Traveling Geeks

Archive for 'United Kingdom'

Redefining Digital Inclusion

by Renee Blodgett on July 6, 2009 at 9:18 am

We met with Tristan Wilkinson this morning at Savoy Place in London. Tristan, who is Intel’s Director for Public Sector for Intel EMEA, wears many hats and has several interests.

Below Tristan with Perveen Akhtar, Intel UK PR Manager

He tells us about a program called One Goal which will be launched in August and piggyback off the South African World Cup. The goal is to get 30 million online signatures in an effort to help make poverty history. Take note: 75 million children still don’t have access to primary school education in the world.

Tristan asks, “do those that enjoy the benefits of technology have a moral right over those who don’t? If you don’t have access, you’re missing so much.” He adds,”for example, when did a blue collar worker need access to the Internet and many of these tools simply to get a job? It’s particularly important in this economic climate.”

He talks about the broken education system where we’re still assessed by written exams, rather than an interactive system that allows students to exchange ideas and use technology to learn.

Essentially you’ve got a 21st century learner in a 19th century environment and the two are starting to cancel each other out. And, what are the other things that allow these technology tools to be unleashed? We have to figure out a way to embrace and value informal learning, such as self-study.

The thread is one that isn’t a new one: the digital divide, largely an economic one, however it’s beyond a financial issue, it’s also attitude; attitude among teachers and among parents.

Parents have learned about the perils of Internet use but haven’t necessarily learned about about the value that it can bring to their child’s life, particularly in the classroom.

Robert Scoble asserts that the change will come from the kids, not from top down. And, adds that it’s not about the technology or being able to afford it, it’s about lack of knowledge and education – what’s out there? what tools can help me find a better job? go to a better school?

We discuss key drivers. If success and nirvana is a digitally educated population, we shouldn’t have to wait twenty years for people to catch up to embrace these changes…with technology change accelerating at such a dramatic rate, there needs to be an effort to bring those who are being left behind forward.

Tristan asserts that the problems are very fragmented and that there needs to be a more concerted effort to bring groups like us together to take action.

Sky adds, “the best thing that educators can do is to be totally open to the new devices that already have some of these services embedded….but we have legislation.” Robert has become demoralized and is one of the reasons he doesn’t get involved in this debate regularly.

We also discuss the role of the press….how do the press educate parents and educators and what form it takes. “It’s not that my children are going to get online and be stalked but that if they don’t get online and learn how to use these new technologies, they won’t get jobs, they will be left behind. Parents need to understand that the jobs of the future are going to require them to support their kids to learn how to use technology. There may not be any public or private funds for it but the change needs to happen.

We need to redefine Digital Inclusion. The definition of digital inclusion today is basic access. It doesn’t include basic skills such as understanding some of the technology and social media schools to network and make friends not just locally for globally. It increases their job and life opportunities significantly.

It’s time to move that definition beyond simple access. We need a new definition that policy makers, technology creators, parents, and educators can rally around. There will be a revolution when more and more students get their hands on some of these devices and start using them in the classroom.

My Traveling Geeks Meme: WDYDWYD?

by Susan Bratton on July 6, 2009 at 6:38 am

I am an enabler, helping others be successful through business education and personal relationships.

Why Do You Do What You Do?

It’s a sweetly simple question that whaps you backside your head when you actually think about the ramifications of it.

Why DO you do what you do?

Do you know?

This week, all through London and Cambridge, I’m meeting with super powers like Nokia, BT, Microsoft and a raft of early-stage technology innovators like Playfish, Digitrad, Weeworld…the list goes on. I will be blogging about the companies that I think are the most interesting to DishyMix readers. But you know me, it’s the people that matter to me more than the technology.

Tonight at the TweetUp, a very nice young man came up to me and told me his name and company concept and said, “who here from the Traveling Geeks would I benefit most from meeting if I’m looking for funding and feedback on my business model?” Now that’s true entrepreneur, showing up and trying to deliver on his pre-ordained outcomes for the event. I bet he will be successful.

It’s that drive. That laser focus. The determination to make something happen that is an addictive part of the technology business. If you’ve ever listened to one of my DishyMix Podcasts, you know that I spend as much time getting to know the person behind the company as I do talking about business.

