Last week Twitter announced that you would soon be able to poll your followers and other users on the platform with a multiple choice question.

Coming soon! We're rolling out the ability for everyone to create polls on Twitter: https://t.co/pH5a8q9Ujz pic.twitter.com/ijAKEMUdf1

— Twitter (@twitter) October 21, 2015

If you want the public’s opinion on something — what to name your dog, who will win tonight’s game, which election issue people care about most — there’s no better place to look than on Twitter.

For poll creators, this is a great new way to engage with Twitter’s massive audience and understand exactly what people think. And for those participating, it’s a very easy way to make your voice heard.

Here's how it works: 

1. Select the icon you would normally click to compose a tweet (this functionality will be available on OSX, Android, and desktop when it is fully rolled out).
   
2. From there you can click the poll icon which will allow you to create your own two-choice poll right from the compose box.
   
   
   
3. Type your question into the Compose New Tweet box and add your carefully selected two choices into the lines below.
   
4. When you're finished, click Tweet!

Once you click Tweet, your poll will remain live for 24 hours. Anyone can vote on any poll and how you voted is not shared publicly. They can also choose to share, favorite, and comment on the poll using the @Reply function.

So here's my question to you...

How do you feel about the new Twitter Polls? For more info: https://t.co/5MxRBemh7Y #socialmedia #TwitterPolls

— Katelyn Davis (@katelynshelby) November 5, 2015

My Thoughts

• Much needed addition. Although in the past Twitter has offered a few ways to participate in and conduct polls by tweeting questions and tracking replies, tallying hashtag votes, or asking followers to favorite or retweet to vote it was difficult and time consuming.
• Poll choices are kept short. I know Twitter is the king of short-hand but the character limit for the poll responses are so short it's annoying.
• Not enough choices. Two choices?! I'm not saying that there needs to be an unlimted amount of selections but there definitely needs to be more than two. The way it stands there isn't even room for a Yes, No, Maybe option!

I recently started a new job and I'm trying to make my best impression. I'm trying to live that "dress for the job you want, not the job you have" motto, which means I choosing more and more to ditch my FitBit Flex for more sophisticated accessories like my new Shinola watch.
Gfiffin goes fresh and fashionable with their Ribbon Wristband--a colorful alternative to the bulky rubber and plastic wristbands that come with your fitness tracker. Inspired by the popular ribbon hair ties seen everywhere, the comfortable, wicking nylon ribbon hides your Fitbit or Sony tracker in a secure spandex pocket. It easily adjusts for a perfect fit; just re-tie the knot.

Tory Burch
Recently, fashion designer, Tory Burch unveiled a new accessory line for FitBit. Burch's accessory collection is made up of four distinctive pieces, including a brass pendant, a brass bracelet, and two artsy silicone bands (pink and blue). Each was designed to house a Fitbit Flex.

I recently watched a YouTube documentary called Network Society, On the Brink which details the past, present, and future of human connectivity and a society linked together digitally. I am a huge documentary fan  (and tech fan) to begin with so, right off the bat, this caught my eye.

This film covers what a networked society would look like with new business models, talking plants, and globalized communities. Although it mainly focuses on the last 15 years of innovation, it covers the entire journey of human connectivity from the light bulb and electricity and what possibilities their introduction to the masses gave the human race to what our world will look like and function like 10 or 20 years down the road.

I highly recommended you check it out. Not only does this film give an optimistic view of where tech, digital networking, and connectivity are headed but it packs it all into a short, 20 minute story that will entice even those who are not fond of documentary films.

 

I recently returned from a 10-day brush with nature. I vacationed in the desolate wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula where 4G does not exist and people have no idea what an iPad is. However there are state parks galore, some of the most beautiful fresh water lakes and waterfalls, and more hiking then one person can handle in a single vacation. Don't get me wrong, the dense forests and natural beauties are enough to keep me occupied but I want to share these sights with everyone in real-time, but Mother Nature makes this incredibly hard!

Here are 4 tech products that allowed me to stay true to my tech-self while unplugging and going "off the grid."

1: Waterproof Camera Case for Mid-Size Camera by DiCAPac
I recently purchased on of the Sony NEX digital cameras, the level below a DSLR, with the interchangeable lenses. I was really excited to put it to good use this summer, especially with this planned vacation. However, the more I thought about it the more I questioned whether or not I wanted my camera up close and personal with rushing rivers, waterfalls, boating, kayaking, and swimming.

So I did some research and this waterproof case by DiCAPac came highly recommended and was moderately priced at about $80 online. The bag is perfect for larger point & shoot digital cameras and allows for a lens of up to 1.4" with an internal diameter of 2.1"--however it also comes with an extender which makes the lens opening longer. The bag protects against fog, water, dust, snow, and sand so it's perfect for any outdoor activity. Although it is in a thick plastic bag basically, it is still easy to use the button controls on the camera my pressing through the plastic.

