Technology
Stop thinking about retirement by tapping tech to rediscover what gets you excited
Even if you’re retired or well into your career, it’s never too late to learn a new skill. And because you don’t need to go back into a physical classroom to learn those skills anymore (something that can be very anxiety-inducing for some people), taking the leap to study may be much less daunting when you can do it online.
Whether you’re looking for a career change, want to stay relevant at your current job or are looking for something to do post-retirement, why not try something new?
There are so many websites that offer low-cost or even free courses where you can advance your skills on your own time without having to borrow thousands of dollars or change your routine and dedicate yourself to it full time.
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What are the highest-paying jobs in 2024?
If one of the reasons you’re looking to learn a new skill is that you’re interested in a higher-paying job, that’s understandable. Or maybe someone younger than you is asking for advice, and you want to give them some tips on what they can pursue. Perhaps you’re just curious about what the highest-paying jobs are these days. Whatever the reason, it’s good to be current on these questions.
Though year after year doctors, lawyers, accountants and electrical engineers are at the top of the list of the highest-paying jobs, that’s not always the most realistic career path for everyone, especially if you’re looking to skill up quickly for a career change or a hobby. In either case – or maybe you’re just curious – here are the highest-paying jobs in 2024, according to several sources like Yahoo! Finance, Indeed and U.S. News Money.
- Loan officer: $192K
- IT manager: $164K
- Financial manager: $140K
- Marketing manager: $140K
- Sales manager: $131K
- Software developer: $127K
- Computer network architect: $127K
- Actuary: $114K
- Information security analyst: $112K
- Scrum master: $106K
- Data scientist: $104K
- Tax manager: $130K
- Real estate analyst: $90K
- HR manager: $79K
- Virtual assistant: $75K
- Digital marketer: $67K
- Life insurance agent: $67K
- Freelance writer: $59K
- Customer service representative: $59K
- Translate/interpreter: $58K
- Graphic designer: $56K
- Online fitness trainer: $53K
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Do you need an education to do these jobs?
The quick answer? No, not necessarily. But it will take some skill leveling up. You can get some of these roles by educating yourself online or enrolling in online courses. And these courses don’t typically ask you for a degree to enroll.
Why? They understand that a person might want to learn new skills for many reasons. Of course, if getting a higher-paid job or wanting a promotion is your reason for learning a new skill in the first place, then certainly having some college education may help you land one of these jobs sooner.
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Where to take online courses
There are several excellent online platforms where you can continue your education, acquire new skills and explore various subjects. Here are some of the top online learning platforms.
edEX: Ideal for tech enthusiasts and career-minded individuals seeking courses from top universities on subjects like AI, coding and data analytics.
Coursera: Perfect for those looking for university-level courses, specializations and degrees from renowned institutions worldwide, with financial aid options available.
Udacity: Ideal for aspiring programmers and tech enthusiasts seeking hands-on experience and industry connections through Nanodegree programs.
LinkedIn Learning: Suitable for professionals looking to advance their careers with courses on leadership, marketing and project management with personalized recommendations and LinkedIn integration.
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What if I am late in my career or near retirement?
Then, yes, you can take one of these courses (or many of them). Again, the whole purpose of online learning is to make it accessible to everyone. So, even though there may be other students in your cohort who are younger or at a totally different stage of their careers or their lives, don’t let that hold you back.
Learning a new skill, even if you’ve been in your career for decades, can help you stay on top of your game as new tech and trends roll in. If you’re a parent or a grandparent, learning a new skill can help you relate more to your children as they grow and pursue their careers. And, if you’re near retirement or already retired, learning a new skill helps keep the mind sharp and maybe even gives you the education you need to start a new venture.
How to choose the best online course for you
Choosing the best online course depends on several factors. Understand the reputation of the course, the length of time you have to complete it, whether courses are asynchronous or synchronous, your learning styles, budget, etc.
