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Austin South Asian | October 2020
Top Tech To Bring With You On Your Next Outdoor Adventure Hitting the trail for a hike is good for the mind and body. Fortunately, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and do so this fall.
making them easy to stow somewhere handy in your day pack and wear when needed.
When you’re out on the trail, it’s easy to get distracted by logistics and miss out on the beauty of your
As you plan your next outdoor adventure, consider supporting your journey with the following tech tools and gear:
The rugged, waterproof outdoor watches in the Pro Trek line from Casio provide altimeter, barometer, thermometer and compass metrics to help you seamlessly stay on top of your location and local weather conditions.
• Lighting your path: The sun is setting earlier these days, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to pursue the same long hikes you enjoyed all summer.
• Easy does it:
Maintain top visibility and light your way safely with a hands-free headlamp. Today’s headlamp models offer hybrid energy options, battery life reader features and are lightweight,
Wearable tech however, can give you the information you need to simply relax and enjoy those breathtaking vistas and fall foliage.
• Keeping Time:
surroundings.
Weighing in at only a few pounds, an inflatable chair or couch makes for an easy addition to your day pack, and one with huge payoffs when it’s time to take a load off for
a picnic lunch. The latest designs offer better ergonomics, easy inflation and breathable materials for optimum comfort. • Fill ‘er up: A mini water filtration system can lighten your load substantially, freeing you of the burden of having to carry all the water you’ll need throughout the day. Just be sure that your route will take you past streams or other water sources so you can refill and filter on-the-go. With the latest tech and gear, you can enjoy those crisp autumn days to the fullest before winter sets in. (StatePoint)
Social Media And Kids: What Parents Can Do To Ensure Safe Use The negative effects of social media have been much discussed as of late, thanks to the recently released documentary on Netflix, “The Social Dilemma.” The documentary argues that while platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have at times been used to facilitate social movements and meaningful change, they can also make people more anxious, polarized, and inclined to believe misinformation.
tent is actually misinformation. Parents can help stem the tide of “fake news” by teaching kids how to sort fact from fiction and pointing them in the direction of trusted sources of information.
Parents should teach kids to be wary of sharing private information and opinions online. They can also add privacy settings to children’s profiles to ensure they
What’s more, according to the documentary, these apps are structured to make their users obsessed with them. As many parents know, children can be susceptible to the most common pitfalls of social media, but there are some key steps that they can take to help ensure that children’s usage remains balanced, healthy and safe: • Sorting fact from fiction: Information about the world is often delivered via social media tools. Unfortunately, much of that con-
• Privacy measures: An enormous amount of data is gathered by social media companies.
tional roller coaster. Parents should consider having a conversation with children about the way social media makes them feel. As part of this discussion, parents can remind kids that while “likes” and nice comments may make them feel good, it’s important not to rely too heavily on social media for emotional validation or real connection with friends.
are connected only to their friends and family.
Unfortunately, cyberbullies and online “trolls” are active social media users, too, making social media apps a sometimes unfriendly place.
• Social media and feelings:
• Monitoring usage:
Social media usage can be an emo-
New tools are helping parents
seamlessly monitor social media usage and protect kids from unsafe content. In fact, over 1.2 million families use the screen time management solution, OurPact. The app, which allows parents to block or limit app access automatically, gives families the flexibility to set schedules for usage around recurring activities like school and bedtime, keeping access well-balanced. Parents can even view screenshots of kids’ digital activity. Available at the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, parents can also sign up for an account at www.ourpact. com. While the ever-evolving social media landscape can make it difficult for adults to keep up with the way their children are interacting with these platforms, parents can help protect their kids by communicating regularly and by using new tools. (StatePoint)
