Books you might enjoy, and the stories behind them.

• Engineering Engagement August 30, 2023

  

  “Lots of people find robotics so cool,” says Dr. Carlotta Berry.

  Dr. Berry, who has coined the term “NoireSTEMinist®” to describe her work in the STEM professions, is an educator, speaker, author, hip-hop video creator and founder of two nonprofits.

  She is both a professor of engineering and robotics at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, in Indiana, and the co-founder of the Rose-Hulman multidisciplinary minor in robotics

  Her mission: to change the face of STEM to include underrepresented populations and women. In the process, she’s showing her students the ways in which their talents fit into engineering and robotics.

  But those students aren’t restricted to the ones she sees in her classroom.

  “Robotics for the streets” is both the theme of her message–AND the title of a workshop she’ll be presenting, in September, during the 2023 Make: Education Forum! This is a virtual event, and you’re invited to come and learn as she demonstrates the use of Arduino.

  Arts and community

  

  Imagination, fun and the arts are core elements of the process.

  Carlotta, as she likes to be called, has produced several “Robot Slam Poetry” videos on her YouTube channel. She has also published two Black STEM romance novels.

  And she has created a number of resources.

  If you need a speaker for an upcoming event, her nonprofit, Black in Robotics, includes a speakers’ bureau. There’s also a reading list, spotlighting Black scholars and innovators.

  Meanwhile, her Black in Engineering nonprofit offers videos, action steps and links related to anti-racism, STEM and diversity.

  Carlotta talked about her professional journey, offered a closer look at the ways arts-oriented students fit into the STEM professions and shared the story of creating her nonprofits.

  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • How Carlotta first became interested in robotics;

  • How robotics can appeal to more arts-oriented individuals;

  • A closer look at “robotics for the streets” and what the term means for communities at large;

  • What first started Carlotta creating her “Robot Slam Poetry”;

  • The story behind her term, “NoireSTEMinist®”;

  • The story of her two nonprofits, Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics;

  • Steps towards eliminating bias in AI;

  • A preview of Carlotta’s workshop for Make: Education Forum (she’s created an open-source robot for educators!)

  • A step Carlotta’s taking towards combating the current “marketing problem” with engineering as a profession;

  • Her creative challenges, as a technical professional writing her first novel;

  • The most creative fun Carlotta has had, in the past year, while taking STEM and robotics to the streets.

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• Metaversed: a Guide to the Future May 8, 2023

  

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  What does “metaverse” really mean?

  More importantly–what can it mean in your life?

  Especially if you’re not a “technical” person? Or, alternately, if you have some knowledge of the technologies and want to take the next steps in putting them to work for you?
  
  These are some of the questions which strategic business consultant, keynote speaker and educator Samantha G. Wolfe addresses in her new book: Metaversed: See Beyond the Hype.

  Sam, as she prefers to be called, is both the Founder of New York technology consultancy firm PitchFWD and an adjunct professor at NYU.

  In Metaversed, which she co-authored with Luis Bravo Martins, Sam offers both a clear definition of the term “metaverse”, and a series of guidelines towards accessing it.

  And she’d especially like readers to know: the metaverse is for everyone. Including artists, educators and anyone who isn’t quite sure, yet, how it could fit into their life and work.

  “It shouldn’t only be the people that know how to code or develop that (need to be involved),” Sam comments. “It needs to be more than that.”

  In other words, the metaverse is for YOU–and Sam’s new book explores the ways you can get involved. Including a great chapter on “Resources” which, we admit, is a personal favorite.

  Sam talked about some of the ways the metaverse and artificial intelligence could facilitate everyday life, considerations involved in protecting privacy and some of the ways these technologies might be used to build a better world.

  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • A definition of the term “metaverse”;

  • How these technologies might affect daily life in five years;

  • How the metaverse might be instrumental in solving some of the world’s problems;

  • A look at some of the applications of the technologies for the arts and education;

  • How one skeptical educator came to realize the pertinence of XR to their area;

  • How the metaverse may affect the workplace of the future;

  • Ways to avoid the same mistakes made with the Internet when building the metaverse;

  • Where to start, if you’re new to the metaverse;

  • Some of Sam’s favorite resources for “on boarding” experiences.

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• A Blueprint for the Future July 11, 2022

  This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended, in any way, as financial, career or professional advice in any other areas. Please contact an appropriate professional with any questions.

  

  What will the metaverse become?

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  In his new book, “Step Into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy”, future tech strategist and author Dr. Mark van Rijmenam says we have a choice. But, he cautions, we must act now.

  Mark, who is known as “The Digital Speaker”, is the founder of Holland-based Datafloq. He’s also an international keynote speaker, as well as the publisher of the ‘f(x) = e^x‘ newsletter, which explores the future of work in tomorrow’s workplace. “Step Into the Metaverse” is his fifth published book.

  Currently, Mark says, creators have a “blank canvas” to create an “open metaverse” that will benefit humanity.

  However, he warns, “We only have one shot to make this happen, (or) we’ll wind up in a dystopian future.”

  And in Step Into the Metaverse, he offers guidelines–including an extensive resource list which cites the 250+ interviews he conducted, in the course of writing Step Into the Metaverse.

  Mark discussed the concepts he explores in his new book, including avatars, the use of immersive technology in education, and the next steps for individuals who want to work together towards an open metaverse.

  In this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • A closer look at the challenge which the budding metaverse presents to creatives;

  • A projection of the ways we may experience the metaverse, ten years from now;

  • What future education may be like, due to the metaverse;

  • Some of the ways augmented reality may appear in our daily lives, in the future;

  • Mark’s experience as he wrote Step Into the Metaverse;

  • The ways avatars can change behaviors–both in the virtual world and in the real one;

  • Resources and skills to prepare for the evolution of the metaverse;

  • A definition of non-fungible tokens (NFTs);

  • Some of the dangers of the metaverse, and possible ways to avoid them;

  • Considerations for the next steps for creatives working towards an open metaverse;

  • A closer look at two new innovations and their implications for personal privacy.

  Check out “The Digital Speaker” series with Dr. Mark van Rijmenam! You’ll find information on his videos, latest articles and his podcasts at thedigitalspeaker.com. And while you’re there, get a look at his free webinar on the future of work, as well as his four previously-published books!

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