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Do you use predictive text? Chances are it’s not saving you time – and could even be slowing you down

<p>Typing is one of the most common things we do on our mobile phones. A recent survey suggests that millenials spend <a href="https://www.provisionliving.com/blog/smartphone-screen-time-baby-boomers-and-millennials/">48 minutes</a> each day texting, while boomers spend 30 minutes.</p> <p>Since the advent of mobile phones, the way we text has changed. We’ve seen the introduction of autocorrect, which corrects errors as we type, and word prediction (often called predictive text), which predicts the next word we want to type and allows us to select it above the keyboard.</p> <p>Functions such as autocorrect and predictive text are designed to make typing faster and more efficient. But research shows this isn’t necessarily true of predictive text.</p> <p>A <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2858036.2858305">study</a> published in 2016 found predictive text wasn’t associated with any overall improvement in typing speed. But this study only had 17 participants – and all used the same type of mobile device.</p> <p>In 2019, my colleagues and I published <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3338286.3340120">a study</a> in which we looked at mobile typing data from more than 37,000 volunteers, all using their own mobile phones. Participants were asked to copy sentences as quickly and accurately as possible.</p> <p>Participants who used predictive text typed an average of 33 words per minute. This was slower than those who didn’t use an intelligent text entry method (35 words per minute) and significantly slower than participants who used autocorrect (43 words per minute).</p> <h2>Breaking it down</h2> <p>It’s interesting to consider the poor correlation between predictive text and typing performance. The idea seems to make sense: if the system can predict your intended word before you type it, this should save you time. </p> <p>In my most <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3411764.3445566">recent study</a> on this topic, a colleague and I explored the conditions that determine whether predictive text is effective. We combined some of these conditions, or parameters, to simulate a large number of different scenarios and therefore determine when predictive text is effective – and when it’s not.</p> <p>We built a couple of fundamental parameters associated with predictive text performance into our simulation. The first is the average time it takes a user to hit a key on the keyboard (essentially a measure of their typing speed). We estimated this at 0.26 seconds, based on <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2470654.2466180">earlier research</a>.</p> <p>The second fundamental parameter is the average time it takes a user to look at a predictive text suggestion and select it. We fixed this at 0.45 seconds, again based on <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1240624.1240723">existing data</a>.</p> <p>Beyond these, there’s a set of parameters which are less clear. These reflect the way the user engages with predictive text – or their strategies, if you like. In our research, we looked at how different approaches to two of these strategies influence the usefulness of predictive text.</p> <p>The first is minimum word length. This means the user will tend to only look at predictions for words beyond a certain length. You might only look at predictions if you’re typing longer words, beyond, say, six letters – because these words require more effort to spell and type out. The horizontal axis in the visualisation below shows the effect of varying the minimum length of a word before the user seeks a word prediction, from two letters to ten.</p> <p>The second strategy, “type-then-look”, governs how many letters the user will type before looking at word predictions. You might only look at the suggestions after typing the first three letters of a word, for example. The intuition here is that the more letters you type, the more likely the prediction will be correct. The vertical axis shows the effect of the user varying the type-then-look strategy from looking at word predictions even before typing (zero) to looking at predictions after one letter, two letters, and so on.</p> <p>A final latent strategy, perseverance, captures how long the user will type and check word predictions for before giving up and just typing out the word in full. While it would have been insightful to see how variation in perseverance affects the speed of typing with predictive text, even with a computer model, there were limitations to the amount of changeable data points we could include.</p> <p>So we fixed perseverance at five, meaning if there are no suitable suggestions after the user has typed five letters, they will complete the word without consulting predictive text further. Although we don’t have data on the average perseverance, this seems like a reasonable estimate.</p> <h2>What did we find?</h2> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/graph-text.jpg" alt="" />Above the dashed line there’s an increase in net entry rate while below it, predictive text slows the user down. The deep red shows when predictive text is most effective; an improvement of two words per minute compared to not using predictive text. The blue is when it’s least effective. Under certain conditions in our simulation, predictive text could slow a user down by as much as eight words per minute. </p> <p>The blue circle shows the optimal operating point, where you get the best results from predictive text. This occurs when word predictions are only sought for words with at least six letters and the user looks at a word prediction after typing three letters.</p> <p>So, for the average user, predictive text is unlikely to improve performance. And even when it does, it doesn’t seem to save much time. The potential gain of a couple of words per minute is much smaller than the potential time lost.</p> <p>It would be interesting to study long-term predictive text use and look at users’ strategies to verify that our assumptions from the model hold in practice. But our simulation reinforces the findings of previous human research: predictive text probably isn’t saving you time – and could be slowing you down.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-use-predictive-text-chances-are-its-not-saving-you-time-and-could-even-be-slowing-you-down-170163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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Michael Klim's devastating health battle

