We all dream. We dream for ourselves and we dream for the greater good. Making those dreams reality requires the coordination of many details. For the technology com
munity in Columbus Ohio, one of those requirements - encouragement and advice - occurred on October 10, 2008. At 2.Ohio, the tech community heard from Reid Hoffmam, Judy Estrin, Mike Nelson and Craig Newmark. The community received not only specific advice on how innovation occurs but how technology policy impacts innovation. We also received ideas on how we, as a local tech community, can work towards establishing ourselves as a recognized tech city.
Judy Estrin discussed the big picture of how innovation occurs, all the pieces that are necessary for it to occur and how there is not currently a fertile environment for innovation. Her comments spoke to the community and to individuals. They spoke to what each entrepreneur must do to ensure success while also speaking to the issue of a region creating an environment in which tech entrepreneurs will flourish.
Reid Hoffman defined the importance of social networks, how innovation does not occur in a vacuum. His comments also spoke to both the individual and the community. Each of us as individuals rely upon each other for so much: support, introductions, intellectual stimulation, finding a job, finding employees, building a company, building an idea. His comments support the need for additional interaction within the local tech community.
Mike Nelson gave us concrete examples of how Senator Obama is integrating technology into his campaign, his planned administration, and the future of the country. Mike was careful to note that technology is not only important to the technology industry, it is important to all industries and the citizenry.
We as the tech community must not wait for the government to get around to taking action on the issues that are important to us. There are things we can do now.
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Broadband - We can demand the broadband we need. Innovation does not always occur in an enterprise park where fiber has been laid or in one of our great institutions. It occurs in home offices and small businesses. We can demand residential broadband at the speeds we need. We can demand competitive broadband prices. Compared to other countries, we are paying more for less speed.
- Environment - We have pieces of a growing tech community - strong tech association, networking events, growing social media use. We can determine what we are missing. This conversation is beginning to happen. Add to it. What do you think is missing? 2.Ohio added the tech policy piece to our discussion. Its up to us to keep it going.
