Facial detection can be blocked by changing the contrast of and spatial relationship between key facial features. So, though growing a beard might throw a casual human glance off, the growing process of computerized recognition is rarely tricked, because it focuses primarily on the T made by your eyes and the bridge of your nose. [...]

Find the nearest free wireless internet hotspot in Philadelphia by using Connect Philly, a new mapping and text message tool we at Technically Philly released last week. The tool, which can also be reached by ph.ly/connect, The tool, which is meant to be a part of the digital access conversation, was unveiled formally with an [...]

Because it has the infrastructure of a major market with mission-orientated for-profit and nonprofit groups and because it has all the big problems that other cities face, Philadelphia should be the country’s hub of social entrepreneurship. Defined as ventures that put impact over profit, I again spoke about this cause, this time at an event [...]

When pitching your venture or product, send a business or technology reporter a three sentence email, explaining in super simple language (a) what your project is, (b) why it matters and (b) who you are. That was one of the better received recommendations I made while presenting for the Lean Startup seminar held at the [...]

All of the audio from the February Story Shuffle are now live here. Listen to mine below or find it here. I’ll also strongly suggest you listen to my friend Patrick McNeil’s story, which has to be among my favorites. Number of Views:242

Social entrepreneurship is an opportunity for Philadelphia to create a regional distinction for attracting and retaining startup talent, was the central theme of my Pecha Kucha presentation Saturday night. It was an extension of my writing on social entrepreneurship here. The lightning talk event, in which a dozen speakers use 20 seconds for each of [...]

My good friend Eric Smith, whose successes in publishing and audience have kept me motivated, wrote some very flattering things in celebration of his own birthday, mostly about how we love to faux battle by way of our respective geek blogs Geekadelphia and Technically Philly. An excerpt: … Without realizing it, Chris had finally given [...]

The Founding Fathers would have loved and leveraged social media but been fearful of its future implications on privacy and speech issues, said a host of experts at an event on the impact of new communications patterns. Earlier this month, I moderated a panel on the subject at the National Constitution Center featuring Jennifer Preston, [...]

I’m moderating a panel on privacy, security and democracy concerns surrounding the social web at the National Constitution Center in Old City, Philadelphia next Thursday. You should come. More details here. It costs $10 for non-members. Number of Views:547

Story Shuffle 10 happened this month and the theme of Parents offered a handful of interesting stories. See them all here or listen to mine below. Listen here. Number of Views:683