Pimp my Surface

A few months ago Microsoft asked us to be a dev partner for their big ass table (more commonly known as Surface).

Surface, recently made popular with the porno Harrah’s made, has been around for a few years.  In 2001, two highly respected folks @ Microsoft were brainstorming about an interactive table that allowed them to blend physical and virtual worlds when the Surface concept was born.  Microsoft started selling the unit to commercial venues in 2007 and we recently had the opportunity to become a dev partner. So is Surface for you?

mmm…I don’t know….are you an iPhone fanatic? If you’re reading my blog, chances are you’re reading it from the tinyurl link embedded in my facebook status that you’ve just opened with the FB application on your iPhone ;->

Do you like the HP TouchSmart?

Are you geeked out as much as me to where wish you could touch everything (from holographic touch walls appearing in your office to touch appliances to control panels that can control your iHouse)?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you’ll LOVE the Surface unit.  There is a hefty price tag and is not currently available for you to buy at the retail channel but you can always come visit at our office to get awed by the fascinating technology nicely packaged into this 150 lb monster.  I’m lucky to have one at my house (soon to be iHouse).

Surface, with it’s multi-touch platform, vectorized zoom, projection technology and massive real estate is solving a number of problems.  It is being used by MSNBC for electoral applications.  It is being used in Biotech to simulate transplant surgeries.  But most important of them all, Surface seems to have solved the biggest problem in Vegas.  Since meeting and hooking up with random people in Vegas has always been a challenge (not), and constantly led to declined sales and travel, Surface has built a “Flirt” application to help you out. On your next trip to Vegas, make Surface your virtual wingman by trying to Flirt at Rio’s iBar.

With the myriad of useless demo applications that presently exist, we’ve been thinking of showing our wild, creative side and create a few sexy applications for Surface.  Question still remains…How can I pimp my Surface?

Stereotyping is okay….

I’m one of those guys (NO, not one of them ordinary Joe the plumbers but one) who has a new obsession every year.  From driving a motorcycle to becoming a skydiving instructor, I’ve “attempted” to do it all.  These are short term obsessions - give me 6 months with anything and I’m saying peace out.  The latest of these short term obsessions is Photography.

For a while I thought TMZ was the inspiration but it’s deeper than that ;-)  I’ve had my SLR for a while and know wikipedia definitions of aperture, ISO and a few others.  So it just felt right upgrading the lens to shoot better images.  I found a few steals online and decided to call support at each of these stores to make sure “in stock” means they have it ready to ship.

I just called EIGHT camera stores and they are all closed till Thursday.  Then I looked at the updates on their websites to see that ALL of them are closed for a jewish holiday, Sukkot.  All of them!!

Often times in Bekeley, Indians are clowned for owning all the copy stores (Take that you corporate Kinko’s b***h!).  I love the clowning and couldn’t agree more - our peeps do own most of them (what’s up Krishna?) and seems like we love to copy and fax right on University Ave before we grab some food at Viks.

But today I realized that Jewish folks must own a shit load of camera stores!  I mean do the math - 8 stores, randomly came up on google search for a telephoto lens, all in the east coast, all closed for Sukkot. Needless to say, this gives me a solid comeback next time any of my Jew peeps clown the copy stores.

So would it be wrong if I used the Jew Camera store joke? No…. I think it’s okay to stereotype when it is humorous, when you can share it quietly and privately with your friends and not mean any harm (unless you are South Park).  Admit it, we’ve all yelled at the bad asian driver with tiny eyes, we’ve all clowned the funny Indian guy’s accent who smelled like curry…and as long as it means humor not harm, it’s okay.

I wish I could write more on this subject but it’s been a long day. And it’s time for me to get back to my computer so I can read random tech blogs while I watch Obama eat fried chicken on ABC.

Update 1> Kinko’s I’d like to apologize for comments I made above.  I forgot I have a few FedEx packages going overseas this week, and hopefully one coming in from a Jewish store in NYC ;->

Need a host for your party? Call me

Or maybe think twice :->

Lately I end up finding myself serving endless bottles of champagne and wine, each time a friend throws a party. Yesterday, it happened again.

It’s mostly in good fun. I like to make sure the bubbly keeps floating while the real hosts try to get a breather. It’s good and bad - good because guests get their drinks replenished every few minutes; bad because if I’m serving, you’d better have bought enough alcohol to stock up a mini Bevmo. If your alcohol supplies don’t match the earthquake-survival-water supplies in your basement, you WILL run out.

But as you enjoy the drinks, laugh and appreciate how I can tirelessly keep it coming (while at the same time worry how your guests might get hammered), I want to share how there is a science to this madness and I seem to have perfected it!! Today is the day where I reveal this hidden science. You want to make sure that no one drinks too much. If I see someone gulping it down, I would usually fill their glass half way or less. And when I spot the ones that are obviously sipping slowly and trying to pretend their first glass is a 4th refill, I make a quick judgement call based on some Physics I learned during the toughest year of Computer Science.

