Technology Archives - Lifestyle and Hobby

January 28, 2019

8 Smart Home Addition Ideas That Will Increase Your Home’s Value

The financial value of a home addition is much different than the functional value we may place on it. We may value the addition for its ability to improve our lives, but that doesn’t mean it actually adds value to the price of your home.

So, if you want to add emotional, practical and financial value to your home, you need to make smart home addition decisions. The goal of home additions is not only to increase your square footage and liveable space but to also increase your home’s resale value.

If you plan on staying in your home forever, then whichever addition you choose will be a no-brainer. If you think you will sell your home eventually, however, then you need to make a smart home addition decision. A smart home addition takes into account the cost of the addition, the potential added value, and the marketability of the addition.

The goal is to make the addition appealing to the average buyer. The more appealing to the average buyer the more valuable the addition. Increased marketability to the average buyer could also mean selling your home faster.

But, we also want to make sure that we can recoup the cost of the addition when selling.

So, what are the smartest home addition projects?

Read on to find out!

Smartest Home Addition Projects to Increase Value

Upscale renovations and home additions don’t always translate to a smart investment. We may love our home addition and renovation ideas, but that doesn’t mean future buyers will be willing to pay the price. Explore the following smart home addition ideas to ensure you get the most value out of your home.

1. Wood Deck

In 2018, sellers recouped a whopping 82.8% of their wood deck addition costs. The project on average cost nearly $11,000 and added resale value of over $9,000.

Even though a wood deck is less expensive than composite decking, it still held its value more. Composite decks cost on average over $17,000 but only retained a resale value of just over $11,000. Adding a composite deck is still a smart investment, but adding on a wood deck is the better choice in terms of cost versus resale value.

2. Garage

For garage additions, you have three options: attached, detached, or a carport.

An attached garage will cost less but could limit its functionality based on available space and the need to connect to an existing structure. Detached offers more functionality such as additional storage or usable space, will cost more since you’re building four walls instead of three. If the detached garage has enough amenities, however, you could rent it out which will increase its value.

A carport is the cheapest option, but it may be the perfect addition for your home and real estate market. It can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 to build a carport, but you can expect a 100% return on your investment if it’s marketable in your area.

3. Bathroom

Homes with more than one bathroom are much more marketable than homes with just one. When a buyer considers buying a home with only one bathroom, they know their daily routines will be affected. These factors make a bathroom addition a smart investment when done in a cost-effective manner.

To get the best return on your investment, you’ll want to keep costs as low as possible for your bathroom design. If you purchase expensive materials or add in upscale features such as a sauna, it’s likely you won’t recoup the total cost of the addition.

On a project that costs around $45,000, people on average recouped around 60% of their investment on a medium-sized bathroom.

4. Closet

A lack of storage space can easily turn buyers away. Especially, indoor storage space that will be needed on a daily basis.

Building a closet is a great investment because it’s a low-cost addition with a 100% return on investment. If you stick to a lower budget, then you can easily add in the cost of the closet to your total home value.

5. Barn

Barns aren’t great home additions for everyone, but if you live in a real estate market that values barns, then you’re in luck! Barns can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $55,000 depending on the size, uses, and features. So, if you’re planning on staying in your home for 40 years or more expect a 100% return on investment.

If you plan to sell your home, you can expect a 75% return on investment if you find the right buyer.

6. Patio

Patios are great home additions because they don’t require traditional walls, but they do add square footage to your home. Instead of walls like a sunroom would have, you can simply install mesh screens.

Expect to pay anywhere from $9,000 to $25,000 on your patio addition with an 80% return on investment when selling.

7. In-Law Apartment

An in-law apartment is a 600 to 750 square foot detached living space for guests to stay in. They essentially get separate living quarters which allows them to easily move about without disturbing the main household routines.

In-law apartments also have great renting potential which increases their value. Adding in luxury budget-friendly materials such as vinyl planks can also increase your home and the apartment’s value.

Expect to pay upwards of $90,000 to build an in-law apartment with a return of investment of 100% if you find the right buyer.

8. Bedroom

Adding on a bedroom is a more expensive project. But, bedrooms also don’t require an abundance of expensive components such as a bathroom in order to be liveable.

Buyers do take into consideration the number of bedrooms a home has, but they will likely not want to pay for the cost of the addition fully. Instead, you can expect to recoup 50% of the total cost of your bedroom addition if you decide to sell.

