Now the evenings are beginning to shorten, fall and winter are just around the corner. As the seasons shift, the usual plethora of advice begins to crop up offering tips on how to proof your home for the season to come. It’s valuable advice, too – from energy efficiency to just a general sense of coziness, it’s always good to be ready.
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Yet there is one area that is often overlooked: technology. There’s no arguing with the fact that it isn’t as important as making sure your house is sound, but we live in what is being called the Digital Era. While it might not be obvious how your technology usage can change with the seasons, there are a few subtle shifts that are going to happen. To keep you powered through the long, dark months, bear these in mind.
Beware the Blackout
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Be it because of storms or snowfall, you might find yourself without electricity at home. With many smartphones barely able to get through a day without a charge, this can become a problem if it takes awhile to get back on the grid.
Look for products such as power banks, allowing you to stow electricity away in case of emergency need. There’s also the option of gas generators, though that might be a sledgehammer to crack a nut situation. That said, if you live in an area prone to blackouts, it might be a worthwhile investment.
Furthermore, don’t just rely on one network. Have a spare SIM card and ideally a second phone, which you can keep topped up with Freecharge mobile recharges so you always have something to hand.
Temperature Tantrums
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So you got the manual for your appliance, and then you threw it out. Come on, you’re an adult, you know how to use a dishwasher. While that’s a pretty standard reaction, it doesn’t mean that it’s a good one.
Many devices have a set operating temperature, and if the ambient temperature falls below that, they start to suffer. Information on this is found in that instruction manual you didn’t read. This is particularly important to bear in mind if you keep a freezer or similar in a shed or outbuilding. They may require a little insulation; even wrapping a fleece around is a better idea than nothing.
Lighting Lows
Bit of an Instagram addict? Then winter is not your friend. The generally low level of light threatens to wash out colors, particularly if you’re just using a phone camera. It’s a beautiful time of year, but you need to be able to see it to photograph it.
Try and time planned photos for the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest also. For times when the sun isn’t playing ball, products small keychain LEDs can help. If your focus is a selfie indoors, then try a ring light or flash. You can take them out with you to help illuminate anything you see on the way, leading to better photos as a result. Don’t think you can rely on photo editing software to do the whole work: some of the light is going to have to be in the picture itself.
*This article was contributed. Family friendly posts are welcome.
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