Waianae High School's Searider Productions Earns Distinction

Waianae High School's Searider Productions program has been named an Apple Distinguished Program for its use of Macs, MacBooks, iPads, and Apple software. Through the implementation of Apple technology, students have been provided with innovative and highly interactive learning opportunities that focus on mastering contemporary digital media and computer technologies. Students are able to explore areas such as video production, internet journalism & social media, graphic arts & design, 2D & 3D computer modeling, and interactive media creation & design. 

The Apple Distinguished Program designation is reserved for programs that are recognized centers of educational excellence and leadership. The selection of Waianae High School's Searider Productions highlights its successes in enhancing and extending teaching and learning with thoughtful, innovative implementations of technology.

A key organizational principle is the integration of real-world work assignments into the learning experience and formal curriculum. Students have had the opportunity to work on projects for private, public, and non-profit organizations. Students have also entered various digital media contests and have been recognized locally and nationally for their work.

Although the Searider Productions program is constantly growing and incorporating new and innovative approaches to stay current, it always remains true to its roots and its ultimate goal of preparing students for success in school, work, and life. Through the implementation of innovative Apple technologies, students are able to showcase their digital media skills and are better prepared for higher education, employment and entrepreneurship in digital media-related industries.

Rep. Jo Jordan (Waianae, Makaha, Makua) recently spoke with Candy Suiso, Executive Director of Searider Productions, on an episode of Jordan's Journal. The episode may be viewed below and on Rep. Jordan's Vimeo account.

Hawaii Micro Robotics Bipedal Robot Workshop

The 2nd Hawaii Micro Robotics Bipedal Robot Workshop will be held August 25-26 at Hawaii Community College in Hilo. The workshop is designed to stimulate high technology education and assist in creating a technically capable workforce by developing the infrastructure and skill sets necessary to support high technology robotics-based activities as programs for potentially larger efforts, and, as a result, increasing the number of students who have access to micro robotics, a program that is transitional between high school and college.

Elementary (grades 5, 6, enrichment), middle, and high school teachers with school robotics teams are eligible to participate in the workshop. The cost is $25 per teacher or adult mentor and includes 2 lunches. A bipedal kit will be provided for each registered participant and participants are encouraged to bring a laptop computer for programming their biped robot, and, if possible, an Android phone or tablet.

The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel has a special rate of $92 per night for a room that accommodates up to 4 people (a reservation form can be found and downloaded at the bottom of the page).

The event is sponsored by Friends of Hawai'i Robotics, University of Hawai'i Hawai'i Community College, Waiakea High Robotics, Hawai'i Nasa Space Grant Consortium, and Easybotics. Further details and the application form can be found below.

2012 Bipedal Robot Workshop

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel Reservation Form

Minnesota's Automated House Chamber

From the land that first brought us scotch tape and Wheaties cereal, Minnesota's House Communications Office has put together a series of videos on YouTube about their history and innovations over the years. The Minnesota House Chamber has had a form of electronic voting since the 1930's. The electric voting boards are the original ones installed in the House and Senate from that time. Amazing!

Technology Tax Credits - Will they stay or will they go?

Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business & Military Affairs/Committee on Economic Development and Technology
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 9:00 a.m – Capitol Auditorium

Informational Briefing – Act 221/Act 215 Overview of the benefits and disadvantages of the technology tax credits.

Overview:
Lisa Gibson, President of Hawaii Science & Technology Council

Benefits:
David Watamull, CEO, Cardax Pharmaceuticals
Henk Rogers, Chairman, Blue Planet Software
Reb Bellinger, VP Makai Ocean Engineering
Jason Lau, President, Talk Story
Darren Kimura, CEO, Sopogy

Disadvantages:
Linda Smith, Senior Advisor

Future of Act 221:
Bill Spencer, Hawaii Venture Capital Association
Steven Loui, CEO, Navatek
Mealani Parish, Mechanical Engineer, Navatek
Scott Yamashita, Hydro Dynamic Engineer, Navatek

The death of the press release?

