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Hooked on Gadgets: meet three women by Perkal

"GOT GADGETS? You're not alone. More and more, Black women are clamoring for electronic tools that make our lives easier and more enjoyable. African-Americans are early adopters and heavy users of an array of electronic devices, including handhelds that download favorite tunes, computer-mounted video cameras that ""visit"" loved ones in far-flung places, and cell phones we use to take pictures, play games. crunch numbers and get organized.

If you're tech-shy, intimidated by all the bells and whistles, or just leery of shelling out too much money, consider this: You could be missing out on tools that can save you time and, ultimately, money. The right device is a priceless investment, and it's also probably easier to operate than you think. Furthermore, tech-savvy sisters are more marketable and efficient in the workplace.

On the following pages we share the stories of three sisters who've crossed the digital divide and gone high-tech, using phones and other devices to reduce the stress in their personal and professional lives. We also offer advice on how you can do the same.

cyber sister

D. KAMILI ANDERSON, 49

Washington, D.C.

Director, Howard University Press

WHY SHE GOT WIRED: D. Kamili Anderson says she wanted to ""connect the dots"" in her personal and professional life. Walk into her office and you may catch her with a big smile on her face, beaming data from her Palm Tungsten T3 personal digital assistant (PDA) into a colleague's PDA. Because her family is wired, too, she can download information onto her children's PDAs. Both of Anderson's daughters, Abeo, 24, and Dalila, 22, have one.

HER GO-TO GADGETS Palm Tungsten T3 PDA; wireless foldable pocket keyboard; Motorola i95cl cell phone; Compaq Presario S6200CL desktop computer; Hewlett Packard PSC 2410xl Photosmart color printer; Sony Handycam digital camcorder.

HOW SHE USES THEM: Anderson's parenting pointers have extended beyond such basics as sex and safety to include reminders about regularly backing up files and never leaving home without important projects in your PDA. Even her 4-year-old granddaughter, Nia, is a little techie, thanks to Grandma, who bought her a miniature pink keyboard to hook up to her family's desktop computer. And like other proud grandmothers, she has a ""brag book"" to show off pictures of Nia and her grandson, Changa, Jr.,--only hers consists of images she downloaded from a digital camera or camcorder into her Palm. She displays them as a miniature slide show instead of a photo album. ""I love how I can go from one medium to another,"" she says.

While technology is a convenience in her personal life, it's a necessity in her professional life. ""I probably haven't carried a laptop in three years,"" she estimates. In the past, the publishing executive would set out on business trips loaded down with luggage, books, a laptop computer and a briefcase stuffed with manuscripts and other documents. She has since lightened her load. with the exception of clothing, everything else is packed into her Palm--books, huge graphic files, Excel spreadsheets, manuscripts, databases, PowerPoint presentations, budgets and Amtrak schedules. She has two foldable pocket keyboards that she can use for her Palm or her cell phone. ""It's like the difference between carrying around a rock and carrying a potato chip,"" says Anderson, who also uses her Palm to book flights, play Scrabble, or wirelessly print documents. And she picks up tips through a listserve run by the D.C. PalmOs Users Group. ""You're never really in the dark,"" she explains. Although technology has made her life so much easier and more organized, it has provided an even greater, unexpected bonus, she says: ""This has expanded my memory about ten years!""

HER ADVICE TO THE TECH-SHY: ""Look for ways technology can connect the different parts of your life,"" Anderson says. For example, a woman can use these tools to keep track of a parent's medications, her children's extracurricular activities and her own schedule. ""If you're better connected, it's less likely that something will fall through the cracks.""

tech maven

ROBIN GOINGS-STROMAN, 31

Los Angeles

Actress and model

WHY SHE GOT WIRED: Robin Goings-Stroman started with an ordinary cell phone and an old-fashioned address book. Then she upgraded by transferring her phone numbers to an electronic planner that helped her keep track of her family, friends and schedule in her former job as a United Airlines flight attendant. Before she knew it, she was hooked an technology. ""I came around to it because if you don't, you're left behind,"" she explains.

HER GO-TO GADGETS Sprint Samsung Palm phone; Motorola two-way pager; On*Star navigation system; Apple iPod audio player; Panasonic portable DVD player.

HOW SHE USES THEM: Over the years Goings-Stroman has switched item an electronic planner to a PDA. She recently traded up to a Sprint Samsung Palm phone, which is smaller, less bulky and serves as a phone and PDA. (See box, below left, on smart phones.) Besides the phone itself, her favorite features are the calendar, calculator, audio alerts that remind her of family appointments, and games she can play while waiting in airports. ""You have everything with you,"" she says. This is important for her because she's often stuck in traffic on L.A.'s highways, which she says can get inexplicably clogged any time of day or night. The Palm phone allows her to keep up with casting calls and, more important, stay connected with her family, including her husband, Earthquake, a successful stand-up comedian who often performs out of town on weekends, and four children: Natalia Stroman, 18, Vana Parker, 13, Rachiknec McCorvey, 12, and Nathaniel Stroman, Jr., 2. Vana, the ""technology princess,"" rings up Mom on her camera phone or sends messages to her Motorola pager.

While on the road, Goings-Stroman often finds herself in unfamiliar territory, so she uses a voice-activated On*Star system that's built into her black Cadillac Escalade to get directions. ""It's my best friend because I'm always lost,"" she says. On long trips she packs a portable DVD player to watch her favorite movies during downtime, tunes in to her Apple iPod audio player, and sometimes whips out the laptop to check on auditions, send Emails, and monitor family accounts.

