(Image: Dizzo / iStockphoto)

The rise of the Internet reveals that information doesn’t make you smart: anybody can learn about anything, and still sound as stupid as when they started. Instead it’s the application of information that makes or breaks you, revealing the difference between someone who truly learns and someone who’s turned themselves into a walking encyclopedia.

To live a Smartlife in such an age you can’t claim any advantage from having heard of things: an embarrassment of informational riches makes it meaningless. The real trick is turning an assortment of thoughts, theories, and tangents into a focused plan, and a big part of that is admitting that human brains aren’t actually very good at that. We weren’t built for the web; we were built to evade predators, so tools which turn an endless ocean of info into something we can visually process are an essential tool. Here we look at a few:

1. The Mind Map

Many business buzzwords are just “things everybody knows but someone gave it a fancy name.” The Mind Map is almost exactly that, but it works because many people won’t actually draw a picture of their plan until you convince them it’s okay to. A “Mind Map” is nothing but a the visual track of a thinking session, conversation, or planning meeting, but is still extraordinarily useful because of that. The human brain has fewer short term memory registers than the average phone, and bullet-point lists operate under the insane assumption that human beings think in a logical, linear manner.

Mind Map

True, most mind maps are utterly incomprehensible to anyone who wasn’t there when they were drawn — but it’s not for them. This is the truest visualization tool, something only intended to illustrate connections and spur insights in the people creating the information. Whether yours is hand drawn or assisted by professional (e.g., ConceptDraw) or open-source software (e.g., VUE), you really should be using mind maps when planning.

2. Intelligent Reporting Tools

A truly Smartlife isn’t about stating how things should be — that’s a Frustratedlife — but acknowledging how things are and using your smarts to smooth things for yourself and those you care about. An unavoidable annoyance for many is the dreaded PowerPoint, the weekly/review/status/whatever meeting where a trained professional has to sacrifice “actually doing what I was hired to do” time to make pretty pictures to convince people who can’t do what that person does that they’re doing it. And if you think that sentence’s grammar was tortuous, the situation it describes is even worse.

Intelligent Reporting Tools

Project Manager’s Intelligent Reporting Tools promise exactly what you need:  instant, informative graphics summarizing all the numbers you already have to hand.  These are obviously useful in actual management too — so much more is obvious in visual form where before there’s only a deluge of digits — but we’re going to come out and say that the ability to spontaneously spawn slide-sized graphics could save a truly smart person more time than they could imagine.

3. Fidg’t

For the truly tech-happy we present Fidg’t, an excellent tool for visualizing the traffic on your local network.  Some might scoff at such an idea, but they’re reading this in binary projected on a vacuum-tubed CRT anyway, so we can say 0100011001010101 and get on with the regular humans.

Fidg't

Fidg’t is for the social, sonic cybercitizen, allowing you to examine your network neighborhood in terms of musical preference, creating a visual map of auditory preferences in your local region. Because sifting the masses to find the few whose interests are yours is one of the best uses of the Internet.

4. The Whiteboard

Don’t ever confuse technology for top-notch — how many times have you seen somebody stabbing at their smartphone, waiting for something to start, when the stub of a pencil would have done faster? The glorious whiteboard is one of the most important “applications” the real world offers the thinker, allowing you to visualize anything you want in any way you can imagine. The real point is remembering that no matter how smart you are, coming up with ideas is human: organizing them inside your skull is not.  Whether it’s whiteboard, tablet PC, or simple pen and paper, start visualizing what you’re doing.

Don't worry, your work doesn't have to be quite this level.

Of course, there is an application too — because it’s not smart to abandon essential tools because of a trivial factor like “they’re on the other side of the world.” Dabbleboard offers a communal whiteboard for use in online meetings, complete with collaborative tools and ability to extract saved images, for anyone using conference calls or Skype systems in work.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words. A plan of action is worth a million.

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(Photo: DNY59 / iStockphoto)

This is the “Smartlife” blog, not just the “Smartwork” one, which is why we’re improving your leisure time as well. There’s no point in using the latest and greatest in Internet-enabled everything to turbocharge your spreadsheets only to revert to a caveman in your actual life. What sort of cyber-priorities are those? Especially when things like alcohol are involved, and you might need electronically-enabled assistance just to make back up to “not stupid.”

