Mobile Technology Listens to Weather Patterns. Do you?
Make the connection between mobile technology and how the hot/cold, wet/dry outside affects your device. While Californians will likely not need to worry about prolonged freezing weather conditions destroying their forgotten-in-the-car mobile, heat is another issue.
However, we’re not just talking the mobile technology of smartphones. Sometimes people purposely leave mp3 players, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets in the car because it’s convenient – just too much trouble to unplug and pack. Similar weather effects apply to all devices. Learn the tips to extend the life.
Cold weather can have a really bad effect on your battery. They drain in a relatively short time. But cold weather also leaves behind moisture – condensation – when the device warms up. On the inside where you can’t take a tissue to dry it off. You may also see your screen/monitor stop working entirely.
If you vacation in Alaska, Big Bear or the Swiss Alps and happen to leave your mobile technology device in the cold for several hours, bring the device inside to let it gradually warm up before you recharge and use. This will help keep the internal components functioning as they should.
Hot weather also has its problems. The battery also leaks at high temperature. Motorola warns, “A car’s internal temperature can exceed 80 degrees Celsius, and the temperature of a dashboard with direct exposure to the sun can exceed 120 degrees Celsius.” This translates to: Don’t leave your cell phone in your car on a hot day. [80 Celsius = 175 F; 120 Celsius = 248 F.]
While we’ve focused on the device itself, there is also the effect on the signal to consider. Extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, are never good for the transmission of the signal, making it difficult for cell phones to properly receive. Signals coming to the cell phone become distorted or get lost. This weakness in mobile technology is certainly on the agenda of all providers by increasing the density of their coverage map.
Storms and lightening also affect signal reception. When the atmosphere is humid and wet, signals travel very slowly and lose strength. Smaller amounts of rain take a smaller toll, while heavy showers can completely destroy signal reception.
However, the worst natural cause of signal loss is not weather but that California specialty: the earthquake. These rattlings-of-all-things-previously-thought-to-be-stable can destroy signal towers leaving you in a black hole of non-reception until the tower is restored. Obviously, this big and troublesome obstacle cannot be laid at the feet of mobile technology. We must find Bigger Feet.
Weather. Great conversation piece. If you can get a signal! The nice thing about weather is that it changes. Wait an hour if you can. Then make your call. And keep your device close to you – out of the weather – so that it performs when needed. Mobile technology can only do so much. You must do the rest.
