One of the greatest things about the advancement of technology is how you actually don't have to be somewhere to see something happen. Online broadcasting of events has become really big and I am a frequent user/viewer of online broadcasting. Especially when it comes to my Alma Mater Northern Michigan University. I commonly watch online broadcast of hockey games. To move the game from the computer to the big screen we hook everything up to the television so the whole house can watch it easily.
Recently the NMU community had one of the greatest privileges, the White House and President selected NMU as a University leading higher education in technology advancement. And in turn, President Obama decided to visit the great ol' U.P. to tell us how wonderful our technology is. Being 1,000's of miles away I was excited but yet extremely disappointed. So like hundreds of other NMU alumni and students, that weren't able to get to campus to see Obama speak, we took to the computer and watched him through online broadcasting. The irony of this is that Obama was talking about NMU's wireless broadband and how NMU, despite the snow, was able to build a network that spans over 30 miles to allow students off campus (as well as fire and police departments and k-12 schools) the ability to log on.
With that said, we should take note of the possible plus sides to nationwide broadband access for schools. To give you a feeling, all the schools (K-12) that were hooked up on NMU's broadband sat in their classrooms and watched Obama live online. And before his speech the schools were hooked up and had a live discussion with Obama.
I am from the backwoods of Michigan (I mean backwoods) and for students to have the opportunity to talk to the president LIVE, well that is utterly amazing!! Since many of these children won't ever leave the upper peninsula area, having this type interaction provides them a window to the outside world... A window with a microphone.
Here is the talk posted to youtube. :)
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