There are three of us living on the boat, myself, my partner and our cat, who takes up more room then you would think. Throw in the fact that we also have to fit a living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom to fit in the narrowboat and all other space is taken up. So where you might ask, do I fit in all the bits of technology that most of us just cannot live without? Well to be honest we have had to give up quite a few mod cons to live on the boat. We do not have a fridge/freezer, central heating or a flushing toilet, there just isn’t the room. But there were two things that I was not going to live without and that was my LCD TV and Xbox 360. I am quite the avid gamer and most people agree with me as Microsoft has sold 70 million Xboxes since 2005. But of course the question about where we were going to put them came up straight away. There was not room for a traditional TV unit as that would have taken up a good 1/6 of the boat. So thank goodness for TV brackets, boats have plenty of unused wall space and have meant that I can have my TV and Xbox and keep my sanity in tact. I highly recommend that you check out Brackets R Us for your space saving bracket as there is a great range and you are sure to find the right one for your TV at a reasonable price.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: One of the most famously anticipated games for the Xbox 360, this 2011 release saw thousands of gamers all over the country whip out their inhalers in preparation for what had been teasingly described by the Guardian as ‘one of the most gargantuan undertakings gamers will experience all year.’ Gargantuan is certainly the word I would use to describe it. The sheer size of the open-world environment is mind-boggling, not to mention the multitude of additional side missions that accompany the main narrative frame. I loved getting into character in this immaculately detailed world of myth and adventure; slaying dragons, sword-fighting and swaggering around in some seriously cool get-up had me entertained for hours.

Assassin’s Creed II: Another example of fantastical adventure, this time in a slightly more science-fictiony setting. The only downside to this amazing game is that, like its predecessor, the framing plotline is rather weak. Loosely tied to the original Assassin’s Creed, the story feels continuously dragged on with no feeling of resolution or apogee between the two. However, the slightly lack-lustre beginning is quickly compensated by a recurring appearance from the voice talents of Danny Wallace, everyone’s favourite geek. He (alongside a new team) sends Desmond back to embody another predecessor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a rather dashing young hero in Renaissance Italy. We experience vastly improved game-play and combat sequences, and are once again treated to the amazing views available from various points throughout the city. (A word of warning: avoid this game if you suffer from vertigo!)

Batman: Arkham City: Everybody loves a bit of Batman. With this game, you can glide from rooftops, creep up unseen on criminals and generally experience in further depth and detail the world of Batman in its gritty and bleak form. Mark Hamill once again sends shivers down our spines as the formidable Joker, and with an improvement in graphics from the previous Batman games, you can almost see the madness behind his eyes! If you love the Batman franchise, this is a game not to miss out on: have a look at the original trailer for the game’s release in 2011:

These are just three of the amazing games available for the Xbox 360. I found these through recommendations from friends and various ‘Top 10 Games’ charts. Now that I know a bit more about my gaming, I can really appreciate the effort, skill and artistic style that goes into each game. So get yourself one or all three of these and game away! (Just remember to go outside every once in a while!)

TV is still a fairly new invention in the grand scheme of things and since its early days with postal stamp size screens in the early 20^th century we have seen a vast array of changes from a technological and social point of view.

Many of the innovations for viewing TV that are available on the market today seemed to be the subject of science fiction only 20 years ago. Advances in 3D viewing and improvements to streaming services seem to be consistently emerging and wowing audiences at a rapid pace.

With the state of play in TV technology at the moment what can the future hold? Let’s take a glimpse into the crystal ball and see what the future may hold for TV.

Current Innovations

We have seen a multitude of changes to how, when and where we watch TV in only the past decade. By contrast TV’s seemingly revolutionary social implications from the 1950s through to the close of the twentieth century seem quite tame in comparison. Advances in broadband speeds and coverage make it easy to watch TV programs almost anywhere on a range of devices from smart phones to tablets on the move to smart TVs and streaming services available for games consoles in our homes.

