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Health & Fitness

Stand Up and Toast! Packing Your (Technology) Bags

When you need to use technology to support your presentation, make sure you pack all of the pieces and parts that you need to ensure your devices work as expected.

As I was packing for a recent conference, I took an inventory to make sure that I would be able to connect all my devices for my upcoming presentations. For different presentations, I needed to present from a combination of a laptop, an iPad, and an iPhone.  What should you pack?

  • Power cord. Don’t laugh - it’s commonly forgotten, either at home or in the hotel. And as we know, different devices have different power adapters. I was asked prior to presenting a demo at a keynote whether my iPad was charged; obviously, the A/V (audio/video) staff have seen demonstrations fail due to lack of power. Note that I was charged at 85% and had a power cord!
  • Projection adapters. For most PC-based systems, you can simply plug a projector into your laptop. For Apple-based systems, you will need an adapter so that the projector will “talk” to your laptop. For many smartphones and tablets, there are adapters for presentations and demonstrations - and they may be different. Make sure you test them before you leave home.
  • Ethernet adapter. Yes, most hotels, offices and conference centers have wireless WiFi, but these may be closed networks, or they may be overloaded since many guests connect multiple devices. And as recently as six months ago, I stayed at one older hotel where you still need to physically plug into the network.
  • Secure ID. Many companies use an encryption device that generates a password for internal company network access that is valid for 60 seconds. I have chosen the option of installing an app for this purpose, so I have one less thing to carry around.
There are other devices that are optional, but which you may want to consider:
  • Miniature surge protector. Hotels and conference centers typically do not have enough power plugs to charge your laptop, camera, smarthphone, tablet device, not to mention toothbrush, razor and curling iron. There are small surge protectors that include both plugs and USB ports; mine has three outlets and two USB ports.
  • USB memory stick. If you need to give a presentation, make sure that you have a back-up. If you have hardware issues, you may be able to borrow or rent a computer, but then you will still need your content.
  • External battery. Primarily for mobile devices, if you load up the external battery, and your own device runs out of power, you can simply plug it in, extending your battery life and charge your device. This is especially valuable for extending the life of your phone battery so you can be reached!
  • Personal Hot-Spot. For a fee, many smartphones can now act as a personal hotspot to provide Internet connectivity. While it will not have the speed of a WiFi connection, it can still ensure you have Internet access.
I am happy to say that my demonstrations a week ago - with all my devices - were successful. And, as always - remember that your devices should not overshadow you, as the presenter.


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