One of the threads in our conversation with the City about digital access is how to use SMS (text messaging) to help connect people to resources.

Personally, I see text messaging as a big trend.  But I may have a slanted view of the world: I have a 12-year-old.  :-)

Now, the news today is that New York City's "Crime Stoppers" bureau has set up a system to accept police tips using text messaging (1-800-577-TIPS). "Teenagers, and young adults in particular, do a lot of text-messaging when, obviously, from their phones they could be speaking to one another.  But they engage in texting. That it may appeal to someone who wants to provide information in a text form as opposed to talking."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/nyregion/07text.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss 

Duh! LOL. ;-) 

UPDATE 9/30/08 - in a PHENOMENAL breakthrough, the Chicago Tribune has now integrated SMS into its want ads, with QuickFind and QuickText. Instead of the old way, where you have to plow through pages and pages of want ads, you can now see all the available positions in a 2-page spread, in a very easy to skim format, and then text the # of the position you're interested in to the Trib (Careerbuilder). They text back to you - with the full low-down of the position. You can follow up by applying online.

For instance, I looked under Information Technology and saw that Hyland Software in Chicago has a position open for a Solution Engineer. I texted the # to the Trib, and within 1 second had this information back on my phone:

IT and Business Professionals
Chicago
F 440-788-4898
Hyland Software, Inc.
developer of the OnBase ECM software product, is aggressively seeking self motivated, IT-oriented workflow engineers, software implementation staff and business analysts. To apply for this job, visit http://d2c.chicagotribune.com/CB313498 . For more info via email, reply with your email address.

This is part of the Trib's updated design and aggressive modernization of its communications platform. Great to see!

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

If you want to see something amazing, check out the new Google tool called Insights.

Here's an example: a comparison of searchs in the US on Joomla vs. Drupal, 2004 to present:

http://google.com/insights/search/#cat=&q=joomla%2Cdrupal&geo=US&date=&clp=&cmpt=q

 In the line graph, you can see Joomla overtaking Drupal . . . .

What's even more fascinating: toggle between "subregion" and "city" and notice how much stronger Joomla is in the Southeast (Florida, etc.) vs. Drupal in the Northeast and Midwest . . . and Oregon (?) .    And would somebody please explain to me all the activity in Utah??? 

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

We had a great session on security, led by Tom Canavan, at Joomla!EXPO in May.  It was a real eye-opener.  One of the things Tom talked about was Russian syndicates that take over networks and control thousands of individual PCs without their owners' knowledge.  Today the New York Times is reporting that one of these syndicates has been cracked wide open.

Security is a hugely important topic for the Joomla! community.  We'll cover security in monthly meetings, and at upcoming EXPO events at which Tom will be a presenter. 

In the meantime: close those extra ports and, for God's sake, change your passwords from "admin" ! 

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

The news this a.m. is that the world's journalists have shown up in Beijing to discover that they have only limited Internet access.

2008 is going to be a great Olympics - athletics-wise - but I predict it will be remembered for the way Beijing had the chance to show the world that China is in the big leagues, and instead blew it by being 50 years behind the times in terms of communications and information.

If/when the Olympics come to Chicago in 2016, you can be sure that Chicago is going to make sure everyone knows Chicago is the world's most hyper-connected city!

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

With the continuing stream of news about Facebook, I decided it was time to get with the program and join.  But first there was something I had to do . . . 

"J.T.," I said to my college-age son, "for -- ahem -- professional reasons -- I think it's time for me to get on Facebook.  I don't want you to feel uncomfortable . . . ."

"Oh, don't worry about it! That's fine . . . ," he said.  

(That went better than expected!)

"Just don't even *think* about friending me or Tip . . . ."

 :-\

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

One of the coolest things happening at the Chicago Public Library is a program where dedicated staff members help the public use the Internet at branches around the city.   They're called "cybernavigators" !  They give all kinds of assistance, ranging from simply giving a helping hand in searching the net to extended one-on-one training sessions in computer use (the latter by appointment).

To see what it's all about, get out to one of the branches near you and see the digital action. There are cybernavigators at:

• Avalon
• Bessie Coleman
• Blackstone
• Brainerd
• Brighton Park
• Canaryville
• Chicago Bee
• Chicago Lawn
• Chinatown
• Daley
• Harold Washington Library Center
• Humboldt Park
• Jeffery Manor
• Kelly
• King
• Legler
• Lincoln Belmont
• Logan Square
• Lozano
• Mabel Manning
• Marshall Square
• Portage Cragin
• Rogers Park
• Roosevelt
• Sherman Park
• South Chicago
• South Shore
• Sulzer
• Thurgood Marshall
• Toman
• Uptown
• Vodak Eastside
• West Chicago
• West Englewood
• Woodson

 

(And while you're there - check out the fancy new computer system at CPL!)

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

Anyone who has any doubts about where Chicago is headed, just check out http://ctabustracker.com  -- it shows how long until the bus arrives at your stop . . . and you can even see a map with the location of all the buses near you on your route.  (Even cooler on Blackberry.) ((And don't even talk to me about iPhone.))

It's enough to make a person with ditch their car and start using mass transit!

Update: Check out how Google helps you plan out your Chicago mass transit routes. Big coverage of this roll-out in the NY area . . . .

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

Did anybody notice that on practically the same day Anheiser Busch got bought out by InBev and St. Louis lost a major corporate citizen, Chicago announced the HQ of Miller Coors will move here?

True story:  years ago, when I was just out of college and on a business trip to visit Brown Shoe Company in St. Louis,  we were all out to lunch in some joint, and as the waitress went around the table taking drink orders, I said, "I guess I'll have a Miller . . ." and the whole room went quiet, like in one of those commercials.  Everyone was looking at me.   I wised up and said, "Uh, make that a Bud, I guess . . . " and the sound was restored.

Live and learn . . . .  Welcome to Chicago, Miller!

Joe Scarry is head project manager for Chicago Joomla web developer and web design firm Arc Technology Group.

Thought I would give this component a try since it was available.

 Currently I am working with Joomla 1.0.15 to convert departmental webpages over into a more editable format for the staff. I suggested Joomla on my experience with it on my own personal webpages as I know that it handles collaboration very well, and editting can be done by multiple people.

As usual in my job I am one of the few that actually gets things done in a timely manner and for this my go live timeframe has been bumped up to ASAP! This figures, and to add icing on the cake I am also having to, for the most part, get the site going on my own running on a Linux server. This is all fine and dandy, and I really like to learn more about Linux, but hate that I have the added pressure to not only launch this site, but now also have a crash course on Linux administration.

All of this for an under paid state worker in the deprived area of Southern Illinois...I guess at least we have about a dozen wineries I can wash away my pain.