Devoo

I'm sure at least once you've heard someone complain there’s nothing to do in Cincinnati. We all know there is plenty to do but I think the problem is there are so many things to do that option paralysis ensues. First world problems right? I once read that the definition of a first world problem is a 20-year-old with cash on hand. Kind of funny, but first world problems are still problems. Enter Devoo. Devoo is an app that just launched out of the OCEAN Accelerator in Oakley. I had wanted to stop in and check out Ocean for a while so I met up with Alex Barok, a recent Miami University graduate and Devoo co-founder. Majoring in entrepreneurship at Miami was fortuitous for the Devoo cofounders as it led them to Tim Holcomb, a Miami professor and Ocean mentor. Tim helped them through the grant process at Ocean which Alex states was invaluable.

What is Devoo? I'll let Alex take over, "The idea behind Devoo is to connect people to their communities and events going on around Cincinnati.
The name comes from "rendezvous"...like Ren-Devoo"
Looking at Devoo, I wondered what it brought to the table that twitter, facebook and texting couldn't do. According to Alex, the last minute buying model is broken. Alex feels the way it works now is you buy a ticket then make plans. Everything is so last minute. Devoo wants to help people enjoy last minute plans instead of dreading them.
Back to my question of social media. Alex, "there is a lack of commitment with facebook, also you need to go to another app to purchase tickets." Devoo has ticket buying built right into their event listings. And once Devoo learns your likes, it will start sending push notifications. Say you're in a neighborhood for a movie, you might get a notification to stop at a bar for a drink afterwards.
Alex says currently no one is putting events in one location where people can act on it. Devoo is hooked into numerous places online. The strategy is to hook into bigger sites for events and to meet with the local organizations that are creating events. One advantage with Devoo over regular social media platforms is that your friends don't need to have the app installed for either of you to benefit. You create an event and push it out to them.
Devoo will debut at the Ocean Accelerator Demo Day this afternoon at 1pm. Demo Day is open to the public. In addition there will be investors looking for interesting new companies. What’s next? Planning stay in Cincinnati after the launch, Alex thinks the next step will be applying to the Brandery for additional mentorship and capital. He says,"The Brandery would take us from 3x to 10x growth". Devoo is scalable so once it gains traction in Cincinnati it can be launched in other cities.

The Devoo team consists of Jose Avila in charge of product and user experience, Sherman Adelson tackles the technology and Alex Barok doing the marketing and business development.
Right now it is IOS only so if you have an iPhone and want to try out Devoo, check out their website. If you want to see them at Demo Day find details HERE.

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Maker Space at The Public Library of Cincinnati

Has anyone ever lamented the fact that there is no Netflix of 3D printers? They have? Awesome because now The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has them covered with the library's new Maker Space.
What is a Maker Space you ask? Before last weekend I wouldn't have been able to tell you because I didn't know either. But now I can say that a Maker Space is a shared workspace where people create whatever they can dream up. Vinyl printers and cutters, laser cutters, 3D printers and many other amazing things.
The beauty of the space is you can try your hand at some of the newest technology without having to rent or buy it yourself. All that is required is you pay for whatever consumables are used for your project. The future is here people, get in on the ground floor and learn how to use this stuff.

Can you picture how this is all going to work?
I can and my head is exploding with possibilities.
I'll run you through a scenario real quick.
First design your project on powerful multimedia computers. Don't worry about the Russians stealing your ideas, these are not connected to the internets.
next you'll print your bumper stickers (for example) on the vinyl printer/cutter.
You'll create fantastic Easter Eggs or Christmas ornaments, or golf balls or anything else that is round-ish.


Then you'll take your creation to the photobooth and use the library's pro level camera to take an ad worthy picture.

I didn't create this, its my iPhone case
Pretty crazy right? The button makers were popular with the kids but I already have ideas for what I can do with them.


I have one more thought for you to ponder. The maker revolution may turn out like the web revolution. The people making the money could be the ones selling the digital designs to create the 3D objects, not the actual people creating 3D objects.
Live and learn.
But that shouldn't stop you from striking while the iron is hot and creating everything you can dream up.
A couple of the heavy hitters in blogging, Cincy Whimsey, Adventure Mom, Lucrecer Braxton and last but not least everyone's favorite girlfriend Debba.
Everything was digital but for the cookies, they were still old school analog!
The Maker Space is open to anyone and everyone during library hours. If you need help or require a bunch of time on a machine you should call ahead and reserve a station at Maker Space.
Have fun!
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Globili

Monday afternoon on Fountain Square marked the beta test launch of Globili.

