About Us
Traveling Geeks is a consortium of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, authors, journalists, bloggers, technology innovators and influencers who travel to countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public to educate, share, evaluate, and promote new, innovative technologies. The initiative was founded by Renee Blodgett and Jeff Saperstein in 2008.
Trips are funded by sponsorships from corporations, organizations and governments. The first tour was sponsored by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a trip that successfully marked the proof of concept that could expand to other countries around the world.
Read MoreUK Diary: Monday – A Meeting With Intel’s Government Guy
Monday morning the Traveling Geeks are off to the Reboot Britain conference organized by NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).
But first we have breakfast with Tristan Wilkinson, Intel’s Director for Public Sector for EMEA.
Renee Blodgett:
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.
Mr Wilkinson said he wasn’t much interested in technology but what technology could do for people and for countries in terms of improving the quality of life through better economic opportunities.
Tom Foremski:
He posed an interesting question: Do the people that enjoy the benefits of the digital economy have an obligation to help those that don’t have the same access and skill sets?
UK: Digital Inclusion And The Moral Obligations Towards Tech Education – SiliconValleyWatcher
We discussed the technology divide or was that the wrong divide to consider these days?
Ayelet Noff:
Scoble, part of the TG party, also reiterated the idea which he calls the “Friend Divide” – this is to say that even if you have a computer and are able to get online, you’re still at a major disadvantage to people who have already built a rich network of friends which they can use to get and spread information.
Blonde 2.0 » Blog Archive » Traveling Geeks – On the road in the UK
Interestingly, Mr Wilkinson doesn’t think much about social networks. He says he’d rather be climbing trees with his kids. The TGers gang up on him about this and by the end of the meeting he says he will rejoin Twitter. You can find him @IntelTristran.
He later posts on Twitter: “Reflecting on the day, deciding social networks can’t be ignored any longer.” And he’s kept it up, tweeting 6 times on July 9th. Our work is done.
JD Lasica conducts a quick interview with Mr Wilkinson:
Intel exec on social media literacy from JD Lasica on Vimeo.
UK government terms used differently
Well, I was confused at the start of the Traveling Geeks tour, but have learned a coupla things. This is my (over-simplified) version.
The "government" in the UK is the majority party, who selects ministers including the Prime Minister. It's somewhat analagous to "administration" in the US. (The majority might be a coalition.)
There's no formal transition period in the UK, and far fewer political appointees.
The opposition party maintains as "shadow cabinet" which is ready to replace the existing cabinet immediately.
Feedback appreciated, I'd really like to get this right.
UK Traveling Geeks tour: a (mediocre) slideshow
(Yes, I’ll keep my day job. for photography and writing by serious bloggers and journalists.)
Video: Interview with multiple award winner Spotify at #Europas
This is a re-post from Techcrunch Europe.
As you may well have heard, the big winner at The Europas Awards on Thursday night was Spotify, which won four awards (Best We app, Best New Startup, Best Founder Team and the Grand Prix). Here’s Shakil Khan (the video title is mis-spelt), Spotify’s Consigliere, sharing with writer and author Paul Carr and myself how he felt about winning four awards, including The Europas Grand Prix award:
TechCrunch Europa Awards in London
We were lucky to be in London for this year’s TechCrunch Europa Awards this past week.
Held half in a venue that was separated by a wide hallway (great for networking), one section had a stage set up while the other was dedicated to passing plates of food and a bar.
There were many differences between similar events in Silicon Valley, notably the diversity, the level of enthusiasm and the dedication to staying up all night to celebrate, well after the venue closed its doors.
Outside, people gathered as it was a relatively warm night; cameras were shooting, flips were activated and wine was pouring. (Continue reading this entry…)
UK: Cambridge And Professor Stephen Hawking
It’s been a fascinating and exhausting week on the Traveling Geeks tour. The best part has been our visit to Cambridge, the innovation capital of England. I’ve got lots of material to post from our trip, all this week, so please check back regularly.
One highlight of the trip was on Saturday night. My son Matt and I were looking for a place to eat. We just happened to choose one of the favorite spots for Professor Stephen Hawking. It was a huge honor to be in the same room as Britain’s top scientist.
The photo shows his two blond assistants helping him with his high-tech wheelchair.
A Chat with Moshi Monster’s Michael Acton Smith
A chat with Moshi Monster’s Michael Acton Smith at the offices of Accel Partners in London.
A view from Whitehall
Part of the Traveling Geeks tour.
Millennium Bridge, and St. Paul's in the distance.
A view in Charterhouse Square
Our hotel was adjacent to an old monastery in Charterhouse Square.
The Charterhouse is on the site of a former Carthusian monastery founded in 1371, by Walter de Manny,
on what is now the north side of the square. It was established near a
1348 plague pit, located in the square, which formed the largest mass
grave in London during the Black Death when around half the population died of the plague. Tens of thousands of bodies were buried here. The name is derived as an Anglicisation of La Grande Chartreuse, whose order founded the monastery.
Skype Talks Social Media
Peter Parkes Editor-in-Chief and Neil Dodd, Windows Experience Manager at Skype talk to me about their social media roles in London and beyond.
