In 2020, working from home became the new normal for many people and while we all hope to see the economy opens back up this year as we emerge from the pandemic, going back to working in a traditional office setting may not be on the horizon for a while. In some instances, companies will appreciate the benefits of having a distributed workforce and in many cases, working from home could become permanent or at least a much more common scenario.
With this being the case, if you haven’t already, now is a good time to enhance your work-from-home experience with a few cool and useful tech products.
Add a Speakerphone
Many of us have become intimately familiar with conference calls and video conferencing over the past year, with Zoom, Slack and numerous other apps that help us stay connected while working remotely. One drawback that a lot of people have discovered is that the microphone and speakers built-in to their laptops or desktops may leave a lot to be desired when it comes to audio quality.
One way to address this issue is with an external speakerphone that can integrate with your computer to upgrade your user experience with all those video conferences. There are a ton of great options on the market, but you might consider the Jabra Speak 510 wireless Bluetooth speakerphone. It has nice range on the integrated microphone and solid audio range and easily connects to your computer via USB or Bluetooth. It also comes in at around $100, so it doesn’t break the bank.
You Need Multiple Monitors
If you haven’t already jumped on the multiple-monitor bandwagon, it’s time to jump onboard. I realize that not every work-from-home setup makes it easy to have more than one monitor, but if you have the space, it is well worth it. Whether this means you add a full-sized monitor to your laptop or a second monitor for your desktop, having a separate monitor makes an incredible change to your user experience. Whether it means you can have email open at all times on one monitor, while you work on different programs on another, or you need to move fluidly between two different browser screens or app interfaces, having at least two monitors will dramatically upgrade your productivity and the ease of use of your computer.
Monitors can range dramatically in price, from thousands of dollars for super high-resolution screens that may appeal to graphic artists, animators, etc. and others that still deliver high-definition but can be purchased for under $200. Your best bet is to price shop a bit on Amazon and other online retailers to find the best deal for a monitor that suits your needs and budget.
Upgrade your Keyboard and Mouse
If you’re working on a computer all day, the two pieces of hardware you touch the most are your keyboard and mouse. You might not think there is that much difference between one keyboard (or mouse) and another, but you would be very wrong. Manufacturers have developed a wide range of products meeting often quite different user needs.
When it comes to keyboards, you can choose from wired or wireless, mechanical or membrane technology, various ergonomic arrangements, full-size vs. compact, etc. One of the big differentiators comes into the conversation if you like to play video games on your computer as well as regular work. Gaming keyboards are an industry unto themselves, adding cool lighting and extensive customization (where you program certain key functionality yourself). Something like the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT can give you an idea of what a reasonably high-end gaming keyboard can deliver, for about $199.
For a mouse, the options are very similar, as devices focused on the needs of computer gamers has driven a lot of innovation. Similar to keyboards, you can choose wired or wireless (and many that do both) and various ergonomic designs. But the real expansion in options comes when you look into more of the hardcore gaming products, that include customizable buttons and scroll controls, along with the ability to dial up or down the sensitivity for movement. Check out the Razer Basilisk Ultimate as an example of a top of the line gaming mouse, but it will set you back about $170.
“Hire” a Virtual Assistant
There’s a lot to be said for being able to add something to your calendar or turn up the thermostat in your house without leaving your chair or actually pulling up an app on your phone or computer. That’s where virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant come in. Tech gadgets like this can integrate with a lot of your smart home systems and products, access the web, and otherwise give you easy voice-command access to accomplish a lot of tasks without doing much beyond speaking.
There is a lot of variation in the products, but a good starting point is the Echo Dot smart speaker with Alexa built-in, which you can purchase for about $50 on Amazon.