When adding on a room such as a bedroom or a family room make sure to speak with an architect first. You’ll also want to obtain the proper permits and ensure that addition is legal in terms of property lines and regulations. It’s also a good idea to speak with a realtor or home appraiser beforehand to see how much of the cost you can recoup if you decide to sell later on.

Check out the following link to discover more home addition planning tips.

Ready to Build a Home Addition?

The key to making the smartest home addition decisions is to research and understand your area’s real estate market. Knowing what the average buyer in your area is looking for and the price they’re willing to pay will help you to decide which additions are the best bang for your buck.

Always aim to stick to your budget and keep in mind your potential return on investment. These two factors determine whether or not a home addition is a smart decision or a costly one.

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January 14, 2019

Classroom Innovation: 5 Emerging Technologies in Education

Advances in emerging technology seem to be sprouting up like weeds. So it’s no wonder that that is also being translated into our educational processes.

A key driver of why these new technologies are developed so quickly is the adaptation of these technologies, both in and out of the classroom. These technologies have also spilled over into professional offices and corporations. Now, these technologies spill and meld between education and corporate and professional training.

There is a need for better, more user-friendly, and more comprehensive technologies. The greater the need, the faster these emerging technologies in education will be developed. Along with that, investments in these emerging technologies in the classroom will become more prominent. This means there will be more resources and more leaders in technology to be available to develop these technologies.

Learning tools being gamified and homework being submitted through the cloud. With that, let’s take a look at how classroom innovation is being affected by emerging technologies.

1. Virtual Learning Combining Public Schools and Home Education

Safety has become a near constant concern for parents when they drop their kids off at school. It’s no wonder virtual school options are increasing in popularity. Virtual learning offers more than just school at home from a computer. It’s now being used in public school systems through tools like video instructions and even chat rooms.

What’s more, many organizations like this company are making strides in virtual learning. Now, the lines between homeschooling and public schooling are becoming blurred. Both are using virtual learning as a staple in their rubrics.

2. Increase in Gamified Education

Games have proven to be a staple in education, as of late, especially in early learning. This trend will continue to increase and become more elaborate. Gaming provides great tools offering instant feedback. This new style of teaching also promotes collaboration with teammates. Through gamified education, students earn positive reinforcement when you meet certain goals and feedback in light of failure.

The trend of incorporating gaming in the classroom will continue to grow. It will also become more elaborate to help students learn new material and reinforce learned skills.

3. Digital Libraries and Cloud Computing

Taking advantage of cloud computing allows schools to have a wider variety of software. With more software, they get more learning tools and educational resources. By using cloud software, schools save time and money on installation and maintenance costs.

It also allows schools the opportunity to upgrade all their technology. Schools can now purchase new laptops and desktop computers throughout the school.

Digital libraries offer similar benefits to schools and classrooms. Not only are e-books cost-effective, but they’re also environmentally friendly.

E-books offer multimedia to accompany it, such as online tests, games, and even group project prompts. Digital libraries also often provide added benefits for students requiring special needs. These can include larger text sizes and read-aloud options.

4. LCD Touch Boards

Touch boards have become a widely popular trend in classrooms for the past decade. Now, though, these handy tools have become much more elaborate and easy to use. These tools have become so user-friendly that many companies offer LCD touch boards. This allows teachers to do virtually the same task that would have otherwise been performed on a computer screen.

LCD touch boards are even completely replacing whiteboards in some technologically advanced classrooms. These boards offer a multi-sensory experience in the classroom. They allow teachers and students to be able to both draw and write on the touch boards at the same time.

This tool promotes collaboration between student and teacher. It also promotes teamwork in student group settings. They also provide an overall better educational experience.

This can be compared to the more outdated overhead projector. The projector proved to be difficult to see with the shadows appearing when the teacher writes on the screen.

5. Big Data

Using data both in and out of the classroom has been integral. Now, with emerging technologies like big data, you can evaluate and apply this data in new and exciting ways.

Information like student test scores is now being taken to a whole new level. Students taking a test are able to be analyzed far beyond simply answering the questions right. Big data actually monitors facial expressions and social interactions with fellow students. This offers a more comprehensive analysis of the student.

There have even been some cases that tools and computer software are able to monitor the heart rate of the student. This can be used as they complete assignments and take tests. These features are great to have as a reference point. What is even more fascinating is the ability to use this information to provide customized recommendations. This can help better teach the individual students based on this facial recognition and expression technology.

What’s Next? Learn More About Emerging Technologies in Education

Emerging technologies of the past are being left behind in the dust instead of newer and more user-friendly technologies. There are soon to be even more complex technologies available for teachers and students.

These emerging technologies are likely to be just the beginning. More new and exciting technological trends in the education industry and beyond. The only limit is the investors and the developers who create them.

To learn more about emerging technologies in education, the latest trends in technology, and even lifestyle tips, read more on Lifestyle-Hobby.com. We offer a wide variety of resources which review health and wellness, outdoors activities, technology, beauty, fashion, weddings, and much more.

January 14, 2019

5 Leading Smart Home Tech Trends For 2019

In the past few years, we’ve seen smart home tech take off and become a booming success. Everywhere you look there are new options for tech that make our home lives a little easier.

This year, 33.2% of US homes have the smart tech and that is set to grow to 53.9% by 2023. With so many great options out there, we can only expect the industry to grow further.

2019 has a lot in store for tech and that includes smart home technology too. Our homes are important to us and there are lots of ways to make them more secure. Read on to discover which tech trends are going to take off in 2019 for smart home technology.

1. More Voice Assistant Integration

The battle of the voice assistants is well underway and many people own one in their home. The main ones we have to choose between Apple, Amazon, and Google. They all have their own strengths and pitfalls but they can make life at home much easier. You can ask them about the weather, get them to turn up the thermostat and so much more.

In 2018, both Amazon and Google released new smart home hubs, the Google Home Hub and the Alexa Dot 2. They were both raging successes after their release and we can expect more from them both.

Amazon is set to release their Amazon Key entry service this year. This allows Amazon couriers to let themselves into your home and drop off packages. Google reportedly have exciting announcements in store too, but we don’t know much yet.

Not only can we expect more from these companies, but we should expect new ones to appear too. With companies competing to be the best, we can expect more competition in 2019.

2. Folding Phones

Toward the end of 2018, there was some buzz around the rumor of a folding phone by Samsung. At their November event, they confirmed they were working on a folding smartphone.

Last time our phones folded, they only make calls and texts for the most part and they were very basic. The prospect of a folding screen on a smartphone is exciting to some and confusing for others.

CES 2019 is around the corner and its said that LG is set to unveil their own folding smartphone at the event as well. The only foldable phone that exists right now is by a company called Royale Corporation. Their phone is pretty unimpressive, but it does pave the way for other concepts in the future.

Whether you love the idea or hate it, you have to admit its an interesting concept.

3. Driverless Cars

So it may not technically be home tech, but our cars are almost an extension of our homes. Driverless cars have had so much attention over the past few years, so we have to talk about them here.

The concept of driverless cars is amazing. They allow us to travel stress-free and enjoy the ride without being in control. We’ve all heard about Uber’s plans for driverless cars as well as Tesla’s self-driving cars.

CES will also reveal some of the most innovative advancements in driverless cars. They will show us how much tech is capable of and makes us excited for the future.

4. Smart Home Security

One of the most useful and promising aspects of smart home tech is the extra levels of security. Once upon a time, the idea of keeping an eye on your home from your phone would seem like a far-off fantasy.

But the future is here, and with amazing techs like Nest cameras and Ring alarms, we can be extra secure. We all fear our house being burgled or broken into, and this kind of tech makes our homes safer.

Wireless technology allows us to use cameras and alarms to check on our homes from anywhere in the world. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee at the end of the street or in a bar on the other side of the planet, you can check in.

There are lots of ways to secure your home. As this website points out, it’s key to make it as difficult as possible for burglars to enter your home. Smart tech does this by using security cameras, sensors, and alarm systems.

CES and other tech events this year will show how other brands are latching onto the security hype. It will showcase new innovations that will make smart home tech more accessible.

5. 5G Capability

It seems like not so long ago we were stoked to have access to the Internet on our phones. Then smartphones came around and everything changed. In an instant, we were always connected to the Internet with 3G wherever we went.

Then 4G came around a few years ago and we were amazed at the super-fast Internet speeds it gave us. Well, 2019 is a time to go even bigger, and we are set to see a 5G leap into action.

