Until I begin using robotic telepresence, like the women who used it outside the Apple store this week, it won’t be possible to be in two places at once. A robotic telepresence would have been useful this week, as that would have allowed me to attend NTCA’s Fall Conference. Fortunately, we caught up with an industry leader at NTCA’s RTIME 2015 several months back, where he provided insight into their partnership that brought fiber to a broadband deficient burg.
A Service Provider of Last Resort
The key to bringing broadband to rural areas, particularly where it is difficult to justify on an economic basis, is local leadership. The necessary leadership includes multiple people from organizations that include telecommunications, financial and the governing entities. Kevin Larson, General Manager of CTC, describes a public-private partnership of a local service provider with a local government and economic development agency that paved the way for fiber broadband in Little Falls, MN. As Larson explains, the public entity financed the fiber build and leases the infrastructure to CTC, which operates the network.
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Using Augmented Reality to Improve Worker Productivity
For those who think that augmented reality and virtual reality is just for fun and games, they need to talk to Dexter Lilley, Executive Vice President of Index AR Solutions. Lilley suggests that it may be awhile before we see workers dawning virtual reality headsets, as OSHA hasn’t approved any headsets for industrial use. Regardless, as Lilley points out, there are many use-cases today where augmented reality is speeding up and improving the quality of production.
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A Power Grid with a Transit System
Google’s real innovation in deploying Fiber-to-the-Home broadband networks had little to do with technology and a lot to do with improving the process for building physical plant. The technology to light the fiber was available when Google started its quest to offer a gigabit/second to residential customers.
By looking at things from an outsider’s perspective and the with the credibility of their heft, they were able to convince cities to change the way they do things to speed the deployment of outside plant infrastructure.
In many ways, CyberTran International has a similar plan for transportation. As CyberTran president Dexter Vizinau explains, CyberTran is creating a “direct-to-destination”, autonomous, elevated, ultra light rail system that will be 1/10 to 1/4 the cost of traditional transit systems.
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Some Tweets and Short Thoughts:
- Why North Dakota is the best state to visit (WSJ). Can I still join the State #50 Club? See Fiber to the Buffalo
- Speaking of North Dakota, “‘It takes guts and grit to bring big city services to small communities.’ -RTC“
- Congratulations to Carrington High School and Dakota Central Telecommunications for last night’s launch of CardinalTV80 – high school sports by high school kids – nice trailer!
- Gigabit Triumphs in the Land of Paul Bunyan @TelcoAmericana
- How to keep a job in a world of Artificial Intelligence and widespread robotics – interesting thoughts on how individuals and society can adapt to this changing world.
The Foot Bone is Connected to the Bluetooth
One of the great advantages of a robotic telepresence device is that one’s feet wouldn’t be tired and sore from walking 30,000 steps around a major trade show like International CES. Of course, another alternative is a good set of insoles. As we discovered at International CES 2015, Ducere Technologies PVT. LTD., with its Lechal product line, has created insoles that will measure steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned.
As Lechal General Manager Sonia Benjamin notes, Lechal’s motivation to develop their shoes and insoles was to provide haptic feedback for the blind. That is, the Lechal shoes and insoles communicate to a smart phone, indicating when to turn right or left by vibrating. Benjamin also indicates that the amplitude of the vibration can be varied, such that other signals could be provided through the feet. She points out that by using inclusive design, the end product is useful for anyone, regardless of ability.
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