Five Technology Trends to Look Out For in 2018

We keep hearing that technology is the future, but I disagree. If that is the case, the future is here already. With so much fascinating and innovative tech all around us, it is hard to keep up with everything going on. I have always been fascinated by science and technology. As a child, I actually dreamt of becoming an astronaut and exploring space. Even though I'm not an astronaut today, I still enjoy keeping up with new scientific and technological advances. I was recently watching the launch of Elon Musk's Space X and it blew me away by how majestic the earth looked while the Tesla car with a dummy driver was cruising in space.

Here are what I believe are technology trends we should keep an eye out for. 

1) Artificial Intelligence(AI)
Machines demonstrating intelligence. In some ways, people already actively use artificial intelligence. How many of you have used Amazon's Echo or Google Home? Even the iPhone X's facial recognition feature has to do with Artificial Intelligence. For instance, for Amazon Echo's Alexa to respond back to your question, it has to interact with a communication cloud which ends up increasing the response time.

In order to keep up with rivals Google and Apple(who have already produced their own AI hardware and AI chips), Amazon is trying to design its own custom artificial intelligence chips. The new Amazon Echo is touted to be even faster.

Samsung also announced that it plans to add AI to all of its devices and appliances by 2020. It plans to get rid of its "Smart Home", "Smart View" and combine it all into one "Smart Things" App which will be connected to all your Samsung Devices. The tech company also plans simplify all of its products using a single-cloud approach which will include connectivity, cloud, and intelligence.

2) Augmented Reality (AR)
According to Google, "hundreds of millions" of Android phones will be capable of AR(Augmented Reality) over the next few years. Google is betting on the fact that as AR becomes more common and even a "daily habit" for some, monetization opportunities will arise. Not only has Google released the ARCore developer's Kit, but Apple has as well, by releasing the ARKit. This encourages app develops to build Augmented Reality apps, which in turn will be used when Android and iPhones are capable of AR.

Even Microsoft joins in by building its HoloLens. It is a headset that allows users to interact with digital images which will "overlay" on the real world. Microsoft is calling this "mixed reality".  For now, Microsoft is working on building a specific AI chip for the HoloLens(2nd Generation).

3) Revolutionary Vehicles 
Companies such as Tesla, Volkswagon, Nissan , BMW and others have all come up with electric vehicles. Most of the companies uses lithium-ion batteries instead of oil. This will help to reduce the usage of fossil fuels, though the cars are quite pricey for now. However, since countries like China are pushing for more cars to run on alternative fuel, this will lead to more companies building different electric or hybrid vehicles and the price will eventually go down sooner or later.

Gogoro Smartscooter electric vehicle, which has been tagged by Forbes as 'The Tesla of Scooters', is a popular vehicle working to replace polluting scooters across Asia. Gogoro has installed battery swapping stations all around cities in Asia, starting from Taipei. You put old battery in and a new one pops out for you, freeing you from having to recharge anything yourself.

4) Healthcare Tech 
There are a number of digital health technology in the market such as fitness trackers, mobile health apps etc. One reason healthcare technology is growing exponentially is because people nowadays tend to be more concerned about their health and want to be better informed about it.

Most of you have heard of FitBit, but have you heard of the Internet of medical things(IoMT) ? It is basically an infrastructure of medical devices and software applications which are connected to healthcare IT systems. For instance, you go for a walk and your FitBit calculates the amount of steps you walked, that data is then shared with a doctor and feedback is sent to your phone.

One of the leaders of healthcare tech is Noteworth. Noteworth is a health platform which allows health organizations to prescribe virtual care to their patients(also known as telehealth/telecare). It also works to help doctors collect and access the patient's health data. This platform also works to improve the care the patient receives. It also strives to cut costs and better engage their patients. There is also a visualized patient-generated health data in continuous Noteworth Reports which can be monitored at anytime.

