{"id":8370,"date":"2021-09-24T12:33:28","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T16:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/?p=8370"},"modified":"2021-09-24T12:33:29","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T16:33:29","slug":"how-to-turn-your-car-into-a-mobile-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/2021\/09\/24\/how-to-turn-your-car-into-a-mobile-office\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Turn Your Car into a Mobile Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Author: Jill A. Chafin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Date Published: July 28, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Publisher: Lifesavvy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Link: https:\/\/www.lifesavvy.com\/32983\/how-to-turn-your-car-into-a-mobile-office\/ <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>The pandemic has pushed many people to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesavvy.com\/31719\/how-to-set-up-a-home-office-outdoors\/\">think creatively about their work environments<\/a>. Why not expand yours to your vehicle? This can be especially helpful for working parents who need a break from noisy kids. You can grab some focus and quiet time in the car, while your spouse takes over childcare duties for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although working from the car is a great way to enjoy a change of pace or get work done on the go, it\u2019s not ideal for full workdays. Not only is it a wee bit cramped, but you\u2019ll need to leave the car running to keep the cabin temperature comfortable and your laptop and accessories charged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that in mind, if you want to turn your vehicle into a temporary work oasis, you\u2019ll need a few things to make it more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Laptop Desk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever tried to work with a laptop balanced on your lap, you know it\u2019s uncomfortable. For around $12, though, you can get this lightweight, sturdy\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Cutequeen-Black-Laptop-Eating-Wheel\/dp\/B01LZ5NC99?ots=1&amp;slotNum=0&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">steering wheel desk<\/a>. It easily snaps on, offering decent space for your laptop and work notes. Just make sure you disconnect it before driving. The compact design makes it easy to slide into the back-seat pocket for storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/818uk3moMvS._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need more space, try this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/FMS-Multi-Functional-Portable-Foldable-Notebook\/dp\/B07FR2S8KL?ots=1&amp;slotNum=1&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">back seat folding desk<\/a>. With this, you can spread your work materials across the entire back seat, provided you don\u2019t have any child car seats installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/7120ee00SEL._AC_SL1000_.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Power Inverter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, you can\u2019t charge everything with a USB or car adapter plug. Most laptops still require a traditional AC outlet. Fortunately, this ultra-compact, lightweight\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Power-Inverter-Converter-Charger-Adapter\/dp\/B07K25F64S\/?ots=1&amp;slotNum=2&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">car inverter<\/a>\u00a0comes with two AC outlets, as well as two USB ports. This model is for light use (like charging a laptop).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71MftNurFSL._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan to hook up more items, check your vehicle\u2019s manual to see how much of a load your 12-volt outlets can handle. While many modern vehicles (especially trucks and SUVs) are designed to handle higher loads, you risk blowing a fuse if you exceed the rating for the port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wi-Fi and Hot Spots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how do you get Wi-Fi when you\u2019re working in your car? Try any of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Boost outdoor reception:\u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re at home, but just grabbing some peace and quiet in the car, there several ways\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/347507\/how-can-i-get-better-wi-fi-reception-outside\/\">you can get better Wi-Fi reception outside<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Park outside a cafe:\u00a0<\/strong>You can park outside public places that offer free Wi-Fi, such as a cafe. However, using a business\u2019s Wi-Fi without patronizing it is called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/legal-piggyback-wifi-28287.html#:~:text=Definition,will%20be%20able%20to%20connect.\">piggybacking<\/a>\u2014and it might be illegal. Order something at the drive-thru or run inside and purchase a few muffins first.<\/li><li><strong>Connect to a hot spot:\u00a0<\/strong>There are usually plenty of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/352265\/what-is-a-wi-fi-hotspot\/\">Wi-Fi hot spots<\/a>\u00a0that allow you to connect while you\u2019re out and about. Alternatively, you can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/170302\/the-htg-guide-to-tethering-your-android-phone\/\">tether your Android phone<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/213203\/how-to-use-your-iphone%E2%80%99s-hotspot-or-a-usb-cable-for-tethering\/\">turn your iPhone into a hotspot<\/a>\u00a0to share its internet connection with your laptop.<\/li><li><strong>Work on offline tasks:\u00a0<\/strong>Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to focus on a task if you don\u2019t have an internet connection. Drive to a picturesque park and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesavvy.com\/33231\/9-work-tasks-you-can-do-outside\/\">work on some of these tasks<\/a>\u00a0instead.