Author: Bal Bansal

Categories
Tech Tuesday

Save with Tech

So, we know that food prices are rising, cost of gas is on the increase, etc… and I’ve been asked, what tech is out there that can help!

Well, there’s quite a few things.

But I’ll share two today. One related to food. The other one for gas.

There’s an app I’ve had on my phone for a while. Used it a few times. It’s call, Too Good To Go.

Basically – those food related businesses who have food left over, put it on the app – that there’s food available, and rather than it being the ‘normal’ price, it’s heavily discounted! You just reserve the one you want, and it’s as easy as that!

You can get magic bags (so basically, the business won’t know what they have – but will have something!) or you can get specific items that the business knows are available towards end of the day (as they know they’ll not get all the customers they want and won’t sell out).

I love this app. For two reasons. One – We need to reduce food waste. Every year, one-third of food if thrown away. We can reduce this waste. And Too Good To Go does just that. Helps to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away.

There’s a few other apps similar to this, that help fight food waste. And others that offer discounts etc… but this one is great – feedback is good and it’s one that I’ve kept a close eye on.

Up Next – Heating!

Which is the Best Smart Thermostat? Comparison Table

Gas prices are rising. And to be honest, not alot we can currently do about it. However – what we can do is what control the amount of heating we have on.

Now, if you haven’t already – get a smart thermostat.

Why?

  1. Smart thermostats let you control your heating from your phone/mobile device. In that way, you can set when the heating should come on and when it should be off – that way allowing you to only have heating on when you are at home.
  2. They will learn your behaviours – some can work with weather conditions – so they know when it’s cold, you may want it to be a degree or two higher than normal.
  3. Link this – with a smart meter, you can see how much gas and electricity you are actually using – and then made adaptions as required. For example, switch of lights, unplug devices, be more clever when you charge items…

Data. I’ve spoken about it before – use the data you have to help you. Data such as, how much you are paying per kwh and then see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere. Data such as, how much you’re actually using and how does it compare to others in your area – for example, do others have lower bills and then, find out why? – some may have loft insulation, some cavity wall insulation, etc.. might be worth investing in some of those.

At the end of the day, you can only control what you can control… gas prices, unfortunately you can’t control. However, your thermostat is something you can control – and something (being smart) can help you!

Categories
Week in Review

Week 38… 2021!

What a week! Gas Prices have shot up! By Wednesday night, over 6 energy firms in the UK had gone bust!! It doesn’t seem to be stopping. There’s also food shortages, Covid cases rising in some areas (thankfully – not an increase in deaths like we’ve seen before)… and now we’re hearing, non of this is going to end anytime soon!

What we can do is, a) remain positive (as possible) and b) know that, hopefully, this is temporary until the world sorts itself out.

From this week, here’s my Top Two Tech Stories…

  1. Scientists are working on technology that will erase all painful and scary memories from your brain!

This is something that it’s being explored, but Philipp Kellmeyer, a neurologist and head of the Neuroethics & A.I. Ethics Lab at the University of Freiburg, has several concerns. High among them is identity.⁠


“Targeted elimination or inception of memories for purposes other than medical treatment obviously entails huge ethical problems,” Kellmeyer tells Inverse, “including the possibility for interfering with a person’s identity — or instrumentalizing individuals by using false memory inception to influence their behavior.”⁠

While many of these painful memories do fade with time, particularly painful ones can leave a lasting mark in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and make seemingly innocuous aspects of daily life difficult to manage.⁠


While it seems far future, the technology may be nearer than we think. Computational neuroscientists are in the proof-of-concept stages of a new kind of PTSD treatment called decoded neurofeedback (DecNef) that collects and parses brain signals using machine learning to modify painful memories — all without the subject evening knowing it.⁠


It could be the road to healing for countless PTSD sufferers.⁠ And let’s be honest- how awesome is that.

2. Less time on Tik Tok!

Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, will limit use of the platform for children to 40 minutes a day.

The rules will apply to users under 14, who have been authenticated using their real names, and who will be able to access it between 06:00 and 22:00.

Parent company Bytedance announced the app’s Youth Mode in a blog post,saying it is the first short-video company in the industry to have these limits.

