In recent times, people are extremely careful about their consumption habits and lifestyles and are particularly focused on choosing quality products, especially when it comes to food or cosmetic items. 
Technology can come to our aid for this particular need. In fact, today we can point to apps with exceptional product quality that, with a simple scan of the barcode printed on the package, can provide very detailed information about the nutritional values of numerous food items, and also suggest healthier or more environmentally sustainable alternatives.

There are various tools, such as websites or applications that allow the user to recognize and evaluate the quality of a product, be it food or any other type of product, or find a specific item at the cheapest price. Among the most popular are the following:

Yuka is an app developed in 2017 that allows people to scan the barcode of food and cosmetic items to get an assessment of their ingredients and their "health effects", drawing information from a comprehensive database that is constantly updated. The goal is to help consumers understand product labels, and ultimately, make healthier choices.
The app provides the item with a score out of 100.

If a product has negative effects on our health, Yuka also recommends similar but healthier alternative products.
Yuka is a 100% independent project: product testing and recommendations of healthier alternatives are done in an objective way. No brand or manufacturer can influence them one way or another as it does not accept collaborations with brands seeking to be promoted. Therefore, there is no in-app advertising. Detailed information can be found on their website (www.yuka.io)

Comparing purchases is an important habit to get into if we want to save money on our purchases. If we are able to compare prices quickly, whether from our couch or at the store, we can save a lot of money. We always know where to find the best prices on our favourite products and the items we desperately need.
The first step to smart shopping is definitely to get well organized and follow a few simple rules that will help us avoid waste and optimize time and resources. Therefore, in this case, technology comes to our aid and becomes a valuable support.
Using browser extensions or websites for this task is great, but if we are “addicted” to price comparisons, we will need a good app to get the same kind of information. Here are some of the best price comparison apps for Android and iOS.

DoveConviene is an app that allows users to "browse" flyers and offers from stores and supermarkets in the area near the user, and allows them to receive notifications regarding discounts and promotions. 
The app is really easy to use and is very practical and intuitive: thanks to our location (which is automatically loaded by the geolocation system of our smartphone), all the flyers of all the stores and supermarkets near us are displayed. Browsing through them, we can then find the products that we are interested in and "add them to favourites", that is, save them on a shopping list that will be available in the app in "MY SAVINGS LIST" section.
It is the only app that collects all the flyers from all the stores near us, so flyers and shopping lists are no longer needed, resulting in less paper waste.

One of the advantages of electronic books is that they consume little resources, and do not release as much carbon footprint into the environment like printed books. As a result of the reduced carbon footprint from e-books, they are ultimately the best choice for a healthy planet.

Ebooks allow you to buy all kinds of books and download them to enjoy offline. Compared to the print versions, the texts purchased here generally cost less, and you can get many of them for free. 
Kindle (Android/iOS/iPadOS) is a really great app for spending time on the plane!

When it comes to learning a new language using an app, we need to choose the product that fits our needs best. Choosing a language learning app means considering our own wants and needs, like learning style, schedule, ability and budget, to name a few. 
Duolingo (Android/iOS/iPadOS) - Duolingo is based on a gamified model of language learning, meaning that users earn rewards and achievements, build streaks, and compete on leaderboards through their learning process. This is particularly attractive to people who need a lot of external motivation when learning languages and want to treat language learning more like a game.
Duolingo guides users through a language skills tree, starting with the basics and progressing to more advanced lessons organized by topics. It focuses on helping users learn individual vocabulary words used in a variety of contexts that range from simple and practical to more complicated and outlandish. Lessons are created using artificial intelligence (AI). Duolingo’s language learning method focuses only on the language itself and not on the cultural tips and contexts in which the language is used.

We often need to read articles or other types of texts, written in a foreign language that we do not know.
In such cases, machine translation, which has evolved so much in recent years, can come to our aid. 
Today, the latest and greatest machine translation technology available is Neural Machine Translation (NMT), which uses complex deep learning models to translate a text.
Google Translate needs no introduction, being probably the most well-known machine translation software out there. Dubbed Google Neural Machine Translation (GNMT), Google’s proprietary machine translation technology uses recurrent neural networks to translate entire sentences while retaining their contexts as much as possible.