That’s why we’re looking at four ways the Internet can upgrade your alcoholic entertainment in an excellent fusion of entertainment and electronics. The exact opposite of dropping your phone in your pint.

1. Mixologist

Mixologist

The mobile barman you can carry with you, Mixologist converts your iPhone into an expert alchemist. As well as the standard “great big list of drinks that isn’t actually of much use to anyone,” the app includes an essential “just tell it what you have and it’ll tell you what to make” mode. This might as well be called “I’m at a party and want to look good” button, and is alone worth the price.

2. Mail Goggles

Google’s Mail Goggles is an essential service, an ingenious idea, and further proof that those guys should be in charge of everything. Even more so than they already are. It’s a voluntary filter you can set up against those messages you send on the weekends or late at night, checking if it’s really you or the considerably simpler-minded soul who sometimes shares exactly what’s on your mind. Some timed math problems decide if you’re really together enough to be trusted with access to your address book.

Mail Goggles

Even better is Gmail’s “Undo” feature, which unfortunately can’t travel through time to the night before (yet), but is an absolute lifesaver in that cold-water-shocking second just after you hit send and suddenly scream “NOOOOOOOOO!”

3. DrinkTracker

An application which could go either way — used properly it’s a useful assistant, used stupidly (which seems to be its intended function) and it’s the worst misapplication of technology since the screaming child ringtone. But we trust you to be smart, so we’ll tell you about it. DrinkTracker is designed to record your rate of drinking and monitor your blood-alcohol level.

DrinkTracker

Obviously attempting to skate under a breathalyzer limit with this would be the dumbest drinking decision short of installing a bottle of scotch in your steering wheel. But realizing that relying on the person doing the drinking to remember how much they’ve had is a bad idea? That’s much better. The DrinkTracker is an intelligent way to track your intake, though whether it’s for reasons of health, curiosity, or boasting is up to you.

4. Cocktail Chemistry Set

We’ll be honest: sometimes “smarter” isn’t about being better, just looking it. Step forward the Cocktail Chemistry Set, the smartest way to get stupider as the night goes on.

Cocktail Chemistry Set

There really isn’t anything to say other than “where can I get one?” and “how long will it take?” Just be sure to keep a few notepads lying around after you commence experimentation — you always come up with the best (seeming) ideas after a few, and with a motivator like this who knows what you might discover.

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(Photo: Vlingva / iStockphoto)

Just a few years ago, you probably would have called up your travel agent if you were thinking about taking a trip or vacation somewhere. These days, though, there are thousands of websites online that can help you with every step of the planning process — as well as offer some help beyond what a travel agent could do for you. With these online tools, you can make sure that your travels, whether for business or pleasure, are enjoyable.

Planning

Tripbase

Tripbase — Get ideas on where to travel and what to do, based on what you enjoy.

Yahoo! Travel — Access an integrated set of travel tools that recommend specific trips, help you find cheap airfare and hotels, and more.

Iloho — Read up on locations you’re considering visiting, as well as plan your itinerary.

Triporama — Manage the travel plans of whole groups of family or friends and make sure you all get where you’re going.

RealTravel — Look at reviews for trips, locations, and even hotels in order to plan your travel.

TripConnect — Get travel advice from your network of friends.

Travel.State.Gov — Check government advisories on travel as well as get tips for specific countries.

TripAdvisor — Plan each step of your trip while consulting reviews from other travelers.

Tripology — Get help from travel agents with planning your vacation.

OneBag — Learn how to pack your bags and travel light.

Trekaroo — Put together a family friendly travel plan.

PlanetEye — Read reviews of destinations around the world.

TripWolf — Get access to professional travel articles as well as information from other travelers.

AmateurTraveler — Discover new places to visit.

TripEssentials — Bookmark and manage accommodations and other travel information while you’re planning your trip across multiple sites.

TravelIndex — Ask questions about traveling and find resources.

Openplaces — Research your destinations and find reliable information.

Flying

SeatGuru

FareCompare — Find cheap flights and get Twitter updates about cheap deals from your home airport.

SideStep — Search major travel sites like Orbitz and JetBlue with just one search.

