How Hooked-Up Are You When You Travel?

Updated: Mar 12th, 2010

Here’s a great article from NPR called, “Airlines Boost Self-Service With Mobile Check-In.” Isn’t it amazing how people are utilizing technology even while on the road?

Technology is changing how we travel, and how we travel is driving technology forward. If you’re a travel writer, you may bring your laptop (or netbook), digital camera, cell phone, and maybe even other gadgets with you when you hit the road. Maybe you want to get a jump start on your travel writing articles……If you’re a freelance travel writer, you may have tight deadlines — so you’ll probably need to be in constant contact with your editor. Technology is a beautiful thing, but can it be too much?

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

“…Cell phones and smart phones are fast becoming the new frontier for everything from booking air travel to checking in. Airlines including American, Delta and Continental are testing mobile and smart phone check-in technology at more than a dozen U.S. airports. And a number of foreign carriers have already implemented it.”

As the airlines push for paperless check-in, technologies are being developed that will let travelers receive their boarding passes on their cell phones, allowing them to speed through security by showing the bar-code on their phone, and proceed directly to their gate. Many new cell phones today are capable of handling this new technology, and the good news is that prices have come way down in recent years if you need to upgrade to a new model.

What does technology mean for travelers and travel writers? Perhaps in the near future you’ll have one device for everything. Forget about carrying the Blue Tooth, cell phone, laptop, camera, etc.. Maybe you’ll be able to produce travel writing article at the drop of a hat with one super-smart cell phone or PDA that will handle communication as well as taking photos and writing notes or even articles. Some phones can already do this, like Apple’s iPhone, even though the keyboards can be quite tiny. What do you think? Can you see yourself replacing all your other gear with just one smart device?

~Rebecca

What types of technology do you take with you when you travel?

About Amandah Blackwell 198 Articles

Amandah Blackwell is a creative, freelance and ghost writer for industries that include but are not limited to the arts & entertainment, travel, publishing, real estate, pets, personal and professional development, and much more.

Amandah's personal writing projects include screenplays, teleplays, YA, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry. 

You can find more of her writing at www.MisticCafe.com, savvywritingcareers.wordpress.com, and www.savvy-writer.com.

You can follow Amandah on Twitter at:  http://twitter.com/savvy_writer

5 Comments

  1. Technology is a beautiful, yet annoying thing. I see people talking on their cell phones, sometimes two phones (just like the picture). Get a life! Are you really that important? It cracks me up.

    I refuse to be a slave to technology. Yeah, I choose to receive my tickets via email because it’s good for the environment. At the same time, I think to myself “Where’s my travel discount?” Plus, I can’t stand to shelp around a bunch of equipment. I’m still old school with paper & pen, and I buy disposable cameras or just go online.

  2. Oh Stan! Technology is fab. I constantly text while I’m at the airport, it beats sitting around doing nothing. I also receive my tickets via email, but welcome the opportunity to receive them on my phone. If it speeds up the airport process then I’m all for it. Can’t leave without my laptop. I need to be hooked up!

  3. I’m always hooked up. I like to take my camera and laptop. I’m all for having my ticket sent to my phone. If I can zip through the line at the airport, I’m all for it.

  4. I can’t even imagine traveling without my laptop, iPhone, and also a good digital camera and a Flip Video camera as well. Other than those things I pack very light so I never feel weighed down, but that way I can write and blog while I’m on the road, get plenty of good photos and video, and yes keep in touch with email and IM. I do SO much with my iPhone now that it’s the one thing I would not be without – it’s my “deserted island” pick (you know that old question – if you were stranded on a deserted island, what is the one thing you simply must have with you?) If I had to I could replace everything else except for the Flip Video with it, but thankfully I don’t have to :)

  5. Gee, I see people all of the time at the airport with all of their gadgets. Isn’t the point of a vacation or travel to get away from it all? Just a thought.

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