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REPOST – FEBRUARY 6, 2012 11:52 AM

First Diversity Mixer Held at CES 2012

An event for minorities sheds light on the dearth of blacks with jobs in technology

by Marcia Wade Talbert Posted: January 31, 2012

Attendees network at the first diversity mixer for the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (File: Source)

January 12  marked the first diversity mixer to be held during the International Consumer Electronics Show. The event, dubbed The Hub, and held at the Palms Hotel, stood apart from the shows megawatt, over the top deluge of new product announcements, device demos, and gadget glorification.

Organized by Lindsey C. Holmes, owner of LCH Business SM & Tech, LLC and with help from adjunct Rutgers University professor of digital media, Kaia Niambi Shivers, the mixer sought to discuss ways to encourage minorities to pursue an education in science and provide a platform to showcase minority companies at a conference where their presence seems to be absent.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

 

After the annual Rainbow Push Wall Street Project Economic Summit, Reverend Jesse Jackson took some time for an inquisitive young lady, me, at the Rainbow Push Gala Fundraiser. He gave me some unscripted insight on the state of affairs in America, including the treatment of our President, and his depiction as “The Food Stamp President,” the Economy, and the evolution of The South.

In the words of Rev. Jackson,  ’Keep Hope Alive…’ Happy Black History Month to you!

Sidebar: Reverend Jackson is so humble – he cleared an area of the kitchen for our interview. Also, what a gifted orator! Try getting 4 minutes of a non-stop monologue from me while the Electric Slide is on at my party!

 

Yes, we’re still talking about The Consumer Electronics Show (CES). How can we not, when our lives are in an absolute tailspin the second week out of every year, as we learn the latest in innovation, cool and the technology that will change the world. This year was a little different however. Faced with the ongoing challenge to spread some diversity in tech, we held the first ‘Diversity Mixer at CES.’ We had a great turnout, the networking was seamless, and we got just a little closer to our goal of inclusion in this field we love so much.

Check out video from the mixer and click here for more on how you can get involved with our Diversity in Consumer Electronics initiatives.

 

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This video features Recording Artist and Director of Creative Innovation for Intel, Will I AM. While unveiling Intel’s new Ultrabooks,™ he shows his disdain for music leaches… AKA this whole SOPA deal… In my opinion, times change. You won’t always be able to monetize things in the same way… Find another way. A la rapper T.Pain’s brilliant usage of the mobile app to sell his music. Check out my favorite T-Pain app here. Warning, it is addictive.

 

Diversity in tech is not a debate or even a quandary. Diversity is tech. In order for tech to exist and thrive, it must be used, tweaked, approved then distributed by the people―all people. Technology is the fundamental force that pushes societies to connect while growing and aiming to operate in its fullest potential.

From sophisticated cotton gins to holographic keyboards, technology is an extension of us―all of us. Unfortunately, technology has been imagined as some abstract, barely attainable resource that is born out the labs of geeky white and Asian kids who are funded by greedy, middle-aged, uber-wealthy capitalists.

Not.

Though diversity is tech, it is essential to give naysayers an understanding of not only why diversity matters in tech, but why tech cannot subsist without diversity.

1. Diverse perspectives cultivate more effective and efficient technology. One worldview did not create the world and will not cure it of its issues. Technology that reaches more people and can be applied from an angle that understands the complexities of individuality has a better and quicker chance of being embedded and enhanced by the population it serves.

2. Recognizing diversity in tech provides a platform for needed leadership and innovative ideas to bring solutions to age-old problems that much of these crusty bureaucrats cannot wrap their heads around.

3. Listening and acknowledging the diversity in consumers enhances the tech product. The different ways of life generate a multiplicity of ways in engaging and implementing technology. What a wonderful world it would be if companies really paid attention to its diverse population of users instead of categorizing populations.

4. If we were as exclusive about tech 30 years ago, the way we do today, the best tech geniuses that have come from “disenfranchised,” “at-risk,” and “uneducated” backgrounds (eg Steve Jobs) would not stand a chance.

5. If we continue to be socially and monetarily exclusive in tech like we were 60 years ago, we might just allow another Charles R. Drew to invent a life-changing machine, only to die when they need it the most

 

I attended #StartupDebut last night, where small tech startups get to unveil their latest and greatest, without the typical hefty Consumer Electronics Show (CES) vendor fee. I was most impressed, and the event trumped some of the innovations at CES pre-show ‘CES Unveiled‘ in my opinion. I met PJ Gurumohan, Founder of Genwi Wireless (Generation Wireless) and his Director of Products, Raju Sagiraju who definitely isn’t your shabbiest small business development company, with new iPad apps coming out for Moguldum Media Group’s Bossip and Madame Noire blog properties, AD Week and more.

PJ walked me through their custom app builder that allows small to major brands to create apps, utilizing their own design concept and with a monthly subscription price. This kind of do-it-yourself app design ideal or as we in the industry refer to as ‘cookie-cutter apps,’ isn’t new, in fact, Apple began to ban these types of apps a few years ago, as most didn’t comply with iOS standards and guidelines, and most were simply glorified web apps… GENWI, is unique in that their custom builder (CMS) resembles more of a WordPress CMS, with standard design templates, which are actually kind of nice, plugin options, and the coolest features of all – the ability to update your app in real time, and a funky geo-location (map) feature for news reader apps that allow subscribers to interact with others viewing an article at the same time… Seriously?! I was GEEK-ed out by these guys’ creative, innovation and keen sense of content development, management and social interaction that should be in most apps, but definitely in the apps of business.

Bossip’s iPad app is currently in the Appstore, and is a colorful smorgasbord of news for the digital hoarder in you.

More coming on CES… Follow closely. I’m also on Twitter @lindseycholmes.

 

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