It comes as China cracks down on teenagers’ use of technology.

According to Douyin’s user agreement there is no minimum age on the platform, but under 18s must obtain the consent of a legal guardian. On sister app TikTok the minimum age is 13. 

New educational content – including science experiments, museum exhibitions and historical explainers – has been launched by Douyin as part of Youth Mode.

“Yes, we are more strict with teenagers. We will work harder to provide quality content so that young people can learn and see the world,” the post said.

And about time too if you ask me.

We really do need to reduce the time children spend in front of screens!

Well there you – erasing scary moments from your brain to reducing the time children spend on Tik Tok. Maybe, if the latter doesn’t work… we can revert to the former to remove anything stored in the brain that isn’t good?

Categories
Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

My Friday Thought – Think and Be Positive.

It can be difficult. For sure. With everything going on in the world right now. Some are deciding if they should heat or feed their families (rising gas prices – and shortage of food/increased food prices!)… But amongst everything, be positive. The positive thinking will help you –

Categories
Throwback Thursday

Thursday Throwback

Yours truly, talking at the Coca-Cola Headquarters to folk from South America.

Last week, I was in the office for the first time since January 2020.

I remember, February 2020 I was in Rotterdam. And then was meant to fly out to Madrid. However, Covid-19 had Madrid locked and I rang British Airways. Suggested they push my travel to July, by then it should have all blown over.

Here we are. September 2021. Didn’t make that Madrid trip. However, did complete the project on time and in full.

Whilst we all got used to zoom/MS Teams calls. There’s something about being in person. Having the face to face conversation is something special.

So it was nice to be back in the office last week. Meeting people, talking and getting things answered quicker than on Teams and awaiting a reply.

I also recall when I used to do a number of talks.

Above, the photo – my Thursday Throwback, is of me at the Coca-Cola Headquarters in London. I was asked to talk to a number of visitors. They were from South America if I remember correctly. They were here to learn how we were doing things in the UK. How we were making the best of technology.

A nice informal setting. A lot of questions and answers.

I haven’t done any talks since the pandemic. In fact – haven’t done any talks for a while!

Therefore – it’s great, when a friend of mine has asked me to do a TedX type of talk in Wolverhampton! This will be happening in November this year – as long as this type of normality remains.

Might do a few more regular talks. Invite some friends. Have a few good conversations. Where people can take a few golden nuggets. It’s those golden nuggets that will help, grow and nurture you, your business and/or your organisation.

I’ll share more details to when this will be happening. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me, if you’d like me to talk at your event – and I’ll share my fee’s.

Categories
Week in Review

Week 37… 2021!

Apparently, there’s only 100 (approx) days left for Christmas! I have to admit, do love Christmas time… mistletoe and wine. But first… we have our autumn to enjoy, the leaves to sweep up and get those hoodies out!

Heads up! – Tonight, I’ll be on BBC Radio Nottingham, just after 7pm, talking all things tech. It’s a regular thing, every few month I do, to keep the local community updated and informed about tech things that matter to them.

And with that, here’s my Top Two Tech Stories This week!

  1. Update those Apple Devices!

Apple’s iOS 14.8 was released on Monday, and the small update contains a big security fix. The latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system repairs a vulnerability reportedly exploited by invasive spyware called Pegasus that can potentially turn on your phone’s camera and microphone, and record messages, texts, emails and calls. (Though the odds of your iPhone or iPad being infected are low, you can still check to make sure your phone is not infected with Pegasus spyware!)

While iOS 14.7 brought some useful new features like MagSafe battery pack support for the iPhone 12 and managing timers on your HomePod, iOS 14.8 is just a security fix. It arrives right before iOS 15 is generally available to download on Monday, Sept. 20 

So, even if you are thinking about updating to iOS15, suggest you get the security fix in as soon as possible.

2. Sir Clive Sinclair passes away

Inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, who popularised the home computer and invented the pocket calculator, has died at his London home aged 81.

His daughter Belinda Sinclair said he passed away on Thursday morning after having cancer for more than a decade.

Sir Clive’s products included the ZX series of computers and his ill-fated C5 electric vehicle.

