Travelling, as every seasoned traveler knows, has always brought with it challenges and frustrations, especially in the security-conscious climate we live in these days. Delays or changes to schedules and insufficient or confusing information is something we’re all familiar with.
Travelers, thankfully, can now benefit greatly from some clever technological innovations designed to reduce the uncertainties and frustrations by providing us with relevant, and constantly updated information on handy mobile devices.
The iPad is one such mobile device that, with the help of some neat apps, has improved the lives, or at least, the moods, of many weary travelers. Take a look at these apps for starters:
Flight Track Pro
This app, as you probably guessed from the name, tracks flights. More than that, it provides useful information on such things as delayed departure and arrival times, gate information and weather conditions at airports and along flight paths that may affect flight times. The route and current location of any flight is displayed. It’s a very handy app that lets you deal with any disruptions and, if necessary, make alternative arrangements, sooner rather than later.
Google GogglesÂ
This is a very hi-tech mobile device application available for the iPad. It lets you snap a picture of just about anything, and wait while Google gets to work on figuring out what it is, and then fetching lots of information about it. It’s already impressive in its ability to recognize objects and locations, and will be even more impressive as the technology advances. It can recognize bar codes too, and can give instant and accurate information on many products.
Google Translate
An obviously useful app when travelling abroad, unless you already speak the same language as the locals, of course. Assuming that’s not the case, then this app can be a lifesaver, or at least a time, energy and frustration saver, when trying to make yourself understood. Simply talking louder doesn’t help, but this app certainly will.
Grid-It Laptop Bag Organizer
This is a well designed bag for transporting your gadgets and accessories, safely and securely. ‘Grid-It’ technology offers a strong and reliable ‘retention system’, as they like to call it. It’s a very flexible storage system using straps that can be configured in lots of ways, so that you can arrange all your gadgets and accessories as you like, and they will be held tightly and securely in place. The bag itself is quite stylish too.
Logiix USB Power Cube
One item that you certainly don’t want to forget on your travels is a charger. The Logiix USB Power Cube is a convenient unit that provides quick charging for USB powered devices. It’s small, light and being cube shaped (after you fold down the sticking out mains plug contacts) makes for easy packing.
Technology advances relentlessly, and we’ve come a long way from having limited travel information from airport screens and mostly incomprehensible audio announcements. With an iPad, and some well chosen gadgets, travel has just become a lot easier.
The author of this article has blogged extensively on all aspects of travel from tech to the latest in luxury hotel innovations.