Keeping in Touch

A decade ago high tech meant laptops and e-mail. Now it

refers to anything that’s wearable, wieldy and wireless, allowing executives to

be away from the office but never out of touch. Today’s gadgets link Palm

Pilots to office networks. Computers listen and talk back. Digital cameras are

disguised as cell phones. We asked on-the-go business executives: What

high-tech gadget can you not live without?

Adria Parsons, Gulf Coast regional president, Wachovia/First

Union, Naples:

Until recently, I lived by my Palm Pilot. But I have since

upgraded to a Blackberry, which I have fallen madly in love with. I’m so

excited to get my e-mail at all times. I’m leaving a board meeting right now

and want to stop the car to read my e-mails. And it handles my calendar and

address book, too. I am not tech-savvy. I want things to be user-friendly. I

don’t read manuals. The Blackberry is pretty cool, and it is hooked into our

company software, which is crucial. Basically I do what this little machine

tells me to do all day.

Peter Seif, president, Synergy Networks, Fort Myers:

I would say my voice activation system in my car. I don’t

have to dial a phone when I’m driving. It came with the car. All I have to do

is hit a button to activate it and simply say whom I want to call.

Michael Timmerman, president, Feasinomics, Naples:

My Samsung SPHI 300. It’s an inte- grated cell phone and Palm Pilot. It alleviates my having to

carry two items at once and having to use both. Now I have everything with me.

I can get my e-mail from the office; it’s hooked into the office network.

Basically I have my entire office with me. The ability to have it all on one

device is important to me.

Richard Williamson II, president of DHR Wireless, Fort

Myers:

To make my life easier at the office and at home, I have a

wireless card. It allows me to stay connected automatically, and there are no

cables. I am all over the country and do a lot of mobile computing from my

laptop. I installed it a couple of months ago and now I can be remotely

connected to e-mail and other network connections.