Women’s History Month: Celebrating Black Women in Technology
March 8th, 2013 by TiffanyWomen have excelled in science and technology for the past 20 decades. Some are responsible for breakthrough inventions or discoveries that have revolutionized the world of technology as we know it. Thus, this year’s theme for National Women’s History Month, Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is the reason for our first segment in a series recognizing the amazing African American women from way back then and today. It’s unfortunate that many of these women have been forgotten or overlooked as their inputs in technology continue to advance our society.
Then…
Miriam Benjamin
A Washington D.C. school teacher and the second black woman to receive a patent in 1888, long before technology was as vital as it is now, Benjamin received a patent for an invention she called a Gong and Signal Chair for Hotels. Her invention allowed hotel customers to summon a waiter from the comfort of their chair. A button on the chair would buzz the waiters’ station and a light on the chair would let the wait staff know who needed service. Sound familiar? Maybe something now used on airplanes?
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Patricia Bath
Ever wonder wheere the eye laser surgery revolution started? Doctor Patricia Bath, an ophthalmologist from New York became the first African American female doctor to patent a medical invention. Patricia Bath’s patent (#4,744,360) was for a method for removing cataract lenses that transformed eye surgery forever by using a laser device making the procedure more accurate. An invention we will continue to use and revolutionize for centuries to come!
Sarah Goode
Ever bought a storage or folding bed, or certainly you know someone that has? You might’ve thought this was a fairly new idea, but contrary to popular belief, this was the first patent given to an African American woman. Sarah Goode was the first to receive a U.S. patent on July 14, 1885 for a cabinet bed. She was the owner of a Chicago furniture store and birthed an idea that continued to grow decades after the issuance of her patent.
And now…
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Ory Okolloh
Kenyan blogger and indefatigable open-government activist, Ory Okolloh is a co-founder of Ushahidi, a pioneering, free open-source platform for crowd sourcing crisis information. She is now Google’s policy manager for Africa and serves as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Prior to co-founding Ushahidi, Okolloh, 34, founded Mzalendo, a website that helps Kenya’s electorate keep track of the activities of their representatives in parliament. She is known as one of Africa’s Most Successful Women by Forbes.
Ursula Burns
Burns was named head of Xerox, the $15 billion computer and office equipment company, in 2007 after beginning as an intern in 1980. She earned her title and was a natural choice for the position after leading key business units and helping her predecessor Ann Mulcahy remake the company. Burns, who earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York and a master’s in engineering from Columbia, was appointed by President Obama to vice chair of his Export Council 30 years after beginning her career.
Sandra K. Johnson
A member of the IBM Academy of Technology, the top 1 percent of IBM’s 250,000 technical employees, she has more than 40 patents and is a specialist in software and hardware research performance optimization. The Southern University-trained electrical engineer also has a master’s from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from Rice University, both in electrical engineering.
Window Snyder
Snyder picked up cryptography at a very young age, leading her to cybersecurity. Prior to working for Apple Inc., she headed security for the Mozilla Corp., which created the Firefox browser, and spent three years at Microsoft working on Windows XP and servers. She also maintains contacts with good and bad hackers. We personally owe her a lot of thanks from our continued use with the products she has worked on!
While the number of women in technology and other areas of science are growing, the number is still smaller than one might think. It is obvious, however, that the doors for African American women in the areas of science and technology are expanding beyond just simple patents. These inspiring, motivated, and intelligent women definitely deserve all the praise and recognition that this month holds for them as they continue to build and better multi-million and multi-billion dollar companies!
Live Your Best Life: Celebrity Tips for Wellness and Apps That’ll Get You There
February 18th, 2013 by Lifestyle Staff
Women (-noun): Caregivers & nurturers; often gives to others first without giving to selves.
For on-the-go divas, it is even tougher to pay attention to personal wellness. With all the traveling, working, and keeping busy, it’s hard to understand how one can always keep it together. We have found some tips from well-balanced celebrities that have shared how they do it. Take these tips that have worked for them and see how you can apply it to your daily self-care! Between working, taking care of the family, and handling personal business it’s easy for women to tire, get sick, and eventually burn out. Burnout takes the form of anxiety, illness, nervous breakdowns, and sometimes even flat out laziness.
There is an app for everything these days. For most tips, there is an app available on smart phones and/or tablets to help any diva meet her self-care goals. Check out some self-care tricks and tips from famous divas on the go, along with supporting apps that’ll help you live your best life well.
Tia Mowry
1. Tia Mowry: Plan your workouts ahead of time. A fun way to do this would be to set workout “dates” with friends.
The App To Get You There: To track activity, download Nike+ FuelBand. Note: In order for is to work, you must purchase a physical FuelBand, which is available at Nike stores andonline. With the app, users set goals for activity ahead of time and are pushed to meet them.
Lisa Ling
2. Lisa Ling: Take snacks along for the ride. Before leaving the house, the hotel, or wherever you laid your head down to rest, grab a piece of fruit, fill up a bottle with water, and say no to the sugary treats.
