Cities face crisis in search for tech workers

A crisis in the technology workforce is brewing. A growing number of baby boomers are leaving, and not enough young people are enrolling in science and technology education. Add to that the number of people who are lacking computer skills, and cities have a challenge with being economically competitive.

"Some may not view it as a crisis yet," said Maria Wynne, a Microsoft senior director of economic development in the U.S. public sector. "In the U.S., up to 70 percent of the jobs in the next 5 to 7 years ... will require computer and communications skills. We do not have a pipeline of skilled people to fill these jobs."

Mayors and government technology employees gathered in a casual setting today at the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Miami. They shared ideas on best practices of improving digital literacy in cities, and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz presided over the forum.

Diaz advised other mayors to look to the private sector for funding, since city resources can be limited.

"Don't go crazy trying to Wi-Fi the entire city," Diaz added, warning that when a project is too ambitious, there will be problems with paying the bills.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels stressed that cities cannot just depend on luck that its residents will keep up with the changes in computers in the future. Even with Microsoft Corp. and  Amazon.com in its backyard, 20 percent of Seattle does not have a computer in the home, Nickels said.

If a city is going to have a competitive economy, "you've got to have the people with these skills, regardless of what your base industries are," Nickels said. "Even if your main industry seems to be one that's a smoke-stack industry - it doesn't matter."

After the forum I spoke with, James E. Osteen Jr., assistant director of Miami's information technology department. He said if education isn't improved, South Florida will lose more jobs to other tech hubs and jobs will be outsourced overseas.

"If we want to bring more industries in here, we have to have an edge,''  Osteen said. That includes having a stronger pool of computer competent workers and intelligent consumers.

The city's Elevate Miami program is working to do just that through partnerships with the education system and having public computer and Internet access at parks and senior centers. There are also programs to educate small business owners on things such as how to create websites, use accounting software and locate funding sources.

"I think the most important investment in people is education," Diaz told the crowd. "And digital literacy is giving them the tools. Not everyone is going to take advantage of it. But at least your giving them the tools, the fighting chance, to compete."

Fontainebleau goes paperless and puts an iMac in every room

As part of the hotel's renovations, the Fontainebleau is going paperless (not including toilet paper) and putting an iMac in every guest room. By using the room iMac, guests can get information about their stay, book a spa, order in-room dining, create virtual postcards, get the day's weather forecast, get dining and entertainment recommendations... all the basic room necessities are accessed through the computer.

The Miami Beach renovations are scheduled to be finished in the Fall of this year, and Las Vegas is scheduled to be finished in the Fall of 2009.

To watch a demo of what guests can do on the in-room iMac, download the file below. I hope this is something we'll see in many more hotels soon:

For PC users: http://virtualmonkey.com/clients/iFB/ifbPresentationFinalPC.zip

For Mac users: http://virtualmonkey.com/clients/iFB/ifbPresentationFinalMAC.zip

Seeing Green: Tech tips to be environmentally friendly -- and save money, too!

I'm flooded with "go green" tech tips from several different sources. So in honor of Earth Day, here is a digest of the best tips and stats that I have come across:

