Sleep gadgets promise better night’s rest
Pillows that track your snoozing patterns? A bed that adjusts based on how much you twist and turn? Companies are adding more technology into their products, hoping to lure customers craving a better night’s sleep. Some specialized businesses are making gadgets that promise to measure and improve the quality of slumber, while mass-market retailers like Best Buy are offering... READ MORE
If online, beware: fraudsters proliferate
During a recent stay in a San Diego rehabilitation facility to recover from surgery, Eva Velasquez’s mother used social media to keep her spirits up. “She was all over Facebook,” Velasquez said.For some seniors, going online links them to a larger community for support. But there’s a downside as well, according to Velasquez, who is also president of the Identity... READ MORE
New technologies to prove you are you
The days of PINs and passwords are numbered as more companies embrace futuristic identification software designed to combine practicality with protection.Facial recognitionDelta Air Lines has started testing facial recognition technology at a self-service bag drop in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.Passengers will check in with the airline and check their luggage at a kiosk... READ MORE
Tech devices give early health warning
A next step for smart watches and fitness trackers? Wearable gadgets gave a Stanford University professor an early warning that he was getting sick before he ever felt any symptoms of Lyme disease.Geneticist Michael Snyder never had Lyme’s characteristic bulls-eye rash. But a smart watch and other sensors charted changes in Snyder’s heart rate and oxygen levels during a family... READ MORE
New, happier returns for online purchases
As online shopping surges, so do the returns — and the hassles for shoppers trying to get rid of items that aren’t right. A few startups dedicated to online returns, as well as changes at some big stores, may make it easier.With the contest for shoppers’ loyalty intense, retailers need to keep them happy — and returns can be a key part of that. Online purchases get... READ MORE
Add latest safety technology to your car
Old cars can learn new tricks.For a few hundred dollars, drivers can add new safety technology — like forward collision warning systems or backup cameras — to older cars.Cars are lasting longer than ever, thanks to improving quality. The average U.S. vehicle is now 11.6 years old, according to the consulting firm IHS Markit. But that means millions of car owners are missing out... READ MORE
Free class teaches coding for beginners
Every computer has “genies” that will obey your commands. But you have to know how to give your command to the genie so it will do exactly what you instructed. Giving these instructions so that the computer will understand you is called coding A free mini-course in coding will be given at the Rockville Senior Center on Fridays, June 9, 16 and 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. The... READ MORE
Take new car technology out for a spin
Car shopping isn’t just about kicking the tires anymore. It’s also about testing the technology.The rapidly evolving in-car infotainment and navigation systems can be bewildering for all but the most tech-savvy car buyers. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is 11 years old; that means many people last went car shopping before iPhones were invented.Car buyers should make sure they ... READ MORE
Simple rules for proper email etiquette
Q. What are appropriate ways to begin and end work-related emails?A. Save “Hi” for colleagues and work acquaintances. New clients should be greeted with “Hello” or “Dear,” followed by “Mr.” or “Ms.” (or a professional title) and the person’s surname.“The addressee won’t notice the word hello as much as the respect ... READ MORE
Your phone can safely become a wallet
Smartphones have replaced lots of other accessories — cameras, flashlights, calculators. But many people are still reluctant to swap the wallets in their pockets for their digital counterparts.A key reason consumers are hesitant to use mobile payment services like Apple Pay and Android Pay, surveys say, is fear over security: High-profile retailer data breaches have made buyers wary... READ MORE
Technology 2024
