Thanks to the rise of social networking, smartphones, and faster Internet speeds, it’s never been easier to immerse yourself in a new language without even leaving home.
The best-known method is Rosetta Stone, the interactive, total-immersion-style program that uses intuitive flash-card-like video games to teach students in the same way a child might learn a language. In other words: no boring grammar lectures or lessons. The service’s Totale Version 4 program ($249; rosettastone.com) offers interactive, voice-recognition-enabled lessons in any of 24 languages on CD, online, or via an app for iPhone, as well as through live online sessions with a native speaker. For the more scholarly minded, Livemocha’s Active classes($99–$399 per year; livemocha.com) for French, Italian, Spanish, and German deliver a mix of text-based grammar and usage lessons and repeat-after-me-style exercises that use voice recognition to test pronunciation. Learners also interact with teachers and native speakers online, both in live video sessions and via e-mail and recorded voice messages.
Tom Samiljan, the technology-guru who wrote our “Best Travel Gadgets 2011/T+L Tech Awards” (in our May 2011 issue), has some pretty interesting things to say about the future of gadgets. I asked him a few of my most burning questions:
Gone are the days of heading out to sea and losing all contact with the world. Cell and Internet services are now standard (though free in-room Wi-Fi is not), and some lines have gone even further with their tech amenities. Holland America has introduced a series of classes covering such subjects as digital photography and blogging. And on its October voyage, Crystal Symphony will offer a digital filmmaking workshop, led by BBC producer Michael Rosenblum, that includes instruction on shooting and editing travel videos.
Sherri Eisenberg is a contributor to Travel + Leisure.
With the release of the iPad nearly one year ago, the device is changing the way we do business. And while it might seem an unlikely combination, even restaurants have hopped on the bandwagon. Yes, a handful are loading their menus onto iPads for customers to peruse—a costly and wasteful business practice, all in the name of flashiness, as far as I'm concerned. But that’s not exactly what I’m talking about; there are more and more turning iPads into useful (and yes, flashy) tools that actually improve the dining experience.
London’s Luton and Manchester airports officially have received a Trekkie–approved makeover. Starting today, passengers approaching the security check-in sections of the airports will welcomed, and given instructions, by holograms. Well, sort of. They’re not holograms in the traditional sense, they’re close (and cool) enough. Large sheets of glass are cut into the shape of people, with images of attendants Holly and Graham—get it??—projected onto them.
The idea is not to replace airport security staff with holograms, but to “help them to do their job even better, by communicating compellingly and consistently,” according to Glyn Jones, managing director of London Luton Airport.
I was discussing with my colleagues earlier today my relative inability to unplug myself from the world, no matter where I am. So it’s fitting that, shortly after this discussion, I received an e-mail from the Lanesborough in London, telling me about their newest guest service: the installation of Mac minis in each of the hotel’s 95 guestrooms. (Which, when you think about it, is an interesting contrast: the sleek, stylish white devices surrounded by the Georgian-style décor of the hotel.)
This additional resource lets guests access more/better TV and movie choices, as well as a place to plug in their own personal iPods, iPhones, and iPads—even personal digital cameras and jump drives, if need be. (Not to mention, access to the Internet and programs standard on any new Mac, like iLife.)
They’re back! Duracell has returned with their Power Rovers (which I wrote about last year) to help light the iconic numerals that adorn Times Square for New Year's Eve—as seen by millions (some in person, many others on television).
As in previous years, the rovers will be open for the public to hop aboard and pedal. The energy created will be transferred to Duracell Battery Centers, where it will remain until the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.
I’m one of those people who can’t go too long without plugging into my iPod, especially when I'm on the road. Luckily, more and more hotels are now furnishing rooms with iPod docks—but plenty others still don’t. And never mind vacation rental homes, which can be all over the place when it comes to amenities.
In situations like that, you either go without or bring something along. (Preferably something that won’t take up too much space in your suitcase.) One option is the Philips Fidelio DS7550 portable iPod speaker dock, which I had the opportunity to borrow this week.
I admit it: though I put my laptop away for the bulk of my travel excursions, I have a hard time unplugging from the world for too long. While I'm fine using the trackpad on my MacBook—on the road and at home—plenty of people prefer using a mouse. Enter Microsoft's Special Edition Susan G. Komen for the Cure Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000.
While there are plenty of worthy travel-friendly mouses out there, this one stands out for a number of reasons:
USA Today | Boeing says it's ready to jump into the space-tourism market, announcing on Wednesday that will enter into a partnership to sell seats on rocket trips to the International Space Station.
"Now Boeing just has to build a spaceship," The Associated Press writes.
Boeing's just-announced partnership is with the space-tourism company Space Adventures. The Washington Post explains, saying the agreement is for the companies "to establish a space taxi system that will launch its passengers into low Earth orbit. Boeing has been developing a capsule and has years of experience building rockets, while Space Adventures has organized seven trips to the space station aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz. The obstacles remain high, but the two companies say they think they can begin their service by the end of 2015." Photo Credit: iStock
