Minnov8

Showcasing Minnesota Technology Innovation

Minnov8 Gang Podcast – Episode 11

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Regardless of your political views, citizen journalism, social media use in activism, and a massive shift in tools for creating video, audio and then self-publishing and distributing it, is fundamentally changing the way political opinions are shaped and one guy is at the epicenter of that trend in Minnesota.

Chuck Olsen is a cofounder of The UpTake, a non-profit dedicated to training and distributing the work of video-based citizen journalists. He is also the founder of Minnesota Stories (soon to relaunch), called one of the best videoblogs by the New York Times. He is the producer-director of “Blogumentary,” the first documentary film about the rise of political and personal blogs. His work has screened at the Walker Art Center, Get Reel Documentary Film Festival, Harvard University, and on renegade laptops all around the world. He is the Minneapolis correspondent for Rocketboom and works as a freelance producer, videographer, editor and educator.

Chuck’s personal blog, Blogumentary, is here.

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Phil Wilson, Garrick Van Buren

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The Podcast

Podcast: Download (Duration: 44:08 — 25.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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Mentioned during this show are:

+ Julio Ojeda-Zapata’s (blog) article in the Pioneer Press that kickstarted Chuck’s notoriety

+ Technology and other links of stuff mentioned includes:

Minnesota Microblogging

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Every day there seems to be an uptick in the number of people who are online and interested in connecting with friends, family, colleagues or others where even a digital relationship might end up as meaningful.

The continued growth of social networks is the strongest indicator of that trend, but the explosion of microblogging is another that bears watching, is worthy of your participation sooner-rather-than-later, as it’s already beginning to shift how early adopters in Minnesota are connecting with one another.

If you’re reading this blog post — whether directly on Minnov8, through an aggregated feed like the one at CentralStandardTech, or a publication we support with our content, MinnPost — you’re already familiar with blogging.

Though blogging is still one of the best ways to connect with people, inexpensively self-publish, create search engine friendly frequently updated content, or be a ‘container’ in which one can place value and position oneself as a a thought leader, good blogging requires significant time and effort in order to build and maintain an audience.

Microblogging, on the other hand, is a method to quickly publish small snippets of commentary or value — usually 140 characters or less that is somewhat like a persistent instant message, public in nature — and is therefore much easier to update when the mood strikes. Add to that the ability to make a brief comment and include a web link URL if so desired (so people can go out and read or view what you’re pointing them to on the Web) allows anyone publishing in this way to have their “followers” or audience quickly read that snippet, comment on it, forward it on, or let it stream by as other content appears from other followed microbloggers.

Minnesotans have embraced microblogging and its promise is that it will help to shift the way we all connect with one another, are alerted to items of interest, and even to collectively be engaged in running commentary like what has been exhibited during the various presidential or vice presidential debates where people were making real-time comments sent over Twitter….  [Read More…]

Science Museum Could Be Minnesota’s Tech Secret

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The Science Museum of Minnesota held another of its Web Seminars on Tuesday, October 7th.  For many, the SMM has become a valuable resource as they seek to get up to speed, learn a new skill, or discover “what all the fuss is about” in the computer world. To others it could very well be a secret.

The SMM houses a Computer Education program that never fails to impress me. I first discovered them about two years ago when I made the decision to merge my traditional media experience with the “new” media world. They offer an incredible array of classes that cover everything from an introduction to computers (Absolutely Terrified of Computers) to network management, HTML, PHP, and a whole host of software training. I’ve found these classes to be concise and very hands on. All taught by incredibly well prepared…and patient…educators at a very reasonable rate.

Throughout the year they host seminars that take on various topics related to web development and design. The topic for this gathering: Refresh Your Pages. Presentations included Maintaining Your Website, PDF Accessibility For All, Benefits of Business Blogging, and Flash at its Finest. These free presentations were made by both SMM staff and guests and, as noted in the photo, attracted a full room of participants. I was particularly interested in the accessibility information as I often find myself short-cutting the process.

I’m always excited to see who shows up at these events. I always know a few faces from the world of tech, marketing, and project management but I also meet plenty of full and part-time designers there to pick up a tip or two. The best part; there are always new faces, people I don’t see at the many tech related gatherings I attend, who are just entering the online world. The guest presenters are also people I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting at other conferences. Getting to know all of them is always very heartening, because more people teaching and more people learning means more people participating online. And that means more opportunities for Minnesota innovation to proliferate.

2008 Investor Fraud Traps

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Whether you’re an angel investor listening to startup pitches or an innovator considering funding sources, now is a time to be extra careful with anything related to money, credit, lending or capital of any kind — especially if you’re a participant in a social or affinity network or if you’re transparent with your blog and other online participation (which give scammers lots of ammo to use to pitch you).