5) Wearable Technology
Wearable tech such as smartwatches, activity trackers, fitness trackers etc are already widely available in the market. However, most of the current technology available is only to wear on your wrist(Fitbit, Apple Watch etc) or on your eyes (Google Glass, Virtual Reality headset etc). In the future, much of the technology will be integrated in our clothes, body, even running shoes.

Companies such as Samsung, Qualcomm, and E Ink are working to create smart patches which will work to be a health gadget which will be able to monitor your body and notify you if it sees any warning signs. It may also be able to directly deliver medication to patients while reminding patients when is the next time they have to take the next dosage and change their Smart Patch.

Under Armour has built a new shoe technology it refers to as HOVR. It is supposed to be a smart running shoe which comes with in-built sensors to track your distance, pace, stride, and steps. The sensors are Bluetooth powered and are located in the thickest part of the mid-sole. To access the data stored by the smart running shoes, you have to download Under Armour's Map My Run app. The shoe will be able to store your data and you will be able to sync it when you have Wi-Fi connection.

Sony is also working to create a device known as 'Xperia Ear Open.' It allows you to listen to music while being aware of your surroundings at the same time. This device is made in a way so that you will be able to tune in and tune out simultaneously.  For instance, you can listen to music on this device will having a conversation with someone. The music will work like background music in a way. However, this means that you will still be able to hear people having conversations around you, because the device is designed in such a way that it is 'open'.

7 Tips to learn a foreign language

Have you always wanted to learn a new language but just never managed to pick it up? Some of us take language classes, but just end up forgetting half of what we learned in the first place. Unfortunately, language classes tend to focus on grammar and vocabulary rather than the practical use of a language. No worries, there are still plenty of ways you can teach yourself to speak a language and the key is : practice, practice, practice...and keeping yourself motivated to do so.

1) Give yourself a reason to study the language
You may be interested in visiting the country where the language is spoken, or using the language as a skill in the future, for your career. Whatever the reason may be, this will keep you motivated to learn the language. If you are learning without giving yourself an incentive to do so, chances are you won't take it seriously. Therefore, you might not end up learning the language as well as you could have.

2) Learning can be fun
You don't have to learn just through memorization and reading textbooks. You can also learn through entertainment. Why don't you read a book in Spanish?Or watch a French film? It will help to learn to listen and read things that a native speaker of the language would. This way learning won't seem boring and just something you have to force yourself to do. I would suggest watching with English subtitles first and try to write down any word you don't understand. You can also re-watch films several times in order for your listening ability to improve. As for reading in another language, you can look up words you don't understand and write it down. This will help to improve your vocabulary of the new language.

3) Learn with other people
Learning with people is always more fun than learning alone. Find a friend who is also interested in learning the new language, and spend time trying to pick up the language together. If you or your friend don't understand a new concept, you can help each other out by trying to explain it to one another. You friend might be better at pronunciation than you, while you may be better at grammar. The both of you can help each other out, while at the same time work towards improving your language skills.


4) Talk to yourself
If you do not have anyone to learn with, it's okay. You can spend time talking with yourself in the new language. It might be strange at first, however, try not to be so self-conscious. You can practice different words and phrases by repeating them to yourself again and again. Your mind tends to remember things better this way and you will be able to recall the vocabulary faster when you need to use it.

5) Learn online
Thanks to the development of technology, there are a ton of ways to learn online. You can download various apps, join language groups online, or try to find a native speaker of the language online  and practice conversing with him or her. You can also listen to podcasts or read e-books in order to learn a language online.

6) Get ready to leave your comfort zone
When you learn a new language, you have to challenge yourself. You will make mistakes and that is okay. The important thing is that you are willing to put yourself out there and learn from your mistakes. Try speaking to strangers in the language.You can start from the basics, such as ordering food, asking how much it cost, or asking for directions. Don't be embarrassed if a native speaker corrects your pronunciation or the grammar, instead think of it as a learning opportunity. The next time you use the phrase, you won't make the same mistake again.

