My technology addicted teenagers were incredulous when I announced we were going to the State Fair. I mean can you get more low-tech than a 104 year institution? I insisted that if the school district gave them the day off and a free ticket, there had to be something educational there.
They protested "we have already milked cows before and spent time with farm animals" (every summer when younger the kids used to spend summers on the farm at our in-laws in Ireland).
But I won - if you can call a 3 hour visit that - and I was impressed with all the technology I could catalog:
- An exhibit on bio-fuels part of the Florida Farm to Fuel initiative. Citrus peels are being used to make ethanol. It showcased cars which use E85 - 85% ethanol when the average today is 10%. Prompted my son to start a short debate about food versus fuel
- As we walked through malls of stores with all kinds of handicrafts, one with the Lowrey Stardust organ caught my eye. Read this about all the technology that goes in to the harmonics of today's organs.
- Preacher man stood outside his tent inviting folks to join him while a giant video screen showed him talking about his website
- A vendor of pool spas showed us the technology in the "Master Blaster" jets, an iPod ready stereo, the LED lighting and even a pop up, flat screen HDTV built in to his spas.
- The Ford dealer showed off its new campaign of "MPGs meet MP3s" with Microsoft SYNC in its Focus - voice activated MP3 player, bluetooth speaker calling and more
- Verizon FiOS is a fair sponsor, and there were several Verizon Wireless dealers around the fairgrounds
Low tech? And we did not even get a chance to ask about the technology which goes in to Florida's agriculture and animal husbandry....I was hoping we could have met someone from FAMU.
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