College students and technology go hand in hand. Whether they’re studying, playing, or partying, there is always tech involved. Finding gifts for stressed people, as students often are, can be difficult; there are so many options and so little time to consider them all.
In light of modern quandary, this list compiles a range of tech gifts for students.
- Tap into the intersection of art and technology with a book
Some fantastic books on tech came out this year. Arthur I. Miller’s The Artist in the Machine tackles artificial intelligence’s creations and asks if robots have become artists in and of themselves. In the book, Miller wants to know if machines can surpass human achievements. Read the book to find that out— that’s a perfect gift for those interested in the intersection of art and technology.
While we’re thinking about books, Kindles are a great gift too. Students can use them to store their textbooks, as well as read for fun. What’s more, many classic books are available for free, and you can take them anywhere without weighing yourself down.
- Ergonomic computer accessories
Students who spend a lot of time behind the computer may find themselves getting injured. Getting a Repetitive Strain Injury, abbreviated as an RSIs, is a harrowing and painful experience, while sciatica can arise from poor posture at a desk.
If your friend or sibling will have to remain at the keyboard to succeed in their degree, why not save them some pain and get them an ergonomic keyboard, a wrist support bar, or a footrest?
They’re not the most exotic gifts for college kid life, but if your loved one is churning out papers like they’re working for an essay writing service, then they might just enjoy writing. Add some tasty beverages, alcoholic or not, and snacks to curry a bit of favor and add some fun.
- Digital storage
Theft or destruction of a laptop filled with essays, notes, papers, and information that they didn’t back up is a student’s worst nightmare.
A terrible incident like this deserves some sympathy. Why not help prevent such a catastrophe from occurring in the future by gifting some digital storage? There are two options: cloud storage or an external hard drive.
Cloud storage, like on iCloud or Google, would make a lovely gift in a card for someone on a budget. Bumping up the basic storage plan by several gigabytes will mean that their precious and groundbreaking work is kept safe from spilled beer and accidental damage.
An external hard drive is a bit more of an outlay. But there are some great buys around at the moment. Solid-state hard drives shortened to SSD are the most advanced ones, containing no moving parts, though they are on the expensive end of the scale.
A classic HDD will be cheaper, but it has the potential to get corrupted if it suffers an accidental blow. Maybe it would be best to invest in a resilient and hardened hard drive or just ask your friend to go back to writing on a typewriter.
- An online fitness subscription
The pandemic knocked everyone out of their routines. Home workouts took off like nothing else; learning different exercises and trying novel workouts is fun. Why not consider a gift subscription to a pilates class?
You don’t need a pilates table for these classes. Mat workouts, just like yoga, are the dominant species.
No matter the type of pilates involved in the class, college students can benefit from the core meaning and message of pilates; flow, control, fluidity, and breathing.
The pilates principle is to find a state of control in the interplay between your body and mind. A good exercise regime tends to help improve grades, so maybe the student in your life will take a hint when they open this gift.
- Wireless headphones
Phones are our music players now, and for some reason, companies like Apple are insistent on removing headphone jacks. Regardless, the wireless revolution is continuing, and it is easier to run without a cable dangling and waggling everywhere.
Wireless headphones start cheap and get very expensive; look for something with good battery life and comfortable ear guards.
- PS5
Of course, college students, like everyone else, want a PS5; it doesn’t mean they’ll be able to find one, though. If a PS5 is too hard to come by, an upgraded GPU might be a good shout. Alternatively, opt for the ever-popular Nintendo Switch; one of the best college student gifts.
- Amazon Gift Cards
Amazon is a retail empire and potential corporate overlord. But they also sell cheap stuff. If you can’t pick the lock in the brain of your collegiate friend, why not let them do the shopping?
Gift cards for Amazon open up almost every conceivable niche of tech there is; gaming, sports, wellness, music, film, and more. The possibilities are endless, and you can easily embark on a proper purchase anytime you like.
Author Bio
Amanda Dudley is a writer and educator; she holds a Ph.D. in History from Stanford and lectures on American and World History. Her other pursuits include writing academic works at EssayUSA, learning German, and developing pedagogical methods for students with learning difficulties. Writing gives Amanda immense pleasure, and she loves helping in any way she can.
