No DBB this week (or next) -- Saving up for Tech4Turn (4/25)

We will not be having our Tuesday Digital Brown Bag (12:30P) this week (Tu, 4/7) or next week (Tu, 4/14) because we are saving up all of our guests for the "Technology for the Turnaround" event on Saturday, 4/25. We will have dozens of experts, companies, and other cool people at Tech4Turn -- and everyone is invited (see below). But we will be meeting Tuesday, 4/21, for my (in)famous talk entitled "Get A Job!" Now more relevant than ever!

What = Technology for the Turnaround (4/25) UGA

We have a whole different type of day planned for "Technology for the Turnaround: A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste." No stuffy panel discussions. No pseudo sales pitches. No too-long explanations of what you already know. Nope. Tech4Turn is all about ideas -- ideas that can help us get ahead. And it is FREE! You can read all about the day at http://www.mynmi.net/Tech4Turn/. But here is a thumbnail sketch of the day. And all most of the activities are at the Miller Learning Center at UGA (http://www.slc.uga.edu/)

1:00 -- Welcome
1:15 -- Innovation for the Turnaround

Jennifer Dorian (Senior Vice President of Network Strategy and Brand Development -- Turner Entertainment Networks) will share her ideas for where we can find and build innovation.

1:45 -- Quick Fire Trend Discussions

Our goal is to come up with a list of technology trends that are going to play the biggest role in shaping digital media after the economic turnaround. We will be calling on our invited guests and other attendees to tell us what to watch for in areas like gaming, social media, online video, advertising, mobile, etc.

3:00 -- Break

Yeah, we will need it.

3:15 -- Student Show-Offs

New Media Institute and other Grady students will be showing off the projects they have been working this semester. These are going to be rapid-fire as well. Plan on walking around and talking to students about their projects for no more than 5 minutes. Then I will push you to move on. We will probably have 15 different team projects for you to see so we have to go fast and hard.

5:00 -- Networking Reception
Everyone is invited to the Dean's Garden at Grady for an informal networking reception. Bring your cards and be ready to network, network, network!

Who = Technology for the Turnaround (4/25) UGA

We all know that it takes more than a great program (like the one above) to make a great event. It takes cool/knowledgeable/fun people. About 75 people have already RSVPed for some part of the day. By going to http://www.mynmi.net/Tech4Turn you can RSVP to network with the people who are attending from these and other organizations:

Engauge, Patrick Davis Partners, BBDO, Kennesaw State University, AT&T, JWT Communications, Translation, Community Newspapers Inc, University of South Carolina, What's Up Interactive, Digital Insight (Intuit), Verizon Wireless, Schematic, Cohn & Wolfe, Delta Air Lines, Funny or Die, Charleston Magazin,TBS & TNT Digital, Nurun, Goizueta Business School, MediaHound Development, Plexus Web Creations, Newell Rubbermaid, National University, Atigeo, Marriott International, Fuzebox, Inc. Magazine, Startech Global, Atlanta Woman Magazine, JWA Public Communications, Turner, Axcess Online/The Silicon South, StyleCaster.

And the list keeps growing.

Video New Media Update -- Internet TV, Netbooks, and Adolescent Movie Makers

This week's version of the Video New Media Update (http://www.newmediaupdate.com/) looks at internet TV and netbooks. And they interview a filmmaker even younger than UGA students. Check it out. Lots of fun.

My Free / Open Source Experiment

A quick update on my attempt to only use free or open source software. It is going pretty well. Had a lot of input about graphics programs (yeah, Gimp is pretty cool). But I have started to hit a couple of problems. Google Docs has been excellent for creating documents to share online, but when you attempt to move them to dead trees (as in printing them out) you can run into trouble. For example, I made a handout in Google Docs then went to print it out. Instead of going straight from Google Docs to the printer, you have to export the document as a PDF first. Then you can print it out. But what if you want to insert page breaks? Since the Google Doc document only exists in a browser window, page breaks don't matter there. And the PDF isn't editable when it gets to your local machine so you can't insert page breaks there. About the only way I have found to adjust for pages is to keep checking the Google Docs print preview after adding blank lines to the document. Kind of clugy. Google readily admits that printing isn't a strong suit of their software. And they would rather us save the trees by working online all the time. But that isn't terribly practical yet.
So the lesson here is that some of the rather basic features we take for granted in commercial software might not work in free software. In fact, free software might even structure the task (like printing documents) differently than pay software. The problem is we have all been weaned on commercial software so we have bought into their paradigm for computer work -- it might be difficult to break old habits. But it ain't enough to make me give up -- yet.

testing a thing, pay no attn

www.flickr.com

Go to twilightcrit's photostream

Georgia Aquarium

In order to increase attendance and return visits to the Georgia Aquarium we are developing an accessible, interactive mobile website to be used by visitors both in and out of the aquarium. The site will utilize social networking opportunities to promote special events and maintain a lasting relationship with visitors.

Capstone Travel Group - Technology Overview

The Starbucks Neighborhood Web site with hyperlocal background content and barista-generated, authentic content will be viewable on the Internet and on an iPhone. We plan to use www.utterli.com for the barista-generated content (audio, video and pictures). Utterli posts will be automatically posted to the appropriate page on the Web site via an RSS feed that looks for tags on the Utterli posts.

