With only a few weeks left until we’re in the heart of the holiday season, it may look like there are only two “must-have” items for that tech-savvy person on our shopping lists: either a smartphone or a tablet. However, thousands of would-be perfect gadget gifts are going unnoticed. Advertisers are focusing on big-ticket gizmos when plenty of gift-worthy devices are left under the radar instead of the tree. Here are just a few terrific eco-conscious, economical and clever high-tech and geeky gifts. 

Gadgets make great gifts – whether they’re practical or not

From the 40-in-1 Swiss Army Knife to the 6-in-1 key-chain, chances are the receiver will find a use for it some day. Gadgets are especially good for that tech geek friend or relative in your life. So, no matter whether it’s the Starship Enterprise pizza cutter or crocheted headphones, chances are your gift will be a hit.

Gadgets for the hard-to-shop-for individual

So what makes a good gadget gift? It really depends on how tech-savvy the recipient is, and just how much you’d like to spend. If you have a little bit more money and the person is environmentally conscious, you may opt for a “green” choice. Eco-friendly products abound and are especially sought after this year. From hand-powered paper shredders to solar-powered tiki torches, many options exist for that inner tree-hugger in all of us.

Tablet or smartphone owners

For people who already own a smartphone and tablet, there are several terrific accessories to brighten their day, from iPhone “wallet cases” to iPad docking stations. As most tablets and smartphones don’t have separate keyboards, here are two accessory ideas, one for the iPad, one for the iPhone. These gadgets will have an immediate impact on the user’s experience!

The best part about gadgets and the reason they’re continuously sought after is that they’re always at hand. Gadgets, simply put, make our lives easier. While phones and tablets are the big-ticket rage this holiday season, hopefully we’ve given you some ideas for tech gadget gifts that are under the radar!

While many shoppers won’t be battling the crowds this year by purchasing all of their gifts online, many more will be in line waiting around for the doors to open. Armed with their smartphones and tablets, customers will be using apps which offer up great gift ideas, tips on how to comparison-shop, as well as opportunities to buy online while in the store. So, for those of us who fearlessly venture out to the mega-mall, here are just a few ways technology will impact how we’re shopping this holiday season.

Mobile Apps

If you own a smartphone or a tablet, you’re in luck when it comes to simplifying your shopping experience this year. Specifically designed apps provide many services to the hectic shopper, from being able to quickly find merchandise, to comparing a product’s price across the board. One app even allows you to take a picture of the item, and it will search the Internet to find you the best price and availability.

Smartphone Marketing

Another interesting trend this season is in the strategies taken by marketers to catch us even when we’re not tied to our computers. Smartphone marketing may be the next big step in reaching consumers, and this holiday season will basically be the beta test. Many marketing agencies have set out to contact shoppers while they’re waiting in long lines, and offering big deals and discounts in “mobile-only” purchases.

Economical Technology Trends

This season we’ll be using technology in ways we hadn’t even dreamed of 5 years ago—shopping with a tablet in hand and phone strapped to our ear. And the good news is, with the economy’s outlook, the technology itself is in a billion-dollar battle to generate high quality products for the least amount. So the consumer wins in a way, should they have the means to purchase anything at all this holiday season.

Not all of us will shop solely from home this holiday season. Technology can help us find the store, locate the item, check the price and see if it’s in stock—all without having to contend with a salesperson. But as technology gives us greater freedom as consumers to purchase prudently, we must also acknowledge how the tech itself is in that constant battle for purchasing power. And, in this economy, the technology that offers the best value will be the ones to beat.

The Intel 4004 arrived on the scene in 1971 and was the first CPU on a single chip! This week marks its birthday and we want so say a quick thank you to the microprocessor which has transformed computing forever. A CPU, or central processing unit, is basically the brain of a computer. Every bit of information input or output by the computer goes through the CPU. So you can imagine the impact made by the invention of such a little yet powerful CPU. Generations of CPUs born from the Intel 4004 have been, and continue to be, an integral part of our everyday lives.

Created as the processor for a calculator, the Intel 4004 quickly became the brain of numerous other devices. Though CPUs today are exceedingly more powerful than their ancestor, our world would look considerably different if it wasn’t for the Intel 4004’s influence.  Everyday devices such as traffic lights, laptops, and cellphones would not exist without a CPU. The Intel 4004 has had a significant effect on computer science leading us into the modern world. You can see the evolving role of the CPU in technology here.

We can’t acknowledge the Intel 4004 without introducing the engineers responsible for developing it. Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff, and Stan Mazor comprised the team in charge of the design and development of the Intel 4004. It’s easy to lose sight of the humble origins of today’s technological world, but the Intel 4004 reminds us of how far we have come.

So lets take a moment to show our admiration for the little microprocessor that grandfathered the present day CPU.

Without a doubt, there’ll be an occasion when you will need help from your IT service provider. Remember that they are in charge of aiding many people with a multitude of challenging problems.  In order to receive the best possible response to your request, be sure you include as much important information when you first ask for help. You can’t assume they will understand your problem if you don’t supply them with all the details. By following these few steps, you can be assured that the whole experience goes smoothly and efficiently.

Write an Informative Email Subject Line
Your company’s IT provider deals with numerous requests a day.  Their greatest frustrations come when the requester doesn’t give enough valuable information.  When you send them an email, you should first identify yourself, and tell them where you work.  If your computer is having problems, identify your machine by make and model. Give them as much detail as possible.  Simply saying “Help!!!!!!!!” in the request is far from helpful.

Details, Details, Details
When you write your email, put detailed information in the body to give them a thorough description of the problem, such as your operating system, the steps or actions you were performing, and what errors you see on the screen.  Even though error messages are gibberish to people outside of IT, they provide a lot of help to the technicians.  Note that saying something vague like “followed normal steps” may be confusing to the technician, so it is advisable to list the exact steps you took.

Be Frank
Your IT provider will probably be busy most of the time, so while details are important, when communicating your issue be sure to keep unnecessary information to a minimum. Simply record the essential information and send the message along. Too much needless detail can delay how quickly the issue is resolved and add to your frustrations.

In the end, you are all busy people and your IT services provider wants to help you quickly and efficiently. Help them do so by following the tips above!

Your company can benefit greatly from workplace education programs (WEP). Morale will improve, employees will feel cared for as individuals, and they will strengthen your team. WEPs can be achieved in a small-scale way with educational handouts or in a large-scale way by providing half or full day classes. Regardless of how you want to implement educational programs, learning interesting things keeps employees fresh and inspired.

If workplace education programs don’t have an element of play, they can be boring and demotivating. Classes should be challenging, yet not so difficult that they make your employees feel like they are hitting a brick wall. You want your employees to feel satisfied with the job they are doing and have fun doing it.

Here are some ways to keep education programs interesting and fun.

Group Employees into Teams – Teams stimulate healthy competition, which can lead to better employee collaboration. They can also strengthen your team, as employees will build up stronger relationships as they get to know each other better on a more personal level.

Provide Incentives –Incentives are a good way to inspire your workforce. They work well regardless of whether you have a team structure or your employees work independently.

Create Games – Incorporating a game when people learn improves how much they will retain. Games also develop team-building skills and keeps learning light and fun.

Employees appreciate workplace education programs when implemented properly. They break up the week, keep things exciting, and support self improvement. Education in the workplace doesn’t have to mean a big endeavor; it can be scaled to fit your company and your resources. If you choose to institute a WEP, bear in mind the more fun and interesting it is the more successful it will be.

What’s your thoughts??? I’d love to hear them!