Cool Tech Tools for Lawyers and Law Students

Cool Tech Tools for Lawyers and Law Students:

Making Life Easier

Barbara FullertonManager of Librarian Relations

10-K Wizard

Houston Association of Law LibrariesMarch 14, 2007

04/13/23 HALL: Gadgets Presentation

Generation X

Born between 1965 and 1980

Ages of 24 and 39

Comfortable incorporating technology into their practices

Looking for ways to self-command

Value freedom and versatility

Balance between career and family life


Generation Y

Born after 1980About 24 years old or youngerRaised with a cell phones, PDAs, Smart phones, IM, 3-D gamesVisual, visual, visualHeavy duty techno-savvyExpect a high level of diversity as measured by race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and religious beliefs


What Technology Does Not Mean

How to create a template for a Word documentHow to develop an Excel SpreadsheetAccess…What??PowerPoint…Overdone but can be quick to the pointE-mail etiquette


What Technology Does Mean

Instant Messaging (IM)SmartphonesPDAs/BlackberrysiPods or mp3 playersiTunesText TemplatesVoice Over Internet (VOIP)TivoPodcasting


Blackberry 8800 & 8820

More sleek, trimmed versionAdvanced noise and echo cancellationVoice activated dialing, speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.0Unique: Camera: 1.3 mp, 5x digital zoom, flash and video recordingWI-FI on the 8820Sound quality: ???Coming: Spring 2007Price: N/A http://www.blackberry8800.com/index.jsp


Treos

March of the Treos: 680, 700p, 700w, 700wx, 750Depends on service680: Palm OS (yucky camera)700 & 750: Microsoft OSPrice: $299-$499 +plan

http://www.palm.com/us/products/index.html


iPod

20,000 songs/7,500 songs25,000 photos100 hours/40 hours of video20 hours of battery life for songs & 6.5 hours for moviesEasy to useEasy to search/shuffle80GB/30GBComes with earphonesPrice: $349/$249

http://www.apple.com/itunes/


iPhone

WidescreenEasy menuTouch controlsHigh techWi-FiMulti-tasking (read webpage while downloading e-mail)Internet accessPrice: $499Release: June 2007

http://www.apple.com/iphone/


Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset

Noise-canceling technologyMatches outline of faceHands-free conversationsLight-weight & stableNoise shield enabledColors: black, gray or redAvailable online or CingularPrice: $119.99

http://www.jawbone.com/


Golan i.Tech Virtual Keyboard

It’s finally here! Uses Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly to the user's handheld deviceInfrared technology to project a full-size QWERTY keyboard onto a nearby flat surfaceSensors recognize keystrokesGives a familiar sound of fingers tapping a keyboardPrice: $170http://www.vkb-support.com/


Touchless Trash Can

Uses infrared sensors to automatically lift and close the lid whenever your hand is nearSmart chip Four D batteries20 opens a day for six months on the same set of DuracellsSold online & at TargetPrice: $100

http://www.itouchless.com/share/cgi-bin/site.cgi?site_id=itouchless&page_id=home&qd.query


Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones

As Joan Crawford says: NO WIRE HANGERS…Wow, no cables here!Range: 33 feetFrequency: 2.4 GHz Rechargeable batteries6 hours of playing timePrice: $99.99

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2412,CONTENTID=12492


Google’s Dodgeball

Users of text-messagingSocial toolAny SMS-enabled carrier in 22 major U.S. cities including Houston, Austin & DallasCan use any SMS-enabled phoneSend a text message to the service indicating your location, & then Dodgeball alerts any of your friends who are within 10 blocksCheck when friends were at a locationPrice: Standard text-message rates

www.dodgeball.com


Samsung Blackjack

3G-enabled Full QWERTY keyboardBluetooth 2.0, push e-mail capabilitiesGood call qualityWindows MobileNavigation controls are crampedNo integrated Wi-FiPrice: $199 +service

http://www.samsungblackjack.com/


Trillian

Instant Message clientConnects to multiple services without need of running multiple clientsUse only one serviceTrillian Astra 4 just releasedPrice: Basic/no charge or Pro/$25

http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/


AIM Express

No need to download softwareSend IM info directly from the webCan be used on IE, Firefox, Mozilla, NetscapePrice: no charge

http://www.aim.com/aimexpress.adp


USB Missile Launcher

Need to let out some frustrations?Annoyed at people? Holds three foam missilesMissile Command is on desktop Use mouse to control the launcher Rotates, tilts and fires USB activated with software: Windows 2000 & XPSimulates a radar tracking screenRequires 3 AA BatteriesPrice: $39.95

http://www.gadgets.co.uk/item/USBMISSILE/USB-Missile-Rocket-Launcher.html


Podcasting Software

Audacity (no charge) http://audacity.sourceforge.net/Camtasia ($299) http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.aspGarageBand ($79) http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/Microphones. Don’t go overboard in buying expensive microphones. USB microphones are inexpensive and work well