• Recycle your no-longer-used phones. Many cell phone providers have ways you can drop off your old phone in the store, which goes to a good cause. Phones are often refurbished for resale and reuse, with proceeds going to charities. Or if there is no way to salvage the device, it'll be thrown away in the proper manner.
  • This Saturday, April 26, you can drop off your phone at the Fort Lauderdale Green Living Expo. AT&T will collect old wireless devices for the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. The charity collects and recycles mobile phones to provide U.S. military families with free phone cards. AT&T has donated 60,000 prepaid phone cards to CPFS since 2007.
  • In 2007, Verizon Wireless's HopeLine donation program in Florida collected nearly 30,000 no-longer-used phones. Phones can be dropped off at any of its retail stores.
  • Some cellphone makers, like Nokia and LG, offer free recycling regardless of the manufacturer. Visit www.nokiausa.com/recycle or us.lge.com/recycle for a postage-paid label to mail the used phone.
• Unplug your charger. If you keep your charger plugged into the wall -- even if the device is not being charged -- it is still using energy. A simple solution is to use a power strip to plug in your chargers, and then just turn the power strip off when not using the charger -- then you won't have to keep pulling plugs out of wall sockets.
  • According to Nokia, if only 10 percent of the world's mobile phone users unplugged their chargers from the power supply once the battery is full, we could save enough energy to power 65,000 homes a year.
• Optimize your home PC energy use. Norton says most computer users lose $25 to $75 a year and waste nearly a half ton of CO2 because they don't optimize their computer's power settings. Norton normally charges $15 for a green assessment, but now it is free! Go to www.norton.com/gogreen to evaluate your computer's energy use and get a "Green Report Card."
• Don't just toss that computer in the can. Computers can be refurbished and donated to people in need. There are disk-cleaning utilities available online that can totally wipe out your Internet history, data, e-mails and passwords.
  • If you are going to donate the computer, include the accessories.
  • Keep a record of your donation for tax purposes
  • The National Cristina Foundation is one organization that provides donated computers to people in need and can help you find a local recipient
  • Check if your PC manufacturers has a recycle program. For example, Dell will take in old non-Dell computers when new customers make a purchase, and it will accept its own products all the time.
• Pay bills electronically and avoid paper bills. Go to PayitGreen.org to use the Green Calculator and learn how much of a positive environmental impact you can have by switching to electronic bills.

How to get rid of your electronics the green way

Happy Earth Day! In today's print Miami Herald, the Tech Tuesday page features a graphic full of useful tips on how to dispose of your e-waste in an environmentally friendly way. But if you missed it, I've copied and pasted the text below:

By Samantha Riepe, Miami Herald Staff

Have you sent a VCR, computer or television to the electronics graveyard? You're not alone. The Environmental Protection agency estimated electronic waste, or "e-waste," at about two million tons in 2005, the most recent year data is available. Only 12.6 percent of this e-waste load was recycled. Most frightening -- electronics can contain several pounds of chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium and other compounds that are considered hazardous materials in some states (keyword: some). The solution? Donate, recycle, or safely dispose of your next out-of-date electronics.

CELLPHONES

Trash stat:
• More than 150 million phones enter the U.S. waste stream every year, where they have the potential to leak mercury, cadmium, arsenic and more into water streams. These compounds may also enter the air when municipalities burn the phones. Can you hear me now?
Recycling:
• Best Buy and Office Depot store offers free recycling kiosks near the front door, for cellphones, batteries, and chargers.
Charity:
• Cellular companies have free, charitable drop-off or mail-back programs for recycling old phones. Motorola's program, at www.racetorecycle.com, distributes the proceeds among participating K-12 schools. Nokia and LG also take in used phones, regardless of the manufacturer. Visit www.Nokiausa.com/recycle or us.lge.com/recycle to download a postage-paid label to return the device.
• AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have programs where you can drop off your old wireless equipment at their stores to be refurbished for resale and reuse, with proceeds going to charity. Sprint's program donates all proceeds to 4NetSafety children's online safety group; go to www.sprint.com/recycle for a postage-paid mailing label, or to see if your model is eligible to be exchanged for an account credit.
• The Wireless Foundation's Call to Protect program collects working cell phones for distribution to victims of domestic violence. Learn more at wirelessfoundation.org.

