The proliferation of technology to ease our travels sometimes threatens to overwhelm us, but the best stuff pushes convenience to the forefront while making its inner workings seem natural — and saving us from hours of research. And these days, the best travel technology isn't just about gadgets and gear. "Electronic word of mouth such as online ratings, reviews (and) blogs have been prevalent in the travel industry…and have influenced the way travelers make decisions," says Iis P. Tussyadiah, associate director of Temple's National Laboratory for Tourism and eCommerce.