DishyMix: Success Secrets from Famous Media and Internet Business Executives

It’s that essence of the person, what makes them uniquely talented, that I love to articulate for you. So this week, I’ll be doing it via a series of blog posts and Twitters ala Tony Deifell, a Burning Man friend who invented this WDYDWYD? meme.

Let me know if you like it. It’s my first time trying outside the Playa.

This is the first in the series, of Jeff Saperstein, of the Traveling Geeks.

Jeff, explaining why he does what he does.

Digitrad Launches Yes.tel, Digital Business Card Service

by Renee Blodgett on July 5, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Digitrad, a company specializing in unified communications, launched Yes.tel today in the U.S. Yes.tel provides instant access to a person’s contact information from any PC or mobile device.

Using one user-friendly platform to manage a multitude of digital identities, consumers can seamlessly access and update their personal information consolidated into one domain from their laptop, desktop or their mobile phone.

A subscriber based service, costing $19.99 annually, Yes.tel allows registrants to select a user .tel name of their choice, which includes a local phone number with a unified voicemail, an integrated email re-direction system, anti-spam and antivirus services.

Yes.tel user records are consolidated and stored within an information-encrypted Domain Name Server (DNS), allowing a certain level of access to the public. Once a user registers a domain and distributes it to friends, family and colleagues, other users will be able to look-up the domain and have full access to all of the information associated with that domain, which will be immediately re-directed to the device and saved.

Disclosure: Digitrad is a sponsor of the Traveling Geeks blogging tour to London.

JD Lasica and Susan Bratton in a London Cab Leaving the TweetUp

by Susan Bratton on July 5, 2009 at 7:56 pm

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

Howard Rheingold and Susan Bratton at the London TweetUp #TG2009

by Susan Bratton on July 5, 2009 at 6:22 pm

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

Traveling Geeks TweetUp a Success!

by Susan Bratton on July 5, 2009 at 4:44 pm

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

Joe Neale aka @Joe from Symbian at the London TweetUp #TG2009

by Susan Bratton on July 5, 2009 at 4:00 pm

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

Megan Asha and Craig Newmark, Two of The Traveling Geeks

by Susan Bratton on July 5, 2009 at 3:13 pm

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

Fish and Chips – Yah, I’m a Tourist

by Susan Bratton on July 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

This Week SVW Is In London And Cambridge

by Tom Foremski on July 5, 2009 at 2:49 pm

This week I’ll be in London and Cambridge as part of the Traveling Geeks tour. We’ll be meeting with various UK companies and organizations.

I’m particularly interested in the startup culture here in the UK and how it differs from Silicon Valley. I’m always looking for what makes Silicon Valley different from anywhere else and why it is so difficult to create Silicon Valley-like regions around the world.

Clearly, to create a sustainable center of innovation it takes more than building a business park around a university and injecting some startup capital. The answer must lie in the culture of Silicon Valley. But can that culture be exported? Do regional innovation centers have unique cultures specific to their particular brand of innovation?

Maybe I can find out some answers during this trip.

Also, I’ll be posting about some of the companies and personalities I meet during this trip. So please check back regularly. Also, you can follow my colleagues on the Traveling Geeks website and Twitter — and if you get a chance, join us at some of the open evening events. Here is our agenda.

Here is a brief overview. We’ll be at…

A NESTA-sponsored conference about moving forward in the new economy, a U.S./U.K. Speed Date with Seed Camp Winners and UK Leaders; eConsultancy Innovator’s Open Discussion; the TechCrunch Europa Awards; University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School Roundtable on Open Innovation; as well as meetings with Nokia Labs, Microsoft Labs, East of England International, Skype and others.

The blhttpoggers will also be speaking and participating at a Reboot Britain event and the Guardian’s first Media Talk Live event, as well as organizing a TweetUp in central London on the evening of July 5, 2009, which is being sponsored by NESTA and The Conversation Group.

My Twitter is: http://twitter.com/tomforemski

My Friendfeed is: http://friendfeed.com/tomforemski

Twitter hashtag for the trip is #tg2009

Fellow Traveling Geeks:

Robert Scoble

Robert needs no introduction. He is a social media factory!

Blog: Scobleizer.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/scobleizer

Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/scobleizer

Craig Newmark

The Craig in Craigslist and a one-man support machine that rivals a dozen call centers.

Blog: cnewmark.com