Making me a safe(r) driver with tech.

[OK, before you think my composition skills have reverted to my freshman year, read the entire paragraph, OK?]

It is one of my favorite apps now. I needed some way to send simple e-mail messages and texts when I am on the road from Atlanta to Athens. It is far too dangerous to type. I have come to [too] close to reader [rear] end collisions too many times. I need to talk and have my spoken words converted to text. It is called speech recognition. It has existed in several inferior forms for years. But now dragon dictation [Dragon Dictation -- http://www.nuance.com/talk/] has created an iPhone app that does speech to text. And it does it very well. So all I do is start decaf [the app], press the record button and talk.
After I am gone [done], I still have to do a couple of things with that [the] keyboard to send out that [the] text. That is really more apples [Apple’s] fall [fault] than dragons [Dragon’s]. I promise that I pull over to the side of the road to do those things. Okay, I do the e-mail link [emailing] at the mini [many] stop lights on 316. So are you wondering if it really works?
I spoke this pairing draft [paragraph]. I didn't type it. Dragon converted it. I have left in all the areas [errors] too. Cool, hey? Oh yes. It is free to [too].

[And, yeah, it is ironic that Dragon missed the word “error” isn’t it?]

This DBB (Tu, 2/16) Mark Emery, INgage Neworks

Relationships. It is all about relationships. Businesses. Governments. Academic institutions. They all understand that most important intellectual capital they own is the relationships they share. INgage Networks (http://www.ingagenetworks.com/ -- formerly Neighborhood America) has software solutions that help organizations strengthen those all-important relationships. INgage Networks is a leading provider of enterprise social software solutions to businesses and government agencies. At our next Digital Brown Bag (Tu, 2/16, 2P, Room 116, Visual Arts), INgage’s Mark Emery will tell us what they do, how they do it, and why what they do is important. Join us!

NMI Information Sessions – Wed (2/17) & Thursday (2/18) 6:30P

The New Media Institute is dedicated to helping students become technowledgeable (yeah, I made that word up – cool, eh?). The NMI offers the New Media Interdisciplinary Certificate (http://www.mynmi.net/programs/certificate/). Students studying in any area and getting their degree in any field can receive the Certificate by taking 17 hours of course credit. Now, I wish I could tell you that everyone who wants to get the Certificate can – but we can’t accommodate everyone. There just aren’t enough spaces in our classes. But if you want to learn more about the Certificate, come to one of the Certificate Information Sessions this week. We are holding them on Wednesday (2/17) and Thursday (2/18) evening at 6:30p in the Drewry Reading Room on the second floor of Journalism. To reserve a space, complete this online form at
http://www.mynmi.net/programs/certificate/CertificateInfo.php
YOU MUST ATTEND ONE OF THESE SESSIONS IN ORDER TO APPLY TO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.
If you have any questions, email me at sshamp@uga.edu.

Rock It Out! Allison Weiss and the Orkids (Wed., 2/17, 9P)

If you haven’t heard Allison Weiss (NMI Certificate Student, 2009) you are missing out! Grady Ambassadors will host “Rock it Out!, a concert benefiting Girls’ Rock” featuring Allison Weiss and the Orkids on Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 9:30 p.m. to midnight.
This concert will raise money for Girls’ Rock, an organization whose mission is to build female youth empowerment through music education and creation during a week of summer camp.
Rock it Out! highlights Athens’ bands and encourages support for young women to pursue music and find their inner strength. This is the community’s opportunity to experience a high-energy concert while contributing to an important cause.
The show will be held at the 40 Watt located on 285 W. Washington Street, Athens, Ga., 30601. Doors open a 9 p.m., and the show starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 day of the show. Starting Feb. 1, tickets will be on sale in The University of Georgia’s Journalism Building room 207 from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.