TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

There are 4 major technology events occurring in one location starting on November 27, 2012 and ending on November 29, 2012.  The 4 events are: Government VIDEO EXPO 2012; GovComm12; Enterprise Architecture Conference; and GOVERNMENT INFORMATION and ANALYTICS SUMMIT. It is being held at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.

I am covering it for the Asian Journal USA and will most likely write about most of the new multi-media technologies, both software and hardware, that will be displayed, discussed, and demonstrated in the 4 expo-conferences. These are the technologies utilized by the government agencies including the White House. In fact, as in past conferences, the White House Videographer is delivering one of the Keynote Speeches.  Hope Hall will of course, provide us attending members of the media access to some White House photos and video footages.

The Government VIDEO EXPO is a very interesting and informative event. The  usual attendees are Videographers, Producers, Editors, Graphics and effects Artists, Sound Engineers, Video Engineers, Production Managers, AV Designers, Integrators and installers, Educators and AV and IT professionals.

For the other 3 events, the attendees are mostly Contractors, AV, Media and Systems Engineers, CIOs and CTOs, Enterprise Architects, IT/Network Managers, Procurement Officers, Project and Program Managers and Business Intelligence Analysts.

The Government VIDEO EXPO provides the attendees several Conference Tracks: Final Cut Pro Workshop; Adobe After Effects Workshop; Producer/Director Workshop; Web 3.0 Social Media and Web Video; Adobe Premiere Pro Workshop; Digital Video Production; Advanced Motion Graphics and Visual FX In-Depth; and Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium Workshop.

All of them are very educational and offered for free to credentialed members of the Press like me. Time and human limitations prevent me from attending all so I will select and prioritize as always.

The other conferences offer valuable education and training as well. Topics include: Determining Streaming Bandwidth; Cybersecurity: How to Protect Your Assets; Space, Time, and Technology: The Future of AV; AV Project Management; Future Trends; Secure Remote Monitoring and Management; Information Security and Hardware Hardening for AV; and Basic Room Acoustics for Technology Managers.

Whatever I decide to attend and correspondingly absorb, I will surely share the data, information, knowledge and some of the intelligence gathered. I qualified the intelligence part because some cannot to be shared publicly.  Some are not even commercialized.

The Washington Post’s Mobile Madness

In the month of March every year, basketball aficionados that include President Barack Obama focus their attention to what the media calls “March Madness”.

This is the NCAA tournament where 64 college basketball teams are chosen to compete for the NCAA Championship Crown. These teams are assigned to regional divisions/brackets in the U.S.  Each team is seeded according to how strong a contender is in the region and its possibility for reaching the Sweet 16, the Elite 8, the Final 4 and the Championship.

In last Sunday’s edition of the Washington Post, the paper aptly described what it called the “Mobile Madness”.  Beautifully drawn in a graphic format (See photo) a la “March Madness”, it presented a guide to the path of choosing which Smartphone and/or Tablet should one purchase for use or gift for the holidays in this Digital Age.

The Final Four have been chosen and seeded based on the market share of the contenders whose numbers were provided by the International Data Corporation. 

No. 1 Seed is APPLE with 46.4 percent market share; No.2 Seed is GOOGLE with 44.1 percent; No. 3 is AMAZON with 8.4 percent; and No. 4 Seed is MICROSOFT (Windows) with 0.6 percent.

In Basketball you deal with Field Goals, Free Throws, Assists, Rebounds, Steals and other intangibles. In Mobile Devices, you look at the features that deal with Video, Audio, Gaming, Reading, APPS, Operating System, Hardware and of course, the X-FACTOR.

According to the Washington Post, as I analyze the factors that they have illustrated and featured, you would choose APPLE if you prefer the following: VIDEO – Seamless integration with your TV; AUDIO – Loads of podcasts; GAMING – Never lose a high score; READING – A showcase for the magazines and newspapers; APPS – To be where quality apps launch first; OPERATING SYSTEM – One that’s intuitive and easy to use; HARDWARE – A sleek exterior built with precision; and X-FACTOR – A product that is energy efficient and recyclable.