By evaluating the resistance [R = ] of the guest who says no, the velocity they say no with (Velocity) and the angular momentum [ ] they use to raise their hand while saying no, I use the Black Hole Temperature equation to determine the heat and radioactive frequency being omitted from their hand to quickly calculate if the no means a “3 drinks and I’m feelin woozy” or “bring it on son, I just need a little push”. It sounds pretty simple but when your Prosecco is tilted at 64 degrees and you have less than 2 seconds to pour or retract, it takes a pro to make a quick decision and do the right thing. Remember it is a science as much as it is art.  Once you have perfected the skill, all your guests will have a great time and still be able to drive home safe.

My 2 favorite charities

Last night I had a chance to visit one of the greatest non-profits founded by south east asians.  Project Ahimsa is a global effort to empower youth through music.  I’ve known about the organization for almost a year but haven’t had the opportunity to attend one of their events until last night.

From an ethnic chic dress code, to the charity auction, to the AMAZING talent of music and dance we got to see thoughout the night, it was fascinating.  Of course there is nothing like wine paring Pinot Grigio with Indian grub :-)

We raised a combined total of $7K last night and that will go a long way in transforming the lives of several kids. If you are looking to join a charity, I definitely recommend Project Ahimsa.  You can contribute as a volunteer, teacher or simply be a passive donator. Big ups to Archie and Vijay Chatta for organizing the event last night and thanks Deepa for being our host.

Another great non-profit is Plan USA.  My cousins introduced me to this organization 3-4 years ago and I love it!  For $25/month you can become a sponsor and make a difference in the life of a child.  I’ve been sponsoring Shivani for the last few years. Shivani lives in Bihar ( a rural state in India).  Last year, I had a chance to visit Shivani and her family.  You know you’re going to a neighborhood in the heart of poverty when your parents (born and raised in India) ask you to “be careful”.

I made the trip and loved it!  The director of the local PlanUSA partner organization (Adithi) received me at the airport and we spent a half day sight seeing.  The next morning, him and a few other volunteer workers drove me to these slums that had schools made out of brick and mud. I have to admit - it was tough walking in these areas for an OCD like me (who purell’s after filling up gas) but  I received so much love and respect that it was totally worth it. We spent all day in the life of Shivani - from her life at home to her life at school, I got a pretty good idea that the small amount I had been sending was being used well.

I’ve attached a few moving photos from my trip. Hopefully it gives you some inspiration to give back. We’re young, we’re succesful, and even in a downturn I feel blessed.  You can make a huge impact in the life of a child for money you’d spend on 2 glasses of wine or a decent meal.  You don’t have to actively participate if you don’t have time; you don’t have to join one of these organizations I recommend but every now and then, just take the time to give back.  Trust me it feels good!

Social Networking for Non-Profits…huh

I have to admit - I’m a procrastinator.  I haven’t started prepping for a speaking event at Craigslist Foundation tomorrow ;->

But once I started putting my thoughts on paper, I was actually impressed with what I had come up with in a few minutes.  I’ve presented at several events but it has mostly been to fortune 500’s and startups. Not only does presenting at a non-profit makes me feel I’m giving something back, the topic I picked is now starting to fascinate me.

Nonprofits and other Organizations are beginning to understand the importance of building and nurturing online communities. Here are a few stories.

• Interplast - a non profit dedicated to providing free life changing reconstructive surgeries to children and adults in several parts of the world.  And one of the online communities they have used to promote their cause is Flickr. FLICKR - you mean the photo upload site where I dump the 100 or so uselsess photos everytime I get excited about my SLR? Yes.  Interlpast is using flickr since 2005 to share photos of their pre and post reconstructive surgeries and realized the power of tagging.  Tagging of their photos enables them to raise awareness, meet with potential supporters and promote their cause.  Wow!
• Prop 8 - Without fundamentally disagreeing about a no or a yes,  “subjectively” it’s a No on Prop 8 for me.  One of the first things I saw this morning was a facebook page to petition against Prop 8 and a way to donate money towards that cause.  While I stay active in charities and sponsorships and support a No on the proposition, I would have never donated any money to this cause if not for the Facebook email notification I received.  This simple notification was a petition to Facebook friends asking to donate $19 (or more) to help support a no on Prop 8.  But the accessibility of someone reminding me to offer support for a good cause and more importantly making it quick and easy for me to donate led me to finish the donation in under 90 seconds.  Once again, proving how online communities like Facebook are helping organizations to increase visibility, gather donations and promote their cause.
• Kiva - “Loans that change lives”.  This is a stand alone community that has empowered users to act as lenders. With an internet connection, $25 and a credit card, Kiva allows YOU to lend money to deserving entreprenuers across the globe.  Only a few years old, Kiva has allowed people to loan a combined total of 40 million dollars.  40 million dollars that would have never made it in the hands of deserving people world wide.

The list of these success stories goes on.  If you run a non-profit or other organization, remember -  communities don’t grow because you hire six figure salaried PR reps or run mulit-million dollar ad campaigns.  Your job is to take a passionate group of people, give them the tools and nurturing they need or are asking for, and then get out of their way!

Building communities online is very similar to building communities where we live – people seem to forget that.

More to come tomorrow….

Just want to share this with you…My Friends

Brown girls on Joe’s of the world

via Devis with Babies