We now even have the ability to skip adverts which is a welcome innovation that I never thought would be commercially available. On demand TV is another great innovation allowing us to watch whatever we want whenever we want allowing us more freedom to plan and schedule our days including all our obligations and still be up to date with the latest entertainment to discuss with friends.

Last week I searched online for a LED TVs and found some great deals at Electronic World. I was amazed by the variety of features you find on TVs that are currently on the market. It almost seems as though we have come to a point with conventional TVs where we cannot innovate any further. So if the TV set is removed from the equation how are TV channels and programs going to evolve over the next century?

21^st Century Technology and Beyond

With us only being in the early phase of the 21^st century who can tell what the future may hold? With new technology like the Pebble Watch and Google Glass ready to launch there is clearly strong demand for portable and wearable technology packed with features. A system could easily be adopted where a smart watch could act as a receiver to pick up broadcasts and then stream them to Google glasses or a similar smart HUD product.

With Blackberry unveiling their latest next gen phones with flexible screens there could be many implications and ways to incorporate this technology into TVs. Friends of mine have been speculating for years about a roll up screen that you could hang on a wall, similar to a projector arrangement but without the projector, and now it seems as though this could be an actual tangible product much sooner than we think.

My prediction is that the TV will eventually move away from a screen and will eventually be presented in a hologram style array. This could be incorporated into smart watches or as standalone micro projectors, allowing you to turn any surface into a screen to present diagrams and analysis or just to share videos with your mates on the bus.

There may be more similarities than differences, but the few differences that do exist are very significant. The easiest way to describe this is to relate it to real life activities; if you were going to burn information onto a blank disk then this would be called duplication, whereas if you were adding information during the manufacturing process, this would be called replication. Understanding the core differences between the two is integral to understanding which method is most applicable to your context.

The most prominent difference lies in the fact that the duplication process merely refers to a basic copy, these are the standard methods by which most people enjoy movies, yet this isn’t without its flaws. The problem with duplication or ‘burning’ as it is often referred to, is that the format can be incompatible with some DVD players, I have experienced this first hand. I had just fixed up my TV Wall Brackets, got a new DVD player, and was getting to ready to watch my marriage video when to my surprise it didn’t play. This kind of incompatibility could be detrimental to the popularity of your DVD as it would be a huge inconvenience sitting down ready to immerse yourself in a film, only to find out that it doesn’t work. Replicated DVDs however, are perfectly capable of running on any DVD hardware.

To reiterate, duplication is where the duplicator extracts data from a ‘master disk’ and writes the same data onto another disk. Replication occurs during the manufacturing process, it may have a longer turnaround time but it is cheaper per unit. Once a flawless glass master has been verified steps are taken to ensure that every proceeding disk is an exact replica of the original. Replication is typically more applicable on large scale orders or those orders that do not have restrictive time constraints. Likewise if you need disks quickly or in a small quantity then duplication may be the way forward. I found through visiting duplication company Key Production (www.keyproduction.co.uk) that it helps to talk to the company yourself and they can discuss the most applicable methods according to your objectives.

The Phonograph CD Player: This gadget may have been around for a long time but regardless, it is an excellent product. In an era where the music we listen to cannot be touched or seen, a lack of substance and character inspired me to opt away from digital recordings and instead go for something a little more old school. The actual device pictured above consists of components from a portable CD player- the disk has to be placed on the stand upside down in order to be read.

A Nes DVD player: Yes that’s right; a very smart individual has managed to convert an old Nintendo Entertainment System into a fully functioning DVD player. All it takes is the shell of a Nes, preferably one that doesn’t work else it would be a waste of perfectly good technology – on top of the contents of a functional DVD Player. Of course if you number amongst the risk averse of us then do not try this at home, otherwise there is a guideline telling you how it is done.

A USB Floppy Disk: I remember a time when I believed myself ahead of the curve for bringing in a floppy disk to school. I used to bring it in to do my work on their computers since I wasn’t lucky enough to have one at home. Now I can still use a floppy disk despite how incredibly obsolete they are, they have been updated to operate in the same way as a memory stick, it certainly raised a few confused frowns.