iPODS, MP3 PLAYERS

Waste stream:
• In April 2007, Apple announced the 100th million sale of its ubiquitous iPod, which first hit the market in 2001. iPods and other players have spawned an entire industry of related accessories, from cases to speakers to car chargers -- an eventual mother lode of trash.
Recycling:
• Bring iPods, functioning or not, to any Apple store for recycling and receive a 10% discount on your next iPod purchase. Also, Staples stores have recycling bins for any type of MP3 player or hand-held electronic.
Charity:
• The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation works with flipswap.com to turn donated iPods into a cash contribution. Simply assess your iPod's condition to find out the estimated cash value, then send it in to have that amount donated to the Komen Foundation. Visit www.cellphonetradeins.com.
• Donating your working MP3 player to local nonprofits is music to needy ears. List your player on eBay with eBay Giving Works, and designate all or a percentage of the profits from its sale to Miami charities like Adopt-a-Classroom, CareResource, and Zo's Fund for Life. Go to givingworks.ebay.com.
For profit:
• iPod has spawned more than 10 generations since its inception, and newer models like iPod Touch, iPod Video or the most recent iPod Nano have good resale value. On eBay, a used 30 gigabyte iPod Video can currently fetch about $150.

TVs, DVD PLAYERS, STEREOS

Heavy facts:
• Analog televisions, VCRs, and bulky stereos -- these retirees can contain all the same harmful compounds as smaller gadgets, and then some (a 27-inch television can contain up to eight pounds of lead). Dispose of them responsibly at Miami-Dade Trash & Recycling Centers; visit www.miamidade.gov/dswm for locations.
Charity:
• Miami Rescue Mission accepts working electronics in good condition for resale at their Bargain Barn Thrift Store in downtown Miami. All proceeds benefit the organization's homeless assistance programs. Bring items to 2133 NW 21 Court, Miami or arrange for pickup by visiting www.miamirescuemission.com.
• Find a new home for dejected electronics by joining the Miami Freecycle email group. Submit your free item to the group, and a daily email to all 4300+ members tells what stuff is up for grabs. Go to www.freecyle.org and type in 'Miami' to get started.

COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS

Trash stat:
• In the past ten years, over 500 million personal computers became obsolete. Computer monitors use cathode ray tubes that contain of two to four pounds of lead, and are even classified as hazardous waste in some states.
Recycling
• The manufacturer of your PC or laptop may offer a recycling or trade-in program. Dell offers free recycling for all its products at any time, and also allows new customers to trade-in old non-Dell computers with purchase. Visit www.dell.com/recycle for more information, and check out a similar program by Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com).
Charity:
• The National Cristina Foundation works to provide newer, working computers and peripheral equipment to the disabled or economically disadvantaged. Go to www.cristina.org to determine if your PC is an accepted model. If so, Cristina will work to find an appropriate recipient for your computer in the South Florida area.

TOXIC TRASH

Besides e-waste, plenty of other toxic household materials require special disposal. At earth911.org, you can enter the type of trash and your zip code to find places nearby that either recycle the material or dispose of it safely. These services are usually free.

Hazardous household trash can include:
• Used motor oil
• Antifreeze
• Car batteries, regular batteries
• Tires
• Paint
• Cleaners
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Asbestos
• Fertilizer
• Pesticide, fungicide

*Note: Remember to remove any personal information from computers, cellphones, PDAs, or any other storage devices before donating or recycling.

Sources: United States Environmental Protection Agency, CollectiveGood Foundation, Scientific American, earth911.org

Are you a password repeater?

The AP released a story today that roughly half of the people in a survey said they use the same password for all their online accounts. And for cyber crooks, that makes stealing your identity a cinch.

I mix around the same few phrases and numbers between different accounts, but for the most part, no two are exactly the same. My banking, social networking and e-mail passwords are more complicated than passwords for non-important things, which I keep the same. And my work passwords are a whole different combo string of phrases.

I have a laptop that uses a fingerprint scanner to login to Windows, and I can use it to log into webpages so that hackers can't track my keystrokes. The other day it stopped working. But I never wrote down what my backup typed password was! Luckily I just kept trying about seven different word and number combos that I've used in the past until I could guess it. But I'm glad I did guess it, because it was a combo that I've never used for anything before.

What are your password habits? Do you have a different password for everything? Are they usually similar with a few numbers that make them different? Do you write them down? I have a password book where I keep everything, but if someone finds it with intent to do harm, I'm toast. However, I won't write down my bank passwords in that book, just in case.

