Toasters, fridges and vacuum cleaners were once the quintessential Mother's Day gifts, but in 2008, don't be surprised if mum wants something a little sleeker.

Today's femme mûre is a multitask specialist. she maintains a 9:00 to 5:00 job; exercises, manipulates a budget and picks up the (grand) children all in the same day. So it isn't hard to believe that she's now, more than ever, ready to handle technology.

Jonathan Summons, Apple brand manager at Innovative Systems, located in Kingston's Sovereign Centre, explains to Thursday Tech that while iPods and digital cameras continue to have appeal, digital photo frames are among this year's 'wow' items for mum.

"The digital picture frame was a very good seller during the Christmas season and it should do well again this weekend," says Summons.

He's quick to point out, too, that it's a great gift for the mother who is a "little apprehensive" about technology since, "all you need to do is insert a memory stick (jump drive) into the provided USB port".

Memory stick inserted, mother may create a variety of image slide show combinations (based on the preloaded images on the jump drive), which will appear on the LCD screen or frame. Summons informs Thursday Tech that his store retails the item at $8,000 and up, depending on the size of the frame.

For the mother who craves a little bit more interactivity, Apple has created the relatively new flash-based memory iPods.
"If she exercises, it's perfect for her," quips Summons, explaining that the flash-based iPod can withstand jerking and won't shuffle or skip.

"That feature makes the player more durable. If the player falls it might suffer less damage as opposed to the earlier hard drive-based models." The iPod nano, available at Innovative Systems, goes for $19,000.

But while these are great options for the mum who's a little more au fait with machinery, there's also something for the mother who is less of a 'technocrat'.

"We offer a 10-week computer course," says Maths Unlimited administrator Errol Daley, who speaks to Thursday Tech from the educational unit located at Parkington Plaza. "The class starts this week, so it's a great time for mother to enrol."

Daley outlines that the programme runs twice a week between 5:30 pm and 8:45 pm; and offers a five-week introductory module followed by intermediate work.

"We provide the computers, material and labs, all she would have to bring is her notebook," he adds, noting too that, students will receive HEART certification upon completion of the $16,000 course.

The course, Daley tells Thursday Tech, not only helps mother to operate the computer but also empowers her to monitor her children's online activities.

"In this day and age there's so much out there on the Internet. sometimes kids will be looking at one thing and then when you're coming they minimise the box," Daley says, "but if you know nothing about computers you wouldn't know that."

So this year, it seems technology is a most efficient way to empower mum, whether it's on the treadmill or protecting those she loves from the dangers of cyberspace.

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