Toys or tools?

Joyce Sasse - Has our apparent over-dependence on things like cell-phones, computers and robots narrowed our vision and left us thinking of these devices as must-have toys? Could they better be understood to be tools?

Maybe its not the technology that’s the trap, but our attitude and how we choose to use them.

Edmonton is early adopter in Western Canada testing of electric autonomous vehicles

EasyMile driverless shuttle

City of Edmonton - The City of Edmonton is planning a pilot project later this year to test electric autonomous vehicle technology.  “Edmonton embraces innovation and we look forward to working with our citizens, partners, industry and other orders of government to prepare for the potential of widespread autonomous vehicle use,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “As one of the fastest growing and youngest cities in Canada, we are driving our own future and looking forward to what this pilot will help us understand.”

Wood Buffalo RCMP warn residents of computer virus cleaner scams

RCMP Alberta  - Wood Buffalo RCMP are advising residents of a computer virus cleaner phone scam that have come to their attention targeting local residents. RCMP advise no legitimate government agency or business will demand payment in gift cards, prepaid credit cards, or using high pressure tactics. These methods are used by the criminal element to hide their activities from police.

Experiential Learning Week Spring 2016 at MHHS – Robotics Course

Josh Davis

Matthew Halton High School held a robotics course as part of its 2016 experiential learning week, held from May 2 to May 6. Students were given the opportunity to put together and program robots supplied by EZ Robot. The CEO of STEM Learning Lab Dennis Kombeitz supervised the students. On Friday the students demonstrated what tasks they had built and programmed their robots to perform.

Assistance offered to technology entrepreneurs

AITF Technology Development Advisor Bill Halley
T. Lucas

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Town of Pincher Creek Economic Development Committee invited Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) Technology Development Advisor Bill Halley to speak on September 26.

Halley explained more about the AITF and the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta. They try to identify entrepreneurs from individuals to medium sized businesses with ideas in the field of technology. They then assist in the process of taking an idea or innovation through research and development to commercialization. They offer this service free of charge.

St. Michael's alum receives prestigious Cisco education award

Cypress Creek High School technology teacher Tom Halbert working with former student
Tim Delaforce during an Internetworking Technologies II class last year
Photo courtesy of  Cyprus-Fairbanks ISD

Local residents Dr. Tom and Edrie Halbert are proud parents after being notified that their son Tom (Tim) Halbert, a 1978 St. Michael's School Graduate, has received Cisco's award as one of the top 25% instructors globally. The competition involves Computer Science teachers, including University and College Professors as well as Cisco's own trained instructors. Cisco is one of the preeminent networking companies in the world.  It designs, manufactures, and sells a wide variety of products and services including routers, data centres, software, etc.  It is considered to be one of the most valuable companies in the world.

On August 29, 2013 Cypress Creek High School technology teacher Tom Halbert was selected by the Cisco Networking Academy as an Advanced Level Instructor.  Cyprus Creek High School is located in Houston Texas.

From a Teacher’s Desk: Twitterverse

Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment. ~ Rumi

Leonard Quilty

Leonard Quilty, Courtesy of Gazette Grande

Are you part of the twitterverse? Have you joined the conversation that clips along at 140 characters a tweet? If you have, maybe you agree that this microblogging tool called Twitter is one of the most fascinating things to come by in a long time.

Final Mile Rural Connectivity Initiative gets go-ahead from MD Council

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

The Final Mile Rural Connectivity Initiative was again a topic of discussion for The MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 Council at their April 24 meeting. The Provincial initiative aims to ensure that 97% of Albertans have access to high-speed internet, with an emphasis on rural areas.

According to Director of Operations Leo Reedyk's report on the subject:

    "There are a number of residents within the municipality that do not currently have high speed internet access via hard wire or radio transmission. The Provincial Government has indicated that the initiative applies to households who have a download speed less than 1.5Mbps. The majority of users within the Municipal District have service above the threshold. When discussing the initiative with a local internet service provider the we were advised that installing additional towers and infrastructure for the few households per location was cost prohibitive for service providers to do alone." 

Reedyk advised Council that they should determine whether to pursue the project further and if so they should prepare a request for proposals.  According to his report, "In order to develop the proposal to a workable and fair arrangement, a request for proposals would need to be initiated to identify companies who are prepared to partner with the municipality on this initiative."

Deputy Reeve Yagos wondered "What might happen to local companies like Tough Country if we go ahead with this?"  Reedyk said it would likely be a more expensive service, and could possibly provide a better service than that currently in place in some areas.

"Where does the MD qualify?" Yagos asked.  Reedyk replied that potential areas might be in areas like Maycroft Road, Castle River Flats around Highway 507, Gladstone Valley, Spread Eagle Road, the east end of Halifax Flats, and north of Spring Point Colony.  A total of 8 areas in the MD were identified as being potentially eligible.

Reedyk reminded Council that there was a stringent criteria for Provincial funding, which among other things would require the MD to maintain the infrastructure for five years.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development would be the granting agency for the initiative.  If approved, Provincial funding would pay for 75% of the project.  The MD would have to ensure the remainder was covered, an amount estimated in 2003 at $50,000.

Reedyk also suggested the finished result might accommodate MD communications greatly, reducing the need for multiple kinds of communication gear needed to cover the rural areas by MD workers.

Council voted unanimously to accept a motion by Councillor Berg to approve Reedyk's recommendations and write a request for proposals.