Mobissimo — Compare results from a variety of travel search engines, as well as get news and connect with the Mobissimo community.

Bing Travel — Find airfare and get tips on when to buy your tickets so that you get the lowest possible price.

Frekfly — Get the details on the airports you’ll be flying through, like where you should eat.

atLarge — Find Internet access at any airport in the world.

AirTroductions — Connect with other passengers who will be traveling through particular airports at particular times.

FlightAware — Track your flights and check out the activity at the airports you’re headed to.

FlightStats — Get information on the status of your flights.

SeatGuru — Learn which seats are the best on the plane.

FlyerTalk — Improve the number of airline miles you get from frequent flyer programs.

Vayama — Search for international flights.

Momondo — Discover the dates that will offer you the cheapest airfare.

Airline Quality — Check the quality of the airline you’ll be traveling with before you book.

FlyMyCase — Have your baggage shipped to your destination before you leave and skip baggage claim.

Yapta — Track ticket prices to make sure you get the best deal.

Riding

Google Transit

Google Transit — Plan trips on public transportation.

RailEurope — Purchase rail passes to travel around Europe.

Driving

Ridester

Ridester — Share rides in the U.S. by either finding a ride or offering one for a share of the gas money.

TripWiser — Plan road trips and get advice from a social network on where to go.

TravMatix — Create a driving plan, complete with suggestions on where to stop for gas.

PlanYourTrip — Find information on motels, campgrounds, and attractions around the route of your roadtrip.

Moblu — Calculate your gas costs for your trip.

Accommodations

LicketyTrip

Hotels Finder — Find hotels in various cities and see their rankings and details on a Google Map.

Rent Me A Vacation — Search for vacation rentals based on location and price.

EpicTrip — Watch videos and read reviews of the hotels you’re considering staying in before you book.

TravelPost — Search for hotel reviews across thousands of websites.

HomeAway — Find vacation rentals all over the world, as well as rent out your own vacation rental.

LicketyTrip — Get last minute deals on vacation rentals.

HostelWorld — Check out hostel options in more than 170 countries.

LateRooms — Book hotel rooms at the last minute for deals.

Skoosh — Search for boutique hotel rooms.

ConcertHotels — Going to a concert? Find a hotel near the venue.

CouchSurfing — Couchsurf your way around the world by finding locals to stay with.

Hostelling International — Book hostels around the world in order to travel on the cheap.

Hospitality Club — Travel for free and connect with locals through this site’s volunteers.

HostelTrail — Read up on hostels located in Latin America.

Domegos — Locate vacation rentals in more than 70 countries.

AirBNB — Connect with hosts who will let you sty in their homes.

gloveler.com — Rent private accommodations inexpensively.

Travel Guides

Simpatigo

Boo — See guides and travel advice written by other travelers.

EveryTrail — Share trip routes and photos online and through mobile devices, as well as find trips where you’ll be traveling.

WhereTo.org — Look at information shared by other travelers describing places they’ve been, along with their recommendations.

Vcarious — Read travel guides written by recent visitors, as well keep your own travel journal.

WikiTravel — Find and edit this shared travel guide organized along the lines of Wikipedia.

Cosmotourist — Get travel tips that go beyond guidebooks and ask any questions you want answered before you travel.

World66 — Check out more than 20,000 different destinations with almost 80,000 articles written about them.

TripCart — Find what to do once you’ve got an idea of where you want to travel.

Geobeats — Watch video travel guides to learn more about where you’re headed.

Travelistic — See thousands of travel videos from all over the world.

Simpatigo — Create custom tours of the area you’re visiting.

World Hotel Link — Read up on information about different areas with a socially conscious angle.

LonelyPlanet — Browse professional travel guides online.

OffbeatGuides — Print your own customized travel guides.

WorldSaurus — Access travel guides written entirely by locals.

KeenGuides — Watch guided tours for the areas you plan to visit.

Local Help

Yelp

Boomtrek — Get acquainted with individual cities, from finding the neighborhood you want to stay in, as well as find other information about the city.

Wayn — Find locals and other travelers to hang out with.

CityTherapy — Hear about the newest and coolest places to go in European cities.

