens. From Apple CarPlay to automaker-specific built-in apps, these cars now have voice capabilities that can be used for everything from making reservations at a favorite restaurant to accessing complex GPS systems. More auto manufacturers are getting on board with in-car technology, and Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Audi are among the front-runners of this type of technology. For road trips, this technology will not only make your trip more enjoyable, but you will likely find the features extremely useful in terms of trip planning. Many in-car systems allow you to gauge fuel levels, as well as to locate gas stations and lodging, along with a host of other helpful functions. 4. My Scenic DrivesWhile GPS technology continues to evolve, there are still some limitations to most location-based mobile map applications. When taking a road trip, the fastest route isn’t always the most desirable, and many map applications fail to account for those who wish to take the scenic route. That’s where My Scenic Drives comes in. Through My Scenic Drives, you simply enter the zip code of your current location, or you can search by state and the specific landmark you want to see. My Scenic Drive then gives you an optimized route that will put you on the direct path to experience national parks, local attractions, historical sites, and more. My Scenic Drives can be accessed on the web, which enables you to use it on any smartphone, regardless of the operating system. 5. Geo GuesserFor passengers in a car, coming up with ways to stay engaged and entertained can be tricky. Geo Guesser is a mobile game that presents you with Google Street View images of nearby areas, then requires you to guess their location. The images, which could be street signs or famous landmarks, can be played alone or with multiple players. Additionally, the settings can be manipulated to focus on certain geographical areas, cities, or countries. Geo Guesser currently only has a dedicated iPhone mobile app, but it can also be accessed from the mobile web with any smartphone or cellular-connected tablet. These are just a few of the technological advancements that can make your next road trip safer and more enjoyable than ever. It’s important that you get some practice in using these apps prior to setting off on a trip in order to become familiar with the features of each one. This will not only save you time during your trip, but it will also eliminate the frustration of trying to master new technology while on the road and minimize distractions. If you are traveling with other people, you may also want to help them to become familiar with the technology so that they can assist you while you drive. In the past few decades, technology and travel have become intertwined in some pretty amazing ways. Offering the ability to book flights from your smartphone and to take advantage of gadgets that make traveling easier, technology has penetrated nearly every aspect of the travel experience. While travel has seen its share of technological advancements, hotel accommodations have largely gone untouched. A few hotels have begun to integrate technology into their guest rooms, providing the most comfortable and high-tech experience possible. M-Beta by MarriottRecently, the Marriott hotel chain introduced its M-Beta concept hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. The redesigned M-Beta hotel is designed to cater to consumers based on their feedback, and guests are encouraged to use special touchpads located throughout the hotel. The technology allows guests to enter their rooms without a key, to customize workouts in the fitness studio, and to engage in various activities throughout the hotel. Guests are not required to go through the traditional check-in process, which often involves standing in long lines and verifying credit card details. Instead, guests are met at a specific location in the lobby or even curbside—and checked in by a hotel representative. Robotic Butlers
New York’s Yotel features a Yobot designed to make luggage transport easier than ever. Guests can simply put their luggage into one of the bins, enter a unique PIN provided at check-in, and Yobot will then transport and store the luggage. When guests want to retrieve their luggage, they can scan their receipt and re-enter their PIN. In California, the Aloft hotel chain recently unveiled a robot butler at its Cupertino location. The robotic butler brings requested items to guest rooms, including toiletries, items ordered from room service, and even towels as guests lounge by the pool. Botlr is available to guests 24/7, and requests can be made directly from your smartphone. Smartphone and iPad Integration
A few hotel chains are taking this technology a step further and using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This technology is being used in Paris hotels—Pullman Paris Bercy and Hotel Sofitel Le Faubourg—to allow guests to use their smartphones to wirelessly access their rooms. Instead of fumbling with a key card, guests can hold their RFID-enabled phone near the entrance to gain access. While US hotels are not currently using RFID, many are beginning to the incorporate technology into their menu of services. For example, The Plaza Hotel in New York provides complimentary iPads to guests, allowing them to control the room temperature, lighting, drapes, and a variety of other electronics in their room. The iPads also offer a way for guests to learn more about the surrounding area and even give them the ability to book reservations at local restaurants and other attractions. Infrared TechnologyIf you’ve ever stayed in a hotel, then you probably know how intrusive it can be when housekeeping arrives. Sometimes the hotel staff comes in unannounced, which is not only inconvenient, but can be downright embarrassing. A Seattle hotel is seeking to prevent this from happening through the use of infrared technology. Hotel 1000 activates infrared sensors when hotel staff rings the doorbell of a guest’s suite. The infrared sensors automatically detect body heat, so staff will know whether it’s safe to enter the room. In addition to its ability to help maintain guests’ privacy, infrared technology is used in the hotel’s virtual golf course in order to help guests connect with international virtual golf courses. What the Future Holds Since technology is becoming so prevalent in the homes of consumers, it’s only right that hotels step up and use the latest technology to satisfy guests and improve their operations. Hotels in all parts of the world are trying their hand at technological integration, from fingerprint room access to retinal scans to secure transactions and entry into exclusive parts of the hotel.