NOTE: Training Tutorial Tours & Tipshttp://www.notess.com/screencasting


Linksys Travel Router WTR54GS

Pocket-sized Wireless G routerSpeedBoosterSingle Ethernet connection in your hotel room & turns it into a WiFi networkEnable secure encryption between your PC and anotherJust plug it inPrice: $80

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1907612,00.asp


Nintendo Wii

Watch out Xbox!Next-generation gaming machinesWand-shaped remote controller with motion and pointing sensorsCan be swung like a golf club or aimed like a gunCompactConnect 24 hours a day to the Internet via WiFi networksPlayers can create digital look-a-likes of real people, & give them cameo appearances in gamesPrice: $250

http://wii.nintendo.com/


Zune

An alternative to iPodMixed reviewsBig display30GB for music, pics, and moviesUnique: ability to share songs with other Zune users within a 30-ft. radiusPrice: $249

http://www.zune.net/en-US/


Last.FM

Music-centered social networking site Tracks what users are listening to on their computers or players Automatically clues them in to what similarly minded people likePersonalizationRegistration requiredData feeds15 million usersPrice: no charge

http://www.last.fm/


USB Toaster

No time for breakfast?Need a boost in the morning?Just add bread, butter and jamWorks on your computer’s USB portGreat for April’s FoolsPrice: $7.50

http://store.theonion.com/product_info.php?products_id=219


BD100 HD/DVD/Blu-Ray Player

NEW!!South Korea's LG to sell the player compatible with both standards: Blu-ray and HD/DVDHigher powered laser is needed for recordingLG says “to end the confusion and inconvenience of competing high-definition disc formats.”Price: $1199

http://us.lge.com/index.jhtml


Dell XPS-M2010

Has remote control so you can watch TV or movies on its 20 in. widescreen displayPacks multimedia punch, with a detachable wireless keyboard and fully loaded video and audio componentsFolds into a handy briefcaseWeight: a whopping 20 lbs.Wow factor on this laptop!Price: $2,999 http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.asp

x/xpsnb_m2010?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19


Mio C310X Digiwalker

Highly accurate GPS device with North America/Canada mapsNatural-sounding voice commands gives turn-by-turn directionsPlays MP3sTouch Screen3.5” screenPrice: $299 http://www.miogps.com/US/products_c310xfeatures.htm


CALI Radio

NEW!Premier law school Podcast resourceSubjects relevant to students and professorsUse your mp3 or iPodPodcasts’ examples– Life of a Law Student– Advice to a 1L From a Law

Professor– Conversations with Law

Professorshttp://cali_radio.classcaster.org/


Top 10 Questions to Ask During an Interview

How would you describe the atmosphere here: it is more like a labor camp or a slave ship?I heard there was this guy who came here and only billed like three hours a week. They say it took the firm two years to kick him out, and they gave him a nice bonus to leave, too. Is that true? Is it as bad as they say? No. Should I? I'm sorry, can you repeat the question? Is your managing partner qualified to be on the Supreme Court? Is there a bathroom on this floor? How many partners here are still on their first wives? Where am I? All of these firms look alike. Where else are you interviewing?Bonus question for current judicial clerks: How long do I have to stay before I can keep all of my clerkship bonus?

--The Volokh Conspiracy


Resources/Ideas

Create Library Podcasts or Wikis (using P&J)Create a webpage or blog dedicated to Summer Associates and/or Associates/ParalegalsCreate an IM Library Research User IDCreate links to AIM Express, Flickr, and other social networking sitesWork with IT/Marketing/Recuiters The Podcast Network (Gadget Show) http://gadget.thepodcastnetwork.com/PhoneScoop http://www.phonescoop.com/Flickr http://www.flickr.comPeanut Butter & Jelly http://pbjt.pbwiki.com/Director of Law-Related Podcasts http://blawgsfm.justia.com/

Cool Tech Tools for Lawyers and Law Students

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