You would choose GOOGLE if you prefer: VIDEO – Cheap video rentals; AUDIO – Excellent sound quality; GAMING – More types of games and peripherals; READING – The largest selection of free books; APPS – Cool, cutting edge apps; OPERATING SYSTEM – One that’s always up to date; HARDWARE – Many devices to choose from; and X-FACTOR – To customize your device.

You would choose AMAZON if you prefer: VIDEO – Free movie streaming; AUDIO – 89 cent tracks; GAMING – A well-curated list of games; READING – A library that goes with you, no matter which device you use; APPS – Well-curated apps, not having to sift through junks; OPERATING SYSTEM – A super fast Web browser; and X-FACTOR – A shopping mall in the palm of your hand.

Finally, you would choose MICROSOFT (Windows) if you prefer: VIDEO – Nothing more than access to Hulu/Netflix; AUDIO – Free music streaming without Pandora; GAMING – A system with strong gaming roots; READING – You prefer pulp. Better in case you drop it in the tub; APPS – Business apps. Let’s get to work; OPERATING SYSTEM – Something that works well with your P.C.; HARDWARE – Computing power and ability to plug in printers to mobile devices; and X-FACTOR – To make PowerPoint’s from your sofa.

The above is the analysis of the Business Section of the Washington Post of the Mobile Madness as I interpret it.

Depending on your level of comfort, values, and priorities, any of the four choices would be a good one.

According to my barber, the Top 3 Seeds (APPLE, GOOGLE, and AMAZON) are akin to North Carolina, Duke, and Kentucky, not necessarily in that order. MICROSOFT would be the Cinderella team at this point in time. 

But whether in the “Game of Thrones”, in the “Boardwalk Empire”, in the “Newsroom” or in your “Homeland”, you will always remain as the King, Emperor, Anchor, Spymaster and Champion of your mobile device.

Having any of them is like having your own Kingdom dubbed Planet of the Apps connected to the Universe with local knowledge globalized and global ones localized in multimedia formats.

Mobile Madness

Gift Guide for the Digital Age

A few weeks ago, I received my badge and tickets to attend the International CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 6-11, 2013 as a credentialed member of the Press. This is because I am a columnist of Asian Journal USA and a Blogger of Google BlogSpot.

Correspondingly, I have booked my flight and reserved my hotel room. I am now filling out my CES Planner and prioritizing which innovative and new technology companies that are exhibiting I should visit at the conference.

Almost all these companies have a PR representative who issues press releases to the media arranging for meetings with its company’s CEO or to have a hands-on look at their new products. Some even offer sample products for review.

Among the major events at the CES are Digital Health Summit, Silvers Summit, Fitness Tech Summit, HigherEd Tech Summit, and Kids@Play/Mommy Tech Summit. Living in Digital Times (LIDT) whose founder is Robin Raskin produces all these summits. The latter has been reviewing and writing about the most innovative technology and gadgets to hit the market for the past 30 years. 

I plan to meet with Robin Raskin at the CES for a more detailed view of the technology trends but for the holidays and prior to the event, I thought that I should share with you LIDT’s Holiday Gift Guide for the Digital Age.

Through its PR representative Karen Pineman of LKPR, Inc. I obtained permission to publish LIDT’s guide in my column.

Holiday Gift Guide for the Digital Age

Lifestyle Technology Experts at Living in Digital Times Offer Hot Picks for Every Family Member

Digitally Connected Kids 

GeoPalz - The first pedometer for tracking a child’s daily activity. The more steps kids take, the more pedpoints they earn. There are 26 unique designs that kids can trade in for prizes or time in the online arcade. Ages 5-12, $25.00
Wanderful Interactive Storybooks (Wanderful) - Educational storybook apps based on the classic LivingBooks titles, where every word and every page is interactive, enriching the reading experience and engaging kids for hours.  There are six apps in all, $4.99 each.
Tablets - The hottest trend in kids gifts this year. An explosion of durable kid-oriented tablets that offer parental controls and family-friendly content have hit the market. Examples include LeapPad2($99) from LeapFrog, a first tablet for preschoolers, and the Kurio⁷($149.99) from Techno Source, an Android family tablet that allows parents to create up to 8 user profiles with custom settings.  
Apptivity - Have fun while learning.  Apps promote educational and social skills but the interactive features make them a lot of fun to play. Companies such as FingerPrint Digital offer 15 free engaging apps and Scholastic Apps, which offer a variety of book, reading, and gaming apps all under $10.
 