Several kinds of digital tools can be used to enhance various aspects of restaurant services. Here are some examples:
●    Online ordering: Restaurants can offer online ordering through their website or mobile app, allowing customers to place orders and pay online. This can save time for both customers and restaurant staff and also help to reduce errors in order taking.
●    Digital menus: Restaurants can use digital menus, which can be updated easily and quickly. Digital menus can also include pictures and descriptions of dishes, making it easier for customers to decide what to order.
●    Reservation systems: Restaurants can use reservation systems that allow customers to book tables online. This can reduce the workload on staff who would otherwise have to manage reservations manually.
●    Tableside ordering: Some restaurants are using digital tablets or handheld devices to take orders tableside. This can save time and reduce errors in order taking.
●    Loyalty programs: Restaurants can use digital tools to create loyalty programs that reward customers for frequent visits or purchases. This can help to build customer loyalty and increase sales.
●    Feedback systems: Restaurants can use digital tools to collect feedback from customers, such as through online surveys or social media. This can help to identify areas for improvement and make changes to improve customer satisfaction.

The Fork is an app that allows you to search for and book restaurant reservations online. Here's how it works:
1.    Search for restaurants: Open the app and enter the location where you want to eat. The app will show you a list of nearby restaurants.
2.    Browse restaurant details: Click on a restaurant to view its details, including photos, menu, and reviews from other users.
3.    Book a table: If you like what you see, you can book a table by selecting the date, time, and number of guests. The app will show you available time slots and you can choose the one that works for you.
4.    Receive confirmation: Once you've booked your table, you'll receive a confirmation email or text message with the details of your reservation.

The app also offers discounts and special deals for some restaurants, which can be accessed through the app. Additionally, The Fork has a loyalty program that rewards users with discounts and other benefits when they book and review restaurants through the app.

IRPI (Investigative Reporting Project Italy) is an association that aims to develop and promote the most varied forms of investigative journalism by collaborating with a network of journalists, activists and citizens in Italy and abroad. They do this by using and providing tools that are useful for breaking down linguistic, technological and cultural barriers, also by giving life to social, training and media education projects aimed at the school, academic and professional world.

Kritica Economica is an independent web magazine founded by a group of university students, researchers and academics from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about economics and economic policy.
Their goal is to create space for debates on the most important issues of current affairs and economic history, without falling into the common prejudices that very often accompany the discussions on these topics. Lots of their articles are published in different languages.

Skyscanner is a travel search engine that helps users find the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals. Here's how it works:

●    Search: The user enters their departure and arrival airports, dates, and number of travelers on Skyscanner's website or app.
●    Results: Skyscanner searches thousands of airlines and travel sites to find the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals. The user is presented with a list of results that can be sorted by price, duration, departure time, and other factors.
●    Select: The user selects the flight, hotel, or car rental that best fits their needs and budget.
●    Book: Skyscanner redirects the user to the airline, hotel, or car rental provider's website to complete the booking process.
●    Payment: The user pays for their booking directly with the provider.
Skyscanner makes money through referral fees from airlines and travel sites when users click through and book a flight, hotel, or car rental.

Alternatives: Kayak, FareFirst, Google Flights

Google Travel is an app that allows you to book trips and manage itineraries. 
You can easily customize the travel dates you want and the duration of your trip in your search.
When you search for flights, you can customize your search with several parameters such as:
●    Connecting airports you want to use
●    The time of day you wish to travel for all parts or the trip
●    The airlines you’d like to fly with
You can also keep track of prices in order to get the best deal for trip. When you do this, you’ll receive email updates whenever prices go up or down. You can access all of these tools from the “Flights” tab.

Alternatives: Foursquare, Airbnb, Yelp, booking, kayak, skyscanner, FareFirst

Citymapper is a navigation and map app that shows transportation options between two locations in a supported city. If you live in a big city (like London or Milan) where there are multiple ways to get around, Citymapper can help you make your commute stress-free.

Since its launch in 2011, Citymapper has already covered 80 cities and metropolitan areas worldwide. Citymapper uses sophisticated route planning combined with real-time data to help you navigate complex public transport networks. Using Citymapper is easy, and just download and install the app on your device. You'll see your current location on the home page, which is marked by a blue dot. Below the map, you'll see all available transportation options in your area.
It integrates data for all urban modes of transport, including walking, cycling and driving, in addition to public transport.
Alternatives: Google Maps