The latest installment of the New Media Update – the video – is now online at http://www.newmediaupdate.net. Check it out.

testing something 123

Stephan Crane

One day I was along the side of a road
All of a sudden, passing me
Were many street merchants
All of them made the same gesture
They made a little sign advertising
That their sewing were of God
Assuming I served the same God

I had to say Wait!
Let me have my own preference
Get yours away from me
I will not buy your God’s creationWhichever ones you serve

NMIX Ideas

1.  Health:  Using an application to monitor caloric intake or offer alternatives for unhealthy foods.

2.  Travel:  Since this is a passion of mine, I like the idea of taking an uploading photos you take on your cell phone.  You can then, through Google Maps, pin that spot.  You can create your on travel journal with photos and even audio.

3.  Sports:  Probably impossible for our class, Fantasy sports is an extremely fast growing industry.  Creating an application so user could get updates on their players would be a program that is in high demand.

touirsm

hey my idea is sort of tourism related. it would be a sort of interactive food/wine tour of the state of georgia (or other places), where users could sort of use a visual aid and search feature to find a vineyard or restaurant that suits their wants and needs and then recommend a food/wine place to pair with what they have gotten on their search. the service would then connect them to reviews, photos, videos and websites about the wineries/restaurants that they choose.

NMIX Idea

*Sorry for posting this late, took me a little while to figure out how to post to this blog.*

As I mentioned in class I would like to focus on the entertainment aspect of the business.  As one who seeks new music and live outlets I often find myself wishing there was forum with everything happening here in Athens.   Something like an application on face book, or site that was accessible with your mobile device where all the local music acts would be playing, when tickets go on sale & ticket price, and perhaps a mini-biography of the artist.  Also it would be advantageous if there was a way for local musicians to upload their music, where listeners could listen and rate their music.  This way the application could recommend the more popular local artist, and highlight artist music that will be playing in town.  Offering local venues a way to promote directly to the fans of these artist in a town of vast musical talent. 

Brandon Smith - Idea

Brandon Smith

Entertainment (Mobile, GPS, MMS, photo/video)

I suggested combining several existing mobile features to better serve users. This function would utilize the GPS and MMS systems of cellphones to identify the location a picture or video was taken and when uploading these files to a computer or internet site such as Flicker, then having a map representation of the locations. In addition, using a calendar system such as Google Calendar, this interface could name the file depending on an event that is taking place. For instance, if you are at a friend's birthday party and you have this event listed on your calendar, then you take a picture, the file would be named in association with the event.

The current GPS and photo system only locates the spot that you upload the picture from. So, if you take a photo in Atlanta and are unable to upload it until you get back to Athens, then the file will be marked as Athens. This is a disadvantage that should be corrected.

Furthermore, accessibility across carriers and cellphones should be a priority! In the future, this could potentially be extended to digital cameras, given the GPS system reaches that piece of technology.

Brandon Smith

Ivy Chang

Finance

My idea to build a site or application that could keep track of your budget on a monthly or bi-weekly basis.  Let's say you have a budget of $200 a month.  The application will help you find the cheapest places to find gas, restaurants (promotional menu items, buy one get one free, etc), groceries, entertainment venues that could help you save money.  There are websites that list cheap gas or restaurants,  but my idea is to help you save and have all these listings available when you set your budget without you having to search multiple websites & do calculations yourself.

Awareness

The more ambitious project was awareness for human trafficking.  Maybe using a means of Mobile TV to share the information.  Trafficking victims are used for prostitution, domestic services, mail-order brides, and low wage labor in agricultural settings.  You would be surprised to know that Gwinnett County is actually top in sex trafficking.   For more information visit these sites.

• Norcross man charged for Sex Trafficking
  
• Lilburn: 3 men charged with human trafficking
  
• Norcross: 5 men charged in human trafficking of 10 young women
  
• Chipotle
  
• Chipotle #2
  

Anna Rodriguez

My first idea was about controlling impulsive spending - you could text a certain dollar amt., and you'd get texted back some better spending alternatives (maybe personalized results, depending on online shopping habits), or remind you that you only have $X left to save until you can buy a new TV.

OK but after class I was thinking about how I wish I had a mobile inventory of my wardrobe a) so that while I'm shopping I don't buy what I already have and b) see what I don't have and c) make up new outfits. The way to do this might be to take a picture of each article of clothing/pair of shoes/accessory and tag each pic with what it is and different attributes, and it could be a flickr-type stream online. Or an app, or something else.

Whitney Skeeters Idea

Hey - sorry this is a little late, I had some trouble logging on.

News

My idea was to develop a program or an assortment of templates for smaller publications (especially magazines) to use to put their stuff on the internet and make it accessible to smart phones. Something that was real simple that editors (who often don't have much tech experience) could use to easily make their stuff accessible all over.  Example: Athens Magazine could be read by someone who was about to take a trip here, or Infusion magazine could be read by a student who is thinking about coming to UGA.

Whitney Skeeters

Lauren Montero

Environment.

My idea was to create a phone application that could scan the bar code of different items at the grocery store and the application would tell you the product's "eco score". This score would include factors such as packaging, distance traveled, and the sustainability of the company. This application would allow shoppers who want to live a green life to make smart purchasing decisions with a click of a button.

Brittani Watkins

My first idea was the Cabbie Call system that would enable a one touch digital voice message stating your current location using GPS technology to send a cab to pick you up.

My second idea was the Smart Talk system that would route calls through a website like searchbug.com in which it would alert you of what network the caller is with as they call.