5 Technologies Will Define Our Lives In The Future

There is no gainsaying that technology is now a major part of our life. Some of these techs are playing significant roles in our lives now- a good example of this is social media; others are for the future. These future techs will soon become widely available and if you are not prepared for it, you may find yourself out of the game because it will change a lot of things especially in the way you work. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, identifies some of these techs that will define our lives in the next decade.

Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of things (IoT) is the ability of different devices to be able to communicate because they are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enable these objects to collect and exchange data. They are usually regarded as connected devices or smart devices. This also includes Wearable technologies.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer technology that adopts headsets to produce realistic images, sounds and other sensations that simulate a user’s physical presence in a virtual or imaginary environment. Virtual Reality has been around for awhile now but it only recently becomes widely available. The technology has changed the way people explore. A good example of this is Google Earth VR that allows users to fly over a city, stand on mountains and even go into space.

Autonomous Vehicles

Google, Apple, Uber, Samsung, and other car production companies are investing billion of dollars in developing driverless or autonomous vehicles. Driverless cars are vehicles that do not require any human to drive it and does not need any fuel. A network of sensors has made this possible. There have been testing rides as well as several failures. But pretty soon, very few people will drive fueled SUVs.

Augmented Reality

A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world. It is widely used in the gaming world. Pokemon Go is a perfect example of Augmented Reality.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a computer system to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. Today, you find robots that serve as a receptionist, customer service and perform surgeries. In addition to this, you have voice assistant AIs like Siri, Alexa, or Cortana.

5 Things To Know Before Selecting A Web Hosting Provider

There are so many web hosting providers online that you will be confused about which one to choose. Hence, this is a difficult task because if you end up selecting a terrible, erratic and poor web host,  you may be unable to build an effective and great online presence and it can also have a negative impact on your search rankings. This is even much more important for businesses because if their website is always down, it may result in the massive loss of customers. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares things you should know before choosing a web host.

Purpose

Whether you’re choosing a host for an existing website, or looking to start from scratch, what you want to use the site for should influence your hosting decisions. For example, do you plan to make money from your website, or is it something you’re setting up for fun? If it is for fun or personal, free hosting will serve you well. However, if it is a business website, you require a paid host.

Price

Expensive does not necessarily mean it is the best. At the same time, you can not use a cheap web host for hosting your website especially if you rely on your website to make money. This is not a problem for small business and startup because they can upgrade later. But, blue-chip companies should never patronise cheap host due to their limited features.

Usability

Web usability is the ease of use of a website.  The web host you choose has a huge role to play in making your website usable. The number one usability feature to look out for is if the web hosting provider has programs like cPanel, ispCP or ISPConfig. These programs allow you to set up and customize your website and hosting. Thus making it easier to use.

Speed

Expensive or cheap, you want a web host that is fast and responsive. It can be very annoying if your awesome and great website has a slow load time especially when you start getting engagement and traction. Simply, get a Web host that has features that make the site load quickly.

Customer Support

A web host provider must be customer friendly by ensuring they respond as fast as possible to your inquiries and complaints especially when your website is down. If they take forever to fix your website, do not use such a host. You can get information about this from your friends who already manages a website.

7 Tips For A Better Social Media Live Broadcast

Live broadcasts are fast becoming very popular today. You no longer have to rely on a camera crew to go live. Thanks to social media, any organisation, business or individual can do this. From your smartphone or computer, you can broadcast live from the comfort of your home, event centre or office. Your broadcast can potentially and instantly reach thousands of people or a targeted audience. This is quite amazing! However, how can you ensure that your social media live broadcast go smoothly without any hiccups? Well, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares ways you can do this.

Promote your broadcast

Promoting or advertising your live broadcast on social media cost 10 dollars. Since you do not have to break the bank to pay this amount, you can promote your live broadcast on whatever platform you want to utilize. This will make more people aware of your broadcast. If you are a celebrity, a tweet or post will suffice.

Prepare and practice

Before you go live, you have to plan, prepare and practice. You need to ensure that viewers are able to hear you clearly.

