In school and the professional world we all have to give presentations. Some of us love it, some hate it, but we all use Powerpoint for it. Personally I have a love-hate relationship with that program but must admit that it’s the easiest way to quickly collect the information you want to show. Maybe Bunkr is a good alternative to Powerpoint, but have to try it out myself first… But let me share some things to make presentations more fun for everyone (presenter and viewers!).

Big data <> Open data

“Big data” is one of those other trending topics. You could link it to “open data” I blogged about some time ago. The idea behind open data is that different organisations, companies, … give others access to their data so it becomes available to developers who can build something with it. But you can imagine that all those different databases will result in one gigantic data source.

What is it?

The internet is no longer a network of computers only. Smartphones, tables and more and more devices are connected to that same internet: security cameras, lights, domotica in your house, … and are exchanging information. A security camera can send you and sms if something is happening, but can at the same time switch on the lights, start the alarm, close the windows, etc. And while driving home you can start the heating and fill your bath with an app on your smartphone.

Eerder had ik het op deze blog over mijn schooltijd en hoe één leraar er voor verantwoordelijk was dat ik gebeten werd door het computervirus. Die post kwam er naar aanleiding van de aanhoudende discussies over de onderwijshervorming. Er is een groot gebrek aan technisch goed opgeleide jongeren, en die hervorming zou daar een oplossing moeten voor bieden. Ondertussen is er een akkoord. Een typisch Belgisch akkoord. Dus iedereen heeft water bij de wijn gedaan en één en ander werd doorgeschoven naar de volgende regering dus we zullen nog moeten zien wat de echte gevolgen zullen zijn.

From all the current buzz words “big data” is probably the “buzziest”.

According to Wikipedia this is the description: Open data is the idea that certain data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control.

All money is for the main part virtual. Just numbers on bank accounts. Imagine what would happen if Bill Gates went to the bank and asked for all his money in 100$ notes?! A lot of paper would be needed to print those…

The Flemish government is discussing (again and already for a long time) a new organisation of the educational system. One of the ideas is to lower (or eliminate) the number of hours dedicated to computer lessons. Yes indeed, they think students already use enough computers at home so they don’t need any additional lessons. The usage of computers (and electronics in general) should just be integrated into the other lessons.

At Multi-Mania I’ve seen the presentations of two inspiring “technology artists”.

The first was Joshua Davis, joshuadavis.com,a New York based artist, designer, and technologist producing both public and private work for companies, collectors, and institutions. Currently residing at Code and Theory, codeandtheory.com as creative director of physical installations.

Why do we use social media? Or more specific, why do I want to use it? I have this blog and sometimes I ask myself what I can tell here to the world, that the world doesn’t know yet?

In the last two months I visited Phare Conference and Multi-Mania. Not so much for my “technical education”, but to be on top of the trends and evolutions in web and social. Both events overloaded my brain with a lot of info, ideas and I-want-to-spread-this-knowledge-feelings.