7) Travel....if possible
When you travel to the country where the language you want to learn is spoken, you are putting yourself in an environment full of endless possibilities. You should utilize this opportunity to speak to as many locals in the new language as possible. This is a great chance to use what you have learned and to learn much more.

Living a Stress-free Life(Or at least trying to)

     There is always a ton of pressure put on us at any given time. When we are in school, we are expected to excel in our academic life, extracurricular life etc. After graduating, we expect to find the "dream job", which let's be honest is extremely difficult in today's world. When we are in the workforce, we are always expected to go above and beyond in our job. It can really be taxing, mentally and physically, trying to plan for the future or just trying to live our day-to-day life without going broke (or crazy, whichever comes first).

     I personally have a bad habit of giving myself too much stress. I stress out about the future, my life etc. In order to calm myself down and distract myself from all my problems, I have had to come up with some ways to live a relatively stress-free life.

Practice yoga.

Not only has yoga improved my posture, it really has taught me to relax and be more calm. Give yourself an hour every morning before going to work to practice some yoga. A lot of times, in life we cannot control what circumstances we will go through. Instead stressing about what might happen, or what has happened in the past, it is important to look forward and stop stressing out. What is meant to happened, will happen.

Be positive.

Being positive really works wonders. No one likes being around negative people who complain about everything, but never really does anything to change their current circumstances. Complaining never solves anything. Stop complaining and take action about the situation.

Remind yourself that things will change eventually.

Nothing is permanent in this world except change. If you are going through a bad phase in your life, of course you will be worried. That is normal. However, it is also important to remember that things will take a turn for the better, eventually. This does not mean, you can just expect everything to be handed to you. You still need to work hard and put effort in improving your situation.

Read more.

Not only will it distract you, you might end up learning something new which might be beneficial to you in the future. When you read, it helps you to escape the worries and stresses of your everyday life. You end up completely engrossed in the world that the author of the book has created. Reading also instantly helps to reduce your heart rate and ease tension in the muscles.

Give yourself a day off.

It is important to have some "me time" once in a while. You can treat yourself to a nice meal, go shopping, get your hair done etc. Anything that helps you to wind down and chill out.  Not only will it refresh you, it will also give you a boost. The next day, you will be ready to face any problem you have head on.

Enjoy Nature.

It is calming to go for nature walks or hikes. I like spending time in nature. It feels rejuvenating for the mind and body. Breathing the fresh air and spending time in the sun also helps you to feel better. Did you know going out in nature also helps to lower stress hormone levels?

Write. 

Sometimes it is cathartic just to write down what you are feeling. This way, you do not feel like you are just keeping all of your emotions bottled up inside you. You acknowledge your different feelings and emotions by writing them down which helps to give you a sense of relief.

12 Tips to Live a More Eco-Friendly Life

We all know that Earth is the our home we should cherish it. As climate change is impacting our world faster than ever(check out my blog post Thoughts on Climate Change for more information), it is crucial that we do our part to conserve our planet and reduce our carbon footprint on Earth.

"But I'm just one person, what difference will it make?"  I hear you say. Well, imagine if millions of people worked together to be more eco-friendly, won't it make a difference then?  It actually isn't as difficult as it sounds.

Here are twelve simple tips for you to move towards living a more eco-friendly life.


1) Save Water
Water is one of the most precious resource on earth. We need fresh water to survive, because there is not an abundance of it.  You can work to save water by turning off the tap while your brush. Time yourself when you are taking a shower. Five to fifteen minutes is more than enough time to shower. Do not waste water by taking long showers. Do the laundry only when you know you have a full load of clothes. Some countries are already taking action to preserve water as there is an ongoing drought in their country. We should do our part for planet earth by trying to conserve as much water as we can. Oh and by the way, did I mention that your water bill will be reduced in the process?