Determine how long you want to broadcast

You need to decide if you want to broadcast the whole programme or just some highlights. It is important to know this because you do not want to end the broadcast at the middle and leave your viewers hanging. Let your audience know if it will be a full or short broadcast.

Choose a spot that has a strong internet

No internet, no live broadcast. So, ensure that you look for a strong internet spot that will be uninterrupted. Jumia Travel urges you to have enough data that will last throughout the broadcast.

Do a test run video

Before you go Live for the first time, do a test live broadcast. For Facebook, you can set the privacy setting to Only Me in the Who Should See This? You will see the live video exactly as it will appear.

Get live feedback

If you want your viewers to provide feedback and ask you questions during the broadcast, you have to set this up on certain social media platforms. Their feedback, comments, and questions will appear on the screen. Do not ignore their questions.

Analyse the Results

You can easily get the metrics of your live broadcast immediately you finish. You will see the total number of people who watched your video. You can use this to decide if you want to continue with the live broadcast in your next programme or not.

7 Things That Shorten The Lifespan Of Your PC

Computers like other devices have a short lifespan. Your computer gets noisier, slows down, and shows error messages which are signs that something is wrong with your computer. This problem occurs when certain things happen to your computer. In line with this, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 7 things to avoid if you want your computer to last longer.

Power surges

Power surges may be as a result of lightning strikes or sudden restoration of power. This can be risky as it can damage your computer’s motherboard, lead to data loss and even your charger could explode. It is advisable you use a stabilizer.

Battery drain

This is for those that allow their batteries to run out before they charge it. Just be prepared to perhaps buy another battery if you continue with this habit.

Limited ventilation

Your computer’s fan is not there for fun. And it is no gainsaying that heat is one of the major things that can harm your computer. This will make your system perform like a snail and your battery will quickly run out within minutes. As a rule of thumb, do not block the ventilation.

Software updates

Running an outdated software on your computer will automatically make it slower. This can make you angry that you hit it in a bid to let out your frustration. This can damage your PC. To make it faster, always keep software updated.

Loose cables

Searching and fixing loose cables is one of the easiest ways to make your computer durable. Properly place or fix any external cable that may affect your system. You can start with your charger.

Dust

Allowing dust to pile up in your computer will definitely affect its performance. Dust makes it prone to overheating as it can block the ventilation. When you notice any dust, use a blower to remove the dust.

Physical damage

If your fan is bad or your screen is cracked, you should fix it as soon as possible because if you do not, the damage can affect the overall performance of your system.

 

7 Reasons Nigerians ‘Love’ iPhone

iPhone and Android-operated have been around for awhile and there has been this raging about which is better. Even Nigerians are not exempted from this debate. Funny enough, you will find Android users if given the chance will ditch their Android for iPhone. That is the love Nigerians have for iPhone even if they cannot afford it. But the problem here is that their love is not based on an informed point of view because there are many Android phones that are far better than the iPhone. Regardless, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares reasons why Nigerians love iPhone.

They just like iOS better than Android

Some Nigerians just like the iOS than Android because of what they have heard over time about iPhone. Thanks to the solid and strong Public Relations machine of Apple. They have made us believe that there are no other phones that are better than the iPhone. This is wrong. You have Samsung Galaxy S7, Huawei Nexus 6P, LG G5, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and HTC 10.

iPhones support all of the apps you want

Almost all the apps you want is available on iPhone. So, whatever app you are using and is important to you, you will definitely find is on iPhone. In addition, there are a variety of helpful apps you will have access to.

 iPhone are durable

Should we say iPhone is overhyped? True. The reputation that Apple makes quality and stylish Phones is in our faces. Granted, iPhone may last longer but it does not mean that Android phones are not durable. iPhone and Android phones can last longer. It only depends on the manufacturer. We can all see how Samsung is competing strongly with iPhone.

iPhones are compatible with other Apple devices

iPhone works perfectly with other Apple devices including MacBook and iWatch. The connection is seamless. But it is a torrid time if you are attempting to connect your Android phone with a MacBook or an iPhone.

iPhone is immune from virus and malware

Many believe that iPhone cannot be infected by virus and malware. This is actually not true.  The fact is iOS apps can still be infected with malware and virus especially when you use unsecured Wi-Fi networks to download apps. Due to this, many Nigerians love and prefer the iPhone.

iPhones have better resale value

This is a major reason why Nigerians love iPhone. No matter how poorly used your iPhone appears, it will still sell for a good price than some Android phone.

