Category Archives: Culture

I love having the opportunity to connect with people through social media tools. I’ve reconnected with old friend, built bridges with former acquaintances and stayed in contact with those I see on a more frequent basis. From best friends to networking buddies, we’re all connected through one social network site or another.

A few weeks ago, I thought this would be a great tool to help my brother connect with some of the friends he’s made over the years. Let me tell you a little about big my brother, Peter. He has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic. He can’t speak or communicate beyond a simple nod “yes” or “no”. He’s smart and stubborn, like all men in my family, and has a lot to offer the world, even though his body may limit him most of the time.

My brother and I get together to update Facebook as often as we can. It can be as simple as sharing what he had for dinner or posting the artwork he creates at one of his programs, Creativity Explored. He attends a program each weekday so it’s become an opportunity for communication between his aids and my family. His aids can share if he had a good day or a bad one and what they did so we know to ask Peter the right questions.

Facebook has also allowed for Peter to connect with his friends that have similar limitations. They may never be able to “talk” to one another but they can communicate through their Facebook pages and the person managing that page. I run everything by my brother before I post it and we play Farmville together. It’s not perfect but has opened so many communication doors. It has even inspired my brother to be interested in his communications device that he’s long given up on because it’s a challenge to learn to use. Bringing that enthusiasm into that challenge was difficult but Peter’s activities on Facebook presented and opportunity to reintroduce the idea.

My brother has 17 friends on Facebook. If this were a numbers race or some kind of client launch, it may not be viewed as a success but what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past few weeks is beyond measurable. There is not measurable ROI beyond the smile on his face when I show him some of the comments on his wall or the pictures posted by a friend. This is where I see the true value of social media: giving a voice to those that didn’t have one before.

*If you’re interested in checking out additional art by my brother and other artists at Creativity Explored, please click here for times/dates of gallery showings in San Francisco”

What follows is a repost of my contribution to Intel’s Inside Scoop blog. As an Intel Insider, I advise the company on new media as well as share my thoughts and views on tech…

CES 2010 is the next stop for all gadget lovers and technologists. In many ways, the holidays and the slower pace that ensues serve as an excuse to recharge so that we may effectively travel the miles of booths featuring new electronics, tech, and consumer products.

It’s overwhelming, wonderful, and an easy way to start my wish list for the holidays next year.

As an Intel Insider, it’s my responsibility to not only stay current with innovation, but also to live and breathe all that inspires the next trends and those that also should have, but didn’t. Technology is part of us now and while living the digital lifestyle was once a prediction, the truth is that we tech is an extension of who we are and what we do.

As the curtains of 2009 draw to a close, I wanted to share some of the tech that propelled me through the year. So while this is less of a top gadget list, I am sharing the very products that I use and rely upon daily.

Beats by Dr. Dre

Bose has dominated the high-end, noise canceling headphone market for quite some time. It would take an unlikely alliance between Monster and Dr. Dre to create a product that rivaled Bose and also delivered the balance fidelity and noise suppression necessary to achieve a satisfying and intimately level of audio ecstasy. In fact, I was introduced to these headphones at CES last year and remain a loyal user.

Canon 5d Mark II

I carry this camera with me practically everywhere I go. In fact, this camera is, by DSLR standards, quite possibly the most incredible camera I’ve used yet – so much so, that I ended up buying a second body.

It captures stunning, detailed images with it’s 21.1 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor featuring a DIGIC 4 Image Processor, a ridiculous ISO Range of 100-6400 (expandable to ISO L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600). The other feature that inspired me to spread my wings is its ability to shoot jaw dropping, dramatic, and absolutely beautiful HD video.

To see samples, please visit my album on Flickr.

RODE Stereo VideoMic

I’m exploring the HD video capabilities with the new Canon 5D Mark II, but one thing I’ve noticed is that the internal microphone doesn’t quite match the level of cinematic beauty recorded by the camera.

After much research, I opted to purchase the Rode Stereo VideoMic to provide portable, studio-quality stereo audio while on the road. It mounts directly on the camera body using the camera-shoe mount. For those shots where you need a bit of distance between the camera and the subjects, I purchased an inexpensive cable extender and mount the mic on a stand closer to the sound source.

The X/Y configuration enables the StereoVideoMic to capture the true ambiance of the recording space, while still offering a high level of rear rejection and low noise. The StereoVideoMic offers 9V battery operation, an LED battery status indicator, high pass filter switch, and a -10dB pad switch.