2) Turn off the lights
Whenever you leave a room, make it a habit to turn off all the lights in the room. It helps to save money and energy. Turning off lights in the room will also help to keep the room cooler as light bulbs tend to radiate heat. You can also look to purchase energy-efficient household appliances.

3) Use LED light bulbs
I would suggest using LED light bulbs instead of regular incandescent lights. Incandescent lights tend to be the least expensive types of lights to purchase however, they also are expensive to use. I would suggest investing in LED lights instead. LED lights convert 95% of energy into light while only 5% of energy is otherwise wasted as heat. In comparison, incandescent lights only convert 5-10% of energy into light while the rest is wasted as heat. It also has a better quality of light distribution and a longer lifespan compared to other lights. LED lights are more expensive at first,  however it will pay off in the long run by reducing your electricity bill.

4) Bring your own Utensils
Try to use your own utensils instead of taking the disposable plastic utensils whenever you order food outside. Some restaurants will just put in the disposable utensils in the bag. You can always tell them in advance that you do not need them as you have your own utensils. I developed this habit in college as I had to eat out often, but  did not want to keep throwing out plastic spoons, forks etc unnecessarily. I decided to go out and buy a set of utensils. After using them, I would just wash them at the sink and voilà, it was good to go.

5) Bring your own Bag
Instead of getting a new plastic bag every time you shop and contributing to the ever-increasing number of plastic waste in the world, why not use a tote bag which you can reuse again and again every time you shop? It helps to cut down on plastic pollution and besides it is really convenient. You can just fold it up and use it anytime you want.

6) Turn off your Electronic Devices 
This is something that needs to be practiced more often. When you are done using your laptop, turn it off! Especially at night before you go to bed. As long as long as your device is still turned on it is consuming electricity.

7) Use Public Transportation
Instead of driving the car or riding a scooter to work everyday, why not try to take the public bus or the metro to work? As a large number of people are travelling together, it helps to cut down on the number of carbon emissions released into the air and therefore resulting in improved air quality in the long run. If you don't like using public transportation, you can always choose to carpool to work or anywhere in general.

8) Stop shopping compulsively
When you shop compulsively, you usually end up with a lot of stuff you don't end up using. Try to make a list of things you actually need and only shop for them. Remember, your goal is to try to reduce the amount of waste you create!

9) Recycle and Reuse
When you recycle and reuse products, it helps to reduce energy use which would otherwise be used to manufacture new products. Other than that, it also helps to reduce waste in the world. For instance, you can reuse plastic bags instead of just tossing them away. Instead of just throwing out your old pair of denims, why not recycle it instead? There are a ton of creative ideas online on how your can reuse your old clothing and upgrade it to something new and different.

10) Donate items you no longer need
Instead of tossing away a product you no longer need, why not give it to someone in need? You can choose to donate to shelters, to the salvation army, to a children's hospital near you etc. 

11) Decrease your consumption of meat
Do you know how much water is used in order to produce one kilogram of meat? Not only that, did you know that the meat industry produces more climate gasses than the transport industry? It is appalling what goes around in the meat industry, therefore you can do your part by decreasing your meat intake. Instead of eating meat four times a week, try to eat meat only once a week. You can instead shift to a plant-based diet. Add fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. There are a ton of healthy and delicious recipes online. If you are really committed, you can even consider going vegan or becoming a vegetarian.

12) Purchase locally grown products
This way you can support your local farms, instead of purchasing products that are shipped from far away and contributes to carbon emission from shipping. I try to visit the local farmers' market every weekend in order to purchase fruits and vegetables in bulk. It is convenient and also helps you to save some money at the same time.

10 Ways You Can Become a Regular Reader today

Are you one of those people who love to read but just is so busy with life that you do not have to time to read? Raise your hand if that is the story of your life. It is so easy to fall into a regular routine and not have time to read. With our hectic lives, it is easy to "forget" to read or to look for excuses as to why you do not have time to read.

