And, being a techie, I sometimes assume that folks “get it” when I start espousing the virtues of some new technology.   Thankfully, I have great friends and neighbors that remind me that these high tech concepts and ideas aren’t self-evident, and that often, concepts like Open Data or the Internet of Things, are harder to understand. So, let me try.

As an example, let’s talk about the Internet of Things, or the Internet of Everything. What does it mean, and why should we care?

Well, let me try to explain.

What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that says that any electronic device can be connected to the Internet, and (potentially) to each other. With the increasing reach of the Internet, and with more and more devices having wifi and radio frequency ID (RFID) connectivity capability, as well as the decreasing costs of these devices – more and more of what we use everyday connects to the Internet, and shares information with it. In fact, according to a variety of sources (Gartner, Cisco and others), more than 5 Billion devices are connected to the internet today – some say it will be 25 billion by this year, with 75 billion by 2020.

Internet of Things Infographic – Cisco

Number of IoT – Cisco

Yes, this is happening now.  You know it is, because you probably have a smartphone that is connected right now.  But what you might not realize is that there are a slew of other devices connected, as well.  From a toothbrush that can watch to make sure your children are really brushing their teeth well, to a voice-activated smart outdoor grill that will notify the user when their food is ready, to even a sensor loaded and connected tennis racquet (promoted by Rafael Nadal) that is said to improve your game by providing information on power, strokes, and more.  This is just the beginning.

From Toothbrushes to Racquets

What you may NOT know, is that companies of all types are using it to improve their services – from UPS who is using sensor data from their 80,000 vehicles to provide information on the speed, miles per gallon, number of stops, etc – to save money and improve delivery routes.  By using this data effectively, they have saved more than 39 million gallons of fuel through route optimization and reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number of miles and idling time.

From UPS Press Room

Just think about Disney, the mecca of great customer service (and Mickey Mouse.) Disney World  is now using the MagicBand, which I would say is the new height of IoT. The MagicBand is a wristband that is not only a key into your hotel room, but also provides you access into the park(s), as well as allowing you to buy food and merchandise. On the back end of this system, Disney is using this data to track visitors throughout the park, knowing proactively where visitors are, and thereby able to support more visitors, and to better staff rides and restaurants.  Not only that, but kids and adults can personalize their wristbands to make them their own.

Photo by Erik

Photo by Kevin Baird

Why do we care?

So, this is all great information – but really, why should we care?  Well, for lots of reasons.

FIRST – it can mean big life changes are in store.

My FitBit

How? Well, just take my little FitBit, for example. A few years ago, in order to improve my commitment to my health I made a decision to wear this little guy everyday.  The FitBit counts my steps, my activity, and even the number of stairs I climb. The information is automatically sent to an app on my phone, as well as the “cloud” (just a word that means the Internet repository for this data) and it tracks my trending data. I can even set it up to track my sleep patterns. More importantly for me though, is that I’ve set it up to send this information to my company’s health and wellness program.

Why would I do that? Because for every 30 min of exercise I track per day, my healthcare incentive plan PAYS ME $5/day to my Healthcare Savings Account (up to $800/year.) The device costs less than $100. So, that’s a win of $700/year, just for me! It’s also a win for my company, because studies have shown that even 30 min of activity a day reduces healthcare costs. That’s a personal decision, for sure, and the connection to my device isn’t a requirement – but it saves me the time from going into the tool and self-reporting my exercise everyday.

Healthcare is just one industry looking at this phenomenon– from wearable fitness devices like mine, to special GlowCaps that fit prescription bottles – reminding people to take their medication; to wearable alarms for aging family members, this is just one industry poised to take the IoT to a new level.

SECOND, it can improve productivity, while also reducing costs. For real.

Here’s another example. You may have read about our new Solar Trash Cans made by Big Belly. This trash compactor, powered by solar energy, uses the internet to let our Public Works department know when it’s full, reducing the need for our trucks to drive around and waste time, gas and people to empty partially filled trash cans. The power of the Internet is saving us money, reducing our carbon footprint. And, keeping analytics on these activities will continue to allow public works to improve their services, over time.

At home, you can use all types of IoT tools to help defray costs and improve your own productivity. You might have heard of NEST – the smart thermostat that monitors the actual activity in your home during the day, while also watching real-time weather forecasts – to reduce your energy usage (saving you money), and to moderate the temperature in your home.

And have you ever wanted to better manage your irrigation water usage?  I have a friend who uses the Rachio smart sprinkler, to be able to control his water irrigation system, from anywhere. The system knows about the changes in weather, adjusts the watering to the seasons, and manages his irrigation dependent on his own lawn’s needs, rather than being on a “set schedule.”

