Stay up to date on the trends & technologies

How to keep up with technology

Though it may seem daunting, there are many steps you can take to keep up with new technology. Here are 13 ways you can stay current with technology trends:

1. Join a professional organization

Joining a professional organization can be a great way to stay on top of emerging technology that directly affects your industry. Many professional organizations produce magazines filled with current news and tech advances. Besides publications, you can check to see if your industry organization has a local chapter near you. Local chapters may also provide training classes and pair you with a mentor.

2. Find a mentor

You can find a mentor that is tech-savvy and learn from them. Read the technology publications they read and follow the tech sites they recommend. Meet periodically with your mentor to discuss tech advances and applications in the workplace.

3. Attend industry conferences and tech events

Conferences are a great opportunity to see innovative technology specific to your industry. You can listen to industry leaders, attend classes and talk with vendors about their products. You can also check out technology-focused events and apply what you have learned to your industry. Many conferences make their keynote speeches available online for those that don’t have the time or budget to attend in person.

4. Devote time daily to tech news

A small portion of each day is all it takes to stay up to date with technology news. For the most balanced approach, you can get your news from technology-focused publications and tech news sites online. Tech publications may publish on a monthly or (more likely) quarterly basis and can fill in the gaps by providing daily doses of hot tech topics. Find a few reputable sites you are comfortable with and stick with them. To save time, you can set up site keywords to receive key news items daily.

5. Connect with social media

There are many influencers devoted to technology and emerging trends. You can subscribe to newsletters or set alerts to notify you when your favorite tech influencer posts new material. Besides influencers, you can follow industry and tech company accounts to learn about emerging technologies.

6. Prioritize learning

Making learning a priority is a big part of keeping up with technology. Many tech and education companies offer free or inexpensive online classes. Some online classes offer tech and industry-specific certifications.You can also take online classes through colleges or universities. Not only do college classes offer the chance to collaborate with others in your field, but they also allow you to experience current technologies used by businesses with virtual employees.

7. Share ideas with your peers

Set up periodic meetings with co-workers, professionals from other departments and industry colleagues to talk about technology on the job. These meetings are a great way to learn about emerging tech, how others are using it and expected changes in your industry.

8. Watch TED talks

TED talks are a simple way to stay current with technology in your free time. Many TED talks are by professionals you would see at a conference. Most talks are only 10 to 20 minutes long, are free to watch and cover a range of topics. You can save some search time by curating your TED feed to focus on technology, innovation and professional growth.

9. Listen to podcasts

If you are an auditory learner, podcasts can be a great way to keep up to date on general technology news and industry-specific technological advances. There are even podcasts that serve as virtual coding classes. Podcasts are free and you can listen to them anywhere.

10. Watch start-up businesses

Start-ups are often home to innovation. By following start-up news feeds and connecting with their employees, you can stay up-to-date on tech trends in your industry.