However, there is hope for us! It is not actually that difficult to add reading into your regular routine as we tend to have time to spare during the day. It is how we choose to use that time which is important. Reading helps us to gain knowledge and is known to help with mental stimulation.

Here are ten ways you can work on becoming a voracious reader today!

1) Make a list of books you are interested in reading
This will motivate you to look for the books you want to read and then actually read it in your free time. You can look online for book lists for inspiration on books you are interested in.

2) Join a local library
Libraries tend to have a ton of books and you can just borrow it for free. Libraries also have a wide range of books so while browsing through the books, you never know what you might find. Try to challenge yourself and pick books from various genres. You can pick multiple books at once and return them once you are done. If none of the books grab your attention, you can always go back and choose other books.

3) Set aside time to read daily
You have to set aside time to read daily whether you want to or not. Try to set aside 15-30 minutes daily just to sit down with your book and read. You can easily get this time by cutting down on mindless surfing online(Read: Facebook, Twitter , Instagram etc) and instead giving this time to focus on reading.

4) Learn various reading techniques
The more you read the more you will start to pick up reading techniques such as skimming and speed reading. You can skim in the beginning of the book to see if you are really interested or not interested enough to commit to reading the book. This way, you will be reading more books as you will be able to get through a book faster.

5) Join a book club
Why not join a book club in your area? You will be more motivated to read this way. You will be able to meet with different members of the book club to discuss the characters and the plot of the book  which will keep you engaged with the story.

6) E-Books
If you are someone who prefers to read on a tablet rather than an actual book, go for it! It is convenient compared to traditional books. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages of e-books and traditional books( https://chanda-chandasblog.blogspot.tw/2017/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-e-books.html) You can check out more information in the link above.

7) Keep a notebook
You can use it to write quotes from the book and follow your progress in the book. You can use it to write summaries, book reviews etc. A notebook can also be used to keep progress of how many books you have read so far. It can also be useful in looking back and seeing what you have actually learned from reading the book.

8) Go to a quiet place to read
Sometimes you really need to go somewhere peaceful and quiet in order to fully concentrate on reading. You can go to a quiet corner in your house and spend time reading there. You can also choose to go to the library if you do not want to be disturbed by others. It helps you to focus on the book and not be distracted by others things.

9) Read at night before going to bed
Sometimes we just want to read in a relaxed manner before dosing off to sleep. Why not turn off your electronic devices earlier and just spend the extra time in bed and read? It is so relaxing to just sit on your bed and read.Remember as kids how our parents' used to read us bedtime stories?  It is because reading before sleeping actually helps to get a great night of sleep. It helps us to relax and de-stress from our day.

10) Turn off your electronic devices
If you are someone who is easily distracted, I would suggest turning off all your electronic devices in order to concentrate on reading. This way, you can focus on reading instead of checking your phone every few minutes. Take a deep breath and only focus on the book as that is the only thing that should be on your mind.

10 Ways to Become a More Responsible Person

The older we get, the more responsibilities we seem to have. We have to handle our lives, our jobs, and our family and somehow manage everything to the best of our ability. It is difficult to be a responsible adult. However, nothing is impossible. Did you know it can actually negatively affect your life if you are not a responsible person?

Today we will discuss ten ways you can become a more responsible person in life.

1) Stop blaming others
It is very easy to point your fingers and blame somebody for the education or the job that you did not get. Admit you actually failed and take the time to think back about the real reason you actually failed. By looking for excuses, and shifting the blame to someone/something else you are actually being irresponsible.

2) Stop being negative
Negative thoughts tend to be overpowering. It makes us think that is impossible to achieve whatever it is that we want to achieve. Actually, it is just tends to be in our head. We can do anything once we put our mind to it. Remember impossible is nothing. Try to keep a positive attitude and with that you will start to have more positive thoughts as well.

3) Do not complain
You fill yourself with negativity if you keep complaining about everything around you. Instead of nagging and complaining about all your problems, think about ways you can solve them. It is time to stop complaining and start taking action.