You can look at reviews, talk to students who have taken the course, and find out who in your network has attended one of these programs and ask about their job prospects. Again, it all depends on why you’re taking the course in the first place. If you just want to do it for fun, perhaps you’ll join a course taught by a favorite celebrity on MasterClass.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Learning new skills isn’t only for recent high school or college grads. It’s for anyone. Going “back to school” has never been easier with online courses. No matter your age and your intention, there is a course – and platform – out there for you.
Have you or anyone you know advanced any of your skills using one of the methods above? What about a friend who took an online course as a hobby? What was the experience like? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
Sharge’s Macintosh-inspired 67W charger is nearly half off right now
Earlier this week, we published a guide rounding up an assortment of last-minute Father’s Day gifts for those who celebrate. However, if you need a Hail Mary and your dad is the nostalgic type with a penchant for all things Apple, the Sharge Retro 67 is currently on sale for an all-time low of $39 ($30 off) at Amazon and direct from Sharge.
In February, my colleague Sean Hollister penned a personal ode to the Sharge’s three-port USB-C PD and PPS charger (and for good reason). The palm-sized Retro 67 measures 2.2 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches — which is relatively small for what it offers — and can output 67 watts from a single UL-certified port or 45 watts via the primary port while supplying 20 watts across the remaining two. That’s enough juice to charge a combination of devices (phones, earbuds, handhelds, etc.) or a lightweight laptop like the most recent MacBook Air. It can even slow-charge a beefier machine like the MacBook Pro using the main port, assuming you’re not in any particular hurry.
Wattage is only part of the appeal, though. What makes the Retro 67, well, retro, is that it takes its design from the original Macintosh. The travel-friendly charger also sports foldable prongs and a built-in dot-matrix display, which shows you what kind of power your gadgets are receiving at any given moment. The fact it displays the iconic “digital rain” pattern from The Matrix when not in use is just a plus.
Technology
Can 4DX motion seats and sensory elements get you to return to the movie theater?
The onset of the pandemic changed the moviegoing experience for most Americans. Once a regular part of most Americans’ weekend plans, people quickly replaced it with streaming content at home.
A new type of moviegoing experience might bring people back to the theaters. It’s called 4DX, and it marries the cinematic experience with real-life elements.
So, in essence, you’re not just sitting there watching a movie; you’re part of it, engaging all of your senses.
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What is a 4DX movie experience?
While options like Imax have been around, 4DX creates a multi-sensory experience that coincides with the film’s story. 4DX combines seat movements, effects and sensory elements to complement or enhance the movie being watched.
For instance, if the character in the film is traversing a foggy landscape, the fog would be released in the actual theater. If the movie shows certain movements, those movements might be echoed by the motion of the seats. If the characters are experiencing certain smells, scents might be released to give viewers a sensory experience as opposed to just a visual one.
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16 effects of 4DX movie theater technology
1. Roll: The motion seats can roll side-to-side, immersing you in the action as vehicles turn or objects tumble. This rolling motion creates a visceral sense of centrifugal force and inertia.
2. Pitch: The seats pitch forward and backward, recreating the sensation of acceleration, braking or falling. Pitching downward simulates the stomach-dropping feeling of rapid descents or free-falls.
3. Sway + twist: The seats can sway from side to side and twist, allowing you to feel sharp turns, spins and other dynamic movements. The twisting motion enhances the realism of tight corners, corkscrew loops and other spiraling action sequences.
4. Tickler: Built-in ticklers in the seats provide gentle sensations on your legs and ankles, mimicking crawling creatures or environmental effects. These tickling effects can startle and delight, adding an extra layer of tactile immersion.
5. Vibration: Precise vibrations in the seats deliver realistic impacts and tremors, heightening the intensity of crashes, explosions and more. From subtle rumblings to jarring shakes, the vibrations make you feel deeply connected to the on-screen events.
6. Warm air: Heated air blows from vents, recreating environments like deserts or conveying a sense of warmth. The warm breezes envelop you, making hot and arid scenes feel palpable.