From Home Depot

Don’t forget, Town of Cary water customers also have a tool at their disposal today. Aquastar will allow you to use data to manage your own water usage. (Read my blog post here.)  By reviewing your water usage data, as well as setting up alerts in Aquastar, you can tell if you have a leak, a toilet running, or see your trending water usage, even when you aren’t there.

And THIRD, this is just the beginning.

More and more of our world and devices are being connected. Sure, there are refrigerators that will send you an email when you are low on milk, (yeah, that’s an old example), but there are also scenarios that can really change your life, such as the air quality sensors that are located all around Boston.  Just think of the opportunities for folks that have asthma – with the Internet of Things sensors, folks with severe asthma and other respiratory issues can connect their smartphones to this network, and then proactively receive messages when the air quality is bad, and be able to track how often they use their inhaler. These kinds of IoT advances can absolutely improve their quality of life.

In fact, just doing a search online at Thingful.net ( a search database of Internet of Things, across the globe)  I found that there are a number of sensors by my house, from weather stations, to air quality stations.

Air quality station in Cary

In Cary – a Connected Bench?

Recently, the Information Services Advisory Board (ISAB) took a look at a new bench-type IoT product recently installed in Boston. It’s called the Soofa – is a place to sit, but so much more. It’s a public space styled bench, solar powered that charges smartphones, while also collecting real-time data about its surrounding environment. The data collected can be air quality related, or noise, and that data can be provided back to the cloud for analytics. There are already 6 of this installed in various locations around the Boston area.  At this point, it’s very new technology but is making waves, and something to consider over time.

What else do I need to know?

The key word is knowledge. Now that we know that more and more of our devices will be on the internet, and communicating information about us, we need to be aware and make a conscious decision whether this is data you want to share, or not.

I share this with the kids in my Internet Safety classes – YOU choose what data you make publically available. If you don’t want people to know where you are, don’t turn on “location services” on your smart phone applications, or disable geotagging on your iphone, to remove location information from your pictures.  Always be aware of your data and who has access to it.

Yes, it’s true that this is an extra step you have to take, but it’s up to us to ensure that the privacy settings that are on our devices reflect our respective privacy priorities. Just like you should be putting anti-virus software on your computer – the best defense is a good offense. Know what data the device collects, and what it shares is key. This is still an emerging technology, and as such, be aware, and always  proceed with your eyes wide open.

For me, my first set of experiences using these technologies has been life changing. Using the FitBit has provided me with a tool that reminds me of my commitment to my health. The capability to “compete” against friends and family online in FitBit challenges and steps keeps it fun and engaging for me, while the extra monetary incentive provided by my employer keeps it relevant. Sometimes, money does talk.

I’d love to know what Internet of Things experiences and tools you have and use, and what you see on the horizon!

_________________________________

Feature photo from IBM, and www.comsoc.org/blog 

Why Volunteer?

These boards are an incredibly valuable resource for the Town. And, as a council member, I have personally found great value in the recommendations provided by our citizen volunteers.  From feedback received from the Planning and Zoning Board, to the incredible report put out by the Environmental Advisory Board’s Shale Gas Task Force, and also input from folks on the Public Arts Board and Parks and Rec. They are all key to what makes Cary such a great place to live.

But, it’s not just about your feedback – it’s about getting involved and truly making a difference. If you have a passion around any of these areas, please apply. Not only will you get an opportunity to help the town by providing your insights and thoughts, but also you will meet like-minded folks, interested in these topics and maybe even have FUN!  

And, volunteering is good for you.  More and more research shows that volunteering improves your health, happiness and well-being among those folks who do it.

Details, I Need details

Each of the board and commissions are unique in size, meeting schedule, and their specific functions. Some of the boards also have subcommittees, such as the “Greenway Committee” as part of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board, that you may also want to investigate.

• Environmental Advisory Board

• Information Services Advisory Board

• Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board

• Public Art Advisory Board

• Planning and Zoning Board

• Zoning Board of Adjustment

• Economic Development Committee

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time does it take?
It depends on the board and commission. Some of them have monthly meetings of just an hour or two, with some pre-work required (reading or research), others can require more time and effort, perhaps a visit to a potential development location, etc.

Do I need any special skills?
Nope. What we need is your passion, experience, knowledge and love of Cary.

