Robin Raskin

Robin Raskin (born May 14, 1954) is an American writer, author, publisher, TV personality and conference and events creator best known for her ability to simplify technology for non-technologists.

Early publications

Raskin began writing about technology in the 1980s. Her first technology piece appeared in a 1984 issue of InfoWorld. The article, True Confessions,[1] documented her attraction to technology as an equalizer for women because ultimately it would provide them freedom without shackling them to an office.

Raskin became a frequent contributor to Family Computing, a Scholastic publication popular throughout the ‘80s. She frequently tested products, writing stories about raising kids in a digital world, including attempts to empower the younger generation with technology.[2]

In 1986, Raskin began contributing to PC Magazine, then a bi-monthly magazine that had been recently purchased by Bill Ziff. Under the tutelage of Editor in Chief, Bill Machrone, Raskin began creating feature stories, including a major comparison of statistical software packages.[3]

In 1990, after her three children reached school age, Raskin accepted the job of Senior Editor at PC Magazine and ran the First Looks section of the magazine. From there she became Executive Editor and finally Editor serving under Michael Miller, Editor in Chief.

In 1995 Raskin became the Editor in Chief of FamilyPC Magazine,[4] a joint venture between the Disney Publishing Company and Ziff Davis Corporation. Along with founder of Family Fun Magazine, Jake Winebaum, Raskin developed the concept of family-tested products, where real families would live with, review technology and earn the product a family-tested seal of approval. FamilyPC went on to become the premier publication for the technology savvy family. At its height, the magazine grew to a circulation of more than 700,000 readers and was supplemented with exhibits at Disney World’s Innovations.[5]

In 1999 Raskin was named Best Columnist by the Computer Press Association, and also that year she was recognized as one of the top ten tech journalists by MC (Marketing Computers) Magazine.[6]

Media appearances and books

Over the years, Raskin has appeared regularly on CBS Up to the Minute, CBS This Morning, MSNBC, Fox TV and others as a technology spokesperson, often featured as an expert on kids and technology.[7][8] Raskin has also authored several book on raising digital Kids including Parents, Kids and Computers (Random House, 1992) with co-author Carol Ellison, Your Child’s Education (Ziff Davis PR, May 1995) with co-author Kaare Christian, and a series of books based on the FamilyPC family-tested reviews, including the FamilyPC Guide to Cool Projects (Hyperion, September 1996) with co-authors Samuel Mead and Richard Kot, and the Family PC Guide to Homework (Hyperion, September 1996) with co-authors Greg Keizer and Richard Kot.

Internet safety

Raskin has testified at the COPPA Commission hearings,[9] and has served on the National Academy of Sciences committee[10] investigating kid’s online safety. The panel was chaired by former attorney general, Dick Thornburgh. Raskin represented the findings in a syndicated media tour for the Academy.

Speaking

Raskin has made numerous speaking appearances, including at the 2011 SXSW Interactive[11] and InPlay.[12] She also acts as the emcee for her own events: Last Gadget Standing[13] and Mobile Apps Showdown.[14]

Projects

Since early 2011, Raskin has been one of the featured "CoolHotNot Tech Xperts," along with John C. Dvorak, Chris Pirillo, Jim Louderback, Dave Graveline, Dave Whittle, Steve Bass, and Cheryl Currid. At CoolHotNot's web site, Raskin shares her "Loved List" of favorite consumer electronics, her "Wanted List" of tech products she'd like to try, and her "Letdown List" of tech products she found disappointing.[15]

References
  1. True Confessions. InfoWorld. October 15, 1984. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  2. "Organizing Your Home, Data-base Style" (PDF). Family Computing. October 1984. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  3. Statistical Software for the PC: Testing for Significance. PC Magazine. March 14, 1989. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  4. "Robin Raskin Named Editor-in-Chief of FamilyPC". The Free Library. May 30, 1995. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  5. "Tour: Disney's Innovations Home of the Future". missingremote. August 13, 2008. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  6. "FamilyPC's Robin Raskin Awarded Dual Honors: Top Prize at Computer Press Awards; Named in MC Magazine's Top Ten List". PR Newswire. The Free Library. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  7. "Conference Speaker". women in technology international. Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  8. "Violent Video Games". CBS News. February 11, 2009. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  9. Oscar S. Cisneros (August 3, 2000). "Anti-Porn Law Worth Another Look". Wired. Archived from the original on January 10, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  10. "No Single Solution for Protecting Kids From Internet Pornography" (Press Release). National Academy of Sciences. May 2, 2002. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  11. "Speaking Schedule". March 14, 2011. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  12. "INplay". Facebook. May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  13. "Last Gadget Standing Show at International CES". Archived from the original on August 16, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  14. "Mobile Apps Showdown at International CES". Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  15. "CoolHotNot Tech Xperts Team". Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2012.


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