– Posted using MobyPicture.com
Rocketboom Deck Check
Creative Kenyatta Cheese and super talent Ellie Rountree took me and my Intel pal Kiesha westside overlooking the Hudson from Rocketboom’s new studios 15 floors high in the New York sky.
Ellie and Kenyatta gave us a spirited tour behind the scenes of Rocketboom, Know Your Meme and Rocketboom Tech.
Later, online video mastermind Andrew Baron joined us. He and Ellie cooked up an idea with me and my Intel team back in 2008 to create a innovation segment that became known as Rocketboom Tech, sponsored by Intel since early 2009. Here’s the some of the side stories from the show on the Rocketboom Tech Tumblr blog.
The show focuses on consumer tech innovations and innovative people using technology in amazing ways.
– Posted using MobyPicture.com
Amalfi and Capri, Italy 2010
Here is a collection of Amalfi coast “being there” YouTube video clips and photos in slideshow from Flickr.
For our 10th wedding anniversary, my wife and kids revisited familiar sacred and new places from Rome down to Calabria, Italy.
I created a PearlTree collection of sites that we explored while planning our trip — this mostly looks at Umbria and Amalfi Coat. We arrived by rented car at the seaside, cliff nestled city of Amalfi. We stayed at the Amalfi Hotel (here is my Trip Advisor review on Digg), where the we had a killer room with a balcony view out to the Duomo. Here’s an excerpt on the Duomo from Wikipedia
At the top of a staircase, Saint Andrew’s Cathedral (Duomo) overlooks the Piazza Duomo, the heart of Amalfi. The cathedral dates back to the 11th century; its interior is adorned in the late Baroque style with a nave and two aisles divided by 20 columns.
The gold caisson ceiling has four large paintings by Andrea d’Aste. They depict the flagellation of Saint Andrew, the miracle of Manna, the crucifixion of Saint Andrew and the Saint on the cross. From the left hand nave there is a flight of stairs which leads to the crypt. These stairs were built in 1203 for Cardinal Pietro Capuano, who, on 18 May 1208, brought Saint Andrew’s remains to the cathedral from Constantinople.
The bronze statue of Saint Andrew in the cathedral was sculpted by Michelangelo Naccherino, a pupil of Michelangelo; also present are Pietro Bernini marble sculptures of St. Stephen and St. Lawrence.
In 1206 Saint Andrew‘s relics were brought to Amalfi from Constantinople by the Pietro Capuano following the Sack of Constantinople (an event of the 4th Crusade) after the completion of the town’s cathedral.[4] The cathedral contains a tomb in its crypt that it maintains still holds a portion of the relics of the apostle. A golden reliquary which originally housed his skull and another one used for processions through Amalfi on holy days can also be seen.
Amalfi is easy going and not over luxurious. It is authentic and picturesque and remarkably squeezed into sky-reaching cliffs yet port-side so you can easily ferry north to Positano, Sorrento and the magical island of Capri. And if you can, visit nearby Ravello.
The ferry from Amalfi to Capri is not expense or cheap — around $25 per person — but it’s spectacular! One of the mose memorable views is pulling into spectaluar, colorful Positano.
On the ferry, a cultured tour guide asked if we’d join his group of families and couples on a relaxing, but extensive tour up from the port to Capri then climb up, across the Mamma Mia cliff-haning narrow road to Anacapri. This was the best decision, as we were traveling under the hot sun with two children. We did have time afterward to take a cruise around the whole island (highly recommended) but we decided to people watch at the port = good choice! We got to take in the real beauty and bustle — comings and goings — of the island as young gorgeous women and loving couples strolled by without a care in the world.
Now to the eye candy I capture:
Amalfi and Capril Italy 2010 , posted with vodpod
Vodpod videos no longer available.
The Intel Reader – Accessories, Anecdotes
This is a video I shot with a great guy, Ben Foss, from Intel’s Digital Health Group. I also edited a shorter version here.
Ben invited me to his and gave me a first-hand look at the The Intel Reader,which takes pictures of text and read it aloud.
It’s designed to provide access to printed text for people with dyslexia, low vision or blindness.
Intel’s Digital Health Group researched and designed the mobile Intel Reader, which is built on the Intel Atom processor and run on the Moblin operating system.
I got to attend the San Francisco briefing today, where I got to see a few great tech writers from sites like VentureBeat, Ubergizmo, TechPulse360 and SiliconValleyWatcher.
During the briefing, Ben showed the first prototype design, so I shot this photo showing the idea evolve into reality – and a set of photos here.
My take: it’s interesting to learn about the blend of people and technology research that went into making the device. It is purpose built and intended to assist people who have trouble reading text. The ability to “on-the-spot” snap a photo of a newspaper, magazine or voter booklet and have the text read back to you slow or super fast is amazing.