4) Be on time

"Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable!" - Eric Jerome Dickey

You have to be punctual if you want to be regarded as a responsible adult. When you show up on time to an event or a meeting, you are showing the other person that you take him/her seriously and are not going to waste their time by showing up late.

5) Be organized
Plan your day out. Write down what you need to get done in the day. This will help you be organized and keep you on your toes. You can also use calendar apps and note taking apps for your convenience. By having things written down or on your phone, you can visually track your progress towards your goals and not forget anything.

6) Be consistent
Have a schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. It helps to be organized as I mentioned above. Routine means order. Having order in your life shows that you are responsible. It shows people that they can depend on you.

7) Be self-disciplined 
"When there is a will, there is a way." -  English Proverb
Now this depends on your willpower. How determined are you to make the change in your life?  You have to push yourself to become a more responsible person. If you are determined, then you can definitely make it happen. Being self-disciplined is a learned trait which will result in you having more control over yourself.

8) Admit your mistakes
Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes in life. We have to see ourselves and recognize both the good and the bad. Try to improve yourself and make yourself a better person instead of living in denial. Do not blame others for the mistakes in your life. Be accountable for your own actions.

9) Do not procrastinate
Try not to put things off till the last moment. It just will not be your best work. It is better to make a schedule and start working on projects ahead of time. It shows that you are serious about the project you need to get done and are not just interested in getting it done just for the sake of it.

10) Plan ahead 
If you want to go backpacking in Asia, do it! Nothing is stopping you except you. This applies to anything whether it be a promotion in your job or following your dream. Stop looking for excuses and start taking action.

6 Ways to Declutter Your Life for Good

Everyone is so busy in their day-to-day lives that we end up with a ton of things we do not need anymore but have not had the time to actually sort out and get rid of.  

1)  Do not shop impulsively.
The first thing you should do is stop shopping impulsively! Do you really need that new pair of pants? This will help you focus on going shopping only when you need something. Ask yourself, "Do I need these pair of pants? Am I absolutely sure I am going to wear this? Or will it just be sitting in the back of my closet and be forgotten?" This will also help in teaching you self-discipline and it will help you save money in the long-term.


2)  Start decluttering slowly.
It might be overwhelming if you decide to clean out your whole house in a day, so why don't you start slowly? Dedicate 10-20 minutes a day in cleaning out a section of your room. This will help you get into a routine and before you know it, your room will look clean as never before. It will get simpler with time and you will start to get into a habit of regularly decluttering, then you would not need to go on huge decluttering sprees which are time-consuming and tend to be exhausting as well.

3)  Donate/Throw out/Sell old things you do not need anymore.
Look in your closet and separate things that you do not wear anymore, things that do not fit, and things that you genuinely know you will never wear again. There are many people in the world who are actually in need of clothes, why not use this opportunity to donate to a local shelter? If not, you can choose to throw away things you do not need or sell old things if you want to make some extra cash.

4) Get rid of things you 'might use' in the future
As human beings, we tend to hold onto items and encourage ourselves by saying we "might need" it in the future. However that is rarely the case, and we are better off giving things that we do not need right now to those who actually need them. Remember, what is old to us will be new to someone else.

5)  Do not forget about decluttering your digital life
There is so much going on in the online world : our e-mails, social media, blogs, all those apps on our phones, tablets etc. Try to have a routine purge of e-mails that are not important. Delete unnecessary apps that are taking up space on your phone or tablet. Do you really need to have five different social media accounts? Choose 2-3 which matter to you the most and focus on those. One more thing, I would suggest you to turn off notifications from random apps. It just adds to the clutter and is unnecessary.

6)  Freedom!
A less cluttered house will result in a less cluttered brain. Decluttering is helpful in that it will teach you to value that things that you actually decide to keep at the end. It will also help in bringing peace to your life and helping you to learn to live a more fulfilling life without as many material possessions.