He was still working on his inventions last week “because that was what he loved doing”, said Ms Sinclair.

“He was inventive and imaginative and for him it was exciting and an adventure, it was his passion,” she added.

His ZX Spectrum computers brought affordable personal computing to the masses – selling in their millions across the world.

However, in a BBC interview in 2013, Sir Clive revealed he did not, at that time, use computers himself.

“I don’t like distraction,” he explained.

“If I had a computer, I’d start thinking I could change this and that, and I don’t want to. My wife very kindly looks after that for me.”

Let’s put it simply like this – he was definitely ahead of his time.

There you go for this week. RIP Sir Clive Sinclair and update your Apple devices!

Categories
Bal's Friday Thought

Bal’s Friday Thought…

I’ve often shared, that some of my favourite books are centred around how to use your mind – not only think positive but also how to control your mind, and understand what truly are your priorities.

Think like a monk by Jay Shetty is an excellent book. Also, The subtle art of not giving a f*ck, is one of my favourites!

Be Happy.

Categories
Smart Home

Goodbye Eon

So, I’ve decided to move energy supplier.

Goodbye Eon. For the past 5 years it’s been… well, ok. We got on. You supplied me with my energy. I said thank you and paid you for it. It was good. Until…

Eon Next…

So, two things – 1) My Fixed tariff comes to an end and 2) Prices go up next month!

So, naturally – 1) I want to go on a Fixed tariff and 2) keep my bills as low as possible for as long as possible.

Eon – whom are now moving to be known as Eon Next, have a tariff I want but can’t. That’s because I’m an existing Eon customer. I have to wait to be migrated over to Eon Next. Which can take anything up to six months. Something, ideally, I don’t want to do.

So naturally, I went onto to some comparison sites – spoke to some friends – and found another energy supplier with a tariff that works for me!

I rang Eon back. As you would in any relationship. Asking – can you do anything before I move. No, sorry sir, we can’t.

Ok. So rang up the new supplier and initiated the move. Takes 17 days.

Today, I had a call from Eon.

“Hello Mr Bansal, I’m speaking from Eon. We believe you are leaving us, is that righ?”

“Hello, yes – that is correct”

“Can I ask why you are leaving?”

“You can, but it’s all on the notes – I’m sure you’ve read them before calling me, right?”

“No. I haven’t. Can you tell me why you’re leaving?”

“Well, again – I could – but I’ve made a few calls to Eon prior to leaving – so it’s all detailed there”.

“Ok. To log onto your account – will need to run through some personal security questions….”

“No. You’ve rang me. I don’t know who you are. Yes you know I’m leaving you – but that’s it. I’m not giving you any of my personal details.”

“Ok. In that case, Goodbye”.

And the Eon lady hung up the phone.

If I really mattered as a customer – I’m sure, you could’ve easily gone off script, I’m sure you could have easily accessed my account prior to me calling, I’m sure you know that most people are not going to give you/answer security questions when you’ve rang them (due to the number of scams that take place – where people are phishing for information), I’m sure…. there’s a lot more I could add here.

Many businesses will lose customers – and I’ve said it before, use the data you have to talk to the customers – understand their needs and do what you can. Keep your current customers as close as possible as you can to you. It’s these customers that will either talk positively about you… or not.

In this case, if Eon had said, we’ll put you on a priority list and move you as soon as possible – within a month, or something along those lines – I could have potentially stayed.

So, with that… it’s Goodbye Eon.

(Should I be naming them? – Good question… don’t get me wrong, I’m leaving on ok terms – who knows, could get back together one day – I just hope that a) Eon can learn from this, but moreso, b) other companies/organizations learn that your customers/people are the most important element)

Categories
Car Technology

EV: Going Electric…

So I thought I’d share with you. I’ve gone Electric. That’s right. If you read my blog posts – you’ll know I have a Tesla Model 3. (Oh… if you are thinking about getting a Tesla, reach out to me first! – I can share my referral link – and using that, you can get 1,000 supercharge miles free!)

So, back to the car. Why did I go for a Tesla?