Buy a phone case – now whilst this doesn’t achieve the same level of customisation as other methods, it does also serve a practical purpose. A mobile phone case not only protects your phone from cosmetic damages, but can also look really aesthetically pleasing. It might take a while to find the case that is most applicable to you, but if you put in the effort you will be rewarded in spades. There are some excellent designs out there, if you are not artistically inclined than this should be the route for you. I recently invested in some iphone cases, which have already saved my device from numerous accidental drops. I find that cases are stylish in their simplicity; sometimes the smallest action can make the biggest difference.

Mobile phone straps – again this is mainly for functional purposes, but yet again these come in an endless variety of colours and the added reassurance that you know your device is still with you. These can be placed around your neck, wrist or to your bag. The great thing about mobile straps is that they can generally be found everywhere, and because they are cheap to manufacture, come in a diverse range at an affordable cost.

Nail polish – This is the most extreme of my recommendations, many people are very averse to this method, but if you are careful and know you can pull it off it can produce astounding results. I have seen a failed attempt at phone art and it produced a surprising outcome, it looked good. Sometimes a phone speckled with colour or customised with some simple multi-coloured streaks is really effective and requires no artistic ability at all.

Mobile phone sock: these are less effective at protecting your phone from any heavy impact damage than cases, but do protect your phone from the adverse effects of dust, stains and small scratches. These are generally cheap, but if you are low on cash they are incredibly easy to create – just buying a tiny light coloured bag, or using one you already have for sunglasses leaves you with a blank canvas to decorate with what you will.

Of course, these aren’t the entirety of the options at your disposal but do act as a good starting point for those that want to portray themselves as the distinct individual that they are.

See through toaster: My first example is an invention that first came onto my radar whilst watching ‘An Idiot Abroad’ on Sky – the see through toaster. I hate misjudging the temperature and burning my toast, especially since the morning is the time when I am at my most unstable and irritable. Burning my toast in the morning puts me in a bad mood for the rest of the day; this invention solves the whole darn problem.

Goggle Umbrellas: Another pet hate of mine is people being clumsily unaware of their surroundings, this is exacerbated when people are holding an umbrella. There has been more than one occasion when I have got the corner of an umbrella poked in my eye, and the culprit has just walked off entirely oblivious. The goggle umbrella is the solution – it should become customary as a matter of health and safety.

Pan Attachment: Often when pouring soup or baking mixture out of a pan/bowl – I accidentally end up spilling it. Now the problem is solved, and it was all so simple, just attach a saucepan pouring attachment. Honestly I have no idea why this hasn’t been more successful, it has been a lifesaver in my kitchen.

Mobility Scooter: As I have gotten older, like almost every other person on the planet, I have become less mobile. This (like the proceeding invention) is one that has been around for a long time. The mobility scooter has come under fire recently due to the number of people using it despite being able bodied. I however, ask that people look past that and see it for the great piece of technology it is. I used to struggle to motivate myself to leave the house, knowing what kind of impact it might have on my legs – now you can barely keep me indoors.

Forklift Trucks: This last piece of technology is more orientated towards those that do manual labour or heavy lifting. In my last job I had a lot of trouble with my back, but I found myself a solution – I looked for some used forklift trucks for sale, and suggested to my manager that he invest in those. It made all the difference, I no longer felt weary at the prospect of coming to work, I quite looked forward to it – productivity went through the roof and we made back the investment in no time at all.

Freeview HD Tuners

There are a few major channels that are broadcast in HD at the moment, with more planned in the future as the technology becomes embraced. Subscription free services are now broadcast across the UK, including BBC One HD, BBC HD channel, ITV1 HD, and channel 4HD in England. The other 50 or so Freeview channels are often upscaled in varying degrees through Freeview HD boxes, meaning that all of your viewing will be at least slightly better than standard definition, even if it isn’t in full HD. This helps with one of the problems with modern TVs – the size. TVs are generally bigger than a decade or so ago, which means that low quality pictures can be harder to watch.