<p>Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim has opened up about his devastating health battle for the first time, sharing how his diagnosis changed his life.</p> <p>The 44-year-old opened up to Lisa Wilkinson on Sunday night’s The Project about his chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) diagnosis.</p> <p>It’s a rare type of auto-immune disorder where the body attacks the myelin sheaths — the fatty coverings on the fibres that insulate and protect the nerves.</p> <p>Michael first started to notice symptoms in 2019, when his condition progressed rapidly, leaving him struggling to walk and dependant on a walking stick or braces for support.</p> <p>He has now lost sensation in both his feet, with minimal function affecting his everyday life. </p> <p>Drastic muscle wastage has also caused Klim to collapse in front of his children, as he admitted to Wilkinson, "I might end up in a wheelchair."</p> <p>He said, “People that I’ve told, or I have spoken to about my CIDP, they’ve said oh, you’re an Olympic athlete you’ve got that mental strength to get you through this.”</p> <p>“And it actually hasn’t necessarily been the case. It’s not like I can do extra exercises or this or that. If anything, I’ve been more despondent about it. And it’s more depressing."</p> <p>“And, you know, I’ve gone through phases where even I drink too much and try to numb the pain.”</p> <p>Klim recalled a difficult experience at the airport which left him feeling vulnerable and shaken. </p> <p>“I literally had to sit down on the floor. There were no seats through the airport. And I’ve called Michelle and I was literally in tears because I couldn’t pinpoint what it was."</p> <p>“That was probably one of the scariest moments I had. For me, my ability to do anything physical was something that I used to pride myself on."</p> <p>“And it used to give me mental strength. And, bit by bit, was being taken away.”</p> <p>As his condition continued to deteriorate at the beginning of 2022, Michael admitted "something had to give" in June, when he made the decision to fly from his home in Bali to Sydney to undergo a back operation to release trapped nerves, rehabilitation and IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) treatments at RPA hospital to treat his condition.</p> <p>Since the treatment, along with drastic changes in his lifestyle, his condition has stabilised. </p> <p>“Look, initially, I was thinking, ‘Why was I dealt this card?’ I was feeling sorry for myself. And I almost felt like this was punishment for something,” he said.</p> <p>“I’d give myself about an hour a day to feel sorry and angry and frustrated and whatever else other emotion comes into my mind, and then move on with the rest of life."</p> <p>“I always thought I’d end up getting a full recovery. But I haven’t had, exactly, a recovery. I’ve sort of levelled – well, I got worse, then I got a little bit better, but I’ve just plateaued out.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project</em></p>

Caring

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Supercheap Auto hero finally speaks