Well, firstly – the key thing was charging. Tesla are miles ahead with their Supercharger network. Having used them a few times, they are so easy to enable (just input your credit card on your Tesla acct), easy to use… when you pull up to one, you just plug it in! And easy to navigate to! (You’ll find out more what I mean about this down below)

At a supercharger in West London – from 17% to 70% took 17mins! (That’s like adding about 220 miles approx!)

The biggest fear – when moving to an electric car, is something called ‘range anxiety’. Yes, this is a real thing. People fear – that they’ll run out of battery or won’t have enough – what are they going to do!!!??!!

Well, another great thing about the Tesla is – you put in where you are going into the Sat Nav – and it’ll determine;

a) Your route, the battery percentage that will be used and other handy information

b) If you don’t have enough battery, it’ll suggest you’ll need to charge!

c) It will tell you where to charge!

An example of this – I was travelling from London, up north – and it told us, I’ll need to stop at the Supercharger at Northampton (just a minute of the M1) and charge up for 15mins! That would be sufficient enough for me to get to my destination!

Then there’s home charging – when you get an Electric Vehicle – I’d recommend you get a home charger. It usually works out cheaper and better if you can charge at home. Appreciate if you don’t have a driveway and it’s on-street parking only, you’ll have to look at options!

If you’re moving from an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicle, suggest you look at hybrids first. My previous car was a hybrid. And that helped me understand more about driving on electric/battery only. Obviously, it was nice to have the engine to kick in and support when required.

If you’re going to jump straight to an electric car – always do the maths. By that, size of battery (miles it can do), miles you do… and the rest of the analysis you would normally do when looking for a new car.

Interior is very important. Let’s be honest, it’s what you’ll be seeing most of the time! And Tesla, as you may know… just have one giant iPad type of screen!

Inside of my Tesla Model 3 – with the big iPad type of screen to control everything.

Now, the photo above – is mine (minus all the information!). I thought it would be difficult to get used to this. Let’s be honest – always had something in front of me telling me speed, revs, time, fluid levels, etc… and now… I have an iPad!

In all fairness, it’s not that hard to use. And for the past six months of driving. I’ve got used to it! And it isn’t that bad. Everything is conveniently located to make it easy as possible. For example, the speedometer is top right of the screen – so closest to you.

A lot of new cars – like the Polestar and others, have big screens. Everything is moving that way. Though I did hear this morning that Audi will be sticking with sticks and knobs.

So, in summary… If you are thinking about going Electric, here’s some steps you should think about…

  1. Have a think about going hybrid first before fully electric (may help reducing that range anxiety!!) and you’ll increase your knowledge about vehicles that are powered by a battery.
  2. What type of electric car will suit your needs. There’s more and more coming to the market – with a variety of battery ranges, etc… so check what works best for your lifestyle.
  3. How technologically savvy you are. Tesla 3 have one big iPad (the model S and X come with a display in front of you), Audi are sticking to knobs and cars such as Polestar have a mix.
  4. All manufacturers now have an electric car in their model line up. VW have the ID models, Ford have the Mustang E, BMW have some great hybrids (such as the 330e) and electric such as i3, i4, etc… and Mercedes have the EQ models. So go to their show rooms and have a look at the cars.

I hope the above helps. In my next blog posts, titled EV:…. I’ll share more about servicing, driving, everyday use and more!

Categories
Week in Review

Week 36… 2021!

What a week! Here in the UK we had a mini-heatwave! Which I’ll be honest, was quite nice to sit back in the garden again. Not sure what the weather looks like for the next few weeks.

Either way, I’ll keep bringing my weekly update for you! And this week, it’s about Facebook…

  1. Facebook and Ray Ban make some Smart moves!

The company has created its first “smart glasses”, with a pair of cameras to take photos and videos, a microphone and speaker to listen to podcasts, and a voice assistant to let you do the whole thing hands-free.

If the whole thing sounds, and looks, familiar, it’s because the concept bears a heavy resemblance to Snapchat’s Spectacles, now in their third generation. It’s not the first time Facebook has been heavily inspired by the younger company, and even the name of the glasses feels sure to rub salt into the wound: they’ve been named Stories, apparently in homage to the social media format invented by the Snapchat founder, Evan Spiegel, and adopted to revolutionary effect by, first, Instagram, then countless other sites on the internet.