What opportunities are available for teens?
Ahhh, that’s a great question. We have an organization that is specifically geared for teens – the Cary Teen Council. It is a volunteer organization made up of teens from a variety of schools in Cary and surrounding areas! The mission of the Cary Teen Council is to empower teens with the core values of leadership, accountability, and a heart for service. They provide volunteer and leadership opportunities, establish high standards for behavior, and promote teens to effectively communicate while managing their time and volunteer profiles.  We even have some teens from the Teen Council serving on our regular boards and commissions!

Teens participating in this organization have the opportunity to get involved in programs and events that focus on social/recreational, community awareness/service, educational, leadership/teamwork and 
fundraising/recruitment.  This last year we had more than 730+ teens participating!

Teen Council Presidential Award Winners

Membership applications for rising 6th-11th graders are being accepted NOW through the end of June. For more information call Korey Sullivan at (919) 460-4965 or e-mail him at korey.sullivan@townofcary.org

How to Apply

Just go online and apply. Applications will be accepted through close of business on June 30, 2014. You can apply from your desktop/laptop or your Mobile device.

I look forward to seeing your application, and thanks for helping to keep Cary great!

It’s private, but you and I see it every day.  It’s my struggle with weight.

I’d like to say that I’m fine with what I weigh; that it hasn’t stopped me from doing what I want to do, and be who I want to be. But that wouldn’t be true. And if I hope my blog is anything, it’s honest. So, here is the elephant in the room. It’s me. (Pun kinda intended.)

I’ve been bigger than I am now, and certainly smaller. I’ve been on every diet known to mankind. Cabbage soup? HCG? Weight Watchers? Nutri-system? Yes, all those and more. I was on my first diet at the age of 12. I can’t count how many I’ve been on since then. I KNOW what to eat, what not to eat, and how to lose weight. I’ve done it plenty of times.

Over the years and through it all, I’ve been lucky to have friends and family that continue to love and support me for who I am, not what I look like. Although my outside has been many sizes, my heart and soul continues to be as big as it can be, and I think that’s a good thing.

I AM active – which surprises many people. All my activity has probably kept me from having any weight related problems. I bike (averaging about 25 miles at a time, and even done a century!), walk (sometimes run), take dance classes, play volleyball (when I can), garden and more.

So, why am I writing this post?

I went to a screening of the “Weight of the Nation” documentary by HBO – put on by the Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) this week. We only watched the section on childhood obesity called “Children in Crisis” of the documentary – but the impact of the obesity epidemic on our children and our nation just hit home for me.  (You can also watch the full documentary on their website at: http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com)

Here are some telling figures:

•  Children that have a TV in their room are more likely to be obese

•  79 million Americans are pre-diabetic

•  Half of obese teenage girls become extremely obese by their early 30’s

•  In the US in 2010, over 63% of people are overweight or obese

•  Twenty years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 15%. Today, more than two out of three states, 38 total, have obesity rates over 25%

How can Cities and Towns help?

It’s not JUST personal responsibility that contributes to weight gain. There ARE things that cities, towns, leaders and advocates can do to lead the charge to a healthier path.

For instance, the documentary included a great story about Mayor Dean of Nashville – whose concern that Tennessee had one of the highest obesity rates of any state, and the plans he put in place to change that trajectory. He led the charge to invest in making the city more walk and bike friendly, adding more greenways, sidewalks and bike lanes; created programs to get people outside, apps to track your activities, and engaged the community to come together around this important issue.

It’s not a severe problem that we currently have in Wake County – in fact, the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps program recently ranked Wake as the overall healthiest county in North Carolina for the fourth consecutive year.  But we can’t stop now.  We must continue to invest in programs and infrastructure that keeps us on the path towards healthy lifestyles.

From Slate.com

In case you think this is just a “social program” keep in mind that an obese workforce costs American businesses an estimated $73.1 billion a year.  So a “healthy town” decreases costs for business owners. Think of it as Economic Development.

So, again, why am I writing about all of this? 

Well, I’m putting it out there… being honest about who I am, and what envision for me and my family.  And this all lines up with what I hope we can achieve for our entire community.

This also a way to document my journey, be honest about my struggle while hoping other folks will accept me for the path that I am on.

My commitment is to eat healthier, stay active, and find ways to help us all live productive, fun, healthy and loving lives.

I hope you’ll support me in this journey.

(Featured photo by Natalie Johnson)

This seminar offered me an opportunity to combine some of my passions – environmental issues, healthy choices and fun. I had high expectations, and was not disappointed.

