Off on his travels again… tech-loving freelancer and electronic evangelist Jim Hatley grabs some essential items for work on the move (and gives us some novel uses for a digital camera).

Essential items for your briefcase

Continuing on from my briefcase fillers piece of last month, Id like to run through a few of the other items that you should never leave home without. These are the kind of lightweight, compact tools that are all too easily overlooked when you have bigger issues on your mind, but can make all the difference between getting the job done and getting it done in style. Just remember; time wasted trying to get simple tasks finished with the wrong equipment is frustrating, inefficient and can prevent you from doing the things that really make you happy or get the bills paid.

Read on for a review of three briefcase essentials…

The most crucial object that I left out of last week’s article was the digital camera. Almost ubiquitous these days, the digital camera has become a standard part of most households, and it should definitely be a part of your travelling toolkit. Certainly the majority of us now have a camera built into our mobile phone, but for the most part they are fairly limited so it’s worth investing in something with a decent resolution, good sized screen and a flash.

You may be asking why I recommend carrying a camera at all times, but to answer that question I need to highlight an advantage of digital cameras that all too often gets overlooked, namely that they are incredibly good at remembering things that the human brain can all too easily forget. Sure, you can take pretty pictures with them, but for anyone conducting business on the move the ability to snapshot various kinds of information is crucial; for those without a GPS, a digital camera can be used to photograph maps, if you need to park your car for long durations in a large car park then photograph it so you can find it again, and it might be worth taking a photo of the number plate of the car next to you if they look like they might scrape you on the way out. I’ve even used my camera to get a look into dark or hard to reach places before, as well as used it as a mirror. The point is that a camera isn’t just a camera – it’s a valuable tool with countless uses beyond photography. Remember to take a photo of your name and contact details in case you lose it – my friend had his camera returned simply because he had thought to photograph a Post-It note with his number on it.

For those of you inspired to go out and buy a digital camera, but don’t know what works and what doesn’t then take my advice; buy a Sony. I have a general rule that if Sony makes a version of the thing you want then buy theirs. This rule has stood me in good stead through countless TV’s, laptops, games consoles and, of course, cameras. There are plenty of manufacturers out there making cameras at all price points, but with  at just £65 on Amazon now, there’s no excuse to let a modest budget stop you from getting high quality. For those of you looking to spend more, Sony have got all price points covered until we reach professional SLR level, where the big boys Canon and Nikon take over.

The next thing I’m going to recommend to anyone who ever has to perform presentations is a presentation controller. Much like a compact TV remote, a presentation controller should have all the basic functions required to progress through a slideshow, adjust system volume and allow you to remotely control your cursor. This is not an essential item in terms of what it can do, as many people are more than happy to walk over to the keyboard and simply tap the relevant key to proceed, but it shows a level of professionalism that can really impress a client. Happy clients mean a better reputation and more work, so if you really want to impress, make sure you are equipped. The best presentation remote that I’ve found is the . It’s well presented, houses its receiver internally when in transit, doesn’t require any drivers to work almost instantly on any Windows computer, includes a decent little joystick to move the cursor as well as an array of buttons to cover the standard controls in PowerPoint and Keynote, and sports a built-in laser pointer which my cats just can’t get enough of. I’ve found it for sale for £50 from PC World, but you may find it cheaper via Google Shopping or eBay. It may seem like a lot of money for something so simple, but it really pays to impress the people that you are hoping to be paid by.

Finally, much like last week’s recommendation of picking up a multi-tool for those times when simply nothing else will do, I’m going to suggest another item that may lie dormant in your briefcase for months without use, but when you need it, you REALLY need it. And that item is a torch. Yes, a torch; Nothing exciting or high-tech here, just a plain old torch. In my humble opinion the torch is one of the most tragically overlooked of gadgets, but has saved me on more occasions than I can mention. A recent job as freelance soundman on a promotional video shoot saw me tearing it across the motorways of the midlands at past midnight trying to hit 5 locations in 2 different cities in a shockingly short amount of time, and when we heard a weird noise coming from the engine compartment we thought it was game over. However, my trusty Maglite came into play and allowed us to diagnose and solve the problem in minutes, rather than having to call out slow and expensive recovery services to solve our relatively simple problem. We hit the road, got the shots and the client was exceedingly happy. The moral of this heartwarming story is that it is often the simplest things that can make the biggest difference. As I say, my torch of choice is the Maglite, and I don’t think anyone would ever try and argue that there was a better alternative. They are engineered from solid blocks of aluminium for strength and durability, are and will never, ever let you down. The tiniest Maglite, known as the Solitaire, sells for about £13 from any outdoor shop, and I challenge you to find a better buy for the money. If you want something with a bit more poke that will still store discreetly in your briefcase, then step up to the Mini Maglite range in either AA or AAA battery sizes for about £15 to £20.

Beyond the items I have mentioned over the past couple of weeks, I have also tried to help instil the kind of mindset that one should adopt when working as a travelling freelancer; that is, be prepared for any eventuality. If you can think of a potentially useful tool that’s both affordable and compact enough to carry with you then don’t leave it behind. ‘Just in case’ counts for a lot when you are your own boss, and you should never leave yourself vulnerable to chance if you can help it.

What are your travel essentials? What tools can you not afford to be without? Leave your comments and suggestions below…

By Jim Hatley

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Image: Just Nora

More information:

• Sony’s range of digital cameras are all on show at Amazon
• The Keyspan Presentation Remote Pro is available from various vendors on Google Shopping
• The trusty Maglite can be bought from OutdoorGB.co.uk