Technology continues to grow at a rapid pace, and things we only once saw in the movies are becoming a part of our reality. As time goes on, we are likely to see niche innovations spread into the mainstream, making travel and vacation simpler and more high-tech than ever before. Sightseeing is one of the best things about traveling, and for some, traveling for the purpose of taking is pictures is a professional necessity. With smartphones being the small computers they are, it’s easier than ever to put professional-quality tools at your fingertips. From capturing to sharing to editing, these photography apps allow travelers the freedom of powerful technology to make their photos better than ever. Darkroom For photo editing, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better all-around app than Darkroom. The standard version of the app is available as a free download for iOS devices only. The developers of Darkroom boast of its ease of use, and user reviews echo this sentiment. The professional version of Darkroom - aptly named Pro-Kit - app allows users to create custom filters and use the Colors and Tones tools, all of which can be integrated into your Instagram account for one-of-a-kind pictures. One of the Pro-Kit’s standout features is Curves, which gives users more control over exposure levels compared to standard smartphone camera apps. The Pro-Kit is available as an in-app purchase for $5.99. In addition to custom filters, the Darkroom Pro-Kit allows users to edit directly in the app’s interface without the annoyance of importing photos. This saves time and makes taking vacation pics less time-consuming. Users can also access custom color adjustment features that aren’t available on most of today’s smartphones. 645 Pro Mk IIIDSLR cameras continue to be popular among travelers thanks to their ability to produce professional-looking photos. However, for professionals or even amateur photographers, carrying a camera in addition to your smartphone can be cumbersome, especially when traveling. 645 Pro Mk III is a powerful app designed to use your phone’s rear-facing camera thanks to its high resolution, and the controls include everything from development status to meter mode. The wide variety of controls are located right on the screen, making use of the app an intuitive process. In addition, the app offers many other features, including, but not limited to, white balance, auto-focus, histogram data, and various flash settings. The app works in both portrait and landscape mode for maximum versatility. The 645 Pro Mk III is only available for iPhone at a price of $3.99. A similar app for Android devices is Camera FV-5, which is available in the Google Play Store for $3.95. Motion StillsIf you have ever had the desire to turn a still photo into an animated GIF, look no further than Motion Stills. While there are a lot of photo looping apps available, Motion Stills takes things a bit further thanks to its stabilization technology. Not only can users loop a single Apple Live Photo, they can tie several looped photos together for the purpose of making mini-movies. This is a particularly useful feature when sightseeing and capturing panoramic photos of nature, such as moving water or a sunset. The Motion Stills app was created by Google and is also available for iOS devices. TouchRetouchMost smartphone users have become accustomed to the filtering and retouching features available in their phone’s factory camera app, but there are limitations to what standard camera apps can do. TouchRetouch fills the gap. If you’ve ever taken an epic photo only to realize an object was captured that essentially ruins the picture, TouchRetouch allows you to remove the unwanted item with a simple finger swipe. This is a useful feature for travelers, as it allows you to keep photos that are otherwise great and keeps you from having to retake pictures. If you find yourself on a sightseeing tour and cannot easily get back to retake a photo, TouchRetouch will definitely come in handy. TouchRetouch is available for both iOS and Android for $1.99. The app is also available for Windows-based phones in the Microsoft App Store for $1.49. SnapseeDThe great thing about Instagram is that you can chronicle your trip in photos while simultaneously sharing to your social media followers. If you’ve ever wished you could take Instagram photos in landscape mode, Snapseed is the answer you’ve been searching for. Snapseed not only enables you to take pictures or film videos in landscape mode, the app also includes preset filters that can be selected based on what effect you desire. In addition, Snapseed comes with a variety of editing tools that can be saved for future use, making the process of taking amazing vacation photos even easier. Snapseed is available for iOS and Android devices as a free download. As the adage goes, the best camera is the one you have with you, and technology has enabled us to have a camera available practically everywhere we go. Using theses apps will save space and eliminate the need to carry multiple devices while reducing the risk of losing an expensive camera that you may only use infrequently. With these apps, you’re guaranteed to take