All posts in Tech

Fathers and Futures at the Crystal City Car Show

By Rebecca Ferguson in Around Town, Green, Tech · June 17, 2013 · No comments

As families enjoying Father’s Day looked on, alternative power car enthusiasts excitedly explained the beauty of electric cars… and why they are the vehicles of the future.

crystalcitycar1 Of course, they weren’t the only car fanatics in the vicinity. The Crystal City Car Show took place in Arlington this Sunday and featured a variety of automobiles including innovative electric vehicles, classic muscle cars, area sports car auto clubs and a beer garden hosted by the Washington Wine Academy.

Dennis (at left), the owner of a hybrid Chevy Volt, tried to entice passersby to switch to an American-owned, American-powered ride with arguments that electricity is cheaper… and that the ride and handling is similar to a BMW or Audi. The only problem? “… Once you own one you will never go back to gasoline!”

As a father holding his little girl strolled by, an onlooker mused that everyone will be driving electric cars by the time she turns sixteen.

The District Dish: Betterific

By K Street Kate in People, Tech, The District Dish · June 5, 2013 · No comments

Wouldn’t it be Better If… ?! Inventions, innovations and imaginations come alive on the newest site/app available to crowdsource ideas for future production.

We dish with the co-Founder of the DC based Betterific, Micha Weinblatt, on the newest episode of The District Dish:

New in Nosh: Nara

By K Street Kate in Around Town, Eats, Tech · June 5, 2013 · No comments

Just launched for DC Tuesday, Nara is a food finder website (and mobile app, obvi!) that you can think of as Pandora and Yelp, combined. It’ll learn your tastes — literally — to form a tailored list of restaurant recommendations. And it gets smarter the more you use it.

Through Nara, a personal discovery engine, users can direct a machine learning algorithm to recognize their favorite flavors and foods for suggestions of new places near them… or anywhere across the country. Also use the app to order food via GrubHub, book a table directly using the OpenTable button, or even a car service to get you to your table on time.

The District Dish: 1776 DC

By K Street Kate in City Stuff, ideastorms, News/Updates, Tech, The District Dish · May 13, 2013 · No comments

Because 1776 is where revolutions start. 1776DC is a local revolution — changing the way start-up companies come together and use the assets of “the most powerful city in the world.” Donna Harris, co-Founder of this hot new concept and space explains more:

Blackberry and Hot Men Score a DC “10″

By K Street Kate in Around Town, Fashion/Style, Parties/Events, People, Tech · April 24, 2013 · No comments

Not all of DC Magazine‘s featured 2012 “Men of Style” are sports stars. But those that are stole the party spotlight.

Wizards’ point guard John Wall and Redskins’ wide receiver Josh Morgan — men of sport, now men of style — were on hand along with other dapper DCers tapped to represent the city’s most sartorially sophisticated late last week at Georgetown’s new Power House event space.

Washington’s most connected joined them, Verizon, Blackberry and the glossy for a celebration of fashion that also doubled as a tech-troduction.

In conjunction to the issue launch, the evening was a playful promotion for the Verizon Blackberry Z10. Guests navigated an introduction to the communications device through a series of activity stations showing the phone’s capabilities, and were led to a final gifting suite where prizes were presented — like tumblers, speakers and several Blackberry Z10 phones!

Sports stars, style stars and free stuff?! That scores a 10 on our scale.

The District Dish: Michael Zammuto, ReputationChanger.com

By K Street Kate in Dish, Press, Tech, The District Dish · April 1, 2013 · No comments

Google yourself lately? Like what you see? Ever wanted to change your online reputation?

Michael Zammuto, COO of ReputationChanger.com has the dish on how this company is helping individuals and companies take charge of the way they are portrayed online. It’s probably easier than you think to monitor, track and instantly manage an online reputation across hundreds of social media websites.

Watch to find out how you can make sure you have a positive presence online:

Use This App… And Never Look for Parking Again?!