Dell Adamo XPS

At only 9.99 mm, the Dell Adamo XPS is the thinnest laptop in the world. It’s simply unbelievable. This is by far the most elegant notebook running Windows. The only other laptop in the world that rivals its design is, of course, Apple’s Macbook Air.

The Adamo XPS features a 13.4-inch widescreen HD display, a full-size keyboard that seemingly disappears inside the display when folded, and a one-touch capacitive latch release that unlocks the notebook to unfold simply by sliding your finger.

It features a 1.4GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor, runs Windows 7 flawlessly powered by 4GB 800MHz DDR3 dual-channel memory, and includes a 128GB solid state drive. Note to the potential suitors however, this notebook requires the optional extended battery which offers up to 5 hours in comparison to the sub 2 hour performance with the included slim battery.

iPhone 3GS

The iPhone 3GS is in my opinion, the first iPhone to have everything it should’ve included looking back to the first generation of phones. However, I’ve remained begrudgingly loyal over the years as it is by far the most integrated experience on the market, one that keeps up with me in everything I do, everywhere I go – almost anyway.

I wholeheartedly depend on many of the new features that are now standard in the 3GS such as the faster processor, video camera, internal compass, and also voice control. Now all we have to do is focus on improving the actual “phone” part which is something AT&T will have to address sooner than later.

HyperMac

The Dell Adamo XPS is not the only laptop in my arsenal of content creation devices. I also travel extensively with a Apple Mac Air and a 17-inch Macbook Pro. One of the greatest strengths is also one of the most challenging hurdles. The integrated batteries maximize life however on a longer flight, they’re irreplaceable. Dimming the screen and turning off wifi and Bluetooth only goes so far…I still frequently found myself without power with an hour to spare on coast-to-coast flights (mostly westbound). On international flights, I actually brought two notebooks as a means to ensuring consistent productivity.

Enter the Hypermac, an indispensable solution for keeping Macs online while on the road or in the field. Available in four different models, the Hypermac is essentially an external battery for Macbooks providing anywhere from five to over 20 hours of additional life per charge. I picked up the MBP-100 and it travels with me everywhere I go. One charge, for example, lasted from San Francisco to Frankfurt, 3 hours at the Frankfurt airport and an additional flight from Frankfurt to Stuttgart with room to spare.

Oh, and a bonus for you, it includes a USB port to power any device that can power-up via USB.

Sprint MiFi

I’ve been a vocal supporter and user of USB-attached broadband devices for portable access to the Web. The problem, if there really is a problem with having anywhere, anytime access to the online connectivity, was that the tethered devices drain precious laptop battery life.

Now that MiFi devices are becoming commonplace, do yourself a favor and get one. They are essentially portable wifi hotspots. They provide portable broadband connectivity for up to five PCs, each accessing the device via wifi. The MiFi fits in the palm of your hand and boasts its own internal, rechargeable battery.

If you want to be a popular person at the airport bar, fire it up and offer free access to all of those who buy you a drink!

iMax IMP500

Perhaps by now, it’s become quite clear that I spend a great deal of time travelling. As such, I’m an avid iPhone user, spending as much time talking on the phone as I am sending email and surfing the Web. One thing about the iPhone 3GS that you can count on is that its battery will not make it through the day with constant usage.

So, like the HyperMac for MacBooks, I picked up the iMax IMP500 as a referral from good friend Paul Greenberg. It is an external, high capacity battery that can power an iPhone for days on end. It’s a bit bigger and heavier than the iPhone, but it works. It works extremely well.

Kodak Zi8

When I can’t carry the Canon 5D Mark II around everywhere, I do carry the Kodak Zi8. Similar to the FlipCam HD, the Kodak Zi8 shoots high-definition (HD) video in a highly portable, palm-sized device featuring a pop-out USB dongle to connect content instantly to any PC. The camera includes editing software onboard to edit upon connection. And, I also use my RODE mic when I need to combine excellent video with crisp and audible audio.

Amazon Kindle 2

Say what you will about the new Barnes and Noble book, I still prefer my Amazon Kindle 2, for the time being. Why? Well first off, I was able to get one. Second, the Kindle is already in its second generation, having worked out many of the bugs and hiccups over the years.

The Kindle is thin, light, and ready to download books and blogs almost anywhere there is access to 3G, in and out of the U.S. Now if we could get airlines to amend their no electronics rule for ebook readers during takeoff and landing, I could spend more productive time reading what I want versus what lies in the seat pocket in front of me.