travel photos that are very close to professional-grade. Traveling can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Technology has touched nearly every part of our world, and these essential travel apps are a testament to that. From TSA wait time estimates to language translation apps, leisure and business travelers alike will find these travel apps extremely useful for future trips. Travelmath Trip CalculatorOrganizing a trip can be a daunting task, and once you add the trouble of calculating distance and cost, it can be downright annoying. The Travelmath Trip Calculator takes the frustration out of trip planning by providing a breakdown of your trip by cost, distance, or travel time. Simply input in your starting location and your destination, and Travelmath will give you detailed calculations - whether you’re flying or driving for your trip. Each trip can be broken down by number of miles, estimated total trip time, and nearby cities and attractions. Driving trips even include the projected cost to drive to your destination. Travelmath Trip Calculator is available as a free download for both Android and Apple devices. MyTSAAnyone who has traveled has probably wondered what is permitted onboard an aircraft. While doing an internet search may yield conflicting answers, using the MyTSA app will give travelers definitive answers straight from the source. Created by the US Department of Homeland Security, the MyTSA app helps travelers with common questions and provides important updates about TSA security lines and airport status updates. The app also provides information on the TSA Precheck program, which enables travelers to avoid long lines and get through security checkpoints faster. iTranslateFor those traveling abroad, learning the language ahead of time may prove to be challenging. If you find yourself traveling internationally, an app like iTranslate will be invaluable for helping you communicate in a new and unfamiliar place. To use the app, simply start speaking into your device. The iTranslate app will instantly translate your words into the chosen language. The app functions offline for some language pairings, which comes in handy when you’re in an area with a weak or non-existent cellular signal or want to avoid roaming charges. iTranslate puts over 90 languages at your fingertips and is considered one of the foremost translation apps on the market. iTranslate is available for free for both Android and iOS devices. LogMeIn It has probably happened to all of us at one time or another - we’ve forgotten an important document that’s only available on our home or work desktop computer. In the past, travelers would have been out of luck. This could present huge problems, especially for work-related travel. LogMeIn saves the day with a way for users to access files from anywhere there’s an internet connection. In addition, LogMeIn features LastPass access in case you can’t remember important passwords needed to access files or programs remotely. A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card needed at sign up. All LogMeIn packages feature 1 TB of file storage, support for multiple monitors, unlimited users, remote printing, one LastPass license, and remote access. Power user and small business plans include additional LastPass licenses. Wi-Fi FinderFinding Wi-Fi on the go may be a challenge, particularly when you’re not familiar with the area. Hotel Wi-Fi is not always free or may have device limits, and local establishments may require a purchase to access their Wi-Fi networks. However, free Wi-Fi is usually not far away, and Wi-Fi Finder helps traveler find the nearest free Wi-Fi hotspots. The service works in both domestic and international locations, and it’s the perfect way to save money while exploring a new city. Wi-Fi Finder is available in the Google Play store for Android devices. For other operating systems, including iOS and Windows Phone, there are many similar apps available. OptionsAwayEver see a fare or vacation price that’s a great deal, but you’re short on cash or unsure of if you really want to book? If you don’t want to miss out on low prices, OptionsAway allows travelers to lock in a good price for a fee ranging from $4 to $45. OptionsAway gives travelers flexibility in their trip planning process by locking in prices. OptionsAway partners with popular travel sites including Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity using a feature called TripLocks. TripLocks are available for select destinations and allow users to place a hold on the trip of their choice. For airfare, fare prices can be reserved for up to 21 days. Whether you are flying or driving as a business traveler or a leisure vacationer, these apps will help take the frustration out of planning a trip and provide peace of mind while you’re away from home. These apps not only save time, they put powerful features right at your fingertips. |
AuthorBruce Eaton is the president and chief executive officer of i2 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a hit discovery and lead optimization technology provider serving clients in the pharmaceutical industry. Categories
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