The Minnesota Department of Commerce just released this 2008 Investor Fraud Traps listing (in alphabetical order) and offer it as a warning:

Deficient Disclosure: The recent investigations by state securities regulators related to auction-rate securities (ARS) have reinforced that investors should remain cautious when pitched complex investment products accompanied by deficient disclosures or when advised to concentrate their investments too heavily in one investment product. It is best to avoid investment pitches that would lead you to put all of your eggs in one basket, especially if it’s a basket you don’t fully understand.

Energy Scams: The substantial increase in energy costs has made scams related to energy more prevalent. State and provincial securities regulators are seeing not only shady oil and gas investments, but also scams that promise the development of new technologies to increase the efficiency of energy consumption or to extract energy from sources previously thought too expensive to develop.

Online Affinity Fraud: In a new twist on affinity and online investment fraud, Tyler said NASAA members are concerned that unscrupulous individuals are trying to use social networking websites to lure people to meetings that may promote fraudulent or unsuitable investment products. “Social networking websites create an environment ripe for affinity fraud,” Tyler said. “Fraudsters can take advantage of the fact people freely share information with both their real and ‘virtual’ friends by posting it to their profile,” Tyler said. “Communication tools provided by some social networking websites make it easy to advertise and promote investment scams to a wide audience for free.” Investors need to do their own research before making an investment and should not simply rely on ‘expert’ advice given at a seminar or meeting.

…  [Read More…]

UnSummit ’08…More Than a Summit Alternative

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As noted on it’s website, “UnSummit 2008 is an technology+marketing conference created to serve those unable to get tickets to the the MIMA Summit on Oct. 1, 2008.” Though maybe not the intent of organizer Don Ball, it was also for those who didn’t want to pop for the rather spendy registration fee for said MIMA Summit, simply didn’t want to go, or were drawn to a more intimate setting. Whatever the motivation, the daylong event held at the Local Pub in Minneapolis was quite the success.

The day was set in the increasingly popular “unconference” format where the agenda naturally evolves around a given topic or question. Some fifty interactive and social media enthusiasts spent the day addressing a wide range of topics. Three separate “spaces” played host to discussion and presentations on How Traditional Agencies Can Move to Digital, Social Media Reality Check, New Possibilities in Video, Marketing Heresies, Community Management 101,The Future of PR, and a  session addressing the lofty goal of Measuring ROI of Social Media…nope, we didn’t quite figure that one out. Dang!

…  [Read More…]

Damn the Airfare: Pokeware Takes Global Approach

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At one of last years MinneDemo events I had the chance to see Founder and CEO, Maryse Thomas present Pokeware, a system for integrating “hot spots” in video that allows users to pause and “poke” around the screen. According to the company line, Pokeware is a unique online company that integrates video content and contextual advertising. See a car in the video, click on it, and you’ll instantly find out what it is. See a dress you like, click it and find out where you can buy it and for how much. It was one of the more compelling presentations of the evening and piqued the interest of many. I had a chance to speak with Maryse following her presentation last year, and at that time Pokeware had already launched a beta test with the National Basketball Association. I was anxious to catch up with her and see how Pokeware has progressed since.

Ms. Thomas, a hardcore road warrior and globetrotter, was not the easiest to person to catch up with for an interview. Though Pokeware is based in Edina, we traded emails and phone calls between here and London, a cab in New York and somewhere in LA. Why the constant travel? According to Thomas, all for relationship building.“We found that there were many who were interested in building a similar type of system and felt that we would be better off securing strong, long term relationships with content providers and partners.” says Thomas. The intention was to hold off on showcasing the technology.

To help them do it, Thomas dropped this: “The biggest news is that Tommy Mottola is joining our team,” not hiding her enthusiasm.

If you are not aware of him, Tommy Mottola‘s resume includes a solid and successful career in the music industry. Outside of that community, many will recognize him from the likes of Entertainment Tonight, as head of Sony Music Entertainment, and more glamorously as the former husband of Mariah Carey. Thomas noted that Tommy is “very excited about the prospects of Pokeware” and will focus on helping her shore up those all important relationships.

Who are some of those relationships she’s cultivating? To name a few: the TV, publishing, book, home icon, Martha Stewart; Channel 4 in London (and the reason for her trip to the UK), the firm known best for the Big Brother reality series and Outside Line who will be selling Pokeware in the UK. In addition, Pokeware recently signed an exclusive agreement with the German company St. Elmo’s as a partner in Europe.