2nd Generation Pogoplug

If you’ve ever contended with a VPN, the idea of plugging in a drive directly to a router and accessing it from anywhere a Web connection is present might seem like fairytale. However, Pogoplug is an incredibly affordable and easy to use device that let’s you access and share the content from an external drive – even a USB drive – over the Web. Think music, movies, files, etc. It’s all there, ready when you are.

Sonos S5

The Sonos S5 is an all-in-one wireless music system. One system. One jukebox. One experience. Now you can play a world of music–from iTunes and the Internet–throughout the house or office. This little box can fill the room with rich sound and warmth. Sound travels from one device to multiple devices without wires. Each system can either play music simultaneously or serve as its own musical hub in each room.

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He used to prance quietly across the hall late at night,
his strides long and his feet barely brushing the soft, white,
Frieze carpet. His open robe would dance behind him – and
sometimes, he would catch the ends of it behind his head and the
wind would open it up like a parachute above him, nearly
swooping him off of his feet and up into the midnight air. He
wanted so badly to ride that wind up and over the railing, where
he could glide down, ever so slowly, for a perfect landing in
the perfect spot – his father’s lap.

He would sit for hours at the edge of the stairs, legs
dangling a few meters above the living room, swaying in time, to
the music of an acoustic guitar. His father never played radio
songs, nothing to sing along to; nonetheless, the sound was
soothing and he loved the way his father’s British accent melted
away the instant melody leapt from his tongue.

If he pressed his head up against the vertical wooden bars
of the railing hard enough, he could sometimes catch a glimpse
of his mother. She would often lie on the floor near his
father’s foot, her long black hair fanned out; eyes closed, lost
inside her head, inhaling every single note and holding them
deep inside her soul until her skin turned a soft purple.

Sometimes smoke would drift up toward the ceiling, catch a
sliver of light just right, and send millions of smoke spirals
across the room, mixing and pushing and dancing infinitely for
an audience of one.

Many nights he would lay back and nestle into the long,
soft, woven yarn. He would picture himself downstairs near his
father’s other foot, inhaling the music just like his mother.
He would slip off to sleep eagerly awaiting the moment when his
father would scoop him up and sing softly to him as he tucked
him back into bed.

***

It was a cold, lonely night. Christmas was only a few
weeks away, so it was possible, he believed, that his mother and
father could still be out shopping. He waited on the couch, but
it was getting late and even his Nanny was sleeping. He began
to doze off…

Soon, people began to flood the streets outside the Dakota.
He could hear screaming and crying and his heart began to race
as he ran around the penthouse calling for his mother and
father. He checked every room and every closet, under every bed
and behind every curtain. He was alone.

Warm tears left trails down his cheeks that sparkled under
the light of the crystal chandelier. It was the kind of image
his father would surely weave into golden vinyl. Instead, with
nobody around to notice, he walked over to the vintage
cathedral-style Philco™ radio that his father treasured, and
switched it on. There was a momentary hum as the tubes warmed
before a very familiar voice sang to him:

“Though I know I’ll never lose affection, for people and
things that went before, I know I’ll often stop and think about
them, in my life, I love you more.”

Photo from Sophie Bell of Thumbplay.com

Six months ago, Ford launched the Fiesta Movement, an ambitious social media program designed to bridge online and real world communities in support of its 2011 Fiesta.

The Ford Fiesta has come to play on the American roads.  In the ultimate foreign exchange program, our 100 agents will spend 6 months behind the wheel of their own Fiesta, lifestreaming their experiences, and completing monthly missions to show you what the Fiesta is all about.

Now, as the Fiesta Movement draws to an end and Ford prepares to preview the 2011 Fiesta at the L.A. Auto Show starting December 4th, a celebration is in order.

To commemorate the movement, Ford is aiming to organize the largest corporate-hosted Tweetup on record and you’re invited.

On December 1st, Ford, CEO Alan Mulally, Head of Social Media Scott Monty, and its Fiesta agents will take over the Hollywood Palladium. Not only will you see a preview of the 2011 Fiesta before everyone attending the auto show, Ford is also treating its guests to a special live performance by Parachute – featuring their hits “She Is Love” and “Under Control” from their debut album Losing Sleep.

The event is free, all you have to do to attend, is RSVP here.

See you in Hollywood!

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