Dateline: Kynetx Impact Conference

Want to see the next communications revolution on the web as vendors scramble for customers demanding more control over the relationship?

Nearly 100 developers and fans of the Live Web gathered at the evening keynote session of Impact, Kynetx annual conference in South Jordan, Utah. Punching up the volume around its disruptive context automation development platform, the company brought in super-geek mentors and heavyweight speakers to this year’s event. After the gourmet geek feeding, attendees started prepping their creations for the first veggie derby I’ve ever witnessed—or even heard of. Background blues music accompanied the party mood and would be 4-wheel veggie car designers seemed only mildly annoyed when temporarily interrupted for the main event.

Browser Apps was on the menu for the evening, a subtle focusing of the company’s sweet spot in the market. Apps.kynetx.com is open for business to savvy developers catching a ride on the Live Web train. The company’s corral of devoted developers has doubled over the past year, validating the vision, and delivering apps like HoverMe, an app that uses Rdio.com and Huluflix to market.

Phil Windley, Kynetx creator and CTO addressed the crowd on the company’s vision as a “shaping strategy,” providing disruptive advancement on the Web.  He described current Web 2.0 thinking as providing “pools of information” using a “go & get” model. The Live Web Kynetx vision empowered by the Kynetx platform allows users to “define my purpose” to achieve delivery of “rivers of data” as defined by the user, cutting through the silos of information for a much more comprehensive version of web delivery. The “Kinetic Rules Language” is the basis for such Live Web development.

Doc Searls, noted tech guru, served up a vision of the transition of the Universe to the “Youniverse,” or super-

Doc Searls shares secrets of the Youniverse

empowering of individuals through the web. Searles doesn’t believe we have super-empowered individuals yet, but it’s coming. Old school: the institution can “change the terms” and controls the output. New school: the individual sets the rules of engagement with the institution. Doc summed up this vision as VRM (Vendor Relations Management) controlled by the consumer who sets the rules.

Robert Scoble rounded out the evening leading a 3-way discussion with Phil and Doc about this future web experience managed by the empowered individual. The discussion zeroed in on the dizzying transition pace from desktop to mobile devices as the platform of choice for the super-empowered consumer.

After the speeches a party broke out, led by a pinewood derby race of veggie cars like the pinewood potato and the super squash. Party on, Kynetx. Go Live Web!!!

By the way the sweet potato land cruiser beet the parsnip party car and was crowned Impact Champ!

Sample Apps: http://apps.kynetx.com ; www.followmyplayer.com

Nuclear Fallout On The Move

(Let me preface this blog entry with clarification on my thoughts on nuclear power. As a clean energy proponent, I think nuclear power has a place in our more sustainable future. This is based on years of weighing the upside/downside of known alternatives and the fact that there is no one single power solution without a downside.)

Now I feel better. On with the show. The media frenzy around Japan’s still unfolding tsunami/earthquake tragedy has the public riveted on “breaking news” and the human horror and attendant heroes surrounding the sad scene. As soon as the nuclear power plant failures began to cross the wire, I told my friends this is going to be used by extreme opponents to kill nuclear initiatives for a decade to come. That tsunami of negative news is just beginning to grow.

In this rush to headlines, Japan’s government must consider it’s words carefully. Transparency is the watch word for effectively handling the crisis communications without use of inflammatory comments. If they try to hide information or fail to tell the complete story, the whiplash will be severe on Japan’s credibility, as well as the nuclear industry.

Other governments (and companies) including my own state, Utah, as well as Japan could take a lesson from past failures in transparency like Watergate. Utah lawmakers are now taking flack for fast-tracking House Bill 477 which protects legislators from public scrutiny of text and e-mails.

Our thoughts and prayers and charitable contributions go out to the people of Japan. And, my hope goes out to that country’s government to be transparent on the unfolding nuclear crisis. Though painful, it is expected in today’s hugely connected age.

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The air was electric at the Grand America ballroom filled wall-to-wall with around 300 well-dressed attendees at the 2nd annual Utah Student 25 Awards Gala in Salt Lake City this week. Utah Student 25 founding educator, entrepreneur, and angel investor thanks the growing list of sponsors jumping on the accelerating train that is Utah Student 25.

As a matter of fact, if it were a train, this awards train would likely be compared to a bullet train. Last year winners FuneralRecording.com, Launch Sales & Marketing, Worldwide Book Drive, and 2009 #1 Meter Solutions spoke of their fabulous successes since winning this award last year. These companies founders, some still in college, reported major investor partnerships, $millions in revenur, international expansion, national press exposure, much of which they created to the Utah Student 25 recognition from last year.

Virtually every major Utah college/university had a student owned business in the hunt this year, demonstrating growing enthsusiasm for this program that brings to the surface, one of Utah’s major reasons for its ongoing #1 status among other states.

