7 Tech Hacks for Students to Instantly Improve Productivity

In today’s world, everyone’s life is ruled by technology. We have reached a point, in the last few years where we literally rely on tech 24/7. Even though we believe that technology is supposed to make our lives easier, it sometimes just gives us a whole new host of things to worry about.

So here I am listing down some easy and fun tech hacks that will allow you to use technology to do things faster and more efficiently.

1) Boost Wifi with Foil and Cola Cans

WiFi is considered to be one of the most important developments in the evolution of the internet. It has freed people from being shackled to their desktops, but it’s also one of the most frustrating things, if you’re plagued with slow speed, bad reception, and other WiFi issues.

To overcome the issue of weak signal, there is a really simple tech hack. What you can do is take a couple of pieces of aluminium foil, create an aluminium foil disk and place it on the top of your router. This helps in propagating WiFi signals more effectively. Using empty cola cans can also be useful to potentially boost your connection back up to acceptable levels.

wifi boosting hack with alluminium foil

2) Study More Constructively with Google

Whenever you are studying for an important exam in school or college, you can just google “site: edu [subject] exam”. Here you will get links to several sample exams with solutions and everything.

Let’s see an example: Google search this exact phrase: site:edu C++ exam

smart google search tech hack

You will get these sites consisting of practice examples and exams.

3) Create GIFS from YouTube Videos

GIFs are the new trendy way to communicate. This animated image is a popular way of sharing content and reactions online. Making these gifs is a skill in its own right, but you can easily create some great ones by making use of existing online video from sites like YouTube. 

Here I am going to tell you some easy how to make a GIF from a YouTube video with a website known as Gif.com

Step 1: First, find the YouTube video that you want to turn into a GIF and copy its URL.

Step 2: Go to Gifs.com page and paste the URL of your chosen YouTube into the white box on the left of the page. It will automatically detect the video.

Step 3: If your image consists a promo ad in the lower-left corner, click the “X” to make it disappear. Then, you must click on the timeline below the image and select the start and end times for your animated GIF. A blue bar indicates the period that will be used.

Step 4: In this step, you can add some effects, a caption, or a sticker as per your preference. When you’re satisfied with the gif, click “Create Gif” in the top right-hand corner. After that you can easily download the new Gif that you have created.

4) Watch Blocked Netflix Movies

Netflix’s streaming service blocks your access to content that is limited to certain countries and regions. But if you want to access that content there sure is a way to do that. A free browser extension named Hola allows you to visit websites that are otherwise blocked in your country. Netflix subscribers, can thus use Hola for getting access to more content on Netflix.

via GIPHY

5) Re-open a Closed Tab Quickly

This is more of a shortcut than a tech hack, but nevertheless it is extremely useful. If you just accidentally closed out of an important tab in your browser, instead of going in the search history to again re-open the page, you can simply press command+shift+t on a Mac or control+shift+t on Windows PC to reopen it.

command+shift+t -> Mac

control+shift+t -> Windows

6) Use WhatsApp on the web

WhatsApp is not limited to your mobile phone. There is a web app available that syncs everything from your phone. If you use a Chrome browser installed on your computer, go to the WhatsApp Web page, scan the QR code, and follow the instructions for your phone. This web app does not work for iOS devices, but for all others, it’ll serve up chats and alerts on your computer.

whatsapp web image link

7) Modify Text in Images

Project Naptha is a browser extension that will let you select, copy, modify, erase, and translate text in images. This extension is only available for Google Chrome for now. IT allows users to highlight, copy, edit and translate text from within images.

project naptha

In conclusion, I will say that we have to evolve ourselves on day-to-day basis to keep up with this ever changing technology. Do try out these fun tech hacks to make your relationship with these new technologies smoother.

 

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