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The Uptake: Paying Attention to Important Stories

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The Uptake home page imageIf you’re hanging around this Labor Day weekend anticipating all of the Republican National Convention (RNC) stories of protests and convention intrigue that’ll be covered by the local and national media next week, you need to be aware of the stories unfolding right now, covered by The Uptake using Qik, live streaming mobile phone video.

The UpTake is a media and technology services organization dedicated to advancing democracy through citizen journalism (more here) and I’ve only connected with Chuck Olsen (of Minnesota Stories vlogging fame and blogger at blogumentary), but while at Costco this afternoon I looked at the Twitter client on my iPhone and saw that “@Chuckumentary” (Olsen’s Twitter name) was heading over to 951 Iglehart Ave in St. Paul since the fifth raid was underway and 10 police were on site…and he was going to try and cover it live.

I proceeded to watch him interview the woman you see at the bottom of the screengrab. She talked about the warrant (issued for the wrong side of the duplex) and that police entered that side and broke through the attic to perform a search at the other address….  [Read More…]

FCC Broadband Ruling & MN Task Force

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Minnesota Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force image

If you’re reading Minnov8 you use, understand and undoubtedly rely upon the internet and your broadband connection. You may also be building a business or revenue stream upon the internet-as-a-platform for innovation, and as such you absolutely must stay close to net neutrality, FCC rulings and, most importantly, what our Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force is doing to meet their legislative mandate (the task force site is now live and definitely worth checking out).

Ironically in a day when early adopters, influencers and the Minnesota tech cognescenti long ago embraced RSS as an efficient means of staying informed easily, the task force site doesn’t even have a feed, but instead asks you to sign up for an “e-newsletter” (how quaint….but I digress).

Thankfully I follow the task force member representing Twin Cities interests, Mike O’Connor, and the UrbanBroadbandUsers blog via his RSS feed, and I was pleased to have a heads-up on the first meeting minutes (PDF) and, especially, his compiled links on today’s feed:

  • CLICK HERE for the FCC document.
  • CLICK HERE for Susan Crawford’s commentary
  • CLICK HERE for Harold Feld’s commentary
  • CLICK HERE for Larry Lessig’s letter to the FCC commending them on their decision.

If you do nothing else this weekend but invest even a half an hour reading these, you’ll have a pretty good handle on the issue, the importance of this August 1st ruling by the FCC, and why this matters to you if the internet is at all central to your life or you see it as important to your business or Minnesota’s future.

Make Television

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If you fancy yourself a hacker of the physical, a creator of stuff, an inventor, or just like doing it yourself, then you’ll be interested in this just in via a post from BoingBoing along with our own Twin Cities Public Television:

“In January 2009, MAKE: will come to public television. Produced by MAKE:, Twin Cities Public Television, and American Public Television, the show will bring the DIY wonder of the magazine to the small screen, in high definition. A preview of the first episode is now online and I think it captures the fun maker mindset perfectly. There’s also a segment of the show that will feature maker-made videos. The producers are currently seeking videos for that segment, called the Maker Channel. Be sure to submit your two minute clip! The deadline is September 19, 2008.”

MAKE: television, Maker Channel video submissions

Blandin: Ultra High Speed Broadband for Rural MN

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Anyone who understands that the internet is a platform, social media is fundamentally shifting the way we connect and communicate with one another, and that application and computing functionality is rapidly shifting to the cloud, will instantly appreciate the efforts of a broadband public policy initiative by the non-profit Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids, Minnesota: Blandin on Broadband.

When I wrote a post analogically comparing what happened to a small Minnesota town bypassed by the railroad in the 1880’s, to the effect of being bypassed by ultra high speed broadband today, (see “The Railroad and Minnesota Broadband“), several people emailed me citing the following passage as the key reason why initiatives like Blandin’s Broadband one are so imperative for Minnesota, and specifically those towns and rural areas that lie outside the metro:

If you buy in to the premise that we’re living in a time of the greatest shift in communication and connection in history driven by the internet — and that the transport of digital bits is as important (if not more so) than the movement of physical goods over the past 100 years or so — it almost goes without saying that location is not only less important today, in many ways it’s irrelevant unless you don’t have access to the internet and fast access at that.

In 2003, Blandin crafted a vision (PDF) for Minnesota ultra high speed broadband “…designed to catalyze broadband investment and use, raise awareness about the value of broadband and encourage public and private investment in rural broadband capacity. Expanding the use of broadband technology increases the potential to retain jobs in rural areas, grows new markets for business, strengthens health care, enhances educational access and improves the quality-of-life” and I had a chance to interview Bill Coleman of Community Technology Advisors Corp. about what they’ve done, achieved, and what’s next….  [Read More…]