<p>Darren Woolfe – the former Supercheap Auto worker who found viral fame recently – has finally broken his silence.</p> <p>After being labelled a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/supercheap-auto-hero-flooded-with-job-offers-after-being-stood-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hero by many</a>, with the clip of him apprehending an alleged shoplifter amassing more than 7 million views – he remains remarkably humble, saying he was just doing his job.</p> <p>“You don't expect that to happen when you go to work, you don't expect someone to be filming something like that. You go in and do your job and go home,” he shared.</p> <p>His employer was not so quick to praise, however, and temporarily stood him down from his role – which he revealed, even two weeks on, has been especially hard.</p> <p>“It's been a struggle, a huge impact on myself and my family... they are my number one focus at the moment.”</p> <p>Supercheap Auto have been widely slammed online over standing Mr Woolfe down but said it had policies in place that prevent confronting alleged shoplifters for everyone's safety.</p> <p>The owner of rival store Autobarn at Burleigh Heads, Michael Farrar, said that he has lost more than $15,000 worth of goods to shoplifters in the last year.</p> <p>And so Mr Woolfe has now taken up new job with the new company.</p> <p>'In businesses you can measure a lot of things with KPIs like performance, but loyalty you can't measure,' Mr Farrar said.</p> <p>'So I thought he's a very loyal kind of guy and the sort of person I want on my team.'</p> <p>Mr Woolfe shared that he is looking forward to clocking in at his new job at Autobarn, and finally putting his viral fame behind him.</p> <p>'It's a new start for me... I just want this finished,' he said.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine </em></p>

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Twist in Supercheap Auto "hero" saga

<p>A company spokesman from Supercheap Auto has confirmed that the employee who confronted an alleged shoplifter has left the business.</p> <p>The motor goods giant confirmed that the man has chosen to leave the business after a “comprehensive review” of the incident.</p> <p>This follows the viral video uploaded to TikTok that showed the employee's attempt to prevent an alleged shoplifter from leaving the store with items hidden in her pram.</p> <p>“I can confirm that the team member involved in the incident has decided to leave the business,” a company spokesman revealed.</p> <p>The communication also reiterated that workers are instructed not to confront shoplifters or make physical contact with customers. “We have extensive video surveillance in our stores and suspected cases of shoplifting are referred to the police with footage of the alleged offenders,” this continues.</p> <p>“The health, safety and wellbeing of our team members and customers is our highest priority and we are committed to maintaining a safe working and shopping environment.”</p> <p>Previously it had been reported that Supercheap Auto’s parent company, Super Retail Group, had stood the employee down but placed the employee on full pay while they were investigating the incident.</p> <p>The act earned the man widespread support, with some dubbing him as a local hero. Others were so impressed that the man became<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/supercheap-auto-hero-flooded-with-job-offers-after-being-stood-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> inundated with job offers</a> once announcing he was stood down.</p> <p>2GB radio host Ben Fordham also barracked for the man and said there was “no way in the world” he should have been stood down.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

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Supercheap Auto "hero" flooded with job offers after being stood down

<p>The Supercheap Auto worker stood down after confronting a shoplifter won’t have to look too far for another job – after his bold act has made him a prime candidate to other employers.</p> <p>The man appeared in a viral video captured outside a Gold Coast store in which he attempted to apprehend a woman pushing a pram covered by a blanket.</p> <p>After they both struggled to take control of the pram, a box was knocked to the ground from under the blanket and the woman said: “You can have the f***ing rotor mate.”</p> <p>The pram was filled with stolen goods, and didn’t contain a baby at the time. After being hailed a hero online for his ballsy approach, it has been revealed that he was in fact stood down while the incident was being reviewed internally.</p> <p>As Supercheap Auto faced backlash over its decision, other companies have since rushed to put in a good word with the worker in the hope of poaching him for themselves.</p> <p>Rival store Autobarn in Burleigh Heads was the first to offer him a new job, with owner Michael Farrar saying he was just the type of employee he was looking for.</p> <p>“His actions showed to me that he is a loyal person and someone we would want on our team,” he told Gold Coast Bulletin, adding his store had about $15,000 worth of items stolen in the last two years.</p> <p>Car wrecking business Southport Auto Recyclers has also thrown its hat in the ring, posting online offering him an interview.</p> <p>“If anyone knows him tell him to DM us or tag him, we would like to interview him for a position should he require one!” an employee wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>“After watching the video it’s crazy that Supercheap have stood him down after the commitment to them he demonstrated!”</p> <p>The video on TikTok alone has been viewed more than 5.5 million times since being uploaded last week.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

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How this “superhero” dad's tiredness turned into a rare disease

