IT Geek Tourist Locations
Geeky Information Technology Places to Visit – The London Eye
Feb 10th
This series of posts reflects my inner geek. It chronicles a number of information technology (IT) related “tourist attractions” that I would love to visit before I die. Some of them are simply far away locations that I dream of making it to and others will be locations that I would need some assistance obtaining access to. Please feel free to add your own via the comments block below.
Today’s destination is the most visited paid attraction in London! It is the London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel. This was the largest Ferris Wheel on the planet for the Millennial Celebration and a technology wonder!
Wikipedia does great justice to this topic. It reports that:
“The Merlin Entertainments London Eye (known more simply as The London Eye, and also known as the Millennium Wheel), at a height of 135 metres (443 ft), is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over three million people in one year. At the time it was erected, in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until it was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang (160 m) in May 2006, and then the Singapore Flyer (165 m) on 11 February 2008. However, it is still described by its operators as "the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel" (as the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only).”
Besides always wanting to go to London myself, this attraction is a certified technology and information systems human wonder. Please give the the Wikipedia site a read. It really does describe this attraction very well, especially its glass engineering and fly-by-wire control systems. Considered by many to be an architectural as well as Engineering marvel. It is beautiful, tech heavy, and really high – everything that a true information professional, or geek, would love.
From the official London Eye Website:
“At 135m, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel. It was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects and was launched in 2000. It has already won over 75 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement and has now welcomed over 36 million visitors.”
The official site also has a cool learning section with neat facts like:
“The London Eye can carry 800 passengers per revolution – equivalent to 11 London red double-decker buses.”
If you want to see even more pictures, be sure to check out About.com’s London Eye Photo Gallery!
So where do you want to visit that is related to your interest in The Information Age and Information Technology? Do you want to see where people worked, like this article, or where objects are? Together we could make a terrific list. Please add below.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for February 10, 2010 by Scott Coughlin.
Image Credit: to55er’s Blog
Special Thanks to Dan Sung’s Blog entry, Six excellent ideas for a geek bank holiday weekend, regarding tourist sites in England, that gave me the idea for this article.
Geeky Information Technology (IT) Places to Visit – Microsoft Headquarters
Nov 19th
This series of posts reflects my inner geek. It chronicles a number of information technology (IT) related “tourist attractions” that I would love to visit before I die. Some of them are simply far away locations that I dream of making it to and others will be locations that I would need some assistance obtaining access to. Please feel free to add your own via the comments block below.
Today’s destination is the mother ship for all PC-Heads: The Microsoft Company Headquarters! It is in Redmond, Washington! It is a sprawling campus that is also one of the top employers in the SEATAC Area (For Seattle – Tacoma). It is accessed by landing at the SEATAC Airport and driving over the SEATAC bridge.
Wikipedia does great justice to this topic. It reports that:
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKEX: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices.[8] Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its most profitable products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software.
Obviously, Microsoft is the 50 Trillion Pound Gorilla of the modern software business. Their Windows Operating System and Office Suite are synonymous with Enterprise Business. You could not escape their products if you tried as an Information Technology Professional. I am sure that, no matter what niche of the IT business you work in, you have a secret desire to run wild over the Microsoft campus, peer into their inner workings, and talk to their top people!
Please give the the Wikipedia site a read. It really does describe Microsoft very well.
So where do you want to visit that is related to your interest in The Information Age and Information Technology? Do you want to see where people worked, like this article, or where objects are? Together we could make a terrific list. Please add below.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for November 19, 2009 ©Scott Coughlin
Photo credit: www.pcpro.co.uk and Wikipedia
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Ignite Baltimore #5 Tonight!
Mar 4th
Posted by Scott Coughlin in IT Geek Tourist Locations
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Tonight is the fifth Ignite Baltimore Event . It will be held at the Walters Art Gallery in downtown Baltimore. Unfortunately, it is already sold out, though many walk-ins get spaces if ticket holders do not show up in time, but you can read about it here . I highly recommend this event if are looking for a hip event that combines the best of art with the best of technology with the best of fun! I will be there.
You can also follow it on Twitter at @ignitebaltimore.
This is a great opportunity for artistic and technical people in the local DC/Baltimore Metro area to interact in person and I always enjoy meeting everyone. The fourth event was even better than before and I expect that tonight will continue the improving trend. The new venue is better, the food was great last time, the drink is always fine, and the speakers look encouraging.
If you are here because of Ignite Baltimore, I sincerely thank you for taking the time and investing your attention in my content. If you leave me a comment with your link or send me an email using my contact form, I would be honored to return your favor. I welcome your feedback on my blog. Please seek me out on twitter @Scott_Coughlin or @ITThought so we can meet at the event, too.
Ignite is a tough event to describe so I will direct you to the global Ignite site instead. This how they describe it there:
Ignite is exciting because it attracts a very diverse audience of artists, technorati, and thinkers to see presentations and engage in cerebral discussions led by other local artists, technorati, and thinkers. Plus it features local foods, deserts, and drinks. Great time for all.
My IT thought for the day is "what is it about now that there seems to be a growing number of convergence events happening just like this?” I believe, though I cannot find the words to explain it, that art and science and technology are coming together in many places because of our Information Age and it all has something very profound to say about the maturity of its glue – Information Technology.
What do you think? Have you ever been to an Ignite event near you? Please share your thoughts.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for March 4, 2010 by Scott Coughlin.
Image Credit: Ignite BaltimoreToday’s post is licensed under the creative commons license. All are free to share and use so long as credit is given for original or derivative works.