A blog on Life, Love & The Pursuit of Techyness
There are tons of videos out there with statistics on Social Media – and I understand why – with the number of people who seem to still be opposed to this revolution, the creators of these videos have to keep pushing out new content in order to bring a few more to the “dark side.”
How do you teach people about social media and “why” they should pay attention?
Augmented Reality combines the real world (what you see around you) with a virtual environment and allows you to interact with what you see in real-time. Data about what’s around you (houses for sale, restaurants, etc.) are displayed as an additional layer and you can interact with the information. Check out this example via Layar, an augmented reality browser for mobile devices.
These interactive, 3D maps that display information based on your location have a variety of uses as they continue to evolve and expand:
Anyone else have examples of Augmented reality and mashups?
What is a Mashup, Anyway?
This past Thursday evening, I was giving a presentation on how technology/the web has advanced since the “PC era” and how we got to this age of Twitter, Facebook, Cloud Computing and awesome mobile applications.
During this presentation, a member of the group asked me to explain what a mashup was (because it was on my slide) and thankfully I had a URL (padmapper.com) coupled with a funny story (the developer and I became email pen pals when I asked him to add a new city to the app so my friend could find an apartment) on hand — but it made me realize that to a majority of the population, it’s pretty confusing.
A Mashup combines multiple sources of information and displays it in a single web page or application. The easiest (and sometimes most useful!) example mashes together GoogleMaps and something else.
Plan a wine tour (saves a lot of Googling) with Wines and Times. Find where you live (or where you want to go) and see what’s around so you can start sniffing, swirling, and tasting some vino.
Track your package as it’s moves across the map. BoxOh: Type in your tracking number and watch your package travel from it’s origin to it’s destination (you!). Mashes together FedEx/UPS/USPS data and GoogleMaps.
Find Free Internet in your city with HotSpotr: Mashes together a list of free WiFi hotspots and displays over GoogleMaps.
Techyness turns 24, and celebrates it with a cross-country move.
I must have some sense of twisted sense of congratulatory celebration, as my moving date happens to fall on the same day as my 24th birthday.
Hopefully this move won’t include similar stories from my last move — movers who asked me if I wanted to “party” later or go hit up the bar across the street — #professionalismfail.
If you’d like to follow my move and the crazy stories that happen, you can see them come through on Twitter with the hashtag #alanasmove2010.
Which brings me to my next point – when you’re moving, and people come and take away all your stuff, what are you left with?
It’s you, your gadgets, and a suitcase – usually hanging out in a corner, like me.
We tend to trust people with many items that we own, but refuse to hand over the gadgetry. I know I’m one of those crazies going through security with two laptops.
So, these crazy sneaks, developed by Ricardo Nascimento and Tiago Martins, use the Twitter platform to ACTUALLY tweet every breath/step you take (tthanks sting)
Are they being serious?
Basically, it’s making fun of us for posting “every step we take” on twitter, foursquare, and the various other places we share details of our lives. (yes, I’m guilty too…)
How does it work?
A sensor embedded under the sole detects when the wearer is walking. Then, the info is sent via bluetooth to a mobile phone that makes the postings on Twitter.
When the sensor detects a certain amount of pressure, the word “step” is posted. For the other moments the “.” symbol is posted. Following these postings one can know if the wearer is walking or not and also predict his speed.
What’s next?
Look for continued integration of technology and our physical “stuff” (clothes, shoes, etc.) Most of what we buy now is designed to “integrate” with our devices (think iPhone, blackberry pockets), but as component costs continue to decrease, people are going to have more fun experimenting…
To follow Rambler on twitter: http://twitter.com/ramblershoes
2) BRAND BRAND BRAND
3) Buy a Domain & Hosting
So you want to buy a gadget, or something techy for that special someone in your life? How about taking a romantic twist on a gift?
For the past few years, I have taken on a new role… gift consultant. Sure, you might ask, how are you qualified? Maybe it’s because I watch a lot of movies, have a strong imagination, or just because I’m a hopeless romantic.
First, I’ll take you through a few Valentine’s Day gift scenarios I have passed along to close friends. I hope you’ll find some inspiration… but please leave a comment with your suggestions on cute and romantic gifts you have done for someone on Valentine’s Day.
Gift Scenario 1: Girlfriend likes to cook. Boyfriend would like to continue this hobby.
Outcome: Boyfriend purchased an apron from Williams-Sonoma ($19) in girlfriend’s favorite color along with some cooking supplies. Sounds normal right? Take it up the extra notch by writing a note and having it embroidered on the bottom of the apron. LOVE.
Online Tools: I would recommend having the apron embroidered locally. But if you want something embroidered that is “standard” you can order it from any online embroidery website.
Gift Scenario 2: Girlfriend wants a dog and something from Tiffany. Boyfriend does not want to buy her a dog.
Outcome: Boyfriend purchases the same dog that girlfriend wants, but a stuffed animal dog, and puts the Tiffany necklace around it’s neck. Then puts it in a box with holes in it. done.
Online Tools: Stuffed Animal World has many varieties of stuffed animals (you could guess) but the dogs from Douglas Cuddle Toy (weird name) are great.