The main topic was “Weaving Edible Landscapes-Community Gardens and Urban Ag into the Fabric of our Community.” Given Cary’s recent ordinance change and allowance of Chickens and Beekeeping, I think it’s fair to say that our community is in line with some of the trends towards more locally grown food, and a new focus on nutrition.

It was nice to see that folks from both from the City of Raleigh and Town of Cary in attendance – specifically Emily Barrett, our Town’s sustainability manager.  This trend and the topic of discussion really spoke to me.  Not only as a council member, but also personally as I start the move away from processed foods, getting ready to plant my garden for the season, and finding ways to bring these lessons home to my family.

To get a taste of what has been done in England, check out this TED video (13 minutes – well worth it!) that was shared.  It’s by Pam Warhurst – “How we can eat our landscapes.”  She cofounded “Incredible Edible, an initiative in England that is dedicated to growing food locally by planting on unused land in the community.

What I learned

Ok, a lot. The first session was a kickoff by Professor Robin Moore and Dr. Nilda Cosco from the Natural Learning Initiative, and the NC State University and College of Design.

They gave us a global look into how “foodscapes have been transforming communities for the better.” Taking us on a tour of Japan, to Hong Kong, then Europe, and then to some urban growing areas in the US (Chicago, Greensboro and more ) with a specific focus on how community gardens are popping up in schools, parks, and across our country.

Highlights

1. Urban farmers account for 25% of farming households in Japan.
2. In Tokyo, local agriculture produces enough vegetable to feed almost 700,000, grown on rooftops and in basements.
3. Urban fields are the most productive kind of agriculture per area.
4. Urban Gardens are good for city economic health & health of residents, as well as providing civic & social engagement.
5. Every $1 spent at a farmers market = $.60 spent at nearby businesses.
6. There is an Edible Schoolyard at the Greensboro Children’s museum that offers interactive experiences for kids with a focus on fresh seasonal food, health, wellness and outdoor play. (Check out their blog.)

What can I take from this?

First, I wanted to see what we are doing at the Town of Cary around these ideas.  So I connected with our Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources team – to let them know of the wealth of information and experience of the folks that attended, and to learn more of our plans, and what else we can do. As you may know, the new Carpenter Park that was approved with our recent Bond Referendum has a “Community Garden” as part of the design.  I think it’s probably the first Town sponsored/supported garden on Public property in Cary. (I might be wrong.)

I’d also like to see more focus on resources to help local gardeners – whether it’s through the Town of Cary or by referring people to our local cooperatives or other programs. I was lucky enough to meet the leaders of the Kirk of Kildaire garden and the folks at the local YMCA with a garden there. There is also the local Cary Pocket Garden, that is lead by a former Hometown Spirit Award winner, Keith Bliss.  Each of these gardens is doing so much to improve the story of our community, by giving back local food to those who need it.

Garden Time

One of the cool tricks I learned was from a lovely lady showing off how she re-uses all types of containers – creating little terrariums to start seedlings. She takes a cleaned out Liter bottle (I used a Diet Mountain Dew bottle, but she had bottles of Simply Orange, Diet Pepsi, and many others) and does the following.

1. Clean out the bottle and take off the label (if possible)
2. Poke a number of holes in the bottom (for drainage)
3. Cut the bottle in half, but not all the way across. Leave a bit of the bottle attached, and fold back the top half.
4. Fill the bottom portion with potting soil and soak the soil till wet and dripping through.
5. Add your seeds, cover lightly with vermiculite if you have it. Spray water using a spray bottle to wet the top.
6. Fold the top back over and use clear packing tape to tape it back up.
7. Put it outside or on your counter – spray in water in as needed.

Your seedlings will sprout pretty quickly. And you just cut the tape, gently turn over the bottle and you will have your seedlings to plant!  How cool is that?

My basil has sprouted already – and I’ve started a few more since then.

Get Started – Get Good Dirt for Free!

Photo by Kirsty Hall

This weekend you can get a start on your own garden.  On Saturday, March 23^rd the Town of Cary has a Compost Giveaway!  Come out to the Garmon Operations Center at 400 James Jackson Ave.
from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and get some compost.

All you have to do is to bring your own hard sided container.  I’ll be bringing my recycle container and some other same size boxes to fill my little garden up. (It should be between 18 and 32 gallons.)  If you want more than that and have a pickup truck, you will be placed in a different line to get your compost.

My goal is to learn more about this and maybe create my own compost bin soon. Stay tuned.

And, if you have tips, techniques or are a master gardener…maybe you can help me?

Post posting note: Here is a link to the resources from the conference – feel free to check them out.

Featured image from the Greensboro Edible Schoolyard blog