CES 2019 will introduce us to more devices with 5G capabilities. 5G has huge Internet capacities and low latency. 5G will change the face of the cellular connection. It will make it easy to control our homes and other techs in an instant.

These Tech Trends for Smart Homes Will Take 2019 by Storm

Smart homes are becoming more and more popular and before long most homes across the US will have this tech. Tech trends are a great way to see into what the future role of technology will play in our lives. 2019 will be a very exciting time for technology and with tech like this on the way, we can’t wait to see what it has in store.

Interested in technology and want to read more about it? Check out the tech section of our blog for more information!

July 17, 2018

5 Gadgets You Need for a Smarter Health and Fitness Regime

Gone are those days when slogging in the gym or going for a run were the only fun options to stay healthy and fit. With gym-themed cafes opening up around almost every corner, fitness and health have emerged as one of the topmost priorities, especially for those with fast-paced, modern lifestyle.

As we enter a more and more fast-paced way of life with a thousand things to do in a day, retaining our fitness and health to the optimum level is the need of the hour. Worldwide studies show a sharp increase in the number of people taking fitness and health issues seriously, especially over the last five years. With the turn of this decade, the world saw some of the biggest technological innovations as well. Sectors such as education, trade and commerce and medicine along with health and fitness have thus benefitted a lot from the technological surge of the recent times.

5 awesome health and fitness gadgets you need right now!

Staying in shape and at the pink of one’s health are the new-age goals that the millennial generation is going gaga about. The digital age has thus created newer fitness goals for the generation of fitness freaks.

The advent of advanced tech for almost every aspect of our lives has made way for some of the best health and fitness gadgets. Merging tech with fitness goals, here are 5 gadgets with cutting-edge technology to take you towards a fitter and healthier future.

Push Band

This one is for the hardcore fitness freaks. The Push Band is the new-age wearable fitness device that does a bit more than simply counting the calories that you have burnt. It aims to identify your activities and the outcome of the same. The Push Band comes with an Android and iOS app to sync the activities easily with your smart phone.

The Push band lets you set muscular endurance, core strength, speed, power, and flexibility goals as per your required fitness regimen. It also tracks the outcome of the exercises that you choose to do during a particular day. Using the Push Band, you can select from a list of activities and set weight loads on your smart phone before you start exercising. Easy-to-use and enabled with the smartest of features, Push Band is definitely the gadget for the new-age fitness freaks.

Fitbit Ionic

Fitbit has long been a leader in bringing out smart fitness gadgets keeping pace with the changing times. Ionic is the latest one from the house of Fitbit, and promises futuristic fitness tracking for the ones who go for a fitness-first approach. It has taken the one-size-fits-all concept to a whole new level altogether by opting for the best size fit for all kinds of wrists, be it slender or broad.

Fitbit Ionic is a fabulous cross between a smart watch and a fitness activity tracker. It tracks your heart rate, monitors your sleep cycle, and also has inbuilt movement monitoring features. You also get your daily dose of motivation from the Fitbit Coach app which inspires you to get up and exercise. Additionally, you can pair it up with your iOS or Android-enabled smart phones to receive notifications, set fitness goals, and track your progress. With a battery life to die for, Fitbit Ionic is really the fitness gadget of the future.

Nike Fuelband

One of the trendiest of fitness gadgets, the Nike Fuelband is a great way to keep your health and fitness in check. It lets you keep a tab on the calories that you burned during a specific period of time, and allows you to adjust your fitness regime accordingly. Additionally, this wearable device also lets you count the steps taken or weights lifted in a day to provide insights into the changes that you can bring about in your fitness regime.

Wear the Nike Fuelband while dancing, running or walking, and it will notify you of the amount of exercise that you clocked in. A superb watch is fun to use, comes in dashing designs. If you want to revamp your fitness goals and turn over a healthier leaf, you need Nike Fuelband in your life!

Fitbit Aria

A weighing machine straight outta the future, the Fitbit Aria keeps track of much more than your weight. Fitbit Aria takes measuring weight to another level with advanced tech that lets it measure fat percentage and body mass index as well. You need this new-age weighing machine for yourself and your family. It can store weight and other vital data for up to eight users. It can also transfer the data collected to your PC or laptop directly.