Here's the story from the Associated Press:

By JORDAN ROBERTSON
AP Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO -- Using the same password for multiple Web pages is the Internet-era equivalent of having the same key for your home, car and bank safe-deposit box.

Even though a universal password is like gold for cyber crooks because they can use it to steal all of a person's sensitive data at once, nearly half the Internet users queried in a new survey said they use just one password for all their online accounts.

At the same time, 88 percent of the 800 people interviewed in the U.S. and the U.K. for the survey by the Accenture consultancy, which is to be released Thursday, said personal irresponsibility is the key cause of identity theft and fraud.

Researchers say the findings suggest that many users underestimate the growing threat from organized cyber criminals who can reap big profits from selling stolen identities.

"There's a lot of confusion out there - a lot of people don't think there's a problem," said Robert Dyson, a senior executive in Accenture's global security practice. "There's still the kind of head-in-the-sand situation: 'My identity hasn't been stolen. I don't know anybody who's had their identity stolen. So it must not be happening.'"

Dyson said the problem with repeating passwords is that a hacker who successfully breaks into one account then has an easy time guessing how to get into all the user's other accounts.

Many users repeat passwords so they don't forget them, which shows in another finding that 70 percent of survey respondents in the U.K. said they don't write down their passwords, versus 49 percent in the U.S.

Only seven percent of the respondents said they change their passwords often, use password management software or use a fingerprint reader to access their machines and accounts.

The survey looked at people who used a computer at home, have high-speed Internet access and go online at least twice a week for something other than checking e-mail. The respondents were selected at random and questioned over the telephone. The mean age was 46.

The survey's margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percent for the total sample and plus or minus 4.9 percent for U.S. and U.K. samples.

Accenture noted that the results represent the behavior of a random sample of this subgroup of Internet users, not the overall general pool of U.S. and U.K. consumers.

Farewell to keyboards?

Microsoft chair Bill Gates told a group of students at Carnegie Mellon that in five years we will be using touch screens more and the majority of Internet searches will be done by speech rather than by typing on a keyboard. [Read the story here.]

Five years? Uh, seems like a stretch. I don't know about you folks, but I need a keyboard. And it doesn't make sense in a work environment. Say goodbye to doing non-work stuff while at work. "Computer, search Amazon for purple pumps." Busted. The same goes for a cellphone and touch screens. I like touch screens, but I rather have a QWERTY keyboard rather than have a touch-screen keyboard, because I type faster on an actual keyboard. What about you? Can you see yourself doing verbal searches? I think a whole new generation needs to grow up in a voice-search world before something like that takes off.

Would you buy the MacBook Air?

Let's say you're in the market for a new notebook computer. Would you buy the MacBook Air? In two weeks, the new super-thin notebook goes on sale. It's about .76 inches thick (about equal to the thickness of an index finger), has a 13.3-inch screen, 80 GB hard drive, 2 GB memory and full-sized keyboard.

But no drive for CDs or DVDs.

Steve Jobs says it won't matter because we download everything off the Internet. And if you have to install software that requires a CD drive, he says the system lets you wirelessly connect to another computer's optical drive.

It's a pretty neat feature. But is it a good buy? If this is your one and only computer -- like is the case for many students -- then you're stuck without a CD/DVD drive. That is, unless you dish out another $99 for the portable drive, which plugs in through a USB port. So that would bring the price to about $1,900.

You can get a regular MacBook with double the hard drive (160 GB) for $1,499. And if history repeats itself, wait a few months and it'll cost even less.

When Apple came out with the iPhone, it was only a few months before prices dropped. Will he make the same mistake again? I doubt it, but he might drop prices of other MacBooks. Hard to guess after last year's fiasco of angry customers.

It's all comes down to this -- do you trust the company enough to be an early adopter and buy the Air right away? Or will you wait several months for a drop in prices -- in either the Air or the other MacBook models?

Or maybe you will just stick with a notebook that comes with a CD/DVD drive and has a larger hard drive for a price tag under $2,000.