7. Rainstorm: A combination of rain, wind and fog effects envelop the theater during storm scenes for an immersive downpour experience. You’ll feel like you’re caught in the midst of nature’s fury as the tempest rages around you.
8. Rain: Water nozzles simulate rainfall, whether a light drizzle or a heavy shower. From a gentle patter to a torrential onslaught, the rain effects soak you in the atmosphere.
9. Snow: A snow simulation system produces realistic-looking snowflakes that appear to float down from above. You may find yourself mesmerized by the drifting flurries, chilled by their wintry presence.
10. Wind: Powerful fans generate gusts of wind that can range from gentle breezes to intense gales. The forceful winds whip around you, heightening the drama of storms or aerial sequences.
11. Fog: A fog machine fills the theater with a misty haze to establish moody atmospheres or obscure visibility. The swirling fog enhances the tension and mystery, limiting your sightlines just like the characters.
12. Strobe: Intense strobe lighting flashes in sync with events like lightning strikes, gunfire or explosions. These blinding bursts of light amplify the shock and awe of high-impact moments.
13. Bubble: Bubble effects create a buoyant underwater ambiance for aquatic scenes. You’ll feel immersed in the underwater realm as the bubbles float around you.
14. Scent: Scent emitters release various aromas matched to the environments and situations on screen. From the earthy smell of a forest to the acrid odor of smoke, the scents deepen your sensory connection.
15. Water: Water jets can spray the audience, mimicking splashes, waves or characters getting wet. Prepare to get a little damp as the water effects make you feel like you’re right in the thick of the action.
16. Face air: Focused air nozzles blow air bursts directly at viewers’ faces for sudden, startling sensations. These in-your-face blasts of air will catch you by surprise, amplifying jump scares and intense moments.
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Are 4DX movie tickets worth the extra bucks?
While more expensive than a regular movie ticket, about $8 more, so a ticket could range from $20 to $30, it seems the value proposition is there for both the theaters and the viewers. With elements that allow you to smell and feel alongside the movie, which cannot be replicated at home, it gives viewers a reason to head to the theater instead of streaming. Theater owners are able to make more per ticket than with non-4DX releases.
Regal is the largest operator of 4DX, with 50 of the 62 locations in the U.S. and Canada and 750 globally. Last year, 4DX programmed more than 100 films, 40 to 45 of which were major Hollywood titles.
The 4DX programmers work really hard to pull this all off. They take two to three weeks to create the experience that enhances the moviegoing experience. Between the fog machines, sound systems and sensory elements, they create original and unique experiences that immerse viewers.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
I don’t think I want to take a squirt of water to the face, but 4DX movie theater technology has to be experienced to understand how amazingly compelling film watching is elevated to something unforgettable. While some moviegoers may embrace this innovative approach with open arms, others might find the sensory overload overwhelming, especially during intense action sequences or startling moments.
It’s the best shot movie theater operators have to wow the audience back to the big screen. In an era where streaming services have become increasingly popular, 4DX offers an experience that simply cannot be replicated on a phone, a tablet screen or at home. The combination of motion seats, environmental effects and sensory stimuli creates a truly captivating atmosphere. As the technology continues to evolve and refine, it will be interesting to see how 4DX shapes the future of moviegoing.
After learning about the immersive and multi-sensory experience offered by 4DX, does this pique your interest? Or do you find the idea of it all could be overwhelming and potentially detracting from the movie? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
NASA says Voyager 1 is fully back online months after it stopped making sense
Voyager 1, the farthest human-made craft from the Earth, is finally sending back data from all four of its scientific instruments, NASA said this week. That means the agency is once more receiving its readings on plasma waves, magnetic fields, and space-bound particles.
Now, NASA says Voyager 1, which is over 15 billion miles from Earth, is “conducting normal science operations” and the agency just needs to resync its timekeeping software and do some maintenance on a sparingly-used digital tape recorder.
Now seems like a great time to either remind you of or point you to the sick Voyager posters, like the one above, that NASA has published on its site.
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