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PLENARY Information, Internet, and Cell-Phone Use
RESEARCH The Spread of Technology
5 exabytes 17 million
1.8 billion 4.6 billion
(Puerto Rico)
continued from page 17 meeting space.
As these host facilities suggest, Puerto Rico’s hotel options are as plentiful as fronds on a palm tree. The Smooth Meetings Summit included site inspections at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino, the Ritz-Carlton San Juan, Sheraton Puerto Rico Conven- tion Center, the Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort, St. Regis Bahia, Gran Melia Golf Resort, the El Conquistador Resort, and the Verdanza Hotel. Celebrating five years since its
opening, the Puerto Rico Convention Center is the largest meeting facility in the Caribbean, and the most techno- logically advanced in Latin America. It offers 585,000 square feet of space for groups up to 10,000.
The trip included options for golf, tours of Old San Juan, and a closing
18 pcma convene February 2011
American citizens don’t need foreign currency — or even a passport — to visit Puerto Rico.
The amount of information created between the beginning of history and 2003 — and the amount of information we now create every two days.
(Pre Con) continued from page 14
said, “and I believe 2011 will allow everyone to fully realize what that word truly means.” On the heels of SXSW’s 25th an-
niversary this year, and with the launch of the SXSW Trade Show, Suman said, “we endeavor to provide increased media attention, add and enhance ser-
The number of Internet users when Google was created in 1998 — at the time 1.7 percent of the world’s population.
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The number of Internet users in 2010 — about 25 percent of the world’s population.
The number of mobile-phone subscribers — about 67 percent of the world’s population.
SOURCE: Tiffany St. James, “The Social Impact of Technology,” presented at the Like Minds Conference, Exeter, in October 2010. You can watch the presentation on the conference website, at http://wearelikeminds.com, or at http://bit.ly/hSUuy6.
Our aim is to qualify the state- ment that ‘If you don’t go home inspired, enlightened, energized, connected, and entertained, then you didn’t go to SXSW.’
”
vices and activities that provide exhibi- tors and registrants a richer, meaning- ful, and productive experience. Oh, and a good time!” To complement and reinforce “convergence’s coming of age,” Suman said, the SXSW Trade Show will debut the “Next Stage,” a place where celebrity interviews, comedy, music, debates, discussions, and demonstra- tions occur. The SXSW Hiring Hub, powered by Monster.com, will “facili- tate the connection between SXSW’s intelligent, creative, and motivated registrants,” Suman said, “with ever- evolving industries of SXSW.” Another new initiative is the Meet
dinner at Hacienda Don Carmelo, where we witnessed the dance of the Paso Fino, a horse of Spanish descent that has a natural four-beat gait and small steps, making for a very smooth ride.
Don’t let the tropical surroundings
fool you. Puerto Rico is open for meetings. n — Alan L. Kleinfeld, CMM, CMP
Up Pavilion, which will promote com- munication between specific groups of two different industries. And, Suman said, “it wouldn’t be Austin or SXSW without the inclusion of the SXsaloon” — the Trade Show bar, serv- ing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. n — Michelle Russell
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http:// sxsw.com/interactive/trade_show