Toss out your old electronics on Saturday

As part of a Comedy Central environmental campaign, Sony Electronics and Waste Management will collect old electronics in front of The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in connection with the South Beach Comedy Festival to help "Scrap Your Crap and Save the Planet."

Accepted: items like mobile phones, computer monitors, computers, printers, fax machines, keyboards, TVs, VCRs, stereos, home and office phones, cell phones, and consumer electronics.

Not accepted: microwaves, smoke and alarm detectors, thermometers, dehumidifiers, large appliances or any unit with sludge or liquids.

To learn more about the network's "Address the Mess" initiative, go to addressthemess.com. Don't live in Miami? The site has a place to search for other places to toss out electronic waste near your zip code.

Dell makes World of Warcraft-themed computer

To all WoW-aholics: Behold! The Dell XPS M1730 World of Warcraft Edition notebook computer!

OK, you can resume breathing now.

This 17-inch HD widescreen notebook becomes available on Tuesday December 11th on Dell.com/gaming. But if you're a WoW gamer and pre-registered for early access during the "It Begins" quest, then you can buy it today. Dell partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to create this notebook, which includes the following:

• World of Warcraft and World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
• Quest envelope with access to exclusive items and opportunities
• Desktop background art and screensavers

It also comes with a WoW-themed backpack that includes:

• Warcraft Battle Chest (which has Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and Warcraft III: Frozen Throne)
• Brady Games strategy guides for World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade, Warcraft III and The Frozen Throne
• DVD with "The Making of WoW"

This serious WoW package starts at $4,499. As far as the specs go, Dell says the system includes NVIDIA SLI graphics power and 512 MB of dedicated video RAM with DirectX 10 realism. But if you want Dell's top-of-the-line gaming processors and hard drives, you'll have to pay for an upgrade.

Here's a video about the computer from Dell's vlog:

Staples to sell Dell computers

Starting on November 11, Staples will be selling Dell notebook and desktop computers, monitors, printers, ink and toner. Below is more about it from the Associated Press:

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- (AP) -- Dell Inc. plans to sell computers and other electronics gear at 1,400 Staples Inc. stores, the latest departure from the direct-to-customer business model pioneered by the No. 2 computer maker.

Dell and the world's biggest office products supplier announced Monday that Staples would offer Dell desktop and notebook computers, monitors, printers, ink and toner starting Nov. 11. Dell products also will be available through Staples' Web site.

Initial Dell computer models to be sold at Staples include Inspiron 1721 and 1521 notebooks, and Inspiron 530 desktops.

Round Rock-based Dell was founded in the 1980s on a lower-cost, direct-to-consumer business model that made the company the global leader in PC sales. But Hewlett-Packard Co. overtook the top spot last year, and Dell started considering new ways to sell its products beyond the Internet and telephone sales.

In May, Dell struck a deal with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, to sell PCs in about 3,000 stores. Dell also has struck partnerships recently with Bic Camera Inc. in Japan, Carphone Warehouse PLC in Britain, and Gome stores in China.

With the Staples deal, Dell products will be available in more than 10,000 stores, Dell said.

Framingham, Mass.-based Staples already offers several other major computer brands, including HP, Acer and Toshiba Corp.

Hard-working 6th graders in Miami can get laptops

Sixth grade students in the city of Miami can get laptops to take home if they are well behaved and if their parents take an Internet safety class. Click here to read more about the program in a story by Herald writer Kathleen McGrory.

Getting the "$100" laptop in our schools

I just got off the phone with Dr. Marta Perez, Miami-Dade County School Board member for District 8. She told me she has been in talks with the organization One Laptop per Child and has been told that getting computers to Miami-Dade County schools is a very real possibility.

"We don't have to go outside of the United States to find populations of children that don't have that access and will benefit from it," Perez said.

The key, she said, is that it seems there needs to be a need for more than a million students. So that means other counties and districts may have to team up to come up with those numbers.

"It is our understanding that there are two other school districts that are also looking into it," Perez said, adding "They are able to create such a low price if they have large volumes."