#1 student owned busines in this year’s Utah Student 25 is Stubtopia.com. This new, rapidly growing serice promises to help customers “Grab tickets your friends will be jealous of!” and to provide “the best experience-for-your-money.” Founder Darren Allred shared with the crowd the value of mentors and methodical growth as keys to the company’s success.

No wonder Forbes just named Utah #1 state for business! Utah Entrepreneurs & Inventors  Rock the nation!

Nate Alder of explosive startup Klymit was voted #1 Best Invention by more than 100 attendees at today’s UVEF  hosted “Invented in Utah” event held at Noah’s in South Jordan. The company’s newest invention, the super light weight, compact Inertia-X-Frame impressed voters & judges as a must have outdoor next generation air matress. Out of more than 80 original contestants, today’s event showcased the top 5 as decided over recent weeks in preliminary judging of entrants. With multiple media in tow, this event is surely a great Public Relations win for these inventors.

Taking the #2 slot today was TykeToter, demonstrated by Jess Colton and his able assistant and very

Jess Colton & daughter demo TykeToter

 cute daughter. TykeToter offers an “aha” moment for avid cyclists with young children. Different from previous rear mounted child carriers, the TykeToter places the child in front of the adult cyclist. Of course this gives the young rider a better view, but also allows the adult to better shield & protect the child in case of a spill. The quick release, affordable add-on works on any standard bicyle.

Winners join Michael Horrito of Rocketship at Invented in Utah

#3 in today’s voting was Nature Organics, demonstrated by it’s inventor Cal Van Dyke. This new organic plant supplement increases nutritional value of food and produces healthier ornamental plants.  I was especially excited to receive samples of this product to try on my roses, grass, and vegetable garden at home.

Nasal Irrigation Device by Mark Carpenter and LAY-RIGHT Side-Sleep Pillow System by Vaughn North were also demonstrated today and deserve honorable mention for their innovation. My co-judge, Tom Dickson or BlendTec “Will It Blend” fame really liked the potential mass appeal of Mark Carpenter’s invention so I will be watching the progress of this along with the other great finalists.

Congrats to Rocketship, UVEF, and the other great event sponsors for this great annual showcase of the brilliant creativity in Utah.

KSL story

Salt Lake Tribune story

On Thursday I attended my 2nd UTC Clean Tech roundtable event.  Well worth my commute, the meeting focused on Ted Wilson’s update and discussion regarding the almost complete Ten-Year Utah Energy Initiative plan.  Ted covered some of the very tough issues facing a conservative state meeting up with the realities of sustainability and the balance between People, Planet, and Profits.

Energy & the Environment, Consumer Interests, Science & Technology, Transmission & Transportation, & Jobs are all components of the plan. That’s encouraging. All forms of energy are on the table, which is part of the challenge. Coal mining communities are keen on keeping jobs while renewable energy elbows its way into the room. The challenge is to balance the interest of both.

New energy projects in geothermal, wind, solar, CNG, and coal carbon capture & sequestration are all very exciting to me. As I discussed with the group, education and communication of the individual and collective benefits of transitions to more sustainable solutions is key to moving Utah to a better place. By the numbers, the 6c/kW hr for coal is tough to beat, but issues of air pollution threaten health and quality of life.

A very valuable topic of discussion surrounded the concept of energy “efficiency”, how to use less or transition to energy saving technology, transportation, and building practices.

I can’t help but contrast this with my meeting last week with a Ukranian Energy Delegation seeking counsel on communicating energy conservation and new renewable energy initiatives.  Ukraine faces serious natural gas shortages and is totally dependent on a Russian monopoly utility for that resource. Every year since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the nation has faced this problem going into winter. Buildings are under insulated, built to lax central planning standards dating back to the 1950′s. This is an nation open to change because they feel the pain of high energy costs and lack of control over supply.

In Utah, we have little pain with comparatively cheap gasoline, cheap CNG, wide highways, cheap water, and abundant supply. Our energy costs per kW Hr are a fraction of those in Ukraine and similar countries. So, what’s to motivate us to change, to improve our carbon footprint, our degrading air quality, our reckless use of finite resources?

This week’s UTC meeting touched on it, but the numbers make sense. There is profit and new jobs all over these new energy opportunities abundant in our state. There is a path to lower asthma rates among children and the elderly. There is the hope for clean-coal technology that works and scales. There is the abundant bridge of CNG to help us along the path.

Now our job must be to educate, educate, educate. Status quo is not sustainable. We want to entice new business move-ins  (like cleantech upstart ElectraTherm) , tourism , and raise quality of life rather than waiting until our American Lung Association black list position falls further.

Public comment period opens Oct 15 and the finished plan goes to the Governor on Nov 22.

