Read about Featured Gadgeteer - Jim Latimer

Gadgeteer Article

July 31, 2006

Name: Jim Latimer
Location: West Berlin, New Jersey

Gadgets... look in the dictionary and my picture is next to the definition. I sometimes say that as long as I keep my hat on, the propeller from the top of my head won't show too much. ;)

I've been a science and gadget geek for as long as I can remember... Trekkie in high school back in the 70's, meteorology/oceanography major in college, and now a HS physics teacher for 18 years. It's just a life that screams gadgets. It's just in my genes (or gear bag as the case may be).

Current Gadget list:

Palm TX
HP Pavilion ZV5410
IBM a21m
Kodak Z650
Nikon Coolpix 5600
Canon ZR300 digital camcorder
2nd gen 10gb iPod
1gb iPod shuffle
Verizon/Samsung a950
1gb PNY flash drice and other USB flash drives too numerous to count
2 desktop computers w/wireless network to the laptops and wireless print servers
Maxpedition Thermite versipack (as a camera bag)
Targus messenger laptop case
Colorado Special Ops sling bag (for everything else)

And I know that the Gadgeteer gene exists, because my 14 year old son has it too... he's the inheritor of my hand-me-down gadgets (Palm T3, T2, m505; 3com Audrey; Olympus Camedia Zoom 4000; IBM 560; Ninos and Velos and Mobilons; Startacs and other cell phones�anything else I outgrow and discard).

But seriously, my gadget fetish (can I say that?) has its purpose in keeping my life organized. As a teacher, my grades, tests, letters and everything else resides on the laptop. I really don't know how I would be able to teach as effectively as I do without the computer and internet. Online and software simulations have become a major part of my physics course to help bring the concepts to life. My Palm keeps my school/Scoutmaster/personal life from conflicting too much, and the cell phone keeps me in touch when I'm at a meeting or back in the woods with my scout troop. And the digital camera has become a great tool for school projects, scouting events and family memories.

My wife... she just doesn't understand. I've tried to get her into a Palm several times... she prefers paper and pencil calendars and notes. She does like the internet and the digital camera, and she loves her 4th gen iPod, but that�s as far as she goes. She�s tolerant as long as the cost doesn't get too high. But at least I've got my son to carry on the tradition!!!

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