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A healthy father of two thought he was just suffering from fatigue before he was struck with an extremely rare disease that left him partially paralysed in June. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam Hambly from the Sunshine Coast was left bed-ridden in hospital after he was left with the news he had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) - an auto-immune disorder where the immune system attacks nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body. </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzafrivhSOD/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzafrivhSOD/" target="_blank">I can’t wait to see you smile again 😍</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/amyshambly/" target="_blank"> Amy Hambly</a> (@amyshambly) on Jul 2, 2019 at 5:14am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Sam and his wife, had no idea what was in store for them when the 27-year-old dad was left feeling exhausted all the time a little over a month ago.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He started getting really tired, he didn’t have the strength to go to the gym,” Amy, 27, explained to </span><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/super-hero-dad-suddenly-paralysed-after-contracting-rare-disease-035035949.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia. </span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But he was just so determined to keep working, he just didn’t think anything of it.”</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByWTdiAHZ8g/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByWTdiAHZ8g/" target="_blank">Today should be a happy day filled with celebrations, Jack Daniels and cake. But instead it’s a effing shit day that I think we will both want to forget but never the less... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMMY! Your without doubt the strongest human I know mentally. I hate that your going through this let alone on your birthday but Darcy, Leo and I love you so so much! Your the backbone of our family and we wouldn’t be complete without you! I hope you start feeling better really soon. I’m proud of how your handling what life has thrown at you and I will always be by your side to take care of you when you can’t and support you when you need me. Crossing my fingers for you to be feeling like your usual self soon and for this to all be a distant memory! Love you always bub. Stay strong 💙</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/amyshambly/" target="_blank"> Amy Hambly</a> (@amyshambly) on Jun 5, 2019 at 5:39pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam began experiencing even stranger symptoms when he had a bout of gastro, followed by a sore throat and numbness in his toes. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Soon the numbness had spread to his feet and although he was persevering at his job as a plumber, he found it even more difficult to control his limbs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">...His legs gave way at work ­– he collapsed,” Amy explained. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite his worrying, his symptoms were warded off by medical professionals who believed he had sinus issues and sent him home with Endone and medication. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the couple soon realised Sam’s “left eye wasn’t shutting and we thought it was the Endone,” Amy said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next day, the “the whole left side of his face wasn’t moving – I thought he’d had a stroke.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam was rushed to the hospital and later he was diagnosed with GBS after a series of tests. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Sam can move his legs but he can’t feel them,” Amy said. “His face is paralysed so his face doesn’t move. His arms and legs he can move but he can’t feel.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the sad situation has taken a toll on their family, the support they have received from the community has been overwhelming. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To ease the burden on the couple, a friend set up a </span><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/help-out-the-hambly039s?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=fb_dn_cpgnstaticsmall_r&amp;fbclid=IwAR2FUCPh5WOCHkgEZTbz_VyvxqNLWkh1v_INKTd2fCr184HXllktSqMPar0"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GoFundMe</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> page.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We might not be able to help Sam get back on his feet sooner although we can help to take some of the financial burden off his shoulders so he can concentrate on getting back to his normal superhero Daddy, strong self,” the crowdfunding page reads.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Sam’s one of those people that likes to do things himself and provide for himself. He’s so happy and generous – but he can’t believe the help and support he’s had,” Amy said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I can’t believe it, I can’t say thank you enough, it just shows how supportive everyone on the Sunshine Coast is. It’s just beautiful really. Hopefully one day I can pay it forward.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the road to recovery is long, Sam has returned home from hospital and since continued on his journey to “heal surrounded by his family.”</span></p>

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The Kmart service set to disappear