The only downside is that there is no way to zoom or focus while the lens is inside the casing so you have to use your camera on automatic and either get as close as possible to the subject your photographing or you're going to have to crop and zoom on the computer later.

DiCAPac claims the case is waterproof and usable up to 33ft underwater. However I could not bring myself to test this claim. I liked the peace of mind I had having my camera secure in this case but I didn't trust it to put underwater. I didn't have a reason not to trust it. I just don't live dangerously. But I did take it swimming, into the bottom basin of a waterfall to take pictures, and boating and kayaking--all knowing that IF there was an accident, my camera would survive!

2: Seal Line E-Case (Waterproof Phone Case) by Cascade Designs
Genius! This little guy is absolutely perfect for my iPhone and Seal Line also offers a wide range of sizes to fit all kinds of electronics... all at an incredibly reasonable price (mine was $20 at REI). The plastic front and back allowed for flawless use of the touchscreen and high quality picture taking.

The case features two secure holes so you can attach the case to a  lanyard, keycain, or a carabiner clip--whichever you choose--that way it's not easily lost while jumping and diving in the water.

We did successfully test this product. My boyfriend took it clip diving in some of Michigan's beautiful waterfalls and got video and pictures above and below the water line with no damage or dampness what-so-ever to the phone. Perfect!

3: Geocaching
This one technically isn't a gadget--although it does require a GPS device--but is a great piece of tech that allows you to enjoy nature and your beloved technology all at the same time! If you haven't heard of geocaching, check out their website at www.geocaching.com--they do a wonderful job at explaining what this is all about.

I explain geocaching as modern day treasure hunting (and hiding). Basically join the geocaching website (it's a social network) then download the mobile app on your GPS capable device and then the fun can start. Using the app you can find maps to nearby hidden treasures, called caches. These caches range in size and can be on the ground, in trees, under benches, the possibilities are endless! Inside the caches will be a log where you can write your name, then (depending on size) there will be trinkets left by other geocachers. Take a trinket and leave a trinket that is unique to you. Before you leave use your app to check in at that cache. The geocaching network will keep a record of all the geocaches you find and will share it with all the other geocacher friends you make on the site.

There are over 5 MILLION caches worldwide so there is bound to be something in your neck of the woods! **Note: Caches are not just in rural areas. I've found that the hardest to spot caches are those hidden in plain sight in the busiest parts of the city!

4: Solar Charger by Voltaic Systems
Keeping all these gadgets juiced up is hard when you've hiked deep into the wilderness, miles from the nearest outlet. I purchased the Voltaic Fuse 4W Solar Panels back in December but this is the first time I really was able to put them to the test.

This product is great because the solar panels are attached to a smaller zippered bag with holds the power pack, charging adapters ( for USB, iPod, and other connections), as well as the gadget itself while it's charging.  Voltaic has solar panels that charge larger electronics (at a larger price) such as laptops, but we honestly just wanted to charge our phones, GPS, Kindle, and iPad. You can charge one of two ways: you can charge your gadget directly or you can charge the power pack which can then charge your gadgets once the sun goes down. We attached them to a Timbuk2 backpack where it was able to get optimal sunlight while hiking. It worked flawlessly!


We were able to fit much of what we needed for our summer adventures in a large Timbuk2 backpack (pictured above), which I also highly recommend. It holds everything!

We thankfully survived our adventures with our gadgets still intact and we had the pictures and video to prove it! Without these tech wonders, I'm not sure if I would have made it back sane!

How do you merge the tech world with the outdoors?

**My post featured on ThoughtPizza.com:

Microsoft recently hopped on the social networking bandwagon and unveiled a new online project called So.cl (pronounced "social") which they define as:

"...an experimental research project, developed by Microsoft’s FUSE Labs, that lets you use search to express and share ideas through beautiful story collages. So.cl is for anyone who has something to say - richly, simply, elegantly. So.cl helps you create rich stories (posts) by making it easy to assemble and share collages of web content. So.cl helps you discover people with like interests, and discover interests shared by people you like." 

As much as Microsoft beats around the bush about So.cl, calling it an "experimental research project," it is still a networking site created for socializing.

 Some of the key features So.cl boasts about are:

Click here to read more...

I get asked this question all the time. And honestly, I always say no. Because if you're asking that question then most likely you don't believe in the power the internet has in the hands of one individual.

Basically you Klout score tells a person or company just how much pull you have. It tells if you're influential. It tells if you make an impact. The higher the more important.

This images says it all...


Yes, if his phone doesn't work or his service at a restaurant was crappy he can make sure a lot of people know about it with little to no effort in a blink of an eye. High Klout influencers are a customer service rep's worst nightmare when something goes wrong!

If you're interested in learning more about how much Klout score really says about you (and to see the inspiration for this quick post), check out this Wired article!