Can Technology Help You Cook Christmas Dinner?

We want to find technology that genuinely benefits us in our real lives, so every week we will be trying to find answers to everyday problems. So if you have any experiences to share, please let us know.

One of the most stressful things about big occasions is the prospect of cooking for a large group of people. With different tastes but all needing to eat together…..So, this week’s question is, can technology help you cook Christmas dinner?

We’re looking for any Apps, Gadgets or websites that could support or inspire.

We’ll be reporting back next week on what people have found the most beneficial.

If you have any experience to share, or if you have a problem you would like to get community advice on then please let us know.

Can Technology Help You To Learn A Language?

We want to find technology that genuinely benefits us in our real lives, so every week we will be trying to find answers to everyday problems. With many people travelling to visit friends and family this Christmas (or escaping to go on holiday) perhaps it’s worth picking up a few phrases in a different language. So, this week’s question is, can technology help you to learn a new language?

We have pulled together some recommendations for how technology can help – Many thanks to those who shared their experiences for this week’s question.

Duolingo

• Website and App – completely free
• Great for complete beginners
• Can feel a bit patronising for an adult – but if you get past that you genuinely pick up the basics quickly
• Structured so you can invest 10 minutes per day to build up your knowledge
• If you’re just starting to learn a language – or only want to know enough to get by on a vacation then this is excellent

https://www.duolingo.com/welcome

Memrise

• Online resource that works by giving visual references as you learn to help you remember – and provides a community of native speakers to interact with
• Good fun and gives you a flavour of a country – rather than just learning the words
• Very social in feel
• If you’re willing to invest your time and want to interact with others then this is a very engaging resource

http://www.memrise.com/home/

Busuu

• Website and App – Free for basics with option for a paid premium service
• The free service is great for beginnings – you’ll learn enough to get by on holiday and the lessons structure means you learn the basics fast
• Easy to switch between website and app
• Allows you to interact with native speakers
• Paid option works for those who have mastered the basics and want to move on to have a better knowledge of grammar

https://www.busuu.com/enc/

Livemocha

• Online resource that also operates as a social network – you get to learn and interact with others
• If you benefit from learning alongside others rather than alone then this has some great features
• If you’re fully committed to learning a language then this is worth investing time in – you can also help others by ‘tutoring’ others in your native language
• If you just want to learn the basics though then this is a lot of work

http://livemocha.com

Audible

• If you’re bored of websites and Apps then an audio book could be a good option – you can listen while on the move
• Works really well if you know the basics but want to get to grips with pronunciation and complete sentences
• Not free – but if you’re at the stage where you want to perfect your skills then it’s a great option

http://www.audible.co.uk/cat/Languages-Audiobooks

If you have any experience to share, or if you have a problem you would like to get community advice on then please let us know.

Can technology help you to learn a language?

We want to find technology that genuinely benefits us in our real lives, so every week we will be trying to find answers to everyday problems. So if you have any experiences to share, please let us know.

With many people travelling to visit friends and family this Christmas (or escaping to go on holiday) perhaps it’s worth picking up a few phrases in a different language. So, this week’s question is, can technology help you to learn a new language?

We’re looking for any Apps, Gadgets or websites that could support or inspire.

We’ll be reporting back next week on what people have found the most beneficial.

If you have any experience to share, or if you have a problem you would like to get community advice on then please let us know.

Can technology help with safer cycling?

We want to find technology that genuinely benefits us in our real lives, so every week we will be trying to find answers to everyday problems. So if you have any experiences to share, please let us know.

With the cold, wet dark mornings and evenings it’s a tough time for cyclists on the road. So, this week’s question is, can technology help cyclists stay safer on the roads?

We’re looking for any Apps, Gadgets or websites that could support or inspire.

We’ll be reporting back next week on what people have found the most beneficial.

If you have any experience to share, or if you have a problem you would like to get community advice on then please let us know.

 

Can technology help manage alcohol consumption?

We want to find technology that genuinely benefits us in our real lives, so every week we will be trying to find answers to everyday problems.

This week’s question was, can technology help you manage how much alcohol you consume without compromising how you live your life?

For me, drinking alcohol is about balance. A fun part of my social life on one hand, and weight gain, chronic lack of sleep and hangovers on the other.

So, looking into getting that balance right, we got three recommendations that people have shared.

The Drinkaware’s app

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/app

• Helps calculate units drunk through a diary-like App
• Practical and informative
• Completely free
• Very motivational by showing the calories, and the equivalent time you would need to spend in the gym to run them off!
• Great for getting an overview of your personal consumption

 

The Spruce App

http://www.spruceapp.co.uk

• From the British Liver trust, designed to help you monitor alcohol consumption and set goals to have at least three days without any
• Completely free
• Great for setting goals and sticking to them

 

The NHS Online

http://www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx

• Great online service – unfussy and non-judgemental
• For serious concerns it can point in the right direction, but for those who just want the information it has it all
• Helps you track your drinking – from your phone with an App or online on the site
• Completely free

 

If you have any experience to share, or if you have a problem you would like to get community advice on then please let us know.

Question of the week: Can Technology Help You Beat The Booze

We want to find technology that genuinely benefits us in our real lives, so every week we will be trying to find answers to everyday problems. So if you have any experiences to share, please let us know. 

This week there has been a lot of media commentary on the number of units of alcohol that it is safe to consume, as the current recommendations (which have been in place for almost 30 years) are likely to be revised over the next year.

In a hectic world balancing work, family and social commitments it’s very easy for health to take a back seat.

So, this week’s question is, can technology help you manage how much alcohol you consume without compromising how you live your life? We’re looking for any Apps, Gadgets or websites that could support or inspire.

We’ll be reporting back next week on what people have found the most beneficial.

If you have any experience to share, or if you have a problem you would like to get community advice on then please let us know.