The App To Get You There: To keep track of the food you’re eating on the daily, download Fooducate. It helps users keep track of their grocery list, what they’ve eaten, their water intake, as well as the exercise they did on any given day. (Incorporate this app with tip 1 above.) If you’re in the grocery store and want to know more about a product, you can scan the bar code and get a grade for the product, alternatives, and the ratings of other users.
Fooducate is currently available on iPhones and Androids.
Mariska Hargitay
3. Mariska Hargitay: Take time for some TLC. Working too many hours is associated with anxiety and depression. Who wants to deal with that?
The App To Get You There: Use the calendar on your phone and track every minute of your day for a week. At the end of the week, check to see where you can input some “you time.” During this “you time”, put your phone away, or turn it off, if possible.
Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter
4. Lisa Price: Fight germs as best you can.
There isn’t an app for this. Wash your hands often. Keep hand sanitizer in your purse. And use tissue when you cough or sneeze so you don’t pass along germs either.
These four tips from four amazing women should guide your in the right direction for living your best life and doing it well. What are your tips for wellness care?
Apps and Websites That’ll Better Your Financial Planning
January 25th, 2013 by Lifestyle StaffMore and more women are taking on the role of their family’s chief financial officer. We set the budget, pay the bills, make the grocery list and can tell you how much it truly costs to run the family! Women have so many roles, however, that it can become tough and a bit overwhelming to keep track of it all. We have compiled a list of our favorite apps and websites that are easy, convenient, and most helpful to your pockets!
Financial planning can also bring down the anxiety you may feel about your debt-income ratio. According to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. “Financial planning provides direction and meaning to your financial decisions.” That is, when you have a plan for how to spend your money, and follow through with them, your financial life will be much easier. CFP also refers to financial planning as the process of meeting your life goals through the proper management of your money. Life goals can include buying a home, paying off your student debt, saving for your child’s education, or planning for retirement. We all have similar goals.
Sometimes it is good to seek advice from a professional financial planner such as an accountant or investment adviser but in the mean time, here are some tools to help you keep track of your finances.
Mint.com
Mint allows users to link their accounts- including banking, credit cards, loans, investments, and property. The website also gives each user tips on how to improve their finances based on trends they notice in the person’s spending habits. Downloadable on smart phones and tablets, Mint is also available when users are on the go.
Onebudget.com
Like Mint, OneBudget also links to users’ accounts and keeps track of their spending. Community interaction is a key trait of this website. Users are able to connect with people who are working toward the same financial goals. The makers of the website believe support is important and wanted to hone in on that by allowing people to share how they budget their money and learn from one another. After all, they say experience is the best teacher. Why not learn from others’ experiences?
MyMoney.gov
This website does not keep track of spending for users but does offer a lot of resources. The 21 Federal entities that compose the Financial Literacy and Education Commission provide the materials that are available via the website and the 1-888-MyMoney hotline.
Last but not least, consider these best practices when approaching financial planning from the CFP:
1. Set measurable goals.
2. Understand the effect your financial decisions have on other financial issues.
3. Re-evaluate your financial plan periodically.
4. Start now, no matter your age – don’t assume financial planning is for when you get older.
5. Start with what you’ve got – don’t assume financial planning is only for the wealthy.
6. Take charge – you are in control of the financial planning engagement.
7. Look at the big picture – financial planning is more than just retirement planning or tax planning.
8. Don’t confuse financial planning with investing.
9. Don’t expect unrealistic returns on investments.
10. Don’t wait until a money crisis to begin financial planning.
The last one may be the most important. It falls under the realm of things you stay ready for so you don’t have to get ready. Take some time out this week to see where your money is going!
Have these websites/apps been helpful to you? Or do you have other financial planning tips that have helped you? Share below…
There Are Hundreds Of Designer Cancer Fighting Accessories…Choose One!
October 15th, 2012 by Fashion Staff 
Taking time to honor those who have survived or are battling Breast Cancer is always fashionable. Even if you don’t know anyone personally, there are many great ways to support the cause. Over the weekend, Toyota Racing supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month with fashionable pink stock cars, t-shirts, hats and more! This month there are hundreds of great brands that are donating a portion of their proceeds to Breast Cancer. And who doesn’t love a great reason to shop?! Be sure to check out the Breast Cancer inspired shopping guide below.
DO
Splurge! (This is the time to dig deep into your hearts and wallets ladies & gentlemen.) Making a sacrifice to support a good cause adds a little extra in your karma piggy bank. Show your support and that you care to someone you love. This is a fun way to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. Why not shop for a cause and feel good in the process? With the holidays rolling around shop ahead and get all your stocking stuffers now.
DON’T
Overkill the pink. Adding a dash of pink in your daily wardrobe goes a long way. You don’t have to done a pink shirt, pants, scarf, hat and more at the same time to show support. Spread the love by wearing pink polish and sporting pink accessories spread throughout the month and be a long-term supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness.