Blu-ray Players

These media players have lowered in price many times over the past few years. Originally costing three or four hundred pounds, you can now get the equivalent models for under £100. The discs themselves have also gone through price drops, being much more affordable now. People will probably not replace their whole movie collection, but new films are often priced the same on Blu-ray as their DVD counterparts. Another reason for this is the fact the original recordings were often not as good as modern broadcasting quality, making it pointless to release them on Blu-ray, unless they are re-mastered and re-released.

Connecting It All Together

Of course, once you have HD quality media and the means to display it, you need everything connecting together. As with all the components surrounding the technology, the price of a HDMI cable has dropped greatly in price recently. You can still get very expensive cables, but the difference in quality of the signal is negligible on most occasions.

Once all of this is put together, you can sit back and watch some great TV and sit back and wait for the next revolution in TV viewing!

1. Replicate your DVDs: There is nothing worse than damaging a disk knowing that your only real option is to go out and spend your hard earned money again. Arguably worse is if the DVD is a recording of a cherished memory or event that you would have liked to have kept into your older years. This can be avoided; replicating DVDs is a very cheap means to watch your film without the need to buy another copy.

2. Store them safely: Where possible it really is preferable to keep the disks locked safely away in their plastic cases, preferably somewhere where they are unlikely to get knocked and bumped – such as a shelf. These solid plastic cases are far preferable to plastic or paper wallets. The environment really is just as important as the casing – for example if the cases are balanced precariously on the top of a shelf they may fall off and get damaged anyway. Direct sunlight can quickly deteriorate the dyes used on disk surfaces and can degrade the disk to the point where it becomes unreadable, so store them in a dry and dim place.

3. Handle the disk correctly: When moving the disk always hold it by the sides placing your finger through the centre hole, greasy finger prints make the DVD unreadable to the player. If your disks do get smudges make sure you wipe them off using a clean cloth, not doing so would only exacerbate matters Also if you are to use a substance to clean it, avoid cleaners with ammonia as these will damage the plastic disk. Furthermore wiping the disks with a paper towel or tissue leaves it susceptible to scratching so use a soft cotton cloth. And finally, those that clean their disks should use an outward motion, from the centre to the rim – circular motions are damaging.

Follow this advice and I have no doubt that you will get the longest life from them. Remember, without the proper forethought and back-up you are prone to losing it all at any time, so take care.

Taking up unnecessary space?

To take this argument to it’s extreme, you could also claim that even photo frames have now become outdated and old technology. Many of us have hundreds of photos online or stored on our computers that are updated regularly and available to anyone with an internet connection at any time. Photo frames on the other hand, hold only one photo at a time, have to be updated manually and can only be seen by anyone with a direct line of sight to the frame itself. Logically then, it doesn’t necessarily make any sense to have a photo frame up on the shelf, but your walls would be pretty bare if the only thing decorating them was your harddrive.

But we have now got a lot more space in our homes and need to find something to do with it. If you are looking to build a modern home and are a technology fan you may want to mount your TV on a wall. This has become much more popular since TVs have become considerably lighter and slimmer as cathode tube televisions became obsolete, pull out TV brackets can be a stylish addition to the home and their strong flexible and swiveling design makes them very convenient.

Art and decoration can do a lot to brighten up a minimalistic room now that we’ve lost some of the clutter and mess that went along with old technology. In the same way that we have slowly moved towards the paper-free office, we have also managed to inadvertently gravitate towards the paper-free home and a lot of the mess that used to have the opportunity to pile up and clutter the house.

As useful as this space is, and as convenient as ebooks can be, it is hard to escape the idea that we have lost something when we look at an empty shelf or the space where one used to be. Perhaps some of the best advice would be to hold on to some of this obsolete technology just by way of decoration or to display your tastes to your friends and guests. It isn’t possible to imagine a scenario in which you could have someone round your house and start showing off your book collection by scrolling down the read section of your ebook, but it can be a great joy for someone to notice something that they have read on your shelf and strike up a conversation about it. Rather than ‘out with the old in with the new’, we might have to consider ‘in with the new, keep the old for aesthetic value’.