Surviving high school is hard. Balancing family, friends, athletics, and other extracurricular activities can be quite difficult. School work always seems to get in the way. Fortunately, there are some easy-to-use and affordable tech tools to make keeping up with school and balancing those busy schedules a whole lot easier.
Alarm Clock
The Moshi Voice Control Alarm Clock makes getting the day started a little bit easier. Described as the “listening alarm clock,” it responds to requests for time, weather, and allows the user to set an alarm by using simple voice commands. It is available for $39.99.
E-reader
Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color is the most versatile e-reader on the market. At $249, the Nook Color is better value than most tablet PCs on the market, and it does just as much. In addition to its Wi-Fi capability, there are also a number of student-friendly apps, including office software, a PDF reader, and several scheduling tools. For those students who are easily distracted, the Nook 1st Edition keeps the focus on the reading, and it is the more affordable option at $119.
HD Video
The Ultra HD Flip Video camera, only $79.99, is a quick, easy, and affordable way to put the magic of movie making in the hands of students. It comes with sharing/editing software, a USB interface, and up to one hour of recording time. It is available in a variety of colors, and the “design your own” cover feature will be very popular with teens. A unit with 2 hours of recording time is available for $99.99.
Flash Drive
The problem with most flash-drives is that they are easy to lose. This is not a problem that will go away anytime soon, but Verbatim has gotten a bit close to finding the perfect solution. The Clip-it USB Drive not only comes in a variety of bright, easily noticeable colors, but it also serves as a paper clip. The 4GB Clip-it drive starts at $11.25.
Organizer
Keeping track of these items, as well as the requisite cell-phones and MP3 players, can be quite a challenge. The GRID-IT! Organizer uses a series of woven elastic bands to hold on to…everything. It is highly customizable, and comes in a variety of sizes, including one that will fit in any 3-ring binder. Prices range from $14.99 – $29.99.