Geeks Launching 5-year Vision Plan at ICT Showcase

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2007

Geeks Launching 5-year Vision Plan at ICT Showcase

Moncton, NB – Most people are aware of the fiscal have’s and have not’s, but do you know about the digital version? The digital divide is described as the gap between those who benefit from digital technology and those who do not.

ICT professionals from across the globe warn that if divides between the digital have and have not is not bridged, goals of self sufficiency for have not’s are at risk. The problem of digital divide is not new to the ICT sector, however; for most non-profit organizations and the general public the issue is not top of mind when thinking about how they interact with business, government or non-profits.

“Many organizations across this region know that they must invest in technology to keep themselves competitive and relevant in today’s globalized economy”, explains Trevor MacAusland, Founder of Geek on Ice. “There is a willingness among these organizations to embrace new technologies, however; there is an enormous gap related to knowledge and training on how to leverage their technology investment”.

For the past 2 years, Geeks on Ice have invested in over $15,000.00 in computer equipment upgrades for non-profits. That investment has helped United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB member agencies, however; the group noticed that most member agencies did not know how to maximize the use of their investment and leverage low cost technologies like open source and VOIP. The Geeks committee has indicated that this issue is not only a non-profit problem, but an issue for SME’s in the region who could export products internationally.

Mr. MacAusland believes that through repositioning the Geeks on Ice vision, their group can attract ICT professionals who are willing to volunteer to help organize or fund a Digital Divide conference in April. The Geek University conference would run the week leading up to the annual Geeks on Ice World Championships hockey tournament in Moncton. Geek University would be open to non-profit organizations and SME’s to teach them on how to leverage emerging open source technologies and showcase the region’s ICT workers to an international stage as the group would broadcast the workshops on their website.

“Our group sees a significant ROI for the entire community if we can help transfer our knowledge of technology to those who might consider themselves technology illiterate” says MacAusland. “Through this initiative, Geeks on Ice will focus on leaving a lasting legacy that will serve as an enabler to self-sufficiency for local organizations and the regional economy.”

The group plans to launch the full details of their new five-year vision at the upcoming ThinkNB ICT Showcase next month. As such, Geeks on Ice would like to invite past participants and members of the public to drop by their booth to discuss their goal to eliminate the digital divide.

To register on line for free, simply go to http://www.blogger.com/www.thinknbpensernb.ca, click on the REGISTER ONLINE button and enter the following VIP code: TNB160. Think New Brunswick will be open from 9am -5pm on Wednesday, November 21st at Fredericton’s Aitken Center.

For more information on Geeks on Ice, contact geeksonice@gmail.com or go to http://www.geeksonice.com/.

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Contact: Trevor MacAuslandCo-Chair Geeks on Ice 2007geeksonice@gmail.com

Background

Geeks on Ice was founded in 2003 by an employee of a local software company. The purpose of the event was to provide peers an opportunity to network in a market not traditionally known for its ICT prowess. The vision was to organize an annual hockey tournament comprised of teams from across Atlantic Canada. These teams would converge on Moncton, NB annually to participate in an organic networking atmosphere. The objective was to eliminate networking barriers through sport outside of the corporate environment.

In 4 years, the tournament has doubled in size and has branched out to support local non-profit organizations in their quest to keep up with rapidly changing technology requirements. No longer would a non-profit organization’s services suffer due to archaic or absence of technologies.

With 2008 being the fifth anniversary, the committee has decided to embark on an exercise to set the evolution of open source hockey.