Life
Wireless Roaming in the U.S.
I was south of the border last week for some R&R. Usually, while in the U.S., I would turn the data roaming off on my phone because I do not want to be charged with high roaming rates. Sometimes I would buy a data pass if I really needed to use data while on the road, if I could not easily find WiFi anywhere.
Well now, gone are those days of stressing out about whether or not to use data while roaming in the U.S. thanks to Roam Like Home with my wireless provider Rogers. Since I have a Share Everything plan, I was able to take advantage of this feature. I would only pay $5/per day up to a maximum of 10 days per monthly bill (that’s 21 days at no extra charge if you’re staying in the U.S. for the entire month). With this, I can basically use my wireless plan just like when I’m at home in Canada, including unlimited calling and texting to U.S. and Canada numbers.
Now, if I have to travel to Europe, I can make use of the same feature but with a different pricing. For Europe, it is $10/day up to a maximum of 11 days per monthly bill.
Using Google Maps, checking for which restaurants to eat, checking for deals/coupons, checking the weather… those were just some of the things I was able to do, thanks to being able to use my data while in the U.S.
To use Roam Like Home, text travel to 222. More information can be found on the Rogers website.
Disclaimer: I am a Rogers employee, however, the opinions on this site are my own, and do not in any way reflect my employer’s.
Who The Smartphone Revolution Left Behind
I never really thought about how the disabled will be able to use smartphones. I do know someone who is considered legally blind, although he can still somewhat see if something is really up close to his eyes; he uses the option on a smartphone to make the text the largest size it is capable of. That feature would help the visually-challenged elderly too.
But for people with other disabilities, how are they able to use smartphones? Good news is that there have been a few companies who have developed devices that can primarily be used by the disabled. Read on to find out more.
National Engineering Month
March is National Engineering Month (NEM) – Canada’s biggest celebration of engineering and engineering technology. To find out more details on what’s happening this month, visit www.nemontario.ca.
On March 4, 2015, as part of NEM and Engineers Without Borders, I delivered a “Water for the World” Workshop for Grade 8 students at the New Toronto Public Library in South Etobicoke. My co-presenter Fidel and I introduced the students to the issues surrounding global access to clean water, and how they can make a difference. As part of the workshop, we had the student create a (rogue) water filter. The water filters that they made are not the ones being used in urban homes, rather they are something that would be used by people in poorer countries/areas where their water source consists of dirty, somewhat muddy water (e.g. Sub-Saharan Africa).
Below are a couple of pictures from the workshop.
Need Gas? Gas stations along your route are now shown by Google Now
How many times has it occurred that you need gas, and when you try to search for a gas station on your phone, that gas station is impractically out of your way? Well, now apparently, Google Now displays gas stations that are actually relevant to your route.
Just make sure that when you check your phone, you have pulled over your car to the road side; or a passenger in your car can check it for you. Stay safe!
Source: Engadget | Image Credit: Kevin McLaughlin
Vote for your city to be added to the Monopoly board game!
In honour of the Monopoly board game’s 80th birthday, Hasbro (the company who currently owns the rights to the game) has teamed up with Buzzfeed to ask the denizens of the internet to help design the next version of the game. Monopoly was first sold in stores in February 6, 1935.
Go to http://www.buzzfeed.com/votemonopolyca to vote for your city to be added in the game. If your city is not on the list, March 3rd and March 9th is “Wild Card Week,” where people can write-in specific locations and encourage others to do the same.
References: Engadget, Buzzfeed | Photo Credit: Jeramey Jannene
Tech-Life in Pink 