People used to be stuck at their desks to get work done because their computers weren’t portable. Laptops changed that to a degree, but they required intranet and internet access for connectivity. That wasn’t always available, in part because wireless connections weren’t always reliable. While this is how things were done as recently as 15 years ago, today you can work anywhere thanks to advances in technology. Following are some of the portable technologies that make your life easier and enable you to work remotely.
The Portable Hot Spot
A portable hotspot lets you work anywhere you can get a signal. Sure, you can use the hotspot on your phone, but that means you wind up using cellular data. And if you’re not paying for unlimited data, which isn’t really unlimited, you burn through your allotment fast. The hotspot lets you go anywhere and work securely without worrying about an open Wi-Fi connection. It also preserves your phone data. For instance, if you’re on a 4G LTE network with a hotspot, you’ll always stay connected.
The benefit of the hotspot is that you can get a secure cellular connection that keeps your information locked down tight. And if you have workmates with you, you can share the connection with them. The ultimate benefit is that you don’t have to worry about finding a secure internet connection when you need it most.
Portable Drives
It’s easier than ever to carry information with us and keep it secure. Thumb drives, also known as USB drives or flash drives, hold a large amount of data in a small container. And if that’s not enough, you can use a portable hard drive thanks to the existence of solid state drives (SSDs), which don’t suffer from shock like a regular platter-driven hard drive. Simply put the files onto the drive of choice, put it in your pocket or laptop bag, lock things up to prevent loss, and head to your destination. Setting up is a matter of connecting the drive to your computer and accessing the files — no logging into the cloud or home servers to get the files you need for production.
There’s also a native security that comes with using a portable drive, especially for sensitive projects. Work on the files anywhere you like, save them to the drive, and load them to the server once you have a secure connection or are back at the office. By doing this, you’ll avoid the risk of something getting hijacked.
Portable Power Banks
Let’s face it. Portable technology needs power. Even the strongest batteries drain faster than one would like. The best way to combat that power drain is to keep a portable power bank in your kit. Avoid the smaller power banks that don’t have a lot of juice. Pick up the largest power bank you can find instead. Prices are always coming down on power banks, and they’re getting more powerful. With some of the models that are coming onto the market, you can find a power bank to keep your laptop going for quite a while before needing a power outlet.
Bluetooth Speakers
You might find it strange to think of Bluetooth speakers as something that belongs in the portable office, but it makes perfect sense. A Bluetooth speaker can connect to your phone and let you carry on conversations while you move around the room. You’re not tethered to your phone when you use a Bluetooth speaker, and you can move from one spot to the next. This is especially handy if you’ve got more than one computer in operation or have your work spread out in different places in order to keep things separated. Plus there’s always the benefit of playing music through a speaker that probably has better sound quality than the speakers on your laptop.
Portable tech frees you from your desk while letting you get your work done. You can work anywhere, anytime, and on anything that’s important — without the need to be in the office.
Laura Collins says
this is good reading