The 4 Best Things to do Remotely

Remember the days when you had to get up to change the channel on the TV or when, if you left an important file on your computer, there was no other option than to go back to the office. Those days are now long behind us: remote technology has made everyday tasks simpler and opened up new possibilities. But what are the best things we can do remotely? Here are the best picks, some obvious, some not:

Telecommute

Telecommuting or remote-working is one of the buzzwords of the workplace world in 2013.Advances. It might come as a surprise then that it’s been around as a concept since the 1970s, but the technology wasn’t in place to make it particularly efficient. Nowadays, advances in computer technologies, from Remote Desktop Protocol to VoIP, have made it easier than ever to work from home with the same degree of efficiency as working in an office. Studies have shown that remote workers tend to be more productive and it’s sure to be continued trend in years to come.

Channel Hop

If you grew up before the ‘80s, chances are remote controls weren’t an everyday part of life. Though the first television remote was developed in 1950 and more complex models existed in the ‘70s, the remote didn’t sell in any great volume until the release of the Viewstar Converter, which was purchased by over a million people by 1985. In the 21^st century we take for granted the ability to change channels without moving, as well as pause and rewind live broadcasts, watch on-demand movies and browse the net all with a remote.

Drive a Car

Now, Pierce Brosnan’s stint as Bond has been eclipsed by Daniel Craig, but he did have some great moments. The scene in Tomorrow Never Dies where he uses an Ericsson phone to remote control a BMW from the backseat during a car chase is particularly notable and relevant. Equipped with rocket launchers and re-inflating tyres, the car is used to foil the bad guys, before Bond drives it off the top of a parking lot and into an Avis car rental shop-front. Slightly prescient of a future where mobiles would be able to accomplish more and more tasks, but driving a car with an iPhone is still some way off. You can however do it with a normal radio controller as the Top Gear guys will show you.

Catch a Criminal

Take some of the police’s workload off them and catch a phone thief all on your own. There have been several news stories in recent years where iPhone thieves had been caught by apps such as Find My iPhone or iGotYa. iPhone users can install such apps which track their stolen devices or take photos when wrong passwords are entered, enabling the wronged party to find the culprit without resorting to contacting the police. Obviously, the officers of the law will be needed when it comes to prosecuting said thieves.