There’s one final wrinkle to the pitch: the glasses don’t actually come from Facebook at all. Yup, you got that! Instead, the company is working with Ray-Ban, on whose classic Wayfarer designs the hardware has been modelled, and the device will be branded as a Ray-Ban product first and foremost.

“Our mission is to help build tools that will help people feel connected any time, anywhere,” said Facebook’s Monisha Perkash. “We want to create a sense of social presence, the feeling that you’re right there with another person sharing the same space, regardless of physical distance.”

2. Next up- not tech related but more about inspiration…

Raducanu turned professional in 2018.

She made her WTA Tour main draw debut at the 2021 Nottingham Open, where she gained entry on a wildcard, originally ranked Number 338 in the world.

Fast forward – she got the opportunity to play in Wimbledon – where she pulled out in the 2nd set, fourth round match due to breathing difficulties.

And last night – against all the odds, someone who had to go through the qualifiers – won the US Open!

She is now expected to rise to Number 23 in the world. How phenomenal is this!!! What a great achievement!! The whole – never give up, enjoy the moment… the funniest part here is… she’d book her return flight tickets for a few weeks back because she didn’t think she’d progress as far!!

Well done Emma. Fantastic.

So there you go – today it’s all about Facebook collaborating with Ray Bans, and Emma showing that you should never give up – keep trying and keep pushing. You are in control of your own destiny.

Categories
Week in Review

Week 35… 2021!

And so, with that… it begins to feel very autumnal. It’s getting darker earlier, slightly colder in the mornings etc.. however, I hear that in the UK, we’re going to have a mini (2 to 3 days) heatwave!

And with that… let’s move onto the Top Two Tech Stories of the week.

  1. Up first… iPhone 13 information!

The Apple iPhone 13 is set to arrive in the UK in September.

The technology giant has not announced the launch date of its new smart phone but rumours suggest it could be September, with UK pre orders set to open as early as 17 September.

Previous launches have taken place on the final Friday of the month but the launch could be October.

The iPhone 13 could be in high demand when it does hit the shelves in the UK because there are signs Apple will struggle to have enough units for everybody who wants the new handset.

It is believed the Chinese manufacturer Foxconn, is hiring hundreds of thousands of extra workers over the next month to make enough of the smartphones but this recruitment drive may be slower than Apple needs to meet demand.

There is also a global shortage of chips that could impact supply. Apple’s finance chief Luca Maestri said: “We expect supply constraints during the September quarter to be greater than what we experienced during the June quarter. The constraints will primarily impact iPhone and iPad.”

Also.. the shortage of chips which has been widely acknowledged is having an impact on cars and many other electronic items. Let’s hope we can resume production and up the productivity sooner rather than later.

2. Up next, BMW’s new electric bike!

BMW’s Motorrad division has been pumping out some wild concepts over the last few years as the larger company turns its attention towards electric vehicles. It’s latest is also the to date, but still looks extremely cool: the CE 02 mini-bike. 

Debuted this week ahead of the IAA Mobility conference in Germany, the CE 02 is a tiny two-wheeler that borrows some of the futuristic vibes BMW has been honing for its larger concept bikes — including the CE 04, which is actually going into production. Clad in silver and black and “technoid typography,” the minimalist design looks like it came right off the set of a sci-fi movie.

The CE 02 has an 11kW belt-drive motor, which can help the bike reach a top speed of around 90 kilometers per hour (about 56 miles per hour). BMW isn’t sharing the battery capacity, but claims the CE 02 can go about 90 kilometers on a full charge. 

There are no pedals, but BMW says there will be footrests — though in the photos, the only footrest that anyone is using is a skateboard clipped to the underside of the bike. (Hey, it’s a concept!) A circular LED headlight lights the way, while a small display between the handlebars serves up the basic information like speed and battery status. “Otherwise, the technology is deliberately restrained,” BMW says. The whole package weighs 120 kilograms (about 265 pounds).

I love this… because we need smaller, electric vehicles that can transport us around towns and inner cities. I personally would definitely purchase this!

So there we go… get ready for the new iPhone 13 and the new electric scooters which are a concept but could quickly turn to be reality!