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Gov Signs Tech Bill c.a.l.e.n.d.a.rDigital Television Transition Forum Nten Webinar
Online Direct Marketing 101:
Fundamental Case Studies Nten Webinar
Online Direct Marketing 201:
Advanced Case Studies Nten Webinar
Choosing and Using Free and Open Source Software Seattle Green Festival Join People for Puget Sound and the Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines at the weekend celebration of the Earth in the Emerald City. Green products and services, more than 350 exhibits, see and hear more than 125 speakers on five stages.
digital tv
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free internet
Free cable broadband Internet service is available for organizations providing technology training to community members. The free service is offered the within the Seattle city limits, based on the City's cable franchise agreements with Comcast and Broadstripe (Millennium). For more information and to download a short form to make application, go to our tech web. If you have questions, email Derrick Hall or call (206) 233-5061.
archives
Back issues of Brainstorm including techtips and linkage are now available in our online archives. Previous TechTips and Linkage are also available. Click to revisit all previous issues.
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Greg Nickels, Mayor Department of Information Technology BILL SCHRIER chief technology officer GARY GIBSON director, office of electronic communications DAVID KEYES manager, community technology program staff  D.H. CASS MAGNUSKI editor |
governor signs technology bill
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The state Communities Connect Network (CCN) was instrumental in providing expertise to policymakers on the needs and impact of community technology in the state. Research by the University of Washington for CCN, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, showed the importance of community technology learning centers to individuals, families and communities, with more than one million visits per year. The most compelling arguments for legislation were presented by the community technology providers from around the state, some of whom participated in CCN messaging training prior to testifying.
The community technology legislation was supported by a broad constituency, including the Washington Technology Industry Association and the City of Seattle. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) played a major role in advancing the broadband planning effort. Seattle Representative Zack Hudgins led the effort towards passage of the final bill with Rep. John McCoy. Rep. Claudia Kauffman sponsored the community tech bill and Sen. Kohl-Welles sponsored the initial broadband legislation. This historic legislation was really made possible by many in the legislature and governor’s office and caring providers, clients and supporters across the state.
See the final legislation here, and more on our home page, and at the Communities Connect site.
artworks reaches rainier valley
 Flag designed by student at Rainier Community Center |
ArtWorks has expanded their graphic design program to reach deeper into the community of those they serve. Widely acclaimed for creating the murals in the SODO district, Artworks offers at-risk youth a chance to create public artwork. Students gain art skills training, work experience, job search and application training, and team building through the creation of art.
ArtWorks offered graphic design training to students who had completed their mural program, but had difficulty getting youth to attend classes in their Pioneer Square studio. Most of their students were on probation in the Juvenile Justice System. The problem was compounded when the area was identified as a SODA, a "Stay Out of Drug Area" and the youth were unable to attend classes there.
Executive director Terry Pottmeyer explored other locations to conduct the classes, and settled on the Rainier Community Center, located in the Rainier Valley. The center houses a state-of-the-art computer lab with graphic design capabilities, and is part of the Associated Recreation Council's RecTech Coalition. "It's much better to hold the classes close to where our students live," according to Pottmeyer.
With funding from the Technology Matching Fund, Artworks completed the five week graphic design program at the new location. Students learned basic computer skills and graphic design along with basic job search skills from a professional instructor. They also had volunteer support from a professional graphic designer, who helped give their lessons a sense of immediacy and "real world" application.
The students extended their skills during out of school hours. They created blogs to communicate via the web, practiced basic graphic design skills, and became engaged with the wider community by creating products for real world clients. One student became so excited about graphic design work that he made a decision to sell his car and used the proceeds to purchase a laptop. Another teen said, "The experience has taught me a lot about business advertising, the dos & don'ts. I feel it will come in handy in the future." Another reported gaining skills "using Photoshop and Illustrator" and figured out "how to create business cards and letterheads, as well as how to compile a portfolio."
For more information on Artworks or upcoming classes at the Rainier Community Center, email Terry Pottmeyer or call (206) 292-4142.
myneighborhoodmap tells all
Interested in knowing what City services are being provided in your neighborhood? Curious about the crime rates for auto-theft or residential burglary? Need to check out the traffic cameras in your area to find out if you'll have a smooth commute?
