Spartans,
Surveys of American cell phone users show that over 90% of us experience some kind of anxiety when we see a “low power warning” on our devices. A 2016 survey by LG said that users felt “overwhelming fear” and that battery anxiety causes “you to live your life on your phone’s terms rather than your own.” Here are some quick tips to help you save power and avoid public USB jacks:
- Bring supplemental power with you. That can be a power bank, a wall charger, or even a backup device.
- Conserve power on long days. If you know you have a long day ahead, consider powering your device all the way off when not in use, engaging airplane mode, or keeping your screen on the dimmest setting possible. Most newer phones also have a battery-saving mode available in their settings.
- Accept the inevitable. Sometimes, we’re caught by surprise with no backup power options. Write down any critical information you may need, such as directions home or the phone numbers for an emergency contact.
And finally, one important tip on what NOT to do:
- Avoid public USB charging ports. While many devices have safeguards against “juice jacking,” many folks are quick to dismiss warnings on their devices while in a battery panic. We live in an area where many people often DO have access to highly valuable information on their laptops and mobile devices, making the rare threat of cyberattack via USB port a plausible reality. Remember to keep a power bank or wall charger of your own in your bag.
Thank you to Jeff Japp, Leon Nguyen, and Andrew Weiglein from the SJSU IT Program Management Office for providing this tip. As always, the SJSU IT Service Desk is here to help by phone at (408) 924-1530 or online.
Thanks,
Bob Lim
Vice President for Information Technology
and CIO at San José State University