The nature of today’s working world means that you need to stay connected wherever you are. There is any number of reasons why you might be away from your desk for a short or extended period of time. Thankfully, there is now a plethora of technology to help smooth out and simplify a busy, mobile work life.
If you are determined to carry around the contents of an entire computer, then you can now purchase an incredible 1 terabyte of storage in a single flash drive thanks to Kingston’s USB 3.0. However, the future of data, information storage and sharing is in remote access solutions. There is absolutely no reason why documents, programs or information should be limited to a single device. Read more here about BYOD technology which allows you to access your entire desktop from multiple devices, creating a virtual desktop experience.
There is also a big future in personal cloud development. Cloud data solutions such as Dropbox have been around for a while. Now, according to industry researchers Gartner, the future is an integrated personal cloud solution, where each individual builds a dedicated single ‘location’ to store content and access personal and business services. Windows 8 with SkyDrive has given Microsoft a strong foothold in this burgeoning market.
However, much of this technology is reliant upon internet connection. Sadly, particularly when you are on the go, this is not always reliable or even guaranteed. You should certainly do your homework on Wi-Fi hotspots and other access areas before you go on a trip. However, if you want a real guarantee for online access, then you can always purchase a 3G modem which connects directly into a regular USB port in any device. These are becoming increasingly smaller, cheaper and more useful with data service plans usually included.
If you are looking for a really handy business tool, then Brookstone is now offering an impressive Pocket Projector. If you are travelling for a last-minute business pitch or presentation, this pocket-sized gadget plugs straight into smartphones and tablets, includes an LED light and will project for up to two hours with a single charge. Similarly, if you find yourself on the go and need to scan a document or picture, then you don’t need to be hooked up to a computer anymore. The Doxie One scanner stores all your scans on an SD card which is included.
The final tip to staying connected could be really useful if you spend a lot of time in airports. If so, it will probably be a point of endless frustration that you are forever removing your laptop for security checks. Now you can purchase a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag which allows you to keep your laptop zipped up during checks, reducing the hassle and ensuring that you really do stay connected and on the go.