Government PR is no different from the rest of the field. When technology advances, legislatures need to advance with it, or face disconnection with the people they serve. Governing magazine's blog, the 13th floor, posted a story on what Ric Cantrell and the Utah Senate is up to. Ric is who we turned to as well when we pondered the wisdom of starting our blog.

They actually have a webcam in the Senate President's office, and have turned to Twitter, blogging, and instant text messages to get information out to the media and others. Last on the list, and a question mark at that, is doing the standard press release.

Real-time survey -- from phone to net -- on controversial issues

Rep. Tom Brower recently launched an Oahu-wide survey on four controversial issues --tax rebate, death with dignity, civil unions and rail transit -- on his personal legislative website.

So, how does the survey work? An automated telephone poll will randomly contact over 50,000 registered voters over a 10-day period that began on April 1, posing the following questions:

1. If there were a $100 tax rebate, would you want the money back or would you let the state use it for construction and repairs?

2. Should terminally ill patients be allowed to die with physicians assistance?

3. Should Hawaii legally recognize civil union partnerships for same sex couples?

4. Do you support a rail transit system in Hawaii?


You can also take the survey online at here.


I gave it a test drive a few minutes ago. After clicking on the survey link, the website prompts you to type in a 7-digit telephone number. I inputted my cell phone number and started the survey. Less than a minute later, after submitting my survey, real-time results were displayed. You can also see the results of the the survey without taking it here.

The internet survey has an approximate 28.0 percent margin of error, which is a given since anyone around the world can go online and type in any number from the Oahu phonebook to take the survey. So far, only 12 people have taken the survey online.

On the other hand, the telephone surveys that get calculated automatically on the website has an average 4.2 percent margin of error.

Here are the results of the phone survey, out of 499 responses, as of 11:41 a.m.:

• 57.9 percent of respondents would want their tax rebate of $100 back.


• 66.5 percent of respondents say that physician assisted death should be legal.


• Civil union votes are split with 43.3 percent of respondents saying yes to same sex couples being recognized in a civil union, and 41.3 percent saying no.


• Support for the rail transit system is also split with 47.3 percent opposing the rail and 43.1 percent in support.

Committee must decide between two tech plan bills

Because of the rapid expansion of science and high tech industries in Hawaii, two similar bills have been proposed to establish a task force to develop concrete technology plans that would create a prosperous future for high tech industries as well as the economy.

Most of the testifiers at the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns hearing this morning for the two bills, HB2931 and HB3360, had mix feelings about the language of both bills.

Here are my notes on the views of the testifiers:

• HB2931 would be a better vehicle for the proposal because the plan would be subject to automatic review and updated every two years.
• The task force should represent private sectors in the high tech and science industries.
• There must be a working relationship between research, government and private sectors for this type of task force to benefit Hawaii.
• An 18-member task force would be too large.
• A member should be appointed or nominated based on their vision of the plan, rather than their position or stature.
• Outside industry professionals who aren't familiar with Hawaii should not be part of the task force.
• HB2931 should be amended to include science in the task force and master plan name because technology and scientific sectors are converging.
• The committee should consider whether it is good policy to exempt the task force in HB3360 from the Sunshine Law.

The Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns decided to wait until Thursday before making a decision on the future of the bills.

They will probably stick with one bill and address the concerns of the makeup of the task force, said Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita, committee chair.

World Wide What?

Chances are, 16 years ago, you never even heard of the world wide web. Now it is one of the primary ways we communicate with each other and receive news and information. August 2007 will be the 16th anniversary of the web, and Hawaii has taken its first step toward achieving statewide internet access through the passage of HB310. The bill was introduced by Rep. Kyle Yamashita, chair of the House committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns. This bill establishes the Hawaii Broadband Task Force with an appropriation of $50,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008. Their mandate is to develop a long-term strategy to offer affordable internet access and promote broadband usage statewide. The task force will provide their findings and recommendations to the 2008 and 2009 Legislatures.