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Mobile Printer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to get serious about working in your car, we recommend you look into getting\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/10581\/the-best-portable-printers-for-printing-on-the-go\/\">a mobile printer<\/a>. While most people can wait until they get home or back to the office to print, if you need to print documents on the go, a mobile printer is ideal. It allows you to do low-volume printing right in your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2018\/12\/0865eef5.png?width=1200\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can set it up on the passenger\u2019s seat for easy access, or move your workstation to the back. Just be mindful about not leaving your printer or any other heat-sensitive electronics in the car on hot summer days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extra Screens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a flat dash, try placing your laptop up there, and pair it with a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Wireless-Keyboard-Jelly-Comb-Portable\/dp\/B0756XFFJZ?ots=1&amp;slotNum=3&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">wireless keyboard and mouse<\/a>. This way, you can avoid hunching over while working. Trust us: your back will thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07GSWB2DB\/?ots=1&amp;slotNum=4&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">mount your iPad<\/a>\u00a0for more screen space or to hop on a video call while working on your laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/618EA7h-UUL._AC_SL1000_.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Another option is sliding this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Car-Desk-20101-Workstation-Removable\/dp\/B01JGNOQLK?ots=1&amp;slotNum=5&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">workstation with a removable clipboard<\/a>\u00a0next to your seat, so you can use a mouse, set up another screen, or have some room to jot down notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/81ptY9Jfp+L._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food and Drinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No office is complete without hot coffee and snacks. There\u2019s no reason you should deprive yourself just because you\u2019re working in your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From battery-powered coffee makers to tiny mini-fridges that run off your car\u2019s battery, there are tons of gadgets you can buy. However, most of them are expensive and pretty ineffective at what they\u2019re supposed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to setting up a coffee and snack station in your car, it\u2019s a much better to go the traditional route. You\u2019ll get a lot more value out of a sturdy classic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Thermos-Stainless-Insulated-Beverage-Midnight\/dp\/B008YB4V52?ots=1&amp;slotNum=6&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">Thermos<\/a>&nbsp;filled with coffee or tea. Plus, it\u2019ll do double duty when you want to take some coffee to work in the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same is true with snacks. If you need to keep something cool, throw it in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Coleman-FlipLid-Cooler-Quart-Blue\/dp\/B000IBWI42\/?ots=1&amp;slotNum=7&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">a small cooler<\/a>\u00a0with an ice pack. An\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Coleman-FlipLid-Cooler-Quart-Blue\/dp\/B000IBWI42\/?ots=1&amp;slotNum=8&amp;imprToken=bcbe0c43-1e91-3168-fad&amp;tag=lifesavvysite-20\">old-school Coleman cooler<\/a>\u00a0isn\u2019t high-tech, but it\u2019ll keep your snacks and sodas cooler than a 12-volt piezo-electric \u201cfridge\u201d ever will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the bigger trends that is coming around regarding the future of autonomus vehicles is the possibility that passengers can utilize their time not driving, working. As for this article, it goes over some basic modifications made to current vehicles that help turn a vehicle into an office on the go. This &#8220;office on the go&#8221; concept is one that was a fairly common desire expressed by participants in my primary research, so seeing what they might like out of currently existing solutions to vehicular offices and how we could integrate this into the backseat will help us merge technologies and create that seamless transition to an autonomous vehicle backseat environment better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Chafin, J. A. (2020, July 28). <em>How to turn your car into a mobile office<\/em>. LifeSavvy RSS. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https:\/\/www.lifesavvy.com\/32983\/how-to-turn-your-car-into-a-mobile-office\/.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Author: Jill A. Chafin Date Published: July 28, 2020 Publisher: Lifesavvy Link: https:\/\/www.lifesavvy.com\/32983\/how-to-turn-your-car-into-a-mobile-office\/ The pandemic has pushed many people to\u00a0think creatively about their work environments. Why not expand yours to your vehicle? This can be especially helpful for working parents who need a break from noisy kids. You can grab some focus and quiet time [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":8371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8370","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-focus"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8370"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8372,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8370\/revisions\/8372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}