Is that a projector in your pocket...?

Check this out*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/technology/personaltech/05pogue.html

That's right. A data projector that fits in your (shirt, not coat) pocket and connects to an iPod. Cool.

Now back when I was a little presenter growing up on the prairie, it took two men and a boy to carry the equipment needed for data projection. I remember humping:

My trusty MacClassic, B&W, with added video-out pigtail which connected to...

an LCD projection panel to be placed on...

an overhead projector, better when bright and portable. The room still needed to be pretty dark and image wasn't much sharper than the presenter, but there was still quite a WOW factor for the time.

I honestly believe I got my tech director job back in 1991 because I impressed the hiring committee with my really cuttin' edge HyperCard resume that I projected with a set up just like this. Sort of a proto-geek.

Speaking of equipment, the best backhanded compliment I ever received was from a very nice lady who gushed, "Just watching you set up the equipment was the best part of your presentation!"

Hard not to get a big head.

Off to the School Library Journal Summit in Fort Lauderdale where all the problems of the world I am sure will be solved. Cathy Nelson promises to stream some of the programs. My (literal) 15 minutes of fame will be "7 Audacious Statements about Fair Use and Copyright" as part of a panel.

Warm weather and old friends. Could be worse.

*Thanks to Tim's Assorted Stuff blog for this link.

Web Apps I use meme

Following a meme started at TechCrunch and shared by Will Richardson, I'll list my online apps I use. I'll group them by use frequency:

Daily (or more)
Gmail (via Entourage usually)
GoogleSearch
GoogleReader
iGoogle
Squarespace (blog and website ASP)
Firefox

Weekly
Amazon
Del.icio.us
Wikipedia (reader, not writer)
ISD77 website
Online bank
Netflix

Monthly
SmugMug (a commercial variant of Flickr)
Wikispaces
PBWiki
GoogleDocs
Slideshare
Zamar
Second Life
MapQuest
NWA online flight booking
Travelocity/Kayak/Orbit etc.
YouTube
iTunes
Shutterfly
Motivator
ImageChef

I can use on Pain of Death
Twitter
Facebook
Ning

All things considered, I expect I am a fairly moderate user of Web2.0-ish tools compared to most tech bloggers, at least one standard deviation from the norm of most educators. And like most of us, I see more and more of what I do move online, especially when using highly-portable devices like the XO and ASUS Eee. And I don't see the direction changing.

And like Will comments, the list is pretty Google-centric. Hey, even though they are evil, they provide useful and simple to use services. I've gone over to the dark side.

Readers, what SHOULD be on this list? 

Image source: http://www.marketingshift.com/2005/10/evil-empire-google-gaining-evil-ground.cfm

Home office meme

Christian Long at think:lab is encouraging a "home office" meme. I have two home offices.

Summer

 

Winter 

Hey, I thought the whole idea behind wi-fi and laptops was that you didn't have to be tied to a desk. I already sit at a desk way too much at work. I don't need to be chained to one at home - even if I am working.

Christians writes, "Wondered what it [the office] said -- and didn't say -- about me, my working/thinking/learning style..."

Whenever I see another person's computer desktop I always think I get a snapshot of his/her brain. Do you keep every file out there or is everything tucked away in neat folders out of view? As long as you are putting up a picture of your home office, share a screen shot of your computer's desk top too! If you dare.