And the fact that you can create a collection of documents and mp3 audio files for sharing (appropirately, not for commercial uses) makes this device ripe for our times.
I think it will help bring together young and older people who need help reading text — people with dyslexia, weak eye sight or other forms of blindness.
Fast Brain Life for Wiseman Jeremiah Owyang
Friend and Forester Researcher Jeremiah Owyang sits down with Intel Insider Sarah Austin and shares his daily routine, ambitions, amazement and travel wishes.
Last week, Jeremiah gave me a quick shot out (I’m not worthy!) in this Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal story that offers even more insight into what keeps the social computing wiseman movin’ ahead of things.
VIDEO: Race Down Spiral Streets of Tiriolo, Calabria
In March, on another cultural quest to visit towns throughout Calabria, we went to the top of Tiriolo, which overlooks two seas — the Tyrrhenian to the west and Ionian to the south and east. Our first stop was at Restaurante Due Mari for a hearty lunch with views of both seas. Then we used our new, TheFlip video cam (super small, easy to use and makes nice quality) created a video as we raced down the spiral streets down to the piazza, where we had a coffee before visiting the church. It is a quiet town with beautiful sweeping views and amazing colors.
Here’s a collection of photos.
Hey, Mom…I’m on GlobalNeighbourhoods.TV!
I’ve spent most of my career behind the scenes helping others get in the the groove for appearing on TV and radio. When it makes sense…I’ll step in front of the camera and share things I know. So after helping Shel Israel get time for a video interview with Intel CEO Paul Otellini, my Intel pal Laura and I got to spend time with Shel showing him the Intel Museum and sharing some of our favorite stories about Intel…the 40 year old company that’s still a disrupter, still bustin’ out innovation from every core.
Shel wanted to learn from Paul if internal blogging was having any change agent impact inside Intel. He learned that it was, and we got to hear Paul share some personal stories — past and visionary — about the evolutionary impact of new technology on human communication. From the days before companies had computers, faxes, even phones…to the unleashing yet connected work-lifestyle brought on by laptop computers. What’s next? The 3-D virtual worlds where people and things can interact together from almost anywhere, anytime. Paul was really into the conversation, and inspiring!
What I wanted to do wanted that day? To get to know Shel better, and champion the grassroots social media activities of some great Intel pioneers like Josh Bancroft…and to share the groundswell momentum today we see as more employees are participating with social media and social networking. And we’re all — pioneers and newbies — still learning tons and sharing nuggets of knowledge with our growing social media posse every day (a recent post and some photos of my Social Media Posse).
Several years ago, when I first started hearing about blogging, someone pointed me to Shel Israel’s site. I immediately enjoyed the topics he covered with wit, insight and a conversational style. Then I had the pleasure of attending a social media session in 2007 hosted at SAP — that’s where I first got to meet Shel. I kept checking into his blog every once in a while and was curious when he started his SAP Global Survey about the use of social media around the world (see Shel on “Marketing Voices” with PodTech’s Jennifer Jones). Note to self: submit my answers to the survey!!
I was unable to embed the videos here, but click this link to Shel’s post where you can watch the first three videos he produced for the new FastCompany.TV.
Shel describes his Intel segment like this:
If you think of the universe of technology—and for that matter-social media, Intel seems to be constantly at the center of it. The devices we use, what we see on them, the companies that provide them, almost completely depend upon Intel for the processing power needed to make it work.
I spent some time with Paul Otellini, who became Intel CEO, after moving up the ranks for 30 years, and with Ken Kaplan, one of Intel’s most passionate social media enthusiasts.
This clip will give you some idea of how Intel is using social media internally and at least a hint of where Otellini thinks it will go during his daughter’s lifetime.
March Sunset from La Terrazza in Pizzo, Calabria 1
March Sunset in Pizzo, Calabria 1, originally uploaded by KenEKaplan.
Marzo e pazzo. March is crazy in Italy — spectacular days followed by bluster winds. Misty mornings that stay hazy all day with sun sliding through slivers of cracked gray cloud cover. A sunrise that paints everything yellow from the sea to the cliff hanging old city of Pizzo. It’s about unbridled change and the mystery the moves the cosmos.
In March we leap ahead one hour — now that’s progressive. And March is the birth month some of the craziest, other worldly, creative, spirited, intelligent people I know: my wife, dad, father-in-law…
Then March closes with an uplifting sent of spring, mustard and fruit tree blossoms…and my own birthday.
See more photos of the sun dropping into the Tyrrhenian Sea, while the island of Stromboli slumbers, smoking above the watertop horizon.
Movin' Ahead 