This new application allows Cincinnati to be friendly to everyone in the world, English speakers and not. Says Councilperson Cecil Thomas on the launch of Globili. Forward thinking for our city internationally, the city that sings.

From Globili's FB page, "People who like to travel but don't always know the native language of the place they are visiting. They can text or they understand how to scan a QR code, but they don't want to necessarily download or install a new app and with Globili they don't have to. These people want a convenient and easy to use solution to make them more comfortable and confident with navigating and exploring foreign countries. Globili provides them that peace of mind for free."

Globili provides clients with a simple dashboard to create and translate messages into over 50 languages, upload images, add marketing pages, track and organize signs, documents, ads and packaging.

Councilperson Laure Quinlivan trying out Globili


Talking to Meg Olberding from the City Managers office after the launch I found out there is a huge demand in Cincinnati for bilingual signage. Groups such as Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati have lobbied hard for them. With that need and the World Choir Games less than 100 days away now Globili will fill an unmet need in the City.

Here is how it works, scan a QR code on a sign, or text the short code provided, then select the language you need from the drop-down box.


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GreenSource Cincinnati

GreenSource Cincinnati had an open house last Friday to give everyone a look at green technologie options available right now. The building, showcasing cutting edge tech gives people a chance to visualize just how green tech can be used in the home or office and people can see exactly how they work.
So as to not get locked into any one company, greensource has embracing open standards making the various components plug and play. No upgrading into dead ends or needing to replace whole systems.
The center is available for tours and events. The 3rd floor hall and outdoor area is an incredible space downtown giving you views of the library gardens and of OTR. A small wedding reception would be incredible and, I don't know if they rent that room or not, but you wouldn't even need to leave at the end of the night, the bride and groom could retire to the hotel room.
They have an amazing space on 8th St and if you ever have the opportunity to check all this out don't miss it.

One tech that I can't believe isn't utilized more is grey water use, either from sinks or rainwater reclamation. Both of these disappear down the sewers when they could be used for the toilette saving money and resources in the process while effectively using "free" water.
The building is divided up so you can see how to use green tech. Your office on the first floor, a data center on the second, banquette hall on the third and especially amazing I thought a hotel room on the very top floor.


In a former life I wound more than a few of these coils. Used to have nightmares about #8 sq wire, that nomex insulation is very fragile.



I want a mirror with a built in TV, how cool is that?
What for?
No idea but I bet its one of those things you didn't know you needed until you have one.



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iYawn

OK, that is really harsh, so I need to explain.
Last week Verizon had a gadget open house put together by Laura D. to show off some of the latest and greatest Verizon gadgets to be released in the very near future.

Everyone there seemingly loved the Droid so this underwhelmed sediment is shared solely by me, and my biggest disappointment was that no one could show me a game changer on the Droid. I lean towards the luddite end of the early adopter scale, when I find something that works for me, I have a tendency to hang onto it like Christopher Walken held on to that pocket watch in Pulp Fiction.


The first thing I thought when handed the phone was, "damn this thing is a brick!" Looking up specs, its 30 grams heavier than my current phone, which is only a little over an oz. but it feels more substantial than that.
Then when the first website I visited loaded up as a mobile version of the page I lost all interest in it and didn't give it a fair shake after that.
Now it was explained this is at the discretion of the web server and not the phone, but still, it happened on one other site and to me, the web pages seemed to open slower than what I was used to on a mobile phone.


But, its probably unfair to compare it to my jesus phone, its not a leap above, but maybe more one step behind.
For a more neutral viewpoint you can read one of Tom Streeters reviews here and Bryan Sherman's here. They have been geeking out on the Droid and they love it.
So my take on the Droid, it could be the Blackberry killer, iPhone killer? not so much, but that's totally based on a first impression.[where: 45202]cincinnati ohio downtown coast-usa streetcar Cincinnati Issue 9 droid

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Apple users

Ms. 5chw4r7z asked me what I have against Apple computers. Well nothing against MACs actually, they are after all only computers, but I hate the Apple users who need to point out to me how much smarter they are than me because they are using MACS. OH yeah right, that’s why you are calling me with your Apple computer network issues.
So lets peruse the macfixit forums and see what kind of high level issues these brainiacs are having, since they are so much smarter than me. (I’m not talking about those of you who DON’T lord it over me that you use an Apple)

Mac OS x won't start
Numeric pad freezes computer
What are special permissions?
how do I get the CD out?

“How do I get the CD out?” Holy crap! MAC users are so incredibly smart they are on a totally different plane of existence than I am.
I would tell them right click eject but I guess only dummies have a right mouse button.