To Show off

Being able to afford an iPhone means you have a deep pocket. The cost price of iPhone is as much as N400,000. Even if you are using a fairly used iPhone, people will still have the same perception.

6 Reasons Not To Use Your Phone In Bed At Night

Many people now sleep with their phones in bed at night. This is an obvious sign of phone addiction that they dream about their devices. Unbelievable but true. This is not really good. So, before you get into your bed tonight, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, urges you to check out these reasons not to use your smartphone in bed at night.

You will be unable to sleep

This is the most obvious reason why you should never use your phone in bed. You will never be able to sleep because of all the notifications that are disrupting and disturbing your sleep. Of course, you know that doctors recommend at least 8 hours of sleep daily. Your phone should be on silent if you really want to get a smooth and uninterrupted nap.

You can be depressed

Persons who use their phone more frequently are prone to moodiness and depression. Also, since you are unable to get proper sleep just because you cannot control your phone usage, you are simply making you vulnerable to depression.

You are damaging your eyes

Exposure to blue light at night, emitted by your phone can affect the eyes. And today, there are many smartphones that emit this light. To prevent dry eyes and blurred vision, allow your eyes to rest instead of surfing your phone.

You may experience nomophobia

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and you are searching desperately for your phone which is just right beside you. And because you cannot find it, you begin to feel anxious and you become agitated. The only time you recover is when you eventually find your phone. It’s better to switch it off (if you want) and keep it as far away from you as possible.

Reduce exposure to radiation

Smartphones usually release a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation that can be absorbed if it is too near your body. The risk is limited when the phone is disconnected from either WiFi or turned off.

You pay more attention to your loved one

There is no gainsaying that you will concentrate and listen more if you do away with your phone in bed. So, make that decision to limit phone usage in bed at night.

4 Reasons Why Ladies Block Their Last Seen on Whatsapp

Whatsapp is a popular messaging app owned by Facebook. It has helped to a very large extent in bridging the communication gap among friends and persons who are dating. This said you must have observed that many girls block their last seen on the messaging platform. Have you ever wondered why? Well, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares reasons why ladies block their last seen.

To prevent fights

This is perhaps the main reason why girls block their WhatsApp last seen. They want to prevent fights with their boyfriends who have become detectives and make all sorts of assumptions, which are usually incorrect, based on the last seen. Hence, they prefer to block it.

She may not be interested in chatting with you

If you are pestering her and she is not interested, she may block her last seen. Perhaps, if you do not know the last time she was online, you will give up and move on. If you continue messaging her, she will not respond.

To stop unnecessary questions

Why didn’t you respond immediately? I saw you online. So, to prevent this and other types of questions, she prefers to block it. At least, if you do not see it, you won’t question her.

She does not want you to know the last time she was online

Yes, some girls just do because they do not want you to see the last time they were online.

5 Tips For Choosing A Catchy Hashtag For Your Social Media Campaign

Hashtags are very important because it makes it easier to find information about a particular theme, campaign or content. It can also be used to get the attention of your audience especially if it is catchy. So if you are doing a social media campaign and thinking of choosing a Hashtag, you are in luck as Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency discusses tips for selecting one. #Enjoy

Keep it as short as possible

This is very difficult but you don’t need a lengthy hashtag for your campaign. A very good idea is to use the same amount of characters for your Twitter handle which is 9 for your hashtag. If you can’t do this, just ensure it is not too long. An example is #JumiaHospitalityReport.

Ensure that it’s unique

Using a hashtag someone else has used will only make it hard for you to sort the information related to your campaign. So, do a bit of research to confirm if it has been used or not.

