Friday, July 16, 2010

CIVX Beta Lines up advisors and opportunities!

Representing government interests, we have the NYS Senate’s CIO, Andrew Hoppin.  Representing regional and local journalism interests, we have WXXI’s Editor for their  new Local Journalism Center on technology and innovation, Rachel Ward and City Paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Mary Anna Towler.  From the technology sphere we have Tom Callaway, Fedora’s engineering manager.  

The board is already engaging with us in significant ways.  Red Hat/Fedora has given us critical development support and previously donated a server and software to the project.  WXXI has asked the LTL to offer training in CIVX as part of a weeklong workshop they will be hosting for members of NPR’s new Local Journalism Centers across the state.  The New York State Senate has asked us to participate in a Hackathon on August 19th and then participate and present in their daylong technology and government conference CapitolCamp on August 20th.

The full RIT press release has some more info.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Microsoft Humanitarian Competition. Let's build an HFOSS version!

Scientific American has an informative piece on Microsoft's Imagine Cup finals.  It would be great to see a movement toward doing something similar with HFOSS.  Whaddaya say people?

Boston was a Blast!

Wednesday, while the team was driving down, I was touring the Museum of Science and catching up with former student Keith Simmons who's been Technology Manager for the Intel Computer Clubhouse there for about 2 1/2 years.Keith has been rooming with a crew of hacker/maker types, is getting into fabbing and has fantasies about getting a laser cutter :-).  He's involved with a new cool space called Artisan's Asylum and was excited to hear about Interlock up here in Rochester.


Much of Thursday was spent happily hacking at OLPC headquarters.  Much progress was made on OVC, the Python Engine projects and on CIVX.  Check out the OLPC Hackfest photos from Qian.  Some of the crew peeled off for the OLPC Soccer Game at 4:30.  Others joined me for the GAMBIT focus testing fest at their offices just two buildings down from OLPC. If you're in Boston and missed the one this week, there'll be another July 22nd.  Same directions and times apply I believe. We had a great time testing games and Keith was able to join us for that and for Remy's Birthday dinner afterwards.

Friday 10-2:30 was spent with the Gambit crowd.  From 10-11 Philip Tan and I talked about ways in which our two programs could collaborate and I left with a good list of items to pursue in the next few weeks. Then, after catching up on some e-mail, I joined Philip and some of the GAMBIT faculty and students for lunch.  A good crowd of folks and I had a great time.  They may take a road trip up to visit us and ICHEG sometime in the fall.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Looking forward to Boston this Week

Will be winging my way to Boston Weds-Friday for a multi-faceted trip.  Hitting the Boston Science Museum and their Intel Computer Clubhouse Wednesday to catch up with former Rochester Digital Ripple collaborator Keith Simmons.  Then an OLPC visit for a new hackfest with the RIT OVC, Game and Animation engine teams.  Then, to feed the the games side of life off to MIT for Gambit Thursday night and Friday am and then home.