You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2010.
I was playing around with QR codes a bit and managed to create this code with the word “cloud” embedded into it. Apparently these codes have strong enough error-correction to counteract minor image manipulation.
I had never even heard of these codes until a few months ago when I read an article about them in one of the local newspapers. Apparently they are huge in Japan but really haven’t caught on in a big way in other parts of the world. Personally I can’t even take advantage of this technology yet since my phone (Blackberry 8830) doesn’t sport a camera.
Here’s another QR code I created with a scuba diving flag in the middle. I’m tempted to make some stickers out of this and hand them out at the upcoming scuba show in the Twin Cities. Again note how the introduction of the logo does not impact the readability of the QR code due to the error correction algorithm.
I used software from QuickMark to validate these codes using the embedded video camera on my Dell laptop.
I teamed up with Paul Selway from Redpath Consulting Group recently to co-present a session on cloud computing to several dozen eager participants in Bloomington. Loaded up on eggs, bacon, and coffee we covered a wide variety of IT strategy related to cloud computing. I started with the now-ubiquitous explanation of cloud computing, its characteristics, business models, and deployment models. Paul talked about how to perform an IT assessment and identify which applications and services an enterprise can move to the cloud. I appreciate the positive feedback from all the participants at the event!
I thought this was a cool video of the new 3 MW Caterpillar C175 generators being installed at our new Eden Prairie data center. These units are absolutely massive and it is hard to appreciate their scale until you are standing next to them. I was told that these are some of the biggest CAT generators installed in Minnesota. We currently have two of these gensets installed and will add a couple more in the future.
I was pretty excited to learn that the new VISI data center we are building in Eden Prairie, MN recently received Tier-3 Design Certification from the Uptime Institute. That’s a really big deal because to my knowledge no other commercial data center facility in this region has received a Tier-3 certification. Sure, there are a couple other data center providers who say their facilities meet Tier-3 requirements. But the fact is that none of their data centers have been independently audited. We spent a lot of time and effort to ensure our new facility would meet Tier-3 requirements. And we had the luxury (and capital) to build toward these requirements from day one.
I just learned this morning that my good friend, and co-worker, Ralph Awad was awarded a Tekne Award for “Next Generation Technology Leader” by the Minnesota High Tech Association. Congratulations Ralph! The awards committee certainly rewarded an outstanding candidate. Ralph was the first employee I hired many years ago after starting Digital North. I’ve had the privilege of watching his technology and leadership skills grow over the years. I know he is a strong contributor to non-profit organizations in his community. He also recently guided me safely in-and-out of Egypt — for which my family is forever thankful. 
