About the Author

Author and Illustrator – Barb Gonzalez.
Technology simplification expert

Hear Barb tell how she got to be the Technology Simplification Expert/Queen/Guru

Barb Gonzalez was consistently receiving letters of gratitude and praise from customers during her days at the good guys electronics store. Customers could finally bring home their technology and understand how to hook it up or what to do. Those who called in often had "aha" experiences. It became clear that Barb has a talent for simplifying complex technology and breaking down how-to's into simple step by step instructions. Her translation abilities could be used to explain the ever increasing complexity of new innovations coming at us at breakneck speeds now that digital media has taken over.

It began by writing the Home Electronics Survival Guide and has spread to writing a column for a dealer magazine and other freelance articles to simplify technology. Barb is a frequent guest on talk radio discussing everything from HDTV to how to buy technology gifts, set up home theater and more. She conducts community workshops to help the tech-challenged become confident and comfortable with using their entertainment devices. She is now working with electronics manufacturers to help simplify communications to consumers and sales teams.

While Barb specializes in home theater, more and more, she is being called upon to discuss cell phones, portable devices and other convergent and home automation systems.

Professional Background

Gonzalez’s professional career has revolved around art, film and video. As Manager of Development for First Run Syndication and Coordinator of Production for Columbia Pictures, Barbara was exposed to many diverse aspects of the film industry. Barbara worked on such notable productions as: “Hill Street Blues”, “Ghostbusters II”, “Postcards from the Edge” and “Awakenings”. By combining her experience in the movie industry with her passion for digital photography and natural talent as a teacher, Barbara embarked on a new career in the early 1990’s in sales and regional sales training with The Good Guys home electronics retailer in Los Angeles.

Specializing in video and home theater technology, Barbara’s concise and easy to understand explanations of technology to both consumers, and sales people, were an asset to The Good Guys. She found that consumers who understand the technology are likely to purchase new, and higher quality technology. Barbara used her cartooning skills to help educate consumers on how to plan; purchase, install and use sophisticated home theater systems.

Barbara’s experience over the last 25 years has lead to her most recent project – authoring and illustrating The Home Electronics Survival Guide. With this series Barbara aims to increase the understanding an average consumer has of their home electronics systems using simple explanations and cartoon illustrations.

Everyone benefits from a consumer who understands technology, retailers, the sales force, manufacturers, and, of course the consumers.

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