Consumer Gadgets: 50 Ways to Have Fun and Simplify Your Life with Today’s Technology…and Tomorrow’s

Consumer Gadgets: 50 Ways to Have Fun and Simplify Your Life with Today’s Technology…and Tomorrow’s

by Nicholas D. Evans
Released March 2003
Publisher(s): Pearson
ISBN: 9780131827844

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Book description

Consumer Gadgets is the easy "how-to" guide to 50 of today's most amazing high-tech innovations -- and tomorrow's. Discover how these breakthrough technologies can enable you to have more fun, simplify your life, and be more productive wherever you are. Nicholas D. Evans demystifies everything from TiVo to OnStar, XM to Segway -- plus many exciting products and services not yet on the market. Evans offers simple explanations and practical usage scenarios, as well as realistic guidance on choosing the "winners" -- and avoiding the "losers."

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Praise for Consumer Gadgets
  3. Financial Times Prentice Hall
  4. Financial Times Prentice Hall Books
  5. Preface
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. About the Author
  8. I. Today’s Technology
    1. 1. Getting High-Speed Connections: Broadband Internet
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    2. 2. Getting Wireless Connections: Wireless Local Area Networking
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    3. 3. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs): Toshiba Pocket PC
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    4. 4. Combining Mobile Phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs): Smartphones
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    5. 5. Personalizing Your Cell Phone: Ring Tones and Images
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    6. 6. Keeping One Phone Number across the Globe: World Phones
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    7. 7. Single Log-In and Profiles: Microsoft .NET Passport and the Liberty Alliance
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    8. 8. Increasing Your Security: Fingerprint Readers and Facial Recognition
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    9. 9. Remote-Control Software for Your PC: GoToMyPC
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    10. 10. Using Voice-Activated Services: PCS Voice Command from Sprint
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    11. 11. Communicating via Instant Messaging: Nokia Communicator
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    12. 12. Receiving Alerts and Notifications: Microsoft .NET Alerts
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    13. 13. Using Voice over the Internet: Groove Networks
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    14. 14. Video Conferencing with Your PC: WebEx
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    15. 15. In-Car Safety and Security: OnStar
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    16. 16. In-Car Information and Entertainment: OnStar and MobileAria
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    17. 17. Finding Your Way: Magellan Meridian GPS Receivers
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    18. 18. Tracking the Kids: Wherify GPS Personal Locator
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    19. 19. Taking Digital Photos: Nikon Coolpix
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    20. 20. Viewing Digital Photos: Microsoft TV Photo Viewer
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    21. 21. Filming with Digital Video
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    22. 22. Camera Phones: Sprint PCS Vision
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    23. 23. Sharing Images, Audio, and Video over the Web: Kazaa
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    24. 24. Making Your Own Digital Recordings: CD and DVD Recorders
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    25. 25. Listening to Digital Music: MP3 Players
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    26. 26. Tuning in to Satellite Radio: XM and Sirius
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    27. 27. Watching Digital Television: HDTV
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    28. 28. Digital Video Recording: TiVo, ReplayTV, and UltimateTV
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    29. 29. Multiplayer Online Gaming: PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    30. 30. Printing from Your Mobile Device: ThinMail and PrintMe Networks
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    31. 31. The Next-Generation Laptop: Tablet PCs
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    32. 32. Simplifying Convenience Payments: ExxonMobil Speedpass
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    33. 33. Securing Internet Shopping: American Express Blue
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    34. 34. Shopping with Your Mobile Phone: Digital Wallets
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    35. 35. Simplifying Shopping with Self-Checkout: NCR FastLane
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
  9. II. Tomorrow’s Technology
    1. 36. Connecting Your Home: Internet Home Alliance
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    2. 37. Networking Using the Phone Line: HomePNA
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    3. 38. Networking Using the Electrical System: HomePlug Powerline Alliance
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    4. 39. Using Many Devices with One Connection: Personal Mobile Gateways
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    5. 40. Talking to Your Mobile Device: Spoken Language Understanding
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    6. 41. Using New Visual Interfaces: 3D Desktops
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    7. 42. Artificial Intelligence and Computers that See: Intelligent Messaging
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    8. 43. Digital Pen and Paper
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    9. 44. Using Virtual Tours: Augmented Reality
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    10. 45. Your Own Personal Robot: Honda ASIMO
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    11. 46. Working with Virtual Keyboards: Electronic Perception
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    12. 47. Objects that Communicate: Smart Labels and Electronic Product Codes
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    13. 48. The Personal Transporter: Segway Human Transporter
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    14. 49. Fuel Cell and Drive-By-Wire Cars: General Motors Hy-wire
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
    15. 50. Next-Generation Transportation: The Moller Skycar
      1. How It Works
      2. Benefits
      3. Features and Considerations
      4. Contact Information
  10. References and Web Sites
    1. Part I: Today’s Technology
      1. Alerts & Notifications
      2. American Express Blue
      3. Broadband Service Providers
      4. Digital Camcorders
      5. Digital Camcorder Accessories & Video Editing
      6. Digital Cameras
      7. Digital Camera Phone Manufacturers
      8. Digital Camera Photo Printers
      9. GPS Handhelds
      10. GPS Tracking
      11. HDTV Broadcasters
      12. HDTV Manufacturers
      13. Instant Messaging (PC-Based)
      14. Instant Messaging (Wireless)
      15. Microsoft Xbox
      16. Mobile Commerce
      17. Mobile Printing
      18. Modem Manufacturers
      19. MP3 Jukebox Software
      20. MP3 Players
      21. Peer-to-Peer (Business Services)
      22. Peer-to-Peer (Consumer Services)
      23. Personal Digital Assistants
      24. Personal Video Recorder Manufacturers
      25. Personal Video Recorder Retailers
      26. Remote Access
      27. Ring Tone Capable Mobile Phones
      28. Ring Tone Web Sites
      29. Satellite Phones
      30. Satellite Radio Manufacturers
      31. Satellite Radio Service Providers
      32. Security
      33. Self-Checkout Registers
      34. Single Log-In and Profiles
      35. Smartphone
      36. Smartphone Device Manufacturers
      37. Speedpass
      38. Tablet PC
      39. Telematics
      40. Video Conferencing With Your PC
      41. Voice-Activated Services
      42. Voice Over the Internet
      43. Wireless LAN Cards & Access Points
      44. Wireless Carriers (Camera Phones)
      45. Wireless Carriers (World Phones)
      46. Wireless Operators
    2. Part II: Tomorrow’s Technology
      1. Augmented Reality
      2. Drive-By-Wire Cars
      3. Home Networking
      4. HomePlug
      5. HomePNA
      6. Internet Appliances
      7. Personal Mobile Gateway
      8. Personal Robots
      9. Personal Transporter
      10. Powerline Routers, Bridges, and Adapters
      11. Routers and Residential Gateways
      12. SkyCar
      13. Smart Labels
      14. User Interfaces
      15. Virtual Keyboards

Product information

  • Title: Consumer Gadgets: 50 Ways to Have Fun and Simplify Your Life with Today’s Technology…and Tomorrow’s
  • Author(s): Nicholas D. Evans
  • Release date: March 2003
  • Publisher(s): Pearson
  • ISBN: 9780131827844