The Colors of Innovation

All across the world women enjoy myriad luxuries provided by technological innovation. Whether it is a portable DVD player, PDA or device used for laser hair removal, there’s a vast variety of people behind each modernization. Scientists, engineers and those who dare to dream are often the unsung heroes behind technological advancement. In light of Black History Month, at She-Tech we felt it would be inspirational to salute the African Americans in technology that have contributed to improving the world we live in.

Philip Emeagwali, often referred to as the “Father of the Internet,” has had a monumental impact on the world through a program he discovered. Emeagwali ran an experiment and was astounded when the program performed 3.1 billion calculations per second. This finding lead to a practical application for utilizing supercomputers, and in conjunction with the existing internet backbone, the World Wide Web emerged. In 1989, in acknowledgement of his discovery, Emeagwali was awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Gordon Bell Prize which recognizes outstanding achievement in high-performance computing applications.

While Mark Dean was working as an engineer for IBM he made a significant impact on the team that developed the IBM PC/AT: the original home computer. Along with his colleague Dennis Moeller, he developed the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) systems bus. This is a component that allows multiple peripheral devices, such as a modems and printers to be connected to a PC. This is a modern convenience that we have enjoyed since the 1980’s.

John Henry Thompson has developed numerous products; however, his most noted invention is Lingo programming: a scripting language that helps render visuals in computer programs. Lingo is used with many programs with graphic animation, sound and video. Along with Macromedia™ Director, Thompson has helped develop MediaMaker, Accelerator, VideoWorks and more. Lingo has also been used to create flash and shockwave programs that are prevalent in video games, web design, animation and graphics.

Amongst the ranks of these prestigious gentlemen lies an African American woman, Valerie Thomas, who has also made a mark in the field of technological advancement. In 1977 she began experimenting with flat mirrors and concave mirrors. A concave mirror presents a reflection that appears to exist in front of a glass, thereby providing the illusion that the image exists in a three-dimensional manner. This concept provided an enhanced format for representing video data and was a breakthrough for commercial television and for NASA and its image delivery system.

Technological innovation is boundless and due to the contributions of a wide diversity of people we all reap the timeless benefits. For more information about the aforementioned and other African American inventors, visit http://www.black-inventor.com/.

To all the beautiful women across the global color spectrum...stay connected!

WiFi Women

WAP (wireless application protocol) technology is a growing phenomenon that continues to shape the way we communicate. Dusty tattered blue LAN cables are unfashionable as spandex pants, and it’s taboo to even mention the antiquated dial-up cable. A very popular consumer application of wireless technology is the everyday usage of mobile phones and PDAs. Given this, it is no surprise that women have embraced this technology. Studies indicate that text-messaging and instant messaging services are the most popular uses amongst women. It is considered a valuable tool that enables convenient communication between family, friends and clients.

Although the primary appeal of wireless technology is access to content through web browsing and email, women are more interested in efficient communication.
For example, the Samsung T500 phone was designed specifically for women with “feminine extras,” such as a mirror and biorhythm readings. While flattering on one hand, text messaging and calling functionality are most critical.

An emerging wireless application is SMS (short message service) banking or mobile banking. Many banks are partnering with WAP service providers to enable account holders to check balances, make transfers, stop payments and more. The banking industry views this as a natural progression, being that mobile phones are so widely used, with over 225 million carriers in the United States. For more information on mobile banking technology visit http://www.paymentsnews.com/mobile_banking/index.html.

With convenient communication being the biggest selling point for women when it comes to wireless technology, our adoption rates will continue to increase. We are invariably less interested in the design specifications of wireless technology; however, many of us are interested in the design specifications of our mobile device accessories. To accommodate those who desire to be fashionable and efficient, She-Tech will be offering mobile phone accessories this spring. Allow your inner tech-diva to shine this year.

Whether wireless, LAN line or dial-up…stay connected!

"Tech in the City"

Although the most prominent women in Corporate America do not hold the prestigious title of Chief Executive, in the High Tech industry we are making significant strides. To name a few, there are Susan Decker, the CFO of Yahoo and CEOs Margaret Whitman of eBay and Anne Mulcahy of Xerox. Women have also served in executive positions at Cisco Systems, Intel and Verizon. Unlike banking, insurance and manufacturing; technology is a newer industry that values qualifications and one’s ability to deliver. “Good old boy networks” and golf buddies are unwarranted in technology and those that thrive must consistently meet sales and marketing goals and adhere to stringent project deadlines.

On the flipside, for women to advance in technology, they must face challenges that their male counterparts don’t experience. Firstly, the lack of high-ranking women in leadership positions equates to a shortage of role models, mentors and insight on the obstacles that women face as they climb the corporate ladder. Secondly, the inherent grueling workaholic culture in technology forces many women to make hard decisions between career and family. With travel being frequent and late nights being commonplace, many women with children are unable to do what is necessary to get ahead. Possibly as a result, there are a commendable amount of women in mid-level technology positions heading development teams and entrepreneurial startups that offer more flexibility.

However you slice it, women will continue to be the resilient trailblazers we have always been. Ever so graciously we manage our careers, care for our families while trying to maintain a sense of self-identity and style. We understand this at She-Tech; therefore we aim to provide you with products that compliment your hectic schedules and innate sense of chic as you rise to the top. Our philosophy is that one day there will be women throughout every rank from the helpdesk to the boardroom.

Ladies…as we steadily make our way up in the corporate world, rung by rung, let’s not forget to reach down and grasp the finely manicured hand of another!

Also, be on the lookout for the upcoming She-Tech Spring Collection of wallets, totes, clutches and new cell phone and iPod accessories. Stay connected!

She-Tech Welcomes the New Blog Editor

As She-Tech embarks upon its third year in operation things are now busier than ever. In addition to the rising demand of existing totes and clutches, I am feverishly preparing to diversify the products that will be launched in the 2007 Spring collection this April. To further satisfy the needs of stylish tech-savvy women, the 2007 collection will feature a variety of fabrics as well as iPod and cell phone accessories. This has been a huge and overwhelming undertaking; therefore, I have hired a colleague, Yolanda Bennett, to be the official She-Tech Blog Editor. This decision has enabled me to achieve a balance between career, family and the growing demands of the business.

Yolanda has an extensive Marketing Communications background and has worked at several technology-based companies for years. Such companies that have benefited from her expertise are Equifax, CompUSA, EnPointe Technologies and Automatic Data Processing. To stay abreast of what’s new and exciting in the world of tech-sexy and savvy women, be sure to visit the She-Tech Blog weekly. We are truly excited to have Yolanda as a part of the She-Tech family and welcome you to share any feedback with her regarding the company or topics of interest.

Stay connected!