PE.com - Tourism Blog

But is it Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

(Wyndham Hotels & Resorts)

Along with obnoxiously slapping an "i" in front of something to suddenly make it indispensable, the new thing is calling otherwise mundane products "smart."

Like Wyndham's new smart chair. Not only does it have brains (in this case, outlets so you can plug into the Internet and/or charge your idevices) but wooden trays attached on both armrests make it handy for lefties and righties (if not able to take flight - now that would be smart).

The thing that gets me is that somehow this chair appeals to those of the "Gen X" variety according to the hotel's press release and this story from USA Today.

Now I'm not a Gen X-er rather one of those sci-fi sounding "Millenials" but is it really a Gen X desire to have a chair that has electrical outlets in it? You could move the chair closer to an electrical outlet. I can't imagine the Smart Chair moving at all what with cords attaching it to other outlets.

As a traveler (regardless of my youth or not), this is what I want in a hotel:
- Flat-screen televisions.
- Electrical outlets as far as the eye can see.
- Comfy bed.
- An iron and hair-dryer
- Towels larger than a washcloth
- Working shower

Not too much to ask.