"If there is a will, I don't think it has to take that long," she said. "It's almost like a good luck omen ... the company that has been given the contract was in Miami."

Local parents want "$100" laptop, too

Yesterday I worked on a story about how Miami firm Brightstar got an exclusive contract to be the distributor for the One Laptop per Child project, which ships out the "$100" XO laptop to children in developing countries. It's not really $100 -- it's actually $188, but the non-profit organization hopes that it will eventually go down to $100 once the laptop goes into mass production.

The only way folks in America and Canada can get one is to buy two for $399 -- one for themselves and one to be donated to a child in a poor country. And there's only two weeks in November that you can order them.

After the story ran online I received many e-mails throughout the day from local parents looking to get a $100 computer for their child. I even got an e-mail about this from the office of Dr. Marta Perez, Miami-Dade County School Board member for District 8. At a recent board meeting she proposed that the school board and superintendent explore the possibility of working with One Laptop per Child to give every student a laptop.

But after talking with the organization, it seems that there is no intention of working with economically thriving countries like the U.S. The first goal of the project is to work with children in poor countries, but it doesn't mean that getting cheap computers in the U.S. won't ever happen. It's still a possibility down the road.

But for now, it seems that it's laptop aficionados are the ones that are going to be buying this first, since it's really not "cheap" at $400. And if you have someone who would like this, the organization says it could be delivered in time for Christmas if you buy it early. You can read more in today's story here.

Miami's Brightstar is distributor for "$100" laptop

You may know it as the "$100 laptop"... even though it costs roughly $188. It's the XO laptop that the One Laptop per Child non-profit organization is trying to get into the hands of children around the world. Today the organization announced that Miami-based Brightstar will be the exclusive distributor of the laptop. Here's a brief I wrote about the announcement -- I'll be interviewing the CEO of Brightstar later this afternoon:

BY BRIDGET CAREY
bcarey@MiamiHerald.com

Miami-based Brightstar is the exclusive distributor for the green and white XO laptop, the inexpensive notebook computer for the non-profit One Laptop per Child, the organization announced Thursday.

One Laptop per Child is a project created by Nicholas Negroponte and others from the MIT Media lab to get inexpensive laptops with Internet access to every child in the world, with a focus on helping developing countries. The goal is to have them eventually priced at $100 each, but as of now they cost roughly $188.

"To really affect the program you need an organization that knows distribution logistics," said Robert Fadel, director of finance at One Laptop per Child. And Bright star has experience with doing business in 49 countries.

Bright star has been a partner of One Laptop per Child since July of 2005. The private company specializes in the global distribution of wireless and consumer electronics. The company reports that one out of every 20 wireless phones in the world is delivered through Brightstar's network.

The organization has a "Give One, Get One'' program, where people in the U.S. and Canada can buy two for $399 -- one for the customer and the other goes to a child in a poor country. The promotion starts November 12 and will last for two weeks.

The XO laptop has built-in wireless network capabilities and the battery can be recharged by hand using a crank, a pedal, or a pull-cord.

Need a computer for school?

If you need a notebook computer for college and are not sure which type to buy, then take this quiz I put together to help you make your decision: Notebook Quiz!

Miami scavenger hunt to win a Dell notebook

Go to yoursishere.com and register for the Miami scavenger hunt to win a Dell computer. They are only allowing a limited number of people to register in each area, and registration ends Thursday at 5 p.m.

WHAT: The Dell Urban Challenge, a colorful scavenger hunt in nine large U.S. cities. Two-member teams will scour their cities for clues to win the grand prize of a new Dell Inspiron 1521 notebook computer.
WHEN: Saturday July 21 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Miami
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.yoursishere.com between now and 5:00 PM EDT July 19 to register.
HOW TO WIN: Each team is given an envelope with a game board, directions and clues that will lead them to eight unique sites in their city. When the contestants get to each site, they will receive an authentication stamp on their game board. In each city the first team to reach the finish point within the time limit and with all the verification stamps will be declared the grand prize winner. Teams will only be competing against other teams in their color category.