<p>Wesfarmers is set to sell its Kmart Tyre and Auto Service business to German auto giant Continental AG for $350 million.</p> <p>With 258 stores, Kmart Tyre and Auto Service is one of the country’s largest auto service businesses. It is the single largest employer of apprentice motor mechanics in Australia, with more than 1200 employees currently.</p> <p>Wesfarmers has owned the chain since it acquired the Coles Group in 2007.</p> <p>“We believe that the divestment is in the best interests of Wesfarmers’ shareholders, while giving the employees and customers of KTAS the opportunity to join a highly complementary business in Continental,” Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said in a statement on Monday.</p> <p>Continental employs more than 243,000 people in 60 countries and has annual sales of $69 billion.</p> <p>“Continental’s automotive industry expertise will further strengthen the business’ customer offering,” Mr Scott said.</p> <p>“I thank all of the KTAS team for their outstanding efforts in growing and improving the business under Wesfarmers’ ownership and, in advance, for their continued focus and commitment during the transition to new ownership.”</p> <p>The transaction, subject to approvals by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Foreign Investment Review Board, is expected to complete in the first quarter of the 2019 financial year.</p>

News

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How to stop Facebook’s auto-play video feature

<p><em><strong>Lisa Du is director of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a></span>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. </strong></em></p> <p>Sitting in the quiet waiting room at the physio, I decide to have a peek at Facebook... suddenly sounds blast from my phone unexpectedly! I quickly scroll past the culprit video, and then another sound blasts from my phone! What is going on?</p> <p>This video auto play function on Facebook can be annoying. If you're annoyed by the sound blasting from your phone unexpectedly due to the video auto play feature, here's how to turn it off:</p> <p><strong>1. Open the Facebook app on your device.</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="264" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/a5a72986-2c68-479f-bc6f-6a7b7ebed5fc.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 281px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: auto !important;"/></p> <p>Tap on the 3 lines in the top right corner to reveal the Settings menu.</p> <p><strong>2. Scroll down until you see App Settings. Tap this to open App Settings.</strong></p> <p><strong>3. Tap on the cog next to “Videos in News Feed Start With Sound.”</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="264" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/df1f9ac9-e976-48ec-ad42-3c041dc7a22f.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 337px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: auto !important;"/></p> <p>This will now turn off Sound when Videos auto play on Facebook.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="264" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/d42e8298-6651-4f9e-8fba-97cab118fbdd.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 1080px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: auto !important;"/></p> <p><strong>Tip: If you want to turn off AutoPlay completely, tap on Autoplay, and choose Never Autoplay Videos</strong></p> <p>Do you have any handy tech advice to share? </p>

Technology

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8 clever car tips you’ll love

<p>Make your drive (and upkeep of the car) easier with these nifty car tricks and tips.</p> <p><strong>1. Use toothpaste to clean foggy headlights</strong></p> <p>Buff headlights with toothpaste on a soft cloth and they’ll soon look as good as new.</p> <p><strong>2. Cool a car without air conditioning</strong></p> <p>Roll down one window, and open and close on the other side a few times. The hot air escapes through the door, while cool air enters the open window.</p> <p><strong>3. Fix scratches with nail polish</strong></p> <p>If you have no touch-up pain on hand, clear nail polish helps fill scratches and cover up metal to avoid rust.</p> <p><strong>4. Use a staple remover on tough key rings</strong></p> <p>Adding a new key onto your car key chain? Use a staple remover to prop open key ring and slide keys on and off.</p> <p><strong>5. Always know what side the tank is on</strong></p> <p>If you’re in an unfamiliar car save yourself pulling up to the wrong side in the petrol station by looking at the fuel gauge. The arrow next to the fuel icon points to the side that the tank is on.</p> <p><strong>6. Organise supplies for a road trip</strong></p> <p>A shoe organiser hung from the back of the front seat is an easy and cheap way to organise all the items you might need on hand on your road trip.</p> <p><strong>7. Plunge small dents away</strong></p> <p>Got a small dent in your car? Push a plunger firmly against it and pull out to return it (mostly) back to normal.</p> <p><strong>8. Cool a scorching steering wheel</strong></p> <p>To prevent a hot steering wheel, turn the wheel 180 degrees before getting out of your car. Now the part you touch is in the shade while you’re out and about.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/08/motion-sickness-remedies-everyone-should-know/">Motion sickness remedies everyone should know</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/gardening/2015/03/great-car-cleaning-tips/">Car cleaning tips everyone should know</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money/2014/08/five-need-to-know-things-about-roadside-help/">Five need to know things about roadside help</a></strong></em></span></p>

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