GeekSugar

Vintage Geek: Fingertip Shopping on the Internet in the '60s

GeekSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:39 -0700

This vintage video of the "Internet" in 1969 plays like a so-sexist-it's-silly scene from Mad Men. When describing the eventual conveniences, they point to online shopping - undertaken by the wife - and then establish that the husband then pays (complete with the man of the house shaking his head at the purchases). Dee-lightful!

Gadget or the Girl: Really?!

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:23 -0700

Thought The Bachelor was silly? At least the guy from The Bachelor doesn't tell you that he'd rather hang out with his HDTV.

That's basically the premise of a new reality show, called Gadget or the Girl? where contestants choose between a mystery gadget and spending a weekend with a hot lady. I don't know what I feel the worst about - comparing a woman to a piece of electronic equipment or the self-esteem of the participating females ("objectified" doesn't even begin to cover it).

I mean, don't we already deal with boyfriends who pay more attention to their video games, computers, and cell phones (although I know I dish that out too sometimes)? The show is on Playboy TV, so I don't know about you, but I probably won't click past it in my regular rotation.

What do you think? Is Gadget or the Girl where our all-encompassing gadget love has gotten us, or is it just a misogynistic display of boys and their toys?

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How Much Time Do You Spend Surfing The Web At Work?

GeekSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:00:52 -0700

I often hear stories from people who spend their entire work days browsing the net, shopping online, and catching up on all the latest celebrity gossip. And then there are those who are either so busy that they don't even have a minute to check their email, or have over-protective bosses who block basic messenger services. I'm curious to know how much time you spend online during an average work day doing things other than 'work' so to speak... leave your comments below! Image Source

Petticoat 5 - The First Computer For Women

GeekSugar — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 11:32:49 -0800

TeamSugar member Liron brought this video to my attention and I figured all you geeky women would have a thing or two to say about it.

The video is actually from an episode of BBC America's Look Around You show, in which the team unveils the world's first computer for women, the Petticoat 5 - with tissue dispenser and emery board space bar - and meet its inventor, played by Belinda Stewart-Wilson. My pick for a computer for women? The MacBook Pro. Still not sure I think this is funny. At all.

The Cover Up App Masks Unpleasant Restroom Sounds

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:50:16 -0800

Picture this: You just had the date of your dreams, so when he invites you to his place for a little night cap, you immediately say yes without hesitation. After a glass of wine, your stomach starts rumbling and you realize that extra spicy Tandoori chicken dish maybe wasn't the best ordering option for your first date. Next thing you know, you're in his bathroom, wondering how you'll be able to drown out unwanted restroom noise.

Not to worry! There's an app called Cover Up that is said to help women "save face in those potentially awkward situations in the office place bathroom, public restroom or at the new boyfriend’s house." For only 99 cents, you can choose from a variety of sounds (including running water, hand-dryers, and blow dryers) which are launched when touching any of the makeup compact areas - and yes, the makeup brush controls the volume!

You can have a peek at what the app looks like on your phone, when you read more.

The Fairer Cell Phone Sex: 4 Phones Made For Women

GeekSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:04:40 -0700

Do women have different cell phone needs? Maybe. We may have different cell phone wants, certainly, but I think that's more personality than gender based. But that hasn't stopped a few handset makers from trying their hand at what women really want. Check them out and let me know if they hit the mark.

View Slideshow ›

Women And Tech: Parodies And Realities

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:00:19 -0700

Women and technology is always a tender subject. Some women (and men) couldn't give a hoot about the newest downloads or gizmos, but the rest of us - specifically you readers - use technology everyday and have most of the same usage and buying habits as your male peers. We use technology to make our lives easier. We carry Smartphones, MP3 players and handhelds, use widgets, install special plug-ins and buy gadgets that fit into and enhance our digital lifestyles.

The New York Times reminds us that the idea of making gadgets female friendly has evolved a lot more than the average consumer might think in the past few years. More women are taking control of the technology they bring into their homes and lives and using that technology more often. Still, women are easy targets when it comes to parody gadgets and some manufacturers still think sprinkling a little pink on MP3 players and TVs will make women love them. So what's a girl to do?