BringSome — Bring or get items usually only available in other countries.

Where’s the Beach, Dude! — Get listings on where nearby beaches are.

Yelp — Read reviews of restaurants and other businesses in there area you’re visiting.

DailyCandy — Learn about local events and the bests of different cities.

HiEverywhere — Connect with a local who has volunteered to be a tour guide.

Networking

Dopplr

Dopplr — Share information about where and when you’ll be traveling with your network so that you can tell when you’ll be in the same places as your friends.

myTripBook — Write about your adventures and share them with your Facebook friends.

TripIt — Network with your traveling friends and update your plans just by forwarding your confirmation emails to the site.

Matador — Read about the exciting adventures of other travelers, network with them and find trips you’d like to take as well.

Jauntlet — Create a travel plan that you can add to your blog, social networking profiles, and other places where you can share your adventures with your friends.

GeoJoey — Vote on the experiences you’ve had while traveling and see what trips are the most highly ranked.

Diddit — Share lists of your adventures and compare them with your friends.

Here or There — Read and write travel blogs to share your experiences.

Extravigator — Discuss luxury travel options and get the inside scoop.

Sosauce — Recreate your travel memories with photo tools.

TripHub — Pull together all your information about your travel plans in one place so you can easily share it.

Where I’ve Been — Map out the places you’ve visited on your Facebook page.

TwisitorCenter — Find visitor information for different cities through Twitter.

TravelBlog — Post a travel blog for free and discuss your adventures with other travelers.

Trips — Use this Facebook application to plan trips with friends as well as share your travel information with your friends.

Driftr — Plan and record your trips so that you can easily share them with friends and family.

TripSay — Tell your friends where to go.

Twaller — Get and give travel tips on Twitter in real time.

EverLater — Keep a record of your travels for later.

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Penelope Trunk

You shouldn’t outsource your social networking, says Penelope Trunk, even partially. She should know: not only have her columns and blog become popular sources of career advice, but she’s written a book, launched a startup, and built a personal network that has helped her succeed.

Social Networking is a Must

“Saying that networking is time-consuming is totally ridiculous — you never hear someone say that I don’t have time to manage my money.” Without a network, Trunk says that you’re unemployable. That said, she does offer a recommendation for focusing on the most beneficial part of social networking: being kind to those you encounter. Trunk has spent hours online, finding people to connect with and seeing what she could do to help them out and build a long-term connection.

Finding the Right Tools

Trunk didn’t use any unusual tools to do so, either: she routinely sent out emails. “I’m better in writing — in email, instead of over the phone,” says Trunk. She recommends that you shouldn’t let the tools guide you. New tools aren’t necessarily better, and can in fact be harmful to your ability to get things done.

Instead, Trunk recommends looking at people who are in similar situations — or are in the situation you want to be in. She says, “Know who you want to be like.” That allows you to mimic their tools and avoid re-inventing the wheel. For Trunk, managing email takes a lot of time. She took a look at who was in the same boat. “Just look at what Gina Trapani or Guy Kawasaki do. They have the same email problems.”

A New Tool: Brazen Careerist

Not all tools work for everyone, a fact that Trunk is particularly well acquainted with in her startup. As she wrote about career advice, Trunk realized that there are major differences in the tools Generations X and Y need to manage their careers. She noticed that Generation X was able to use LinkedIn effectively, but members of Generation Y tend to have less-set resumes than their older counterparts. While many Generation Y members use Facebook for networking it’s very difficult to use the site professionally. That fact lead to Trunk’s startup, Brazen Careerist.

Brazen Careerist just completed a relaunch that will help its members network, as well as promote their careers. Tools go beyond LinkedIn’s resume-based format: while Brazen Careerist does allow members to post a resume, it also helps them bring together their efforts on other sites, such as a personal blog of Twitter — building an overall presence that shows what they’ve accomplished in their careers, whether or not their resumes showcase their abilities and ideas.

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(Photo: kaotririce / iStockphoto)

There are some cars that just seem to need plenty of attention. From maintenance to car washes, owning a car does require you to spend quite a bit of time on your vehicle, assuming that you want to keep it in good working condition. That may be time you don’t have to spare, though, making it worth your while to outsource car-related tasks. If you’re willing to spend the money, there are plenty of professionals willing to take on your projects.