Make your hashtag relevant

If your social media campaign is focused on football, you don’t select a hashtag that is completely dissimilar. There must be a correlation. The hashtag should be able to showcase your brand.

Make it conversational

It’s good to make your hashtag conversational. Doing this will make it easier for the hashtag to fit into any sentences or engagements.

Use limited numbers of hashtags

For any social media campaign, you should use a limited number of hashtags. Two or three is enough. When it gets to five or six, it will minimise the chances of your campaign of going viral.

6 Quick Things To Do If Your ATM Card Is Stolen

Nobody plays with their money. That’s why many people are very careful. Hence, since your ATM card is connected to your bank account, you will be worried and disorganised. Imagine you receiving alerts as someone withdraws your money from an unknown location. So, if your ATM card is stolen, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares the things you should do.

Don’t panic

It’s money we are talking about here. Some people may even pee in their pants if their ATM card gets missing. Really, you don’t have to do this. Compose yourself and do the needful. If you are not careful, your money would have disappeared before you recover from your watery reaction.

Contact your bank

The first thing you should do is to contact your bank so that they can block your card. This will stop them from withdrawing money from your account. Banks now have many branches in Lagos and other parts of the country. You can simply walk into your bank.

Change your accounting information

When your ATM card information has been compromised, you need to do everything possible to control where your card number is currently shared. If your credit card is linked to any online retail stores or bill pay sites, go through each account and remove linked information as soon as possible so that any future purchases can only be made by manually entering debit card information.

Review your transaction regularly

You should review your account from time to time if your ATM card is stolen. This will help you monitor your account activities.

Change your PIN

Your ATM card may be with you but your card numbers may have been stolen. If this is the case and you suspect so, you should change your PIN. Regardless, you should still report to your bank.

Get a new card

You will be issued a new ATM card for a small fee. This will be done only if inform your bank.

8 Signs You Are Too Dependent on Tech To Manage Your Business

There was a massive ransomware (which is not over yet) attack that affected over 99 countries and more than 200,000 computers last week. So many services and businesses were disrupted. Presently, according to reports, $57,282.23 in ransom had been paid to the hackers to allow people and businesses access their computers. A ransomware named WannaCry has been blamed for the unprecedented disruption. This simply shows how heavily reliant we are on technology.  In line with this, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency discusses this and other signs that you are relying too much on tech to run your business.

Everybody is on break because the internet is down

Whenever the Internet is poor or down, it automatically means that your employees are grounded. They cannot do anything. This is not good. Your workers should know that they can still get jobs done even if the internet is down.

You automate all your responses

Your customers think that they are chatting or interacting with a human but unknown to them, the messages are automated. Quite a number of companies automate emails and social media replies. If you lose the human interaction with your customers, you are depending heavily on tech.

You do not talk to people about your business

You do not forget offline marketing because you have nailed online. It does not work that way. There are so many people who may need your service that is offline. So, no matter the number of sponsored ads online, still talk to people about what you do.

You are messaging a colleague sitting beside you

Instead of talking with your colleague who is sitting beside you, you messaged him on Skype or Whatsapp. This uncalled for.  

When you misapply it

If you use technology to connect with and service customers faster, then you won’t have any problem. However, if it is to replace connecting with and servicing customers, you are seriously misapplying it.

You lose your clients

Transferring your business online simply means you are embracing modern day trends. However, this should not be an excuse for you to remove the human touch out of the day to day operations of your startup. You will need to educate your customers on the new way to do business with you, especially if it’s an older customer. If not refuse to do this, you will lose your clients and loyal customers who are not tech savvy.

You lose all files when their a hack

There is nothing wrong with keeping your files and all your businesses online. But you should know that you don’t have to depend 100% on it. This is because hackers are desperately working to bypass even the strongest security in order to hack websites. So, if you know you will lose all your files when there is a hack, it may be time to rethink how you run your business.

You don’t know anything about the business

There are entrepreneurs who deplore technology to the extent that they do not know how it works. They do not even take time out to apprise or familiarise themselves with how technology impacts their business.