The answers to these and many more questions can be found on My Neighborhood Map. Services range from historic landmarks to P-Patches to motorcycle parking spots. Impacts shows you Real-Time Fire 911 responses and traffic cameras. Statistics provides maps and charts on eight different major crimes reported by the Seattle Police Department. Suggestions for other items to include on the map are greatly appreciated. Email us and let us know.
Seattle City Councilmembers are sponsoring a Digital TV Transition Forum on April 22, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at City Hall's Council Chambers. Hosted by Councilmember Bruce Harrell, it will address questions related to digital conversion of television broadcasting signals. On February 17, 2009, all television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to digital broadcasting. This switch represents the most significant change in television since color TV. Digital broadcasting delivers a better picture, better sound, more programming choices, and will free up frequencies for public safety communications. However, it is estimated that 20 percent of Seattle residents use non-cable analog TV and will be affected by this transition. The forum will include a panel of experts that will explain the options, who will be affected, how to purchase and hook up a converter box, where to get converter-box coupons, and how to responsibly dispose of an old TV. In addition, the impact on the media will be addressed.
come to the digital tv forum
Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council are seeking two candidates for the Citizens' Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB). The 16-member Board advises City officials on issues of community-wide interest relating to telecommunications and technology, including community access, digital divide issues and cable TV. The Board is involved in cable franchising renewal and in the Technology Matching Fund. CTTAB members represent a broad range of professional and community experience and perspectives. CTTAB seeks to be representative of the cultural diversity of the Seattle community. Letters of interest and resumes need to be submitted to Jill Novik by April 15, 2008. See more info here.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a way of making search engines more likely to find your site and list it higher. SEO has been around since the mid 90’s when companies started offering to register web sites with the search engines. The search engines would categorize your website by looking at the hidden keywords in the web page. As SEO methods developed, so did the search engines. In response to sites flooding their pages with irrelevant keywords so that their sites would pop up in searches, the search engine companies started reading and weighing sites in several other ways as well. Now, for example, Google looks at hundreds of different signals to determine relevancy. Here are the top three things that you need to do to ensure your site shows up well in search engines:
cttab board members sought
t.e.c.h.t.i.p
search engine optimization
Meta tags are hidden lines of code that include keywords, short content descriptions and other information about a site.
While it is helpful to have graphics for users to see, it is also good not to have too many on your pages as search engines when they spider your site can’t read into them. When putting graphics on your page, be sure to include the alternative text (“alt” tags) that describe the graphics. When you do this you’re making your site available both to users with visual disabilities and to search engines.
Links:
Meta tag generator
Information on Meta tags
Search Engine Optimization
10 Steps to being found on Search Engines
d.o.l.l.a.r.s
Tech Soup Stock
Deadline: Ongoing
Distributes donated and deeply discounted technology products to eligible nonprofits and public libraries in a supportive, educational environment.
The May and Stanley Smith Trust
Deadline: Ongoing
Provides grants to organizations that serve the needs of children, the elderly, the disabled, and the disadvantaged. The trust awards grants nationally for equipment, general operating support, program support, capacity building, and tuition assistance up to $6,000.
Seattle Youth Arts Grants
Deadline: April 28
Funds out-of-school time arts training programs for Seattle middle- and high-school youth. Funds and technical assistance from this program help experienced teaching artists lead training programs and projects in all arts disciplines, ranging from the traditional arts to theater to film and media. Priority is placed on serving youth or communities with limited or no access to the arts.
l.i.n.k.a.g.e
earth month
As April is Earth Month, the focus is on e-cycling and environmentally healthy alternatives.
Recycling computers:
InterConnection.org
Looking for a place to recycle your old computer and/or purchase a gently used laptop or desktop computer? InterConnection refurbishes recycled computers and through an innovative training and learning center, educates volunteers and sells these computers at greatly reduced prices to nonprofits and low income people both locally and abroad.
Healthy Toys
See the results of chemical tests on toys, learn about the chemicals and take action
New Carpooling Resource:
Ready, Set Goose
For on-the-go carpooling options with no strings attached, check out Seattle’s Goose.
sub/unsub
To subscribe or unsubscribe to Brainstorm, please email us, and we'll add you to our email notification list, or subtract you per your request. If you have ideas for future stories, please let us know and we'll try to accommodate them. We encourage you to visit the City of Seattle's Community Tech pages, seattle.gov/tech.