Tech and You

Steve Wildstrom created BusinessWeek's Technology & You column in 1994 with the goal of helping readers understand and use personal technology to enhance their jobs and their lives.

Intel's Reader For Visually Impaired
In his last piece for BusinessWeek, Tech and You columnist Steve Wildstrom talks with technology editor Peter Elstrom about Intel's digital reader for the visually impaired and its plans for health products
How Single-Purpose Devices Succeed
In the struggle between specialized devices and multipurpose products, multipurpose nearly always wins. To succeed, a specialized product must perform far better than any multipurpose version. Cheaper or simpler isn't enough; it has to be superior
Augmented Reality: Not that Real Yet
Augmented reality is a technology that uses location data from your phone's GPS receiver and orientation information from its compass to superimpose data on a screen image generated by the phone camera. It sounds great in theory, but doesn't work very well in reality. A major reason appears to be that the data the phone supplies just are not accurate enough
The Secrets of Apple's Success
Macs account for less than 20% of the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Group, but nearly 90% of the $1,000-plus segment. Apple does so by focusing on a superior user experience and shunning advice to boost share by pursuing the low end of the market
Droid: Taking on the iPhone
It's only been a year since the release of the first Android phone, and the Google platform has matured amazingly in that time. The Motorola Droid is not an iPhone killer, but it's a smartphone that can stand up to the Apple's device on its own terms.
Touch Screens Arrive on PCs
Microsoft's support for a wide range of iPhone-like touch gestures in its Windows 7 operating system gives software developers freedom to focus on the creative aspects of touch rather than the mechanics. That should help touch move into the mainstream
BlackBerry: A More Perfect Storm
The original BlackBerry Storm, released a year ago, was marred by poor execution of its touch screen. The new Storm 2's may swing the balance away from physical keyboards. It's no longer worthwhile to put up with a tiny display or a clumsy slider design.
Win 7: Microsoft Gets It Right
Win 7 has a lot in common with the reviled Vista. By eliminating the sluggishness and annoying quirks of Vista and taking cues from the better ideas in the Mac OS X interface--an old OS tradition--Win 7 is slick and pleasant to use where Vista was clunky.
Windows Mobile 6.5, New but Too Old
Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 is at best a stopgap until a truly new version is ready. The iPhone has already passed it. Worst problem: touchscreen phones that both lack the latest touch technologies and provide sluggish and inconsistent support for touch
Nuvifone: Navigation on a Phone
The Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 is an excellent personal navigation device on a mediocre phone. At 299 dollars (after rebate) with a two-year AT & T contract , it's cheaper to get an iPhone with a navigation app. You'd have a poorer navigator, but a much better phone.

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