By K Street Kate in Around Town, Dish, News/Updates, Random, Tech · March 26, 2013 · No comments

Today, DC’s largest parking operator announced an app that may mean you’ll never have to search for parking again!

Our spidey sense tells us that sounds too good to be entirely true, but Colonial Parking, in partnership with ParkMe (a provider of real time on-and-off street parking info) will, for more than 100 of their parking facilities in DC, provide real time occupancy information for their spaces. Additionally, a driver can opt for personalized parking recommendations based on the driver’s location, the type of vehicle, and duration of the their stay.

This info can be streamed to mobile phones, in-car navigation systems, GPS devices… and the Colonial Parking’s website.

Think that’s not such a big deal? Just remember, in DC alone, 90% of all commuters are estimated to work within two blocks of a Colonial parking place.

Social Media Week

By K Street Kate in Around Town, City Stuff, News/Updates, Tech · February 18, 2013 · No comments

Social Media Week 2013 (SMWWDC) starts TODAY, Monday, February 18th, appropriately kicking off its online-to-in-person programs with a Presidential Trivia Opening Party (at Penn Social) to commemorate the federal holiday in full force.

Post President’s Day, well over 100 events continue throughout the week — around town and HQ’d at the new Georgetown Powerhouse — as DC’s creative, tech and innovation communities come together to share ideas, spark conversations and be supremely social.

With a global theme of Open & Connected: Principles for a Collaborative World, SMWWDC 2013 examines the acute influence of social media on modern life all over the world. Highlights of the week include keynotes from Steve Case, Aneesh Chopra and Linda Abraham, organized community events put on by NPR, DC Comedy Writers, The Smithsonian, and Facebook, plus an end of week closing party hosted by No Kings Collective.

Best of all, most events are free! Find the week’s full schedule here.

1776 2.0: A Community Hub About Resources, Not Reenactment

By K Street Kate in Around Town, City Stuff, News/Updates, Tech · February 10, 2013 · No comments

1776? Apparently it’s about time there was another revolution.

Enter Donna Harris and Evan Burfield, founders of a community hub for entrepreneurs they call 1776. It opens (eventually) in an office building across from the Washington Post — and hopes to shake up the city about as much as post did to print.

1776 will provide space for start-up offices, community events and educational sessions: It’s essentially a gathering place for entrepreneurs, start-ups and revolutionaries of DC’s upcoming tech-tonic shift.

Fortify.vc, an early-stage investment group, is one of the first to sign on, with other start-ups invited to rent office space to work in the collaborative atmosphere. PopVox, an online political action forum, has expressed preliminary interest as well. Partnerships with local universities and embassies are coming. As are local technology events and classes on topics like social marketing.

At its “launch” party held in the space’s construction shell last week, Harris and Burfield excitedly fleshed out the soon-to-come floor plan (with design commissioned by Maggie O’Neill) to friends, colleagues and enthusiasts and explained the concept — not just a revolution for business as usual, but specifically for local industry to thrive with its proximity to the nation’s decisionmakers.

Why else would DC’s economic development officials agree to extend a $200,000 grant?

According to Mayor Vincent Gray, “The commitment of such illustrious local, national, and international stakeholders demonstrates that the District of Columbia is a vibrant hub of innovation that welcomes entrepreneurs who want to change the world.”

The District Dish: PopVox’s Rachna Choudry

By K Street Kate in Around Town, Dish, News/Updates, People, Political Commentary, Tech, The District Dish · January 21, 2013 · No comments

Especially during these days of inauguration festivities, its easy to see that citizens play a big part — and have a big voice — in our nation’s government. But in addition to, and aside from, voting candidates into office, PopVox co-Founder Rachna Choudry wants them to remember to use that voice to reach their elected officials on other issues of importance.

Here, she details PopVox’s online service, which bridges the gap between the input the public wants to provide and the information Members of Congress want and need to receive… including new bills introduced in the 113th Congress, and your opportunity to weigh in on them!