Fitbit Aria is the perfect companion for your health and fitness regime because it lets you keep track of your progress at regular intervals. Along with the additional information about your body mass such as BMI, fat percentage and the usual weight measurements, Fitbit Aria is the perfect accompaniment to your health and fitness regime.

Tellspec Food Scanner

It’s cheat day, and you walk into your favourite steakhouse to get your fill of meat, veggies, cheese and beer. But did you ever wonder how much calories you are consuming on a daily basis – with a snack here and a meal there? Well, Tellspec Food Scanner lets you in on the secrets of what your food contains – for all meals.

Eating right is one of the greatest factors if you want to stay fit and healthy. Tellspec Food Scanner comes with a spectrometer and app. It can track calories, carbs, fats, proteins, fibre and the glycemic load of food that you eat in a day. Use the information to prepare a diet suited to your requirements and keep a watch on what you eat. Tellspec Food Scanner is thus the way to go if you want to keep track of your eating habits for a healthier and fitter future.

From gadgets that monitor your heart rate and sleep patterns to the ones that keep count of the calories burnt, the smart age offers a plethora of options to stay fit and healthy. Most gadgets bring a fun twist to exercising and eating right so that you are motivated enough to push through the rest of the day. Fitness trackers and the devices that we have mentioned in this post can thus do you a world of good if you are in a mind to introduce a healthier way of living. Happy workouts!

Author bio:

Patrick Austin, a renowned academician based in Melbourne, is also associated with tophomeworkhelper.com as a custom essay writer. Apart from helping students overcome their study woes, he also enjoys writing enriching blogs on a variety of topics.

May 7, 2018May 7, 2018

Specs of Samsung galaxy j5 2017

Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Specs should mid-range features which we will address one by one in particular.

Display

Samsung Galaxy J5 is better presently with 5.2 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen including 71.5% screen to body ratio.

The Samsung Galaxy J5 is giving a pixel density of 320 dpi including 720p resolutions. A Samsung Galaxy J5 has often used cool colours in its exhibition which presents a pretty calm and soothing influence.

Design

Let’s talk regarding the design division of Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro in which front we pleasure speak of its dimensions.

The dimensions of Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Specs are 146.2 x 71.3 x 8 mm while the pressure is 160 grams. The leading body of Samsung Galaxy J5 has an earpiece, sensor, including 13MP front selfie camera.

If we talk wherein the duration of Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro then its one edge should power key and speaker, the different side has mass keys. Rest of the group is full simple whereas the name of Samsung is displayed in the centre.

Memory

Samsung Galaxy J5 has just enough memory section because it is providing us 16GB ROM including 2GB RAM. Organic memory can be expanded up to 256 GB including the passage of memory card and the real part in J5 Pro is separate memory card clothes.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Specs is selling us the most excellent camera opportunities because it has 13MP behind the camera and front camera has 13MP lens more.

Rear Camera

That back camera of Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro has a 13MP lens with LED flashlight. The effect of the back camera is fantastic because it has the highest lens of 13MP.

It was quicker and more reliable system different than any Samsung Device Moreover it serves fantastic in dark lights and decreases handshaking while videos.

The photos of Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Specs are quite detailed, and virtually no noise further variation, color precision, sharpness remain top-notch.

Front Camera

That front Camera about Samsung Galaxy J5 is no secondary than back camera because that also has a 13MP lens including screen flashlight.

These front camera with 13MP lens is a unique and powerful device of Samsung besides it can read videos in full 1080 pixels.

Front Camera is perfect selfie camera for selfie enthusiasts because the display, the lights, and that color accuracy everything is ideal in Samsung Galaxy J5.

Samsung Galaxy J5 is LTE equipped device that holds 3G or 2G access more.

Battery Performance

The Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Specs provides a fixed Li-ion battery of 3000 mAh which is being inside the seatback defense.

Samsung should provide us great big battery including its flagship devices, including the battery, should be added important than 3500 mAh.

Interface

Samsung Galaxy J5has a 5.2 inches AMOLED screen including full HD display.

Processor

This Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Specs has Octa-Core 1.6GHz processor including the chipset of Samsung Exynos 7870 that is based upon the structure of ARM-Cortex A53. Exynos 7870 has served so well in every range of Samsung Galaxy J5.

Antutu Benchmarking

Samsung Galaxy J5 is examined by Antutu Benchmarking to compare its efficiency and production.