Hello, world!
Welcome to BaltTech. Don't know about you, but I am happy to be here, on this patch of earth pixels and code. Having worked at The Baltimore Sun now for 10 years, I've been lucky to cover a broad range of topics, from business to crime. (Here's a sampling of my latest work.)
The past few years, I was deep in the thicket of Baltimore crime reporting and breaking news, seeing all the negative things that were possible in this city, day in, day out. It was during this period -- when I also started carrying a video camera and an iPhone to do my job -- that I began gaining an appreciation for the importance of technology and innovation, in Baltimore and beyond our great little city.
I took a couple Web courses at the University of Baltimore. I built a Website, played with blogs, shot tons of shaky video at home and work, shelled out big bucks for Adobe Creative Suite 3. In short: I ramped up my geekitude from 0-60 in a very short period of time. But i won't embellish: I'm still a newbie. In fact, you'll probably correct me on many occasions. That's okay: I look forward to learning something new every day.
For more than a year now, I've nurtured this idea of a tech blog that gets up each day and tries to cover the interesting tech trends coming out of Baltimore.
Not just the big companies and the federal government contractors, but the little guys and gals, too. Not just the established players, but the startup dreamers who are hustling to bring their visions to life.
Somewhere out there, maybe here in Maryland, the next Google could be being born right now. Maybe it'll be a white-hot startup. Or maybe it'll branch out of groundbreaking work done by students and professors at one of Maryland's colleges and universities. Either way, I want to be there to Tweet it, blog it, report it, photograph it, and videotape it. (Did i just say videotape?)
So what will this blog cover, you wonder? Well... for a hint, take a look at the categories I've created. These are my interests. They will likely change and evolve over time as I roll up my sleeves and get into this blog and the tech beat.
But generally, I want to write about the big ideas driving Maryland's tech sector forward, the stuff the entrepreneurs and technologists are building, the people they're hiring, and how well private industry, our public and private universities, and our government work together to create opportunities (or not). I want to break news here -- and I'll need your help.
I also want to pick my head up from Baltimore and look at what other innovators up and down the East Coast are doing.
We should strive to have some fun in this space. I'll do some videos and share and feature yours. Heck, I may dabble in podcasting and live-stream video. Anybody hear of 12seconds.tv? Here's my channel. And, of course, I'm on Twitter, @gussent. (And, @balttech, plus using the #balttech hash tag.)
I'll introduce myself at the networking events, beer in one hand, iPhone and/or video camera in the other. And, most importantly, I just want listen to you. It may sound corny, but reporters need people talking to them, telling them what's important in their lives. We're not omniscient.
What would you like to see covered in BaltTech? Leave a comment below. For detailed pitches and story ideas, shoot me an email at gus.sentementes(at)baltsun(dot)com.
(photo credit: Doug Kapustin, Sun photographer)
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech
Comments
Sweet!
Posted by: Jim Doran | June 1, 2009 7:43 AM
Ooo OOo am I first to subscribe 'cause I just did. Glad to have a Baltimore tech related blog to read!!
@awessendorf
Posted by: awessendorf | June 1, 2009 8:10 AM
This is really exciting! It's about time Baltimore has a tech blog. Go download Linux and break free from the pack, Gus!
Posted by: Baltimore Slumlord Watch | June 1, 2009 8:17 AM
like to get your view on where you think BaltTech community is heading in relation to the rest of the sphere.
That is to come. But actually, I'd love to get people's thoughts on that, too. Mine aren't as important as what the community really thinks. - Gus
Posted by: @ecogordo | June 1, 2009 8:21 AM
Hello back Gus... I'm looking forward to reading you (in a format greater than 140 characters) !
Posted by: Dave T | June 1, 2009 8:29 AM
Hi Gus,
Welcome to the blogosphere. I've already subscribed and look forward to reading your thoughts in a longer format. This has the potential to be a great resource.
thank you!
Posted by: Scott Paley | June 1, 2009 9:00 AM
Gus, this is just the best news. There's a great need for this kind of journalism in our town. Kudos to you and the Sun!
Thank you, sir! And I'll be counting on you to continue your astute observations over at www.subelsky.com. -Gus
Posted by: Mike Subelsky | June 1, 2009 9:00 AM
Glad to see they finally set you up with the blog.
Gus is too modest to say this himself, but he was among the first people in The Sun newsroom to think about new ways of reporting the news, using all of the tools available to him, not just the usual pen and notebook.
I'm most definitely looking forward to this as a daily highlight.
Thanks Tim. Here's a dirty little secret: my handwriting stinks and I hate taking written notes. So yes, if I've embraced the digital life in my job, a big reason was to save myself from my own handwriting, which any prescription-writing doctor would be proud of. :-) Gus
Posted by: Tim Windsor | June 1, 2009 9:04 AM
Congrats on your new blog Gus, it is great direction for the Sun to go, and you're the perfect guy to do it. Personally, I'd like to see local university research brought in, particularly with efforts in tech-transfer to seed new businesses in the city. Will BaltTech include biotech? I think that's a little different than the information-technology you have focused on recently but it is huge in the region and possibly a direction to grow. How about nanotech? Both of those fields intersect with the infotech field. In any case, great to see you here, I'm looking forward to reading your postings. Best of luck!
Yessir, Professor Gray. I am interested in all of the above things you mentioned. Keep the news coming and I'll do my best to get on top of it! - Gus
Posted by: Jeffrey Gray | June 1, 2009 9:08 AM
This is going to be great, Gus! I'm happy to see your Big Idea (this blog) out there now.
Posted by: Mary | June 1, 2009 9:08 AM
Congrats! This is really exciting stuff
Posted by: Paul Capestany | June 1, 2009 9:43 AM
Welcome Gus. I look forward to reading your posts and sharing in your discussions on BaltTech.
Posted by: Patapsco Jones | June 1, 2009 9:57 AM
I've been looking forward to this blog since I heard of its planning.
I'm subscribed. Excited to read about local startups!
And I'm excited to learn more about yours, Mr. Localist.com. ;-) -Gus
Posted by: Mykel | June 1, 2009 11:55 AM
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay
go go gadget gus!
Posted by: Evan | June 1, 2009 12:58 PM
Gus, great to see the blog up and running! Needless to say we are looking forward to it. Best of luck and I am subscribing now!
Subscribing to the print edition? That would be awesome, and would help pay my salary, too. ;-) - Gus
Posted by: Jen Gunner | June 1, 2009 5:00 PM
I know I'm late on this, but Congrats Gus! You're the perfect person to do this and I'm right there with Tim Windsor, you've been light years ahead of everyone else at the paper when it came to combining reporting and tech innovation. Looking forward to reading you, babe!
Posted by: dan thanh | June 2, 2009 6:26 PM
Wonder how many people turned to tech solutions because of bad handwriting? May I see a show of hands? (Raising hand ...)
(I think more people should turn to tech solutions because of bad handwriting. ;-) - Gus)
Posted by: Dahlink | June 3, 2009 6:36 AM