Your Technology

By Anita Hamilton

SONY MISSES THE MARK

Sony consistently churns out artfully designed high-tech gear. But sometimes even the king of the audio-video world messes up. Take its new Watchman Color TV ($109, due out next month). It's lightweight, looks great, and comes with a clever neckstrap that doubles as an antenna. But painfully poor reception and a tiny 2.2-in. screen make it a better paperweight than TV.

SAND, SEA AND CELL PHONE?

Some people just don't know how to relax. A study by the Duracell battery company finds that vacationers are packing much more than suntan lotion and the latest Tom Clancy novel. Nearly 40% are bringing a cell phone or pager along, and 18% can't leave home without their notebook PC or personal organizer.

Percent who take these devices on vacation

94% Cameras, CD players, & camcorders 38% Cellular phones & pagers 18% Computers & electronic organizers

Source: DURACELL (R) ULTRA Batteries

THE PROOF IS IN THE PRINT

Fingerprint recognition has long been used in high-security places like FBI headquarters, but only now is it finding a place in the mainstream. In August, Compaq will offer a fingerprint-recognition system to its corporate customers. Its $99 Fingerprint Identification Technology requires users to place a fingertip on a miniature scanner attached to their monitor. Once the image has been verified with a master print on file, users can access the company network without having to remember an ever-changing password.

--By Anita Hamilton