I've compiled a list of my favorite (and least favorite) tech parodies and bizarre gadgets aimed at women, as well as a few recent articles on women and technology. My question is this: Why are women still easy targets when it comes to technology and do you think the robot that cleans your lady business is funny?

Pepsi Apologizes For "Scoring" iPhone App Via Twitter

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:44:00 -0700

I don't necessarily consider myself a feminist, but I know a sexist product when I see one. Remember the Slide to Unlock tee or the stripper pole Wii game? Yeah, those were awesome.

So when I heard about Pepsi's Amp Up Before You Score App that hit iTunes this week, I had to chuckle. I knew it was only a matter of time before the backlash hit - and oh, the backlash did in fact, hit. The app, which is meant to help you "score" with women, categorizes women into different types, and provides pickup lines, tips, and insights to each type - from sporty girls to cougars - and even provides a note section where you can list your successful hookups with names (and whatever details you can remember) so you can brag to your friends later.

Not surprisingly, Pepsi Amp issued an apology on their Twitter account, but have yet to pull the app from iTunes. I'm glad that Pepsi sees the error of its ways, however, maybe it's just me, but doesn't the female public as a whole deserve an apology that consists of more than 140 characters?

What Makes A Gadget Appealing To Women?

GeekSugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:00:12 -0700

When I was a kid it was my father who would pick out the big ticket electronics for our house, primarily because my mother couldn't care less what size the TV was or the quality of the home's sound system. While I respect her choice to not care at all, her attitude toward technology and gadgets couldn't be more different than mine. And it makes me wonder if that's an attitude I picked up along the way because I always went to the electronics store with my dad or because technology is more geared toward women these days.

According to a New York Times article, To Appeal to Women, Too, Gadgets Go Beyond ‘Cute’ and ‘Pink’, the idea of making gadgets female friendly has evolved a lot more than the average consumer might think in the past few years. More women are taking control of the technology they bring into their homes and lives and using that technology more often. To which I smartly say: Doy! Here's more:

Only a few years ago, feminizing a consumer electronic product meant little more than creating a pink or pastel version of the same black or silvery item coveted by men. And, some retailers note, that kind of marketing still goes on. But feminizing technology is more about a product’s fundamentals, often expressed in its ease of use. It is not always aimed exclusively at women, but it is female friendly. Shoppers see it throughout electronics store from the rising popularity of digital picture frames to flat-panel televisions that are designed to fit into the cabinets and armoires that once housed smaller-screened traditional televisions by moving the TV speakers from the sides to the top or bottom of the TV.

According to the article, there are some less obvious choices that have sprung up along the way. Apparently, the spacing of the keys on a new Sony ultraportable computer notebook accommodates to longer finger nails and some recent LG cell phones have the cameras’ automatic focus calibrated to arms’ length. I think these "changes" are rather lame technique for bringing in female techies, but I guess they deserve a nod for their effort. Have you noticed any changes in technology over the last few decades that you think are a marketing ploy to attract women? And what draws you to certain gadgets and not others?

Do You Think Tech Jobs Are Geeky?

GeekSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:00:45 -0700

And I don't mean geek chic. The EU is concerned about the image of the IT Industry in Europe because they need to attract more women, but fear the current stigma of workers in tech as "geeky and unsociable" will keep the ladies out of the tech workforce.

Europe needs 300,000 female workers in the industry by 2010, and EU Commissioner Viviane Reding says women think careers in IT are "boring and too technical," even though there are tons of jobs and a huge demand for women.

In my little universe, surrounded by my gaggle of geeky girls here, I want to turn my nose up and say "nuh uh" but I have to acknowledge that there's truth to it. A friend of mine in HR at Google says the company is desperate for female engineers, but they're "just not there." A guy I met recently had interviewed at YouTube, but admitted that it was a "much dorkier" job than he'd ever seen himself in (yes, I assured him this was the Bay Area, where tech is the height of coolness).

What do you think about tech jobs? Do they sound boring? Cool? Do you want one?

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