Optics and Exposure

Preparations continue for the G-20 summit, beginning tomorrow. The fence along Frew Street at Carnegie Mellon has been extended, and I happened to witness the rehearsal of the color guard for tomorrow’s reception at Phipps Conservatory.

Rehearsal of the Reception at Phipps Conservatory

The security fence extends down Frew Street

Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt responds to questions

I was also given the honor of an invitation to Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s lecture on Technology, Innovation and the Global Economy prepared in advance of the G20 summit. It was an inspiring speech on the power of information, the direction that Google sees innovation taking, the importance of cloud computing in the survival of startups and the streamlining of established businesses, and how these developments will shape policy for years to come. It was followed by some good questions, and I learned about Google’s recent venture into Rwanda, where they have signed an agreement with the President to build a data center there, and are pushing for development in the electricity and telecommunications infrastructure. It was difficult not to leave there with an air of optimism.

Tomorrow, I’ll see the other side….and likely interact with those who disagree with everything about global corporations and business-controlled economic policy.

-aigulf