Students’ Campus Cravings
 
IZIP™ Electric Bikes (Currie Technologies) - A cool new alternative for commuting, getting around campus or having fun. A safe, reliable and emission free ride.  $999 and up.
BookRenter™ - Make college a little less expensive. Open an account and let your student rent, buy or sell books with ease, while saving up to 80% off the costs of books at the campus book store.
Sky^TM WiFi Smartpen (Livescribe) – Studying enters the digital age. This smartpen wirelessly records written notes and audio, digitizes the information and sends the notes to an online account.  $170.
AfterShokz™ Sportz M2 w Mic - The next generation of open ear sport headphones. They sit comfortably in front of the ear and use bone conduction technology to keep ears open to ambient noises. Safely keeps co-eds connected to their music and social life while remaining active. $79.95.
 
Mom’s Digital Makeover
 
Samsung Galaxy S® III – Large easy to read screen, great sound and camera makes sharing memories and keeping up with to dos easier than ever. Preloaded AllShare® Play allows content to be sent instantly to friends and groups of devices. From $549.99.
AboutOne – Easily organize a busy family. An online family organizer that automatically organizes, stores, and shares family memories and household paperwork. The go to place to keep families running smoothly. Affordable $5 and $10 monthly plans available.
Agloves Sport - Thicker, warmer touch gloves will touch her heart and let her keeping typing at the same time. Comfortable, snug fit and 10-finger touchscreen functionality. Works on all smartphones and tablets, $25.99.
ZIP™ Wireless Activity Tracker (FitBit) – A boost for the active mom. Tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and syncs stats to computers and select smartphones.  The new Zip™ will encourage mom to set goals and challenge friends, turning everyday life into a social and achievable path to fitness.  $59.95.
 
 
Dads Deserve a Digital Upgrade

Nexus ⁷ - This 12 oz. Android tablet is designed with 32GB of storage, and the ability to connect to most mobile data networks. It’s the perfect on the go companion. From $199.
BodyMedia® FIT - 2013 is the year to get fit.  An on-body monitoring system that consists of the Armband monitor ($149), online Activity Manager ($6.95/month), an optional display and free downloadable apps for mobile device users. The Armbands automatically track the calories burned during daily activities and works as a fitness monitor to measure the intensity of workouts. It also monitors sleep quality. 
WorkFit (Ergotron^®) - An exciting line of sit-stand desks and mounting devices for the wall, ceiling and desk that adapts technology to dads’ physical needs, creating a healthy and comfortable work environment at the office or at home. Wide range of price points. 
vFree Headphones (Velodyne) - Removes the constraints of wired headphones. Velodyne skins offer unique artistic designs and can be easily changed depending on mood or style. Offers Bluetooth connectivity compatible with iPhones, iPod Touchs, and iPads and apt-X® coding for true wireless sound reproduction. $299.
 
 Seniors: Cloud to the Rescue
 
5Star Urgent Response System and Medical Apps (GreatCall) – A personal emergency system to help keep your loved ones feel safe and in touch, even when they’re out and about. Press the button and the service connects you to a GreatCall operator trained to help in emergencies.  Enter your doctor’s name, family members and medical advice into their database and you can rest easier. $49.99 for 5Star device; $14.99/month for service.
PhotoBucket – A great way to keep close. Share your family photos with the whole family. Provides an easy way to upload, edit and share videos and photos from any device.  Free sign-up. Manage remotely to update every occasion.  Costs vary by storage space.
Biscotti™ TV Cam – Check in on loved ones from the comfort of your living room. The sleek, small device is easy to use and turns televisions into a giant, videophone - no computer required. $199.
Netflix - Instantly watch unlimited movies & TV show episodes streaming over the Internet to the TV via most internet connected devices.  Service can be set up and managed remotely. $7.99/month.

New “miracles” at the Sin City! These I have to see! So do you.
 

 

Technology in a Democracy

Ours is a democratic and republican State. Although known as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people we, in fact, directly vote for our President, our Senators and Representatives.

