Travel Tech Q&A: Kroll Ontrack's Adrian Briscoe
Adrian Briscoe is Kroll Ontrack's general manager for the APAC region. He oversees the Ontrack Data Recovery services and software for the company's offices in Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong, which entails frequent travel around the region and to the company offices in the US and Europe.
Adrian Briscoe
(Credit: Kroll Ontrack)
Kroll Ontrack provides software as well as data recovery, data destruction, paper and electronic discovery, document review, computer forensics, secure information services and trial presentation services.
What tech do you travel with and why?
I always travel with my iPad — no boot-up time, fits into the seat magazine holder and can still be used even with the seat in front fully reclined.
What's your favourite phone app for travelling and why?
Good 'ol SMS messaging, to let the wife and kids know that I have landed safely and to organise a time to call them. There's always more chaos unfolding at home with two kids, a Labrador dog, homework and meals, than at an airport servicing several hundred people an hour!
Personal travel advice/tip?
Travel with as little as possible and always make sure you have plenty of charge in your laptop, phone and iPad before boarding a flight. Lastly, always make full use of the airport lounges!
How do you deal with jet lag?
I ignore it, set my watch to the destination time and drink red wine, which seems to negate its effects.
What was your biggest travel disaster?
Missing a plane in Terminal 5, Heathrow. It wasn't shown on the departure board and after bugging the lounge staff for a good two hours, I was told it had departed! I had to extract my luggage, which was no easy feat in the early days of Terminal 5, and rush to Terminal 3 to get another plane.
Is there one thing you must do before you leave home?
I never leave home without making sure my running shoes are packed.
What is your dream travel tech to have on planes/in airports/at hotels?
Doctor Who's Tardis located in each hotel lobby. Failing that, a laptop compartment on your cabin luggage that automatically detaches itself at security screening and reattaches itself afterwards — no more fishing about to find the laptop in the bag, whilst balancing everything else!
Favourite destination city to work/visit and why? (in relation to technology)
Hong Kong. It was home for five years, and there is always something going on regardless of the time of day — it is the city that never sleeps! The computer malls are stuffed full of the latest gadgets and it's a great place to brush up your negotiation skills.
Which airport would you prefer to be stranded at and why?
Changi Airport in Singapore. It's a central hub and there are always choices for flights out in every direction.