Are you a nerd or do you have a penchant for all things technology? Or perhaps you have a burning curiosity regarding the inner workings of how machines work or even how they’re programmed to carry out certain tasks.
Even if you don’t want to jump the gun on picking a hobby, this list can at least give you an idea of what other people may be doing in the world of technology and how they turn those things into an activity to enjoy in their spare time. In fact, our world is constantly being shaped by technology and much of the innovation comes from those unintentional moments, or when you’re allowing your brain to be flexible.
1. DJing
Although some people have the impression that all DJs do is press play and nod their heads, we can absolutely confirm this isn’t the case and it actually requires a lot more skill than you would imagine. DJs require good musical knowledge regarding tempo and will need to have a keen sense of timing to blend different songs together. They may also utilize digital sound effects to help enhance the set they are recording or to add some extra pzazz to engage the crowd.
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Opportunities for DJs have increased over the years thanks to modern media formats like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram making it much easier to gain exposure to an audience. Either way, DJing is both creative and an incredibly satisfying way to pass the time whilst working with some cool tech.
2. Coding
Learning to code is perhaps one of the most valuable skills to learn for bolstering your job prospects and career opportunities in the 21st century. It’s also an absolutely brilliant hobby that teaches you the logic behind machine programming which can be as intricate or as simple as you want it to be.
As a hobby, coding offers you the opportunity to flex your creative side to see what you can come up with and/or how you go about providing a solution to some of your own problems. You don’t even need a set task as you can design your own puzzle or task to accomplish which often makes the process even more enjoyable. If you want to, you can even get friends involved to collaborate on designing a project or working towards solutions for different coding tasks.
Whatever direction you go in, coding is an extremely dense and versatile hobby that will provide you with enough creative freedom to last a lifetime. Codecademy is a great place to start as it offers free courses to learn important coding languages such as Python, C++, Javascript, and more.
3. Drone Flying
Drone flying is a relatively modern pastime that has a high skill ceiling in terms of how you utilize your drone for purposes such as filmography, racing, or performing stunts. Conversely, most drones automate a lot of the basic processes such as hovering, returning to you, and maintaining safe enough altitudes to avoid passenger aircraft meaning you can get started almost immediately.
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They can be used for many purposes but most people use the onboard cameras to shoot footage of beautiful vistas or to create film-quality landscape shots. You can also use them for taking really creative photos of you and your family which is a really fun way to spend the day.
Here’s an example of some of the things you can do while shooting film on a drone:
In the future, this skill may pay off as many companies are considering implementing drone delivery services which will probably require people to pilot them safely.
4. Photography
Photography is one of our favorite hobbies that involve technology mainly because anyone can get started without any prior knowledge.
Literally, you can use a relatively basic camera and can start taking pictures almost immediately if that’s all you want to do, and in most cases, is actually a really fun way to spend your day as it’ll allow you to flex your creativity. Many cameras include very good built-in automatic shooting modes meaning they will do most of the hard work for you such as getting the right lighting or focus setting.
If you’re wanting to get started with a lightweight camera that includes lots of functionalities and lets you take nice pictures then we recommend starting with the Canon EOS Rebel SL3. If you prefer a camera for vlogging rather than picture taking then you should go for the Canon EOS M50 instead.
As a caveat, it would be an insult to professional photographers to assume that you can take creatively amazing pictures without learning the plethora of knowledge that’s out there regarding photography. Lighting, shadows, exposure length, lens type, and many many other factors are all important things to learn to try to get the best possible shot.
We recommend doing some research on YouTube beforehand or picking up a book that gives you an overview of what to look for in photography.
5. Start a YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel is a very popular hobby these days as you can easily upload whatever you enjoy doing and potentially make money from it if you’re consistent enough.
As a hobby, it can be multifaceted meaning you will need to learn a variety of skills such as video optimization, public speaking, image creation, and marketing to name a few. These are transferable skills meaning even if your YouTube endeavor doesn’t take off right away, you’ll have plenty of new
It also has a relatively low startup cost meaning most people can get going right away with just a smartphone and a basic microphone.
Although not directly linked to technology, having a YouTube channel will usually require you to utilize several services that require technological expertise which is why we included it in our list.
6. Animation
Creating your own animations can be a satisfying and intricate process that allows you to manipulate and augment the world around you by using varying technologies.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be a complicated process as you can quickly get started with something as simple as stop motion or green screen tech. All you need is a webcam or a DSLR camera to help with producing the footage needed for your stop-motion journey.