There are some limitations with respect to this right of suffrage such as voter qualifications, registration, and exercising it within a designated period and times.

In Presidential elections, the Electoral College System is used where each State is allocated a number of electoral votes based on population.

While the popular votes are counted, the electoral votes are what really count. Since we follow the winner takes all system, the electoral votes go to the winner in the popular voting in a given State.

In many democratic countries, it usually takes days if not weeks to find out the results of Presidential elections.

In yesterday’s elections, America and the world found out the results as projected by the networks as early as 11:12 p.m. (EST), which is only 12 minutes after the closing of the polls in California and other Western States.

In fact, I wrote in my Facebook status update at 11:03 p.m. election night:

“At 11:03 p.m. 11/6/12: I now project that President Obama wins reelection!”

Then I followed it up later with another Facebook update:

“There is beauty in Mathematics or as former President Bill Clinton said Arithmetic. Since childhood, I was exposed to the value of MDAS - Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction (My Dear Aunt Sally) by my late father; my late Uncle Venancio Maynigo (Mathematics professor); and my late first cousin Jesus Maynigo Casanova and his late wife Luz (both my Arithmetic teachers).

From them I learned to love and appreciate reading, analyzing and interpreting numbers. I also loved hearing stories as told by the numbers. Last night, as I analyzed the numbers reported by CNN's John King, NBC's Chuck Todd, and other sources, I was tempted to project Obama's victory at 10:13 p.m. but resisted it. I thought that I should at least wait for the closing of the polls at the most populous State of California (55 electoral votes). 

In a status update here on Facebook, I am very proud to have projected Obama's re-election at 11:03 p.m. last night. NBC News projected the same at 11:12 p.m. - the first among all networks. 

We've got the numbers! We knew how to count. Wasn't that nice?”

I also reported how the minorities voted in the 2012 Presidential elections, which was as follows:

Blacks - 93% for Obama; Latino - 71% for Obama; and Asians - 73% for Obama.

Filipinos were counted mostly as Asians; but some could have been easily identified as Latino by their last names and culture; and also some as Blacks by inter-marriage or even by color of skin (tall, DARK, and handsome). :):)

Filipinos can claim victory and credit in so many ways. Isn't that neat?

The numbers really tell good stories. But what makes this really more amazing and exciting is the technology that brought about the numbers and the democratic election stories.

Indeed, the role of digital technology in the democratic processes in the recently held Presidential elections cannot be underestimated and should be greatly appreciated.

Computers were everywhere in the voter registration process. Digital broadcasting and news reporting, blogging, social media through Twitter and Facebook and other forms of cyber communications kept the public informed and updated.

In my last Facebook update on the Presidential elections prior to this column I wrote:

“I did not sleep until I heard Romney's concession and Obama's victory speeches. Listening to both, I went to sleep full of hope. Romney conceded with so much grace in defeat offering prayers for bipartisanship, cooperation and less bickering in solving the country's economic, social and political problems.

Romney fought a great fight! Together with his wife, Anne, his family, campaign staff, and the Republican base, they ran an efficient, effective, and competent campaign. Although his campaign fell short, he obtained more popular votes than Reagan in 1980 and 1984; more than Bush I (G.H.W.) in 1988; more than Clinton in 1992 and 1996; and more than Bush II (G.W) in 2000. Romney should be proud of such a stunning achievement. Under different circumstances, he could have been President. Fate did not allow it but his Faith and his God must have destined a different role for him.

President Obama plans to sit down with him to discuss what they could do together. Following the Lincoln example, Obama reached out to his political enemies. He did it to Hillary Clinton (and Bill) and to Robert Gates (Defense). I have no doubt that he will reach out and work with Romney.”

Cyber and Information Technology provided me almost instant data regarding the popular votes obtained by Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

RONALD REAGAN:        1980 – 43,903,230; 1984 – 54,455,472

GEORGE H.W. BUSH:      1988 – 48,886,097

BILL CLINTON:              1992 – 44,909,806; 1996 – 47,401,185

GEORGE W. BUSH:          2000 – 50,456,002

The popular votes obtained by Romney as of this writing with some still to come was 56,145,950.