TMCnet News
Technological advances seen as tools [Reading Eagle, Pa.](Reading Eagle (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 03--Tammy Mitgang's the head of the local Jewish Federation. She likes to travel and she has a family member who works at Boscov's. And here's a map of her neighborhood, with her house highlighted. Technology consultant Amy Webb found all of these details by using websites such as Spokeo, she showed a stunned audience Wednesday. With new facial-recognition software and other technology, you can start with a photo and accurately identify the subject and predict his or her Social Security number. "Which is kind of scary," Webb said. But there are many tools available to mine that data and use it to connect, teach and engage people. Webb is chief executive of Webbmedia Group, an international digital strategy firm. She was the keynote speaker Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Berks County Community Foundation, held at Reading Area Community College's Miller Center for the Arts. In addition to assessing a few local business websites, Webb talked about things like mobile scanning, social proximity networks and refined searches. Webb suggested QR codes are a good way to give people more information but the information needs to be current and must work on most phones or it's not helpful. The codes, which have been described as bar codes on steroids, can be scanned and decoded with smartphones. Webbmedia created a game at a recent journalism conference with more than 400 QR codes that linked to trivia and prizes. More than 80 percent of conference attendees played the game. The prizes were the only cost, Webb said. Community foundation supporters can create scavenger hunts, educate people and have fun with the new technology, she said. Facial-recognition software has become more popular as more and more applications are released. While there are privacy concerns, Webb suggested people could use this technology instead of time cards. A fundraising idea could show people what local celebrity they look like. Social proximity tools can be helpful, too. Nerd Nearby will find the closest geek and StreetSpark is a dating app that will find people nearby who have similar interests and map their location. These tools can be used at a conference booth or in a community game, Webb said. She also gave several search alternatives, like Helioid, which organizes color-coded results and Knodes, which searches your social networks. Webb advised the crowd to be careful with information posted online. She uses 50 different email addresses and doesn't mix her public and private personas. Before Webb spoke, foundation President Kevin K. Murphy announced a $335,000 donation from Customers Bank, Wyomissing, to build the business jump-start center at the community foundation's headquarters in Reading. The foundation issues grants to the community, helps people achieve their charitable goals and manages money set aside for charitable purposes. Last year, the foundation distributed $2.3 million from more than 350 grant and scholarship funds, Murphy said. Contact Erin Negley: 610-371-5047 or [email protected]. ___ (c)2011 the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.) Visit the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.) at readingeagle.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |