Happy Thanksgiving from the IMLP Blog!

What the New Media Team is Thankful for this Season (Photo via Flickr/WishUponACupcake)Happy Thanksgiving from the IMLP New Media Team.

On our last call, I asked the team, what are YOU thankful for? Here are a few of their responses:

I'm Thankful For...

"Sales on Woot.com - I can hardly sleep because I cant' wait to find out what I can spend my money on today." - Will K. (Facebook Lead)

"My new Droid." - Pat C. (Analytics Lead)

"My iPhone. It allows me to coordinate and organize my international man of mystery status, because there's an app for that." - Chris L. 

"The affordability of domain names.  Because it's my trademark." - ShaneSalta.com

"Google Wave. Because it's still exclusive, so I feel VIP whenever I log in" - Jason M.

"Green technologies, and my new Prius. Not only is it green, but I save some green too." - Randy A. (Blogger)

"Twitter handles, because they make great nicknames. And trees that change colors. We dont have them in Houston, so I resort to flickr." - Alana E. (Team Lead)

What's on your mind?

Every once in a while we like to open it up to see what you want to read.   So, let us know!  Post a comment below and we'll do our best to get you the kinds of articles that you're looking for.  Got an topic you want to hear more about?  Have an idea you want us to hear?  Iching to ask a question?  Always wondered about something, but didn't know who to ask?  Now's your chance to get it out!

Would rather not post your questions, comments, or ideas here?  Then feel free to email me them anytime!

Hahn takes gaming to a new level.

"Brandon Hahn demonstrating a new technology at the iFairWhoever said that nothing productive came out of playing games clearly never met an IMLP.

Brandon Hahn, a current IMLP with GE Healthcare, used a little imagination at work to combine a few everyday technologies with new software to create something truly inventive and engaging.

Hahn was looking for a better way to present at the iFair, a a science and technology career fair in Milwalkee.

Hoping  to circumvent the typical problem of walking back and forth to the computer to switch applications or draw on the screen, the WiiMote SmartBoard was born.

To create this new fusion of technologies, Brandon combined the following items:

• Laptop with Bluetooth Connection
• Projector
• Nintendo Wii Remote (Wiimote)
• Infrared Pen
• Wiimote Whiteboard Software (Open Source)
  

But how did he find this stuff? Hahn recalled hearing about the software from a former college professor, and found information on the WiiMote Project via a Carnegie Mellon student's website.

According to Hahn, it works because "the Wiimote has an infrared webcam in it, which is capable of tracking up to 4 infrared light sources as any point.  When you aim the Wiimote at the screen, it looks for the light from the pen.  The four-corner calibration matches the Wiimote’s field of vision to the computer screen as projected by the projector."

If you're looking for whiteboard capabilities without having to set up any software (or if you don't own a Wiimote, check out GE's free whiteboard application at http://imaginationcubed.com/)

'Til Our Next Telepresence Call...

Energy IMLPs Tawny Barin & Alana Edmunds
It was your average Thursday morning in the office - where the day starts out with the weekly Infrastructure IMLP Staff call.

However, one thing was a little different... instead of only hearing the voices of IMLPs, we were able to see them too!

Members of the Information Management Leadership Program meet while at junior "bootcamp," where they spend a month learning about professional skills, technologies and general business. However, once this month long training session is over, we do not often have a chance to see our friends who work in other countries or parts of the United States.

By using Cisco Telepresence, which is now installed in many of the main locations of GE, we were able to interact with one another while on the call. It's incredibly life-like, and the audio/visual quality is awesome.

It was incredibly easy to set up, and I (personally) liked it because I was able to "meet" some older IMLPs whom I had never met before.

So, to those of you who enjoyed our last staff meeting using telepresence.... 'til next time.

IMLPs Face Tough Conditions With Fearless Program Champion.

IMLPs Tackle the Ocoee River

One major advantage to a rotation in the south is the ability to continue one's involvement in outdoor activities into the

On Saturday, October 11th, Energy Infrastructure IMLPs Clayton Youngs, Joe Cockriel, John Andrechak, Chris Lyons, Tawny Barin and Alana Edmunnds (myself) along with Venki, our Energy Program Champion, drove up to the Ocoee River in Tennessee.

Categorized as class 3-4 level rapids, the Ocoee river was the perfect stepping stone for a few of the rafting experts in the Energy IMLP group. 

The IMLP program budgets for inclusion events that vary from location to location.

Stay tuned for more adventures of the Atlanta IMLPs!