Forget What You’ve Seen On the Screen: Try These Real-Life Tech Hacks For Everyday Living

Have you ever picked up a skill or useful information from the movies and TV shows that you watched? Some celebrities have openly talked about learning something new after spending countless hours in front of their screen. Take for instance BTS leader RM, who learned to speak English after watching ‘Friends’ during his early teens. According to the K-pop star, he started watching the series with Korean subtitles, then rewatched it with English captions. Eventually, he was able to watch the show without needing any subtitles. There’s also Victoria’s Secret model Karlie Kloss, who was inspired to take up coding after watching it on TV shows. This led to a lifelong passion for coding, and she even started a program for young women called Kode with Klossy. 

Watching certain films and TV shows can certainly inspire you to acquire new skills or learn helpful tips and tricks to make your tasks easier. But if you’re tuning in to learn some tech skills, it may be better to try techie-approved ways to enhance different aspects of your life. Here are some real-life technology hacks for fun and productivity, and all the reasons why you should think twice about the tech scenes that you see on screen. 

Do Tasks Simultaneously on One Computer

Working on group projects or shared tasks has become easier, thanks to apps like Trello, Asana, and Google Tasks. However, there will be instances when people may need to huddle up and use one computer at the same time to complete a shared project. In TV shows, particularly those that depict hacker tradecraft, working on a tandem operation involves having two people typing furiously at the same time on one keyboard. One famous example of this “tech hack” was shown on ‘NCIS’ wherein McGee and Abby worked together on the same keyboard to override a hacking attempt on their system. 

In real life, typing on the same keyboard is highly ineffectual since it’s impossible to input two different types of data simultaneously using one device. If you have no choice but to work together on a shared computer though, your best solution is to connect two keyboards and mice to the PC using a software like MouseMux. This enables users to control one Windows PC at the same time. Each mouse will have a unique mouse pointer on the screen, and the software associates the connected keyboards with the pointers. This will allow users to work on a shared document or collaborate on a digital art piece simultaneously. It also enables them to play co-op games, which makes it the perfect solution for families with one PC and two gamers. 

Eliminate Noise and Sound

Ever wished that you could create a noise-free atmosphere so you can cancel out unwanted soundwaves during phone calls or have better sleep? If you take cues from Hollywood releases, you might believe that all it takes is one futuristic device to have a completely silent environment. In spy thriller movies like ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout,’ Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, is shown using a handheld device to mask all sounds for silent infiltration. Meanwhile in ‘Iron Man 2,’ Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) used his suit’s technology to drown crowd noise so he can listen for possible threats.

You don’t need to have Ethan Hunt’s gadgets or Iron Man’s suit to get some peace and quiet though. For a practical solution, consider installing soundproofing materials such as acoustic foam or mass-loaded vinyl to your doors, walls, floors and ceiling to stop sound waves from traveling and block airborne sounds or impact noise. If you want to use technology, think about using noise-canceling earbuds or headphones, which are designed to filter out environmental noise so you can listen to music, take a phone call, or just enjoy the sound of silence. For a good night’s sleep, consider using a white noise machine. This device produces ambient sound to drown out irritating noises, like the sound of street traffic.

Tech to Accomplish House Chores

In a perfect version of the future, robots would be designed to do only dangerous work or tedious household chores. Many film makers and TV show producers seem to like this idea as various iterations of robot maids and butlers have been featured in futuristic movies and TV shows over the past years. Think Rosie from ‘The Jetsons,’ or Robin Williams’ character Andrew in ‘Bicentennial Man.’ Experts say that by the next decade, robots will be widely available to do chores such as vacuuming, garbage disposal, and other more complicated tasks. In fact, several tech companies are already developing humanoid robots for this purpose. There’s Sanctuary AI which is working on a robot called Phoenix, and Tesla, which is currently developing its Optimus humanoid robot. 

Having a robot helper may certainly benefit those who need assistance doing house chores, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and individuals with mobility issues. But if we’re being realistic, it may take some time before the technology is proven to be completely safe. Not to mention, it’s likely that these robots will come at a high pricepoint, making them inaccessible to those who need them the most. For now, we can rely on smart household devices to automate chores and make them more manageable.  Gadgets like robot vacuums and mops can keep floors spotless while you do other things, while smart toilets have a self-cleaning function, which eliminates the need for manual scrubbing. Hate washing the dishes? Get a smart dishwasher to free you from this chore. Not only will it leave your dishes sparkling clean, but it also saves you money since it uses less water and energy than a traditional dishwasher. 

Real-life problems require real and accessible solutions. Consider these tech hacks for work, leisure, and everyday activities, and see how they can improve your life, minus the flash and gimmicks.