SAN ANTONIO – No matter the grade, students are plugged in and connected. That means pencils and calculators no longer cut it for classroom and homework.
Jim Barry, known as the Digital Answer Man for the Consumer Technology Association, shared some gizmos and gadgets for class, homework and fun.
"At every level, students are using tech," Barry said. While the laptop and cell phone are all but essential, other products can help students manage their studies or some down-time in the dorm.
For example, a product called the Egg works like a personal cloud. Users can load pictures or study materials onto the Egg and save storage space on their devices. The Egg starts at about $200.
All that studying and Snapchatting can drain a student's battery.
A bright yellow charger from Waka Waka can do the trick, Barry said. The $80 charger from Waka Waka has solar panels. It soaks up the sun's rays and you can power up.
"For a phone it will do a full charge in two hours," Barry said. "For a tablet, a little longer."
The solar charger doubles as a flashlight.
If you are soaking up too much sun, Barry said the product called the SolTrackr will let you know.
The $59 multi-function device that looks like a key fob and works with an app measures UV exposure, oxygen levels and heart rate. It also helps take selfies by remote control and can find your keys.
"If you've lost your keys, you hit this and it will start beeping and flashing and tell you where your keys are," he said.
If you want more than a selfie, Barry suggests the Allie. It's a compact 360-degree camcorder that starts at about $250.
It functions as a home security measure, but also can be used for fun.
"It integrates in real time with YouTube," Barry said. Users can also load videos onto social media or other platforms.
One of the hottest tech trends for teens, according to Barry, is wireless Bluetooth speakers. Students can get great quality sound from a compact, mobile device.
There's good news for parents too, Barry said prices on tech products continue to drop.