It seems like people are starting to get over their Big Brother feelings about RFID (radio frequency identification) technology for meetings, at least according to this article in the Boston Globe.

Dayton Semerjian, executive vice president of marketing and alliances at Concord Communications, a $100 million Marlborough company that helps clients manage their technology infrastructure, networks, and applications, said his firm rented several hundred nTAGs for a company-sponsored gathering last month that drew 300 executives and technology representatives from 70 firms. Each participant received an nTAG.

”At first, it was a little awkward,” said Semerjian. ”You felt as if you were at a ‘Star Trek convention or something, but the value of the device quickly became evident. People who typically would stay with only the people they knew were going around and talking to customers and sharing information about our company. In terms of getting an event kicked off and getting people integrated socially, it was wonderful”…

The device also collects data, giving convention planners, exhibitors, and participants real-time access to attendance and other information that can take days to collect. Meeting planners can find out what sessions participants liked best. Employers can figure out how many clients networked with the company marketing staff, or how clients reacted to their products, and why. The nTAGs also have the capability to store conference agenda information and grab business-card data.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, I think these are here to stay. Actually, I hope some of our industry associations use the technology for their upcoming meetings–I’d love to check it out in person!

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Sorry for the OT post, but this is such a great idea I had to share. According to an article in the New York Times:

I.B.M. plans today to announce a project to harness untapped computing power from millions of personal computers to help unlock the genetic mysteries of illnesses like AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, malaria and cancer.

The project, called the World Community Grid, was developed in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the United Nations and other organizations, and represents a significant step in the use of the Internet to foster collaborative scientific research. The goal is to combine computer resources and the shared knowledge of researchers to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery…To succeed, the community grid project will require a willingness by millions of volunteers to contribute the unused computing capacity of their personal computers…

Researchers wishing to take advantage of the grid must agree to keep their research and software tools in the public domain…

Those wishing to join the grid project and donate computer time will be able to download software from a Web site, www.worldcommunitygrid.org. When the machine is turned on but not in use, the program will use it as part of the computing grid.

OK, so my computer’s been searching for ETs for a long time through the SETI@home program. While my stash of Reese’s Pieces still goes un-munched by extraterrestrial mouths, I still think this is a worthwhile project. But I think I’m going to switch my unused computer power to a cause that’s a little closer to home after hearing about this one.

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This horror story courtesy of eTurbo News:

With fear factor being cranked to its highest level hoping to deter criminals from committing illegal activities, some remain unfazed. The airline warning couldn’t have been any clearer: You are being watched from the moment you deplane. While this seems to work with law-abiding citizens, the same cannot be claimed about criminals. Based on a recent experience at the Washington Dulles International Airport, criminals go on their illegal means right under the Transportation Security Administration’s watch.

After clearing Customs on a recent flight from London, I made my way through the transit security checkpoint. Mindful that the line was getting longer, I decided to try get through as fast as I possibly could. With my laptop in one tray, backpack in another, souvenir bag in another, shoes and jacket along with my passport and boarding pass in another; I knew I had to be quick. Never mind putting my passport in my pocket, it will be safe in the tray. I was sadly mistaken.

After passing through the metal detector, I quickly put everything back in place. Then I realized my passport and my boarding pass were missing. My first instinct told me it must be in my bag, it wasn’t. In my jacket, wasn’t there either. My passport was gone in a blink.

Now comes the really scary part, where the writer attempts to wriggle through red tape to get someone–anyone–to help him recover his stolen passport.

Lessons I learned from this story: Keep your passport safely on your bod throughout the security process, don’t ever let your guard down, and don’t depend on TSA or anyone else to keep you and your belongings safe. Oh yeah, and write to your representatives about your feelings on the job TSA is doing to keep our airports safe.
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