Gift Scenario 3: Girlfriend wants a digital camera. Boyfriend buys digital camera. Gift consultant (me) recommends making it a little more romantic.
Outcome: Camera is purchased. Boyfriend takes camera out of the box and charges it without disrupting the packaging. Boyfriend takes photos of clues that lead to each other and finally ends at something romantic (roses, dinner, etc.). Another suggestion is to have photos of boyfriend holding up cards saying “I love you” on the camera, so when she turns the camera on, they are there!
Of course, the inspiration for this was Love Actually, with the cards…
please share your ideas in the comments! What gifts have you passed along to someone you <3? What are your valentine’s day plans?
Gadgets Matter 
Some believe that technology is better left at home while one is attending formal events.
But what about gadgets that define elegance?
While at a black tie event in Baltimore over the weekend (and trying to stuff gadgets into my small clutch) I realized that having elegant gadgets are part of the overall “look” at one of these events (have you ever seen someone reach into their bag and reveal an old school camera or cell?)
1) Keep it Clean. We use our gadgets and they can get dirty. We drop them. We run them over with our cars. We spill coffee on them. Keep them clean with disposable electronics wipes and a simple eyeglass cloth.
2) Pocket-Sized Everything. Small gadgets are more elegant. Plus, they fit in your purse. I like the small cameras from Canon (I like the all-black ones) and anything imported from Japan.
3) Covers should be Tame. Take off that leopard print or zebra cover unless it matches your dress (yikes). Instead, stick with the classic, simple look.
4) Ringtones should be silenced. It’s not a good idea to have JT’s “Sexy Back” or Kiesha’s ”Tik Tok” blast from your cell in the middle of dinner or a conversation with your date’s boss. Keep it classy.
5) Focus on the Event. The gadgets are there to keep digital memories (live streaming, digital photos, twitter and foursquare updates) of your event. But what’s really important is that you’re there and enjoying it. Your gadgets should add to the event, not take you away from it.
Over the past two weeks, I feel like my life has been one big blur where I move from car -> airport -> airport -> home -> airport -> houston?
It is during times like these where it is best to collect points: Airline Points, Hotel Points, Rental Car Points, and Foursquare points.
What is it? Foursquare is part game, part social networking, part GPS. Combine them all together and you have an application (apps for iPhone, Android & Blackberry) that allows you to “check in” at a certain location, give short (tweet-like) tips, all while earning points and location-based badges.
Badges.. I don’t want no stinkin’ badges..
Oh, but you do! Especially when organizations, non-profits, and local businesses get involved and come up with fun ideas like the City of San Francisco, who partnered with foursquare to launch the “BART Badge.”
According to Bart.gov, the BART-themed badge that can be unlocked by regular riders of BART, which provides train service in the San Francisco Bay Area. BART will award $25 promotional tickets each month for the next three months to riders chosen at random from all the riders who have logged Foursquare check-ins at BART stations, starting in November.
So, you’re probably wondering why I am new to this whole foursquare business. Well…
(a) my previous phone was not “App-Friendly”
(b) I didn’t “get” it
(c) Until recently, it was only open to certain cities (Foursquare is completely open now)
In case you’re not convinced, foursquare and geosocial networking sites has been mentioned as a “top trend” for what’s going to be big in 2010.
Take pictures instead of listening to bad hold music.
[It's about that time when you may be on hold... trying to return that holiday gift, or even trying to figure out how it works. So, kids, this one's for you. ]
There’s nothing worse than being on hold.
Maybe you’re on your iphone/droid/blackberry (stranded without a headset) so you’re holding the thing to your hear for an hour, listening to some terrible music on repeat <— I’m THAT girl.
Maybe you’re at home on an old-school phone with a cord and can’t move from your current position (how did anyone ever do anything!?)
Or maybe you’re at work, trying to take care of some business while on your lunch break, and you’re still on hold and 1:00 is approaching rapidly.
Regardless of whatever situation you find yourself in, telephone “menus” are a true non-value added experience. Sometimes you hit the wrong button or find yourself in the wrong place.
Usually, if you want to get connected to a “human,” you hit 0… but this is not always the case, so I’ve used GetHuman for those key commands that will route you to a real life person (shocking I know, how did you ever live without it!!) For example, if you’re calling GE Money bank (shoutout) .. according to Get Human you would, “Press 1, then don’t press or say anything.”
Another example is PhoneTreeShortcuts.com, where you can find out the shortcuts for various phone menus. But something’s missing with these options…
When I first heard about fonolo, I misspelled it about three different times in Google, but I’m glad that I did. The site transcribes phone menus from many large companies, so you can scan them quickly.
Fonolo uses visual navigation to allow for the most user-friendly experience. You choose where you need to go, and fonolo will automatically dial the number, navigate their menu and then CALL YOUR PHONE. When you answer, you will be connected to your final destination. not bad.
According to Cnet, fonolo also allows you to record these calls (potentially for sending to the Better Business Bureau or other such organizations).
An added bonus– say you’ve been in a major argument with your credit card company (a good example in this economy) for secretly raising the interest rate on your card. This app lets you take notes and organize what happened when, and on what call. So, when that mean lady on the other line asks you for information (and secretly doesn’t think you know it). You’ll be there. ready.
Go show ‘em who’s boss, guys (and girls).