2019 Conference Presentations

KEYNOTE

THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY
Dave Dockery, President
Tampa Bay Technology Center


While it’s obvious that change in the world has been speeding up in the last several years, Doc will explain why the world is going to speed up even more in the future.  What does that mean for those of us who want to keep abreast of all of the coming changes.

The Future of Technology – 2019 Florida Tech Conf

PRESENTATIONS       

THE BROWSER – YOUR MOST IMPORTANT APP
Hewie Poplock, Chromebook Evangelist
Windows SIG Leader, Central Florida Computer Society 

The computer program or app that we all use the most is the browser. A browser, which is short for web browser, is a software application used to locate, retrieve and display content on the World Wide Web or

Internet. Hewie will describe some of the important features of browsers and describe many important settings used in most browsers. He will also talk about little add-on programs called extensions for browsers, including where to find them, how to add them, and talk about some that he has found invaluable. 

Browsers-Most Important App – 2019 FloridaTechConf

AI / HEARING AID
Bill Morehouse, Hearing Aid Specialist
Affordable Hearing Help 

Rachele M. Orsini, Au.D
Central Florida Field Representative
Starkey Hearing Technologies

Rachele and Bill will present the latest technology in hearing instruments. They will discuss and demonstrate how hearing aids have entered a new age. These incredible devices provide both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health. Featuring integrated sensors and artificial intelligence, they can detect if you’ve fallen and act as an assistant. They provide consistent wireless performance through your smartphone or wireless accessories while streaming cell phones, TV, music or other media. Geo-tagged memories that automatically switch modes when the GPS feature in your smartphone detects you are in a tagged location. For example, a “home” memory activates when you arrive at home. Personalized Control in the Thrive app that lets you make adjustments to suit your preferences in different listening environments. Adjustments to the hearing aids can also be made remotely – the patient can be in New York and have adjustments made from Florida. They can even translate 27 different languages! These aren’t your grandfather’s hearing aids.

Presentation is without videos.

Evolution of a Hearing Revolution – 2019 FloridaTechConf

ALL ABOUT AVAST
Bob Gosticha, IT Specialist, Avast Evangelist

A consolidation of all the products Avast offers. What they do, how they help protect you. What’s free and what requires a purchase? This presentation will also include a more in-depth look at Avast’s newest product, Avast Omni. (Security that protects you everywhere you connect.) 

All About Avast

EDUCATION
Carl Lofstrom, President
South Walton Computer & Technology Club

New Peer Instruction Method for Active Learning
Computer user groups are dying and many already have closed their doors. Why is that happening you might ask? I believe that passive learning using traditional lecture-based pedagogy is no longer working and has finally run its course after 100 plus years. In this presentation you will be introduced to the new Peer Instruction (PI) for Active Learning, a student-centered instructional approach, developed by Professor Eric Mazur at Harvard. The method has been welcomed and adopted by a large number of colleges and universities due, among other reasons, to its common sense approach and its documented effectiveness. You will receive copy of PowerPoint and links with more information.

Learning How to Learn (Outside of Class)
A PowerPoint presentation with the key points from Professor Barbara Oakley’s “Learning How to Learn” to be emailed to you. She has the most popular Massive Open Online Course (MOOCs) with over 1,750,000 people taking her online course. Computer user group members and instructor will learn how to use Chunking, Pomodoro Technique, Defused and Focused Modes of Learning, Interleaving, Flash Cards, Recall, Bite Size Testing, Memory Techniques and more. I will be available to answer your questions during breaks or at the end of the day.

Learning How to Learn – 2019 FloridaTechConf

CLEAR CAPTIONS
Karen MacClellan, Territory Sales Manager
ClearCaptions, LLC 

​The presentation will discuss the no-cost captioning services ClearCaptions provides to those who are hard of hearing, and how this is possible through Title IV of the ADA.

No PowerPoint

So, How do we start a podcast?
Michael Crose, Board Member & Podcast Creator
Tampa Bay Technology Center

Michael is known as the Bug Guy. He has been killing bugs in the Tampa Bay area since September of 1972. He loves his job and is fanatical about eliminating pests from homes and businesses. For years he taught pest control and horticulture to professionals at a local tech school and has taught re-certification classes for pest control operators all over Florida.  He’s served on the board of directors for both the Florida Pest Management Association and the Certified Pest Control Operators of Florida.

He is also a Tampa Bay Technology Center board member, as well as their go-to podcast creator and is responsible for TBTC’s new Podcast Studio! From the TBTC website….As we watch the changes in our economy, it has become evident that one of the relatively new ways to increase your business brand is via the use of podcasting. In support of this, TBTC purchased and installed a professional podcasting studio. We now offer podcasting classes. Once you have been checked out on our hardware and software, you will be invited to schedule studio time. Free hardware, free software, free lessons – what a deal! This is available to TBTC members only.

Michael recently gave a presentation at the Multimedia Pod Fest.

So just how do we start a podcast – 2019 FloridaTechConf

DIGITAL ASSET ESTATE PLANNING
EVEN AFTER YOU’VE DIED YOUR IDENTITY
ISN’T SAFE
 Judy Taylour, President, SCV Computer Club
APCUG Advisor Chair; Coordinator/Member, Speakers Bureau 

The year after somebody dies is one of the most vulnerable times for identity theft. It’s a terrible crime but, because death is public record, criminals comb through recently deceased records and create fake identities. This presentation covers many ways your identity can be stolen and ways to prevent it being stolen after you are no longer here. There are also many tips to make it easier for your digital executor to close your accounts and how we can help. 

Your ID Isn’t Safe – Digital Asset Estate Planning – 2019 FloridaTechConf

 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019

YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY
Bill Crowe, 1st Vice President
Sarasota Technology Users Group

What will the world look like in 20 years? It seems that all the youth are so engrossed with their technology that they do not even know how to really socialize or communicate face to face. That is not all together true. They will most likely not have hunched backs and be couch potatoes at the age of 25 from hunching over their smart phones and playing computer games. That said what will happen to our culture.

We will learn about how our youth are using technology, how it can have both a positive and negative affect on them and what we as adults can do to encourage the positives and discourage the negatives. Bill has done substantial research on the subject and will be presenting his conclusions. 

Our Youth and the Use of Todays Technology-2019 FloridaTechConf

 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
 Dave Dockery, President
Tampa Bay Technology

AI is about to change everything. What are the likely advantages or disadvantages of widespread implementation?

Artificial Intelligence -2019 FloridaTechConf

Presentations subject to change.

11:00 – 12:00   

Door Prize Giveaway
David Williams, President, APCUG

 

Conference Chair, Marie Vesta

President Marie Vesta

Thank you for attending the 2019 Florida Technology Conference