Viodi View – 08/31/24

From the outside, it was a nondescript modular house oddly planted in the middle of a corporate parking lot.¹ Inside was the most impressive 2008-era demonstration of smart home technologies.  It provided a tangible vision of what life would be like in the year 2024 and beyond. Thanks to Parks Associates, outsiders, like this author, had a chance to see the future on a field trip associated with their Connections Conference.²

Thanks to the Broadband Forum, my employer, for supporting this newsletter. The content, views, and opinions expressed herein are not those of the Broadband Forum.

The OG Podcaster – #CES2024

Phil McKinney led the visionary team at HP, which created that real-world smart home. After his role as CTO at that iconic Silicon Valley company, McKinney took the helm of CableLabs. His leadership skills have been a great match for this “innovation lab” with a motto of “invent the future.”  In this impromptu interview, he talks about his long-running podcast, the energy of CES2024, and AI everywhere.

Read and View Here

PON Plugfest at CableLabs

The interview with McKinney was filmed before this author was aware of the collaborative relationship between CableLabs and the Broadband Forum. Both organizations share a commitment to ensure equipment interoperability for their respective members. This shared goal will result in a PON (Passive Optical Network) plugfest in late October. CableLabs’ John Bevilacqua offers insights into the significance of this event at the following link.

Register Here 

SCTE TechExpo 24

Another example of the relationship between these organizations is through the Broadband Forum’s participation in next month’s SCTE TechExpo. SCTE is a subsidiary of CableLabs. It is an honor to moderate one of the two Broadband Forum-organized panels at the event.  CableLabs’ Kevin Noll provides a brief overview of what to expect at TechExpo at the following link.

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Service Differentiation and App Provider Relationships vBASe Webinar

What makes a home smart is that it works without causing user frustration. Given the three house calls this author has made in the past week, we aren’t there yet. Still, there is hope as brilliant minds are dedicated to enhancing the home technology experience. I look forward to hearing from some of those experts next week on this Broadband Forum webinar that includes speakers from AT&T, DZS, Friendly Technologies, and Parks Associates.

Register Here

Some Chirps and Short Thoughts:

• A good primer for next week’s Broadband Forum’s webinar is Craig Thomas’ blog post, “From broadband connectivity provider to “techno” provider or “trusted” services provider: the opportunity and criteria for BSPs. Thomas, CEO of the Broadband Forum, argues that Broadband Service Providers are well-positioned to build a trustworthy, predictable, and reputable brand.
• A highlight of FiberConnect2024 was Robert Griffin talking about a little-known story of World War I, yes World War I, code talkers, and how broadband is helping preserve the Choctaw language and that history. And, he showed how electric aviation and broadband intersect in the Choctaw Nation.
• Thanks, Incognito Software Systems for capturing these shots. And thanks Jhuli Takahara for sharing your insight at the BBF panel at #FiberConnect2024

Where Technology Meets People – Tom Coughlin on #CES2024 and the IEEE

Another highlight of CES2024 was running into old friend Tom Coughlin. Thanks to Alan Weissberger, I got to know Tom through the IEEE Silicon Valley History Committee. Not being in Silicon Valley anymore, the opportunity to see Tom comes but once a year at CES.

This year’s interview with Tom was extra special, as it was held just seven days into his role as president and CEO of the IEEE. He talks about this 460,000-member driven technology standards organization, the importance of developing technology to help people, and the critical role of younger members in ensuring the long-term vitality of the organization.

Coughlin brings an amazing breadth and depth to the technology discussion.  As a decades-long volunteer for this 140-year-old organization, he sets a great example for the next generation with his energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge.

Read and View Here

Notes: #

1. This parking lot eventually became part of the Apple spaceship headquarters. ↩︎
2. Somewhere in the Viodi archives is a video of McKinney providing a tour of the smart house. ↩︎