Wonder where in the world can you find the happiest young people? I do. You know why? The countries where they reside are the ones with the greatest chance of becoming progressive and peaceful. That’s based from an info supplied by a joint project of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the International Youth Foundation, and Hilton Worldwide. The three institutions tried to assess how the youth are doing in 30 countries. Here’s a picture of the study below:

In connection to this project, policies geared towards upgrading public health and well-being across the globe usually focus on adults and infants alone. The people in the middle is always left out. This is the reason I’m super glad to show you the info presented here. It focuses on the youth for a change. (And so long to come by.)

Take note, though, the countries mentioned here are not the top 30 in the world; they are the nations picked and looked at by the researchers. The list also includes 70% of the youth worldwide. Let’s look at Nigeria, as an example; it came in last, and not the 30th among the countries in the world as shown in the chart featured here.

Since, we have an invaluable information about the age bracket 12 to 24 years old, it’s pertinent to reiterate that the well-being of this particular group should be on top of our heads. Because the report clearly states, “Youth-inclusive societies are more likely to grow and prosper,” “while the risks of exclusion include stunted growth, crime, and unrest.” In simpler terms, if the youth are happy, the society naturally grows and prospers.

There are glaring surprises in the chart: Vietnam, even if classified as lower-middle income, it’s included in the top fifteen. You would also appreciate to know that it’s the only country belonging to the lower-middle income that’s part of the top countries in the list.

Russia is part of the high-income group, but fails to make it to the top 10. Part of the surprise is that the top 9 spots are dominated by the nine-richest countries in the list — except Russia.

Here’s what the rankings look like as indicated by color codes. (Green is best, tan is middle, red is worst):

Lastly, the researchers based their results on 40 indicators. These indicators helped them assess “health, citizen participation, education, economic opportunity, information and communications technology (ICT), and safety and security” among the youth all over the globe. 

Featured photo credit: Happy Youth/barnigomez via Compfight cc via compfight.com

We’ve all done it. We’ve gone out and bought useless gadgets that we don’t really need, just because they seemed really cool at the time. Then, we are stuck with a bunch of junk, and end up tossing it or trying to sell it on Ebay.

On the other hand, there are some pretty awesome tech inventions that are actually useful. For instance, many of the latest home gadgets do some of your work for you, from adjusting the home thermostat to locking your front door. And, if used as designed, these tools should really help to make your life a lot easier—and that’s not just a claim from some infomercial trying to sell you yet another useless gadget.

Take a look at some of the most popular “smart gadgets” on the market:

1. Smart Door Locks

A smart lock lets you lock and unlock your doors by using your smartphone, a special key fob, or biometrics. These locks are keyless, and much more difficult for intruders to break into, making your home a lot safer. You can even use a special app to let people into your home if you are not there to greet them.

2. Smart Kitchen Tools

Wouldn’t you just love to have a pot of coffee waiting for you when you get home from work? What about a “smart pan” that tells you exactly when you need to flip that omelet? From meat thermometers to kitchen scales, you’ll find a variety of “smart” gadgets designed to make culinary geeks salivate.

3. Mini Home Speaker Play:1

If you love big sound, but hate how much space big speakers take up, and if you want a stereo system that is no bigger than your fist, check out the Play:1 mini speaker. All you have to do is plug it in, connect, and then you can stream without worrying about any interruptions or interface. You can even add onto it, and have different music playing in different rooms.

4. Wi-Fi Security Cameras

These are the latest in home security, and they connect to the Wi-Fi in your home. You can use your mobile devices to monitor what is going on in your home at all times, no matter where you are. Options include motion sensors, two-way audio, and different recording options.

5. Nest Thermostat

This is a thermostat that lives with you. It can sense seasonal changes, temperature changes, etc., and it will adjust itself automatically. You will never have to fiddle with a thermostat dial or keypad again, because this one basically does all of the work for you. It can also help you to save as much as 12% on heating bills, and 15% on cooling bills.

6. Smart Lighting

Control your home lighting from your remote device. This is great if you are out and want to make sure that there are some lights on. It is designed to be energy efficient, so it will pay for itself over time because you won’t have to spend so much on your monthly energy bills.

7. Google Chromecast Ultra

Whether you love movies, television shows, music, etc., you can stream it all using Google Chromecast Ultra. Stream all of the entertainment you love in up to 4K UHD and HDR, for just $69 monthly.

8. Canary

This home security system will automatically contact emergency services when they are needed. This system offers both video and audio surveillance, so there will be evidence if there are any break-ins on your property. You can also use it to check up on what’s happening at home when you are not there, including to make sure the kids are doing their homework.

Featured photo credit: Karolina via kaboompics.com