Here’s a weird but interesting stop-motion video to give you an idea of what you can accomplish:
If you want to take it further then you can also invest in a 3D rendering suite that will allow you to create your own unique visuals. If you’re interested, Blender is one of the more popular software programs for rendering 3D images and you can also get a book on it for an overview of it all should you wish to take it further.
7. Trailer Creation
If you’re interested in videography or want to try your hand at artistic expression through video then using software such as Sony Vegas or Final Cut Pro can really help to do that.
Making trailers is a good starting point as you can splice up your favorite movie clips and insert audio to create an atmospheric or powerful feature piece. Plus, many skills that you need to make trailers can be learned in just a few days meaning you don’t have to spend all that time learning instead of having fun. This is great for practical learners who prefer to experiment with their work to test the results rather than having to read for hours on end just to get a basic understanding.
8. Build a PC
Have you ever wondered how to put your own PC together? Building your own gaming system can be an incredibly fun way to spend your day and will can you get to know the inner workings of what it runs on.
The main components to get you started include a computer case, motherboard, processor, graphics card, memory (RAM), hard disk, power supply, and cooling fans. Peripherals also include things like a monitor (screen), mouse, and keyboard to help you operate and navigate your system.
Putting this all together in the most optimal way possible can be a bit of a puzzle but that’s what makes it so fun.
9. Music Production
Digital music production is one of the most accessible industries to get into these days as there are a whole bunch of great software programs out there such as Ableton, FL Studio, Steinberg Cubase, and much more to help you get started on your journey.
They will all help you accomplish the same task which is to produce music, though, some of them are better for specific musical genres or niches which is why it’s important to do a little bit of research first.
Cubase is generally used for large, complicated musical productions such as for orchestral soundtracks, whereas FL Studio and Ableton are mostly used for dance or electronic music.
It’s recommended that you have some basic foundational music knowledge (which you can learn for free on YouTube) but you’ll also need some hardware to help with the process such as a pair of studio headphones, a keyboard to interface with (MIDI Controller), and a dedicated sound card.
10. Ethical Hacking
Ethical hacking is the process of being paid by a company to try to break their services deliberately and/or to spot flaws in the code so that you can help them prevent future attacks or attempts to sabotage their systems by real hackers.
This can be an incredibly lucrative pastime so if you’re a dab hand at hacking or coding then it can be worth trying to sign up for some of these ethical hacking positions when they’re available.
Ethical hacking is also known as white-hat hacking which is the opposite of black-hat hacking which is used for malicious purposes such as sabotage.
11. Adobe Photoshop/Digital Image Creation
If you’re involved with your computer a lot, you’ll eventually come across a situation where it would be handy to either create or edit images which is what makes learning Photoshop such an invaluable hobby and/or skill to master.
Some situations where Photoshop can come in handy include enhancing or correcting image color, creating artwork for a website, making posters for a business, and even just passing the time to see what you can come up with.
Plus, most Photoshop subscriptions are reasonably cheap these days and can be had for a monthly or annual renewable cost. This gives you full access to the program but you can also include other additions from the Adobe portfolio for an additional cost. We recommend starting with Photoshop first though to give you time to learn it and to keep costs lower.
12. Video Game Streaming
If you enjoy gaming and don’t have anything else to do in your spare time then it could be worth streaming your sessions on popular platforms like Twitch or YouTube to net yourself a little extra income. It’s also a good way to engage with like-minded people and it’s an easy way to make friends too.
It can take a little longer to gain enough attention to make money but many people have done it and there still seems to be a market for it provided you have a personality that attracts people.
One of the most famous Twitch streamers on the planet is a guy called Ninja, AKA Tyler Blevins who makes/made millions by playing Fortnite every day. He’s also released a book giving out tips and talks about what he wishes he knew before he got started.
13. Fix and troubleshooting computers
One of the best ways to hone your IT skills is to troubleshoot issues that you may or may not have encountered before. They say the best way to learn is straight through which we believe definitely applies to fault finding on computer systems.
If you grew up with computers you’ll already understand that the task of troubleshooting usually involves a lot of head-scratching and being able to Google for similar issues that other people may be having which usually leads to a solution.
This can be a brilliantly technical hobby if you enjoy problem-solving but can also be a lucrative process if you manage to make a business out of it. If you’re especially good at it you can even make a career out of it as an IT or systems specialist or can even start your own commercial venture.
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Conclusion
Technology is constantly changing which is why it’s one of the most exciting areas of interest that people go for. It has so many applications but can really enhance the way we express ourselves or how we make the most of our time alone or with family.
Hopefully, our article has helped to shine a light on hobbies that involve technology and maybe you’ll end up being the next YouTube megastar or magazine photographer.
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