1. Oil Changes: While changing the oil and other minor maintenance tasks are well within the skills of most car owners, they are time-consuming projects. There are many mechanics who specialize in such tasks, offering options like WiFi in their waiting rooms. Some will even come to you to take care of your car.
2. Carpools: It’s good for the environment and your wallet to carpool with other people headed in the same direction. Finding those people can be difficult if you do it on your own, but there are many services, both local and national, that can find you a carpool group. Online options include sites like eRideShare and CarpoolConnect.
3. Car Detailing: Maintaining your car isn’t just a case of looking under the hood. Keeping your car clean is just as important, both inside and out. While you can run your car through a car wash on your own, taking it to a car detailer can provide you with a well-cared-for car while you work on something else.
4. Emergency Response: A membership with AAA can be worth its weight in gold if you break down — your wait for help will be shorter than any other option that doesn’t involve a major accident.
5. Getting Directions: Getting lost is fast way to lose a lot of time. Adding a GPS unit to your car (or signing up for OnStar if your car is equipped for it) can ensure that you’ll have directions to wherever you need to go.
6. Mile Tracking: Whether you need to be reimbursed for the miles you’ve traveled or you’re writing them off on your taxes, being able to easily track your miles is important. Xpenser, along with other tracking systems, allows you to track your miles by SMS. The website organizes and analyzes your texts to create mileage reports.
7. Moving: If you’re making a long-distance move, it’s often not practical to drive your car. Instead, you can hop a flight while someone else takes responsibility for getting your car moved. MoveCars provides a directory of automobile transporters, most of which simply load your car on a truck headed to your destination.
8. Parking: Unless your idea of a good time is driving around town, looking for a parking space, handing the problem over to someone else may be a good idea. While some restaurants and other businesses offer valet parking, other options include getting a pass for a parking garage near any locations you regularly visit.
9. Storage: Storing a car requires you to take certain steps to protect the car. Turning the keys over to a mechanic who specializes in storing cars can guarantee that your car will be ready to go when you come back, whether that’s six months from now or even longer.
10. Car Restoration: There are more than a few people who keep older cars around, intending to restore them but never finding the time. If you have an older car in need of a little TLC to restore it to better condition, taking it to a mechanic specializing in restoration is a good idea.
11. Updated Electronics: While your car may not be so old that it has an 8-track player, sooner or later you may want to upgrade the sound system. Taking the car to a sound system professional from the start of the project can help you quickly narrow down what sort of upgrades you want to make, as well as getting it installed.
12. Gas: While most gas stations are self service these days, most towns have at least one full service station somewhere. Letting someone else handle pumping the gas can let you manage a few more minutes on something else. Some errands services will also make arrangements to pick up your car and fill the tank.
13. Recalls: While recalls aren’t particularly common, they are very important to know about. DriverSide will automatically notify you of recalls related to your vehicle.
14. Driving: Letting someone else drive you around may create images of a limousine in your mind, but there are often situations where having someone handle picking you up or dropping you off can save a lot of time — like at the airport. Many chauffeur and driver services will hand local drives for you.
15. Drop-offs and Errands: A lot of driving is to run errands or even to simply drop something off somewhere else in town. A courier or errand service can easily handle such short excursions, allowing you to entirely avoid getting into your car sometimes.
16. SVO and Other Conversions: Using straight vegetable oil (SVO) or other biofuels to operate your car is becoming more popular as more people move towards going green. While the mechanics able to complete the conversion are still somewhat rare, there are several, such as Greasecar, across the country that will take on converting certain kinds of cars.
17. Find Low Gas Prices: Skip driving around to find cheap gas. GasBuddy maintains listings of the lowest gas prices throughout the U.S. and Canada.
18. Selling a Car: There are faster was to sell a car than listing it in the classifieds. While some used car dealerships will take your car on consignment, you can also list it yourself with sites like Yahoo! Autos.
19. Valuing a Car: Kelley Blue Book has been the authority when it comes to determining the value of a used vehicle. You no longer have to track down a copy of the book, though: the Kelley Blue Book website will offer you the information you need.
20. Buying a Car: The hardest part of buying a new car is comparing the many different makes and models out there. There are a number of different websites that offer up comparisons, allowing you to see the pros and cons of each vehicle at a glance. One such site is MotorMouths.
21. Sourcing New Parts: Trying to find some of the more obscure parts for cars used to be a lengthy process. However, sites like CarParts.com allow you to search by make, model, and just about any information you could have when trying to find that new car. They’ll even ship the part wherever you want.
22. Managing Gas Prices: Witht he ups and downs of gas prices, it’s important to be able to track both what gas you use and what you’re spending. You can manage your fuel with tools like the FuelGauge iPhone app and even control your spending with gas gift cards or credit cards.
23. Insurance: In most states, there is at least a minimum insurance requirement for drivers. There are two different approaches to streamlining your insurance. Either pick an agent to handle all of your insurance needs, or get quotes online from different sites.
24. Finding a Mechanic: Rather than trying to get recommendations from friends and neighbors on mechanics in your area, GarageSeek can provide you with specific reviews of mechanics and garages allowing you to quickly narrow the field to a mechanic you can trust.
25. Finding Other Transportation: Depending on your location, finding another form of transportation may be as simple as searching for transportation in your city — the public transport system almost always will come up. Many public transport systems have started to become involved with Twitter and other social media, so you can get up-to-the-minute reports on delays.

