Technology - George Orbelian

“Civilization, it was once said, is a race between education and catastrophe – and we intend to win that race for education.”

JOHN F. KENNEDY
JFK’s words for a speech he planned to give at the Texas Welcome Dinner at Municipal Auditorium, Austin, Texas – November 22, 1963

Technology

hrough Ojingo Labs, the company my family and friends helped create, we have embraced smart phone technology as the best way to connect humanity globally so that we can share innovative solutions.
Communication is the key to gaining the knowledge and understanding which will allow the wide-scale adoption of a sustainable economy.
Sharing insights, innovations and sustainable economic opportunities will allow us to live in harmony with the environment we all depend on.
We can raise everyone’s standard of living and give every child the opportunity to grow into the most beautiful adult imaginable.
We are sensory organisms: wired by genetics and programed by experience. We become what we think, and we can change at the speed of thought.
Better parents = better children.

Google Earth Hero Project

It was near the end of April 2009, when we secured funding for our first Project Kaisei expeditions. I asked TJ Marbois and Kendall Nishimine, my partners at Ojingo Labs what would be the best technological support Ojingo Labs could create to bring awareness to the issue of plastics accumulating in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. TJ immediately said, “The new iPhone is coming out in June (2009) with video capability. We can use our video comment platform (BlipBack) on the new iPhones and geo code the videos taken during the expeditions with Google Earth to show the world exactly what the researchers are seeing.” I said, TJ – it’s the end of April – we sail at the beginning of August so not only do the phones have to work, but we have to make sure the videos are accurately located on the courses of two different vessels (Kaisei – 151’ Brigantine Tall Ship and 174’ New Horizon – Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Vessel). In addition, all the telecommunications need to work with the satellites servicing the data transmission at sea. “Don’t worry, we’ll get it done and it will work,” said TJ. I bought two phones as soon as they came out in early June and TJ loaded them up with software. We tested them on land and then trained the crews on each vessel on how to use them. The folks I was was in contact with at Scripps Institute of Oceanography during the expeditions were thrilled, “This is so exciting – Ojingo took science out of the laboratory and classroom and shared it with the world in real time!” – Google thought so too and recognized Ojingo Labs as a Google Earth Hero.