At home, there's a baby monitor to check on her toddler and a fully equipped desktop computer with a scanner for Vana's homework. Early on, Goings-Stroman had heart-to-heart talks with her daughter about the perils of using and misusing computers and other technological devices. On those rare occasions when Vana is too chatty on her cell phone and runs up the bill, Goings-Stroman takes it away and replaces it with a phone card for emergencies--proof that even for the tech-savvy, sometimes the best solution is a no-tech solution. (For more on kids and technology, see the parenting feature in this issue.)

digital diva

ANGELA SPEARS, 43

Denver

Public-relations entrepreneur

WHY SHE GOT WIRED: When Angela Spears's husband was offered a position as an assistant managing editor at The Denver Post about two years ago, technology made it easier for her to relocate from New York to the Rocky Mountain state. Spears had deep roots and extensive contacts on the East Coast. But she soon realized that with advances in technology, it really didn't matter where she lived or maintained her business. In fact, her PR firm, the Spears Rochester Group, is thriving and recently launched a Web site, SRG-PR.com.

HER GO-TO GADGETS: IBM ThinkPad T Series laptop; Nokia 6310 cell phone; Palm Pilot M515; Brookstone calculator/time converter.

HOW SHE USES THEM: ""The way technology has changed has allowed me to interact with my clients, from the United States to Germany or wherever they are,"" she says. ""Ten years ago I used to carry binders containing my reports to my meetings. I don't have to do that now."" Instead of coordinating schedules for group meetings, she typically E-mails presentations and reports, which decision makers can review individually at their leisure. If she has to attend a meeting, Spears whips out her foldable keyboard and attaches it to her Palm Pilot M515, while others are jotting notes on paper or typing into laptops.

Spears also has a Brookstone Wafer Thin Calculator to keep up with time zones, currencies and temperatures in various countries. And she loves the text-messaging feature on her cell phone because she can read messages in subways or disembarking from a plane without calling into her voice mail. Clients who need to touch base quickly love it, too. ""They don't want a conversation. All they want to do is get a message to me,"" she explains.

In addition to serving as a Rolodex-to-go, Spears's Palm Pilot stores birthdays, anniversaries and some financial data. It also has wireless technology that allows her to access the Internet so she can read The New York Times each day and other newspapers when she's on the road.

To many people her tech tools may seem like high-priced toys, she admits, ""but they've become an essential part of my work. Business people need this equipment to be efficient in the way we function."" Recent research bears this out: Businesses owned by women and/or people of color are significantly more successful if they extensively use computers and other technology, according to a study conducted by the Urban Institute, a research company.

HER ADVICE TO THE TECH-SHY: ""Don't be afraid of technology,"" says Spears, who adds that you can learn a lot on your own by simply playing around with these gadgets. She also reads technology articles in newspapers and magazines and picks the brains of anyone who works in computer repair or sales to gain better understanding. ""You just have to take your time, read and think your way through it.""

tips for tech novices

Getting started and staying up to speed is fairly easy these days. You probably already know someone who is preaching the gospel of technology and would be more than happy to convert you. Start there and chat up others who sell or repair tech tools. There's also a wealth of information on the Internet. bookshelves and newsstands to help you figure out what to buy, how to use it and where technology is heading. Here are some resources that the women featured in this story have used in their tech quests:

* Consumer Reports Digital Buying Guide 2005 by the editors of Consumer Reports (consumerreports.org): This guide from the renowned publication tells consumers how to get the best value on the latest tech tools.

* Palm for Dummies by Bill Dyszel (Wiley): This how-to guide for handheld computers explores key features and applications and teaches you how to use your Palm to connect with the world.

* PC Magazine (pcmag.com): Provides expert reviews of hardware and software, lets you compare prices on top-selling gadgets, and offers tips on using applications and organizing your technology.

* PC World Magazine (pcworld): In addition to covering the latest trends in technology, editors test and rate the top 100 gadgets. You can also download software online, learn about security, and more.

* CNET.com: Famous for its ratings of technology and electronics, this Web site also features buying guides for tech devices and information on product bargains, rebates and special offers on the market.

--Y.R.L., WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAYME GANEY

tech term

SMART PHONE

WHAT IT IS: A combination cell phone and PDA.

FEATURES: Incoming and outgoing phone calls, voice mail, text pager, address book, calendar, planner. E-mail. Internet connectivity, optional camera attachment, games.

PRICE RANGE: $300 to $750

WHY IT'S WORTH IT: ""It has everything you need on the go, and you can take care of many details from your phone."" Goings-Stroman says.

tech term

PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT (PDA)

WHAT IT IS: A pocket-size assistant to organize your life.

FEATURES: Can include scheduler, phone book, E-mail, Internet connectivity, wireless printing, digital music Player audio-visual slide shows, voice recorder, built-in camera, Also has the ability to display computer software programs or be attached to a portable keyboard.

PRICE RANGE: $100 to $650

WHY IT'S WORTH IT: PDAs allow you to have multiple files at your fingertips. What Spears loves most about her Palm Pilot is the software she can use with it--DataViz's Documents to Go--to download Microsoft Word files, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.

Yanick Rice Lamb, who teaches journalism at Howard University, is coauthor of Born to Win: The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson (Wiley)."

This article was published on Sunday 17 December, 2006.

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