Tips for Keeping Track of
Personal Electronics When Traveling
(ARA) – It’s no secret that Americans are constantly on the go,
using technology to help us multitask and get things done while
we are out and about. Smart phones, PDAs and mini laptops are
all the rage – until we lose them.
We usually lose things in transit: on buses, trains and planes,
in cabs and rental cars, shopping malls and coffee shops. If
you’ve ever lost an electronic gadget, you know the cost,
inconvenience and security risks can become not just a hassle
but also a burden.
As many as 12,000 laptops are lost in American airports each
week, according to a 2008 survey by the Ponemon Institute. Even
though more than half of them are left behind at security
checkpoints, the survey says a whopping 65 to 70 percent are
never returned. Airport lost and found departments are
repositories for massive numbers of lost electronic devices,
most of which lack any identifying information that would help
airport personnel return the items to their owners.
So how do you avoid becoming a “loss statistic,” especially if
you travel a lot on business with personal electronic items?
Here are a few simple tips:
1) Label your laptop or other electronic devices with your
name, address and cell phone number. A majority of laptops lost
in airports are left at security checkpoints where they
presumably will be found by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) or airport staff. If there’s no
identifying information on your device, the authorities or even
a Good Samaritan will have no way to find you and return your
property.
Invest in a portable labeling device and put your identifying
information on important electronic items. Brother recently
launched two portable labelers – the PT-1230PC and PT-2430PC-
that easily plug into the USB port of your laptop or any
desktop computer and require no software installation to use.
These P-touch labelers print up to six lines of text and
graphics on high-quality, laminated labels durable enough for
travel as well as indoor and outdoor use. Visit www.brother.com
to learn more.
2) Always carry smaller electronics like cell phones and iPods
in the same place in your handbag or carry-on. Knowing where to
look for them will not only help you access and use them
quickly, but also help you realize sooner rather than later if
an item really is lost.
3) Charge your electronics before you begin a trip so that you
don’t have to charge them in an airport lounge or waiting area.
Charging in a public place increases your risk of forgetting an
item, or having it taken when you look away for a moment. And
even if you remember to take the phone, you still risk
forgetting the charger.
4) If you carry your cell phone, mp3 player, electronic planner
or other small electronic item in your pocket, always check the
area when you get up from a seat. Devices can easily slip out
of a pocket when you’re sitting down.
5) Take extra care -- and time, if needed -- at airport
security checkpoints to make sure you’ve retrieved all your
important possessions, including laptops and other electronic
devices. Don’t feel you have to rush to get out of someone
else’s way, especially if rushing will increase your risk of
forgetting something. TSA screeners consistently give
passengers verbal reminders to check their belongings to be
sure they have everything, but you rarely hear any of them
urging passengers to hurry up once they’re through the
screening point. They understand you may need a few extra
moments to collect your belongings.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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