DO
Find and buy brands that you already know and love. Shopping for a cause should still make sense. There is undoubtedly at least one beauty and fashion brand that has something for you. Brands like OPI, MAC, Michael Kors, Ann Taylor, Vera Wang have made a effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness with fashionable products & accessories that donate a portion of the proceeds to the cause. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
Rich Girl 41 – Rubber Hot Pink $195, OPI Pink Of Hearts 2012 Breast Cancer Nail Polish Collection $13, MAC Pink Friday $14, Bobbi Brown ‘Pink Peony’ Illuminating Bronzer $45, Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium Suede $1,695
How Well Does Women + Technology Really Mix?
May 22nd, 2012 by ChristenAs a woman who spends her time in the geek space as well as the entertainment space – it’s always interesting to hear opinionated views on women in the technology field. From the workplace to the social media space, women have been an influential force behind the evolution of technology and although, it’s still a male-dominated field – you’d be amazed at the strides that women are making on a daily basis!
Never Miss A Step With Teva Fuse-Ion For Women…
May 11th, 2012 by ChristenThere’s just something about hot, wet, sticky feet that isn’t too appealing to me. So you can see why I’m less than a fan of wearing rainboots during the warm summer months. However, the idea of wearing any other sort of footwear throughout the grimy, rain-soaked streets of New York is unheard of – that is, until Teva’s Fuse-Ion for women.
Upon first glance, these “adventure shoes” remind you of the fashions of old school Converse, Keds or Vans sneakers. But when you look a little closer, you’ll notice there’s a little more to these performance shoes that meets the eye. Teva’s Fuse-Ion technology boasts a waterproof, fashionable shoe with a slip-resistant sole that makes running in the rain a breeze!
Recently, I put these kicks to the test – ripping and running throughout the streets of NYC during Wednesday’s rainstorm…
As you can see, the Teva Fuse-Ion’s made it easy for me to maneuver throughout the wet and rainy city, while staying dry.
Check out this video for more on the technology behind the Ion Fusion…
- Spider Rubber + JStep outsole will stick to a grease-covered aluminum ramp, wet rocks, slippery stairs and more!
- Drain Frame™ sheds water like a sieve, keeping your soles dry and light
From steep wet pavement, to stairs, to subway stations and more! The Teva Fuse-Ion shoes aren’t just adventure shoes for hiking in the wilds of Mother Nature, they’re also necessary for comfortable navigation through the concrete jungles of NYC.
Interested in owning a pair of Teva Fuse-Ion kicks? They’re available for $90 online at Teva.com
*Disclaimer: Teva provided DivasandDorks.com with a pair of Fuse-Ion for Women shoes to review. All opinions listed in the post are 100% my own.*
Who’s More Obsessed With Their Smartphones? Men or Women
January 31st, 2012 by Christen*Singing* Anything you can do I can do better… I can do anything better than you…*
In the timeless battle of men vs women, a new study finds that one definitely out-obsesses over their smartphones and gadgets more than the other.
According to new research commissioned by online smartphone retailer Dialaphone, 52% of married women check their smart phones within 10 minutes of waking up. In fact 29% look at their phone before they even bother to look at their partner. However, it seems men prefer to look at their partners instead, with only 18% reaching for their phones straight away.
Personally, I’ve been in a few relationships where one or two minor arguments arguments about inappropriate smartphone use has challenged communications within the relationship. But on the other hand, I’m the same girl that manages to check her email during middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks. In this new age of technology, social media and its affects on interpersonal relationships how much is smartphone use is too much?
Do you believe that women are more obsessive with their smartphone use than men? Do you have any “smartphone” use rules? Sound Off in the comment section below…
You Play Like A Girl…
June 16th, 2011 by ChristenWho says that gaming is a guys-only sport? I remember playing all the hot new games (back in my day) including, Super Mario Bros (The Original), Duck Hunt, (remember the Power Pad) and even battle games like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter & 007. (That is, until my younger brother kicked my butt so hard in 007 that I refused to pick up another gaming controller ever again.)
If you’re a girl that’s into the games, this is for you! Interpret, a leading entertainment, media and technology market research firm, today released its Interpretations report, “Games and Girls: Video Gaming’s Ignored Audience,” which finds that the large female gaming market is more nuanced than its casual-centric reputation suggests, and that opportunities to profitably meet the needs of women and girls with games tailored to their preferences are underutilized.
The report examines the changing demographics of the female gamer and how, despite widespread interest in gaming among women and established market representation (50% overall), marketing efforts have largely ignored the group. According to Interpret’s New Media Measure™ syndicated study, console use among female gamers has increased significantly in the past two years – and not just for the Wii. In fact, 21% of women gamers now use an Xbox 360 and 16% a PS3, up from 17% and 12%, respectively, in 2009. Furthermore, women demonstrate increasing but under-acknowledged variety in genre preference – 44% prefer genres other than Casual, Exercise, and Music/Rhythm.
“Women not only exhibit different gaming behaviors than men, but also express attitudes about gaming that are dissimilar to those of their male counterparts,” said Courtney Johnson, Interpret analyst. “For instance, they are much more likely to prefer to play solo than men, and play games for less competitive and more narrative- and character-driven reasons. It remains to be seen whether developers and marketers will effectively invest in understanding and exploiting the undertapped female gaming market.”
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