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My friend and comedian Johnny Biscuit has a very funny skit where he talks about which animals we eat vs which animals we make into pets. One line from that monologue goes something like: “People whine about all those dolphins caught in the tuna nets…what about all the tuna in the tuna nets?!” I love Johnny B, but I share that to make a point about this week’s news about “modified salmon.”

AquAdvantage Fish

Grown 2x faster than “natural” salmon and just as tasty – what could be bad about that. Well, opponents do have a point ala Jurassic Park gene splicing. The “modified” salmon has a human installed growth hormone on-switch  from an “eel-like fish, an ocean pout.” Bottom line, “big fish fast” to your grocer meat counter – shouldn’t they call it the Protein counter now?

Maybe this is more like Godzilla. What could we get if we install that growth “on switch” in a whale? WOW! Think of the bucks for Japan’s fishing industry. Think of the Whale Wars episode. Think of the Moby Dick Revisited movie rights. Well, I get carried away. I am a PR and marketing guy, after all.

That said, I think I would eat this fish from AquaBounty. I eat hybrid tomatoes. I eat beefy beef and lean piggies that have more supplements than I can buy at Gold’s Gym. Nobody eats corn that hasn’t been monkeyed with by man for centuries.  No telling what how much plastic we are eating from the fish since we have turned out back on dumping millions of plastic bottles into the ocean.

Now, let’s see if AquaBounty passes the Triple Bottom Line of Green (Corporate Responsibility) Test:

• Planet – can we be assured these Super Salmon won’t be introduced into the Atlantic or Pacific?
• People – Omega 3, yes! Fish is awesome, healthier than most meat or poultry, but has there been adequate testing on effects of consumption?
• Profit – AquaBounty should make a grundle if this takes off (and in a capitalist society that I love, more power to them)

Now, I do agree we should have a cool label to go on this fish. Now, let me put my marketing brainstorm hat on for a minute. Maybe something like:

“Super Salmon – able to jump a man-made fish ladder or a salmon-killing dam in a single leap. ”

small print: This nutritious and Omega 3 rich food is made available to you and your family because mankind has strip-mined the ocean of natural fish and instead of being socially responsible in fishing and rehabilitating the ocean, it’s easier to change the genetic code to feed your family. You understand fish is ssoooooo good for you.  Fish – its what’s for dinner.  (please discontinue use if your children start growing really, really fast)

Back to the tuna in the tuna nets. Maybe its time for mankind to examine our shortsighted practices causing us to look for amazing technology like this.

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“Little Rejoicing Greets News of Recession’s Official End” is the headline today about the NBER’s declaration of cessation of recession. Why aren’t people buying it? In this PR Minute video, PR pro John Pilmer explores the answer…the public might say, use my definition!

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John Pilmer, President of PilmerPR, addressed Corporate Social Responsibility at the 2010 Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum “Crunch Lunch,” Thursday. The luncheon program allowed each speaker five minutes to “crunch” as much information as he/she could on a topic. Slides advanced automatically every 15 seconds. A two-minute question and answer session followed.

See video of the presentation below or on YouTube:

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Wow! What a disappointing Week 2. The Air Force brought in a disciplined attack executed with the precision of the Thunderbirds flying team.  In my own game to figure out which QB BYU should ultimately lean on, I would have chosen Riley Nelson, as did the coaching staff. However, Air Force had a laser guided approach to stopping both Nelson and Heaps–and the rest of BYU’s attack. Riley did score 2 more TD’s. So, its Riley 4 Heaps 0 in that category.

So, who has the edge, Jake of Nelson? Certainly, in a contest synonymous with ‘competition’ you must agree that, regardless of the PR face, Jake & Nelson are duking it out – with a smile and a chest bump.

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One line was changed in the original Rise and Fight to adapt to changing times. Which one?

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I’ll post the answer in a few days, or

Get the answer quick

O Rise, all loyal Cougars and hurl your challenge to the foe.
You will fight, day or night, rain or snow.
Loyal, Strong, and True
Wear the White and Blue.
While we sing, get set to spring.
Come on Cougars, it’s up to you!

CHORUS:
O Rise and Shout, the Cougars are out
Along the trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out,
As you unfold your vict’ry story.
On you go to vanquish the foe
For Alma Mater’s sons and daughters.
As we join in song, in praise of you, our faith is strong.
We’ll raise our colors high in the blue,
And cheer the Cougars of BYU.

CHANT:
“Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra (3x) GO COUGARS!”

Four Steps for harnessing the power of the Social Media as a component of a well conceived public relations strategy:

1) “Listen Up” To The Conversation

2) “Join In” The Conversation

3) “Power” The Conversation

4) “Orchestrate” The Road Signs

In this video,  I discuss why focus on Social Media is imperative to avoid energy leaks from your company.

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