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(Photo: hidesy / iStockphoto)

Unlike everything else made of paper, business cards still make sense for the modern worker. Technology might be killing the newspaper, murdering the magazine, and forcing the evolution of pretty much every media into faster forms, but until we start implanting it into our heads, we’ll still need to tell people how to find us later. Even the flashiest web developer might meet the meat version of potential clients, and a business card speaks volumes of professionalism — while scrabbling for pens and paper in pocket lint shouts “amateur” in every language.

PDAs have been trying to replace business cards with “beaming” for years, and you can tell how well that’s going: PDA isn’t even a phrase anymore (replaced by smartphone and Blackberry) while any trade show attendee still turns twenty cards out of their pockets at the end of the day. So how has progress affected the printed words? We’re all connected now, so can’t technology help us to do this better and smarter? That’s why you read this blog! Here’s how to move with the times:

1. The Google

Google Cards

Everything about the Internet encapsulated in one clever card. Reactions to Google Cards can be mixed: some people appreciate the idea, associating sharpness and practicality with the bearer, while others see it as smug. Or worse, annoying – as well as digging out the card, they have to fire up the “Inter-net” to find out about what you do, and they may well not bother. It’s important for Internet-enabled workers to remember that everyone they meet is online because they usually meet them online.

Many potential clients still need phone and fax; judge where your target audience is and act accordingly. Remember that it’s just as easy to make a Google card with old-school information on it.  Most importantly, make sure your name really is the first match before you make any!

2. QR Codes

QR Codes

Quick Response (QR) codes are small, sharp machine-readable grids of black and white. They translate into words or web addresses, and they’re already a fact: many modern smartphones can translate them (especially if they’re able to download applications), and advertisers are already getting into the act.

QR Codes

A QR code on your business card is a great way to advertise experience with the latest in web technology (though that depends on your career — great for a web designer, not so hot in baking). Just make sure not to overdo it. Most people still aren’t able to read them, so a QR code on the back of a regular card is a great idea. One instead of a card isn’t.

Some are going even further: computers can already identify QR surfaces and use them for Augmented Reality (AR). In AR computers, they add virtual items to real pictures, using the QR code as a location identifier, and one man has already built the ultimate online business card with it:

QR Codes

3. Make MiniCards

The above are awesome extensions of the business card idea, but we wouldn’t be very Smartlifey without a labor-saving service. Step forward MiniCards: make them online, instantly, and get them delivered to your door. The only reason you even have to stand up is the postman won’t come into strange people’s houses (no matter how technologically-aware said stranger is).

MiniCards

MiniCards make excellent awareness tools, combining all the advantages of business cards with the convenience of modern design. They’re also much cheaper, meaning they can be used for any number of events. Hosting a party? Need to leave contact details for when you go on holiday? Making fun tickets for a promotion? Whatever you need, minicards can deliver.

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