What I’m Reading – The World Is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education

25 Tuesday Aug 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Authors, Indiana, Tech Developments, What I'm Reading

On top of all the blogs, law journals, and case updates that I read each day, I also make sure to set aside time to read one Intellectual Property or Tech law book each month. When I find a book that might be useful for clients, I post it:

The World Is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education by Curtis J. Bonk, a professor of instructional systems technology at Indiana University.

Technology is changing higher education in more ways than can be counted. Distance education has become common. Leading universities are putting course materials or even entire courses online — free. The Obama plan for community colleges envisions free online courses that could be used nationwide. Professor Bonk surveys this landscape in this new book.

Click here for a full interview w/ Prof. Bonk discussing such topics as the “open” educational movement, online courses, anger at wikis and the future of higher education.

Opportunities and Barriers in Alternative Energy – TechPoint Event 9/4/09

22 Saturday Aug 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, Tech Developments

≈ Leave a comment

The Obama administration has set ambitious goals for renewable energy and other ‘clean’ technologies – like doubling renewable energy use within three years and putting a million plug-in electric vehicles on U.S. highways by 2015 – and backed them up with significant federal funding. Venture capitalists have bought in, investing in the energy sector at record levels.

So what are the barriers that still inhibit the markets for wind power, fuel cells, coal gasification and other energy advances? How can Indiana help break down these barriers and reap the economic benefits? Register for this month’s New Economy New Rules for the answers.

Speakers:

Noel M. Davis, Principal, JGC Industries, LLC
Greg Winkler, Director, Project Development, Brevini Wind USA, Inc
Leon Steinberg, Chief Executive Officer, National Wind LLC

Date: September 4, 2009

8:00 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Presentation

Click here to register.

Hope to see you there!

Blog Author Featured in Indiana Lawyer Article

06 Thursday Aug 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Just for Fun, KLF Legal, Tech Developments

≈ Leave a comment

Check out this excerpt from an article in the current issue of the Indiana Lawyer (an IBJ Media publication), featuring none other than the author of the Indiana Intellectual Property & Technology Law Blog:

New-school Networking Ideas

…To help avoid having potential clients see personal information, attorneys on Facebook can also set up business profiles for their firms, which are separate from personal pages.

Kenan Farrell, a solo attorney in Indianapolis who represents artists and musicians among his list of intellectual property clients, said he has had success through his Facebook business page, Facebook ad – charged on a pay-per-click basis – and Twitter.

After he worked for a large firm in Indianapolis, he moved to San Francisco, then moved back to Indianapolis where he started his own firm in January.

He said it’s because of social networking that he’s been able to get “good, interesting work from clients” for much less than it would cost to have an ad on television or in the phone book, something he investigated when he decided to become a solo practitioner.

So far, most of the other attorneys on Facebook and Twitter he is connected to practice outside of Indiana. Those connections have resulted in business when lawyers in other states need local counsel or know someone who does.

Farrell also goes to networking events – “tweetups” – of others on Twitter. While he doesn’t think other attorneys have attended those meetings, he has met a number of business owners of various ages and experience.

Because business owners are on sites like Twitter, he said, it’s likely attorneys could benefit from connecting with them.

Twitter has also linked him to experts, and to large conferences where he was unable to attend but people in the conference were posting status updates.

While it’s not exactly the same, it can get the message out. For speakers, it can share their information with potentially hundreds or thousands of people beyond those in the room for the presentation.

While Farrell said he felt like “the only guy in the goldmine” by using Facebook and Twitter, he recommended it for all attorneys regardless of experience level for the benefits he has seen.

Click the images below to read the full article.

Source: Indiana Lawyer, Vol. 20, No. 11

Blog Author Featured in Indiana Lawyer Article

06 Thursday Aug 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, KLF Legal, Tech Developments

≈ Leave a comment

New-school Networking Ideas

…To help avoid having potential clients see personal information, attorneys on Facebook can also set up business profiles for their firms, which are separate from personal pages.

Kenan Farrell, a solo attorney in Indianapolis who represents artists and musicians among his list of intellectual property clients, said he has had success through his Facebook business page, Facebook ad – charged on a pay-per-click basis – and Twitter.

After he worked for a large firm in Indianapolis, he moved to San Francisco, then moved back to Indianapolis where he started his own firm in January.

He said it’s because of social networking that he’s been able to get “good, interesting work from clients” for much less than it would cost to have an ad on television or in the phone book, something he investigated when he decided to become a solo practitioner.

So far, most of the other attorneys on Facebook and Twitter he is connected to practice outside of Indiana. Those connections have resulted in business when lawyers in other states need local counsel or know someone who does.

Farrell also goes to networking events – “tweetups” – of others on Twitter. While he doesn’t think other attorneys have attended those meetings, he has met a number of business owners of various ages and experience.

Because business owners are on sites like Twitter, he said, it’s likely attorneys could benefit from connecting with them.

Twitter has also linked him to experts, and to large conferences where he was unable to attend but people in the conference were posting status updates.

While it’s not exactly the same, it can get the message out. For speakers, it can share their information with potentially hundreds or thousands of people beyond those in the room for the presentation.

While Farrell said he felt like “the only guy in the goldmine” by using Facebook and Twitter, he recommended it for all attorneys regardless of experience level for the benefits he has seen.

Click the images below to read the full article.

Source: Indiana Lawyer, Vol. 20, No. 11

President Obama Pledges $2.4 Billion for "Clean" Vehicle Technology

05 Wednesday Aug 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Federal Initiatives, Indiana, Tech Developments

≈ Leave a comment

Speaking today at a former Monaco RV plant in Wakarusa, Indiana, President Barack Obama unveiled the details of an ambitious $2.4 billion grant program, which the White House hopes will boost production of electric cars and next-generation battery technology. The cash for the grant program will come from the recently-passed $787-billion economic stimulus bill.

obama_indiana

“That’s why I’m here today,” President Obama stated, “to announce $2.4 billion in highly-competitive grants to develop the next generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks powered by the next generation of battery technologies, all made right here in the U.S. of A. Right here in America. Made in America…for too long, we’ve failed to invest in this innovative work, even as countries like China and Japan were racing ahead. That’s why this announcement’s so important.”

The President said the investment represented “the largest investment in this kind of technology in American history.” And already, dozens of companies have stepped forward to claim the grant money. One of them is Navistar, Inc., based in Wakarusa. Navistar will receive a $39.2 million grant to develop and deploy 400 advanced battery electric delivery trucks. The vehicles will weigh about six tons and have a 100-mile range.”

The $2.4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds includes:

$1.5 billion in grants to U.S.-based manufacturers to produce batteries and their components and to expand battery recycling capability in the United States.
$500 million in grants to U.S.-based manufacturers to produce electric drive components for vehicles, including electric motors, power electronics, and other drive train components.
$400 million in grants to purchase thousands of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles – including cars, delivery vehicles and trucks — for test demonstrations in several dozen locations. Those grants also will provide education and workforce training to support the transition to advanced electric transportation systems.