News
Where is Online Education Going?
December 31st, 2012
You may be surprised to learn that “distance learning” is not a new pedagogical technique. What could be described as “correspondence courses” date to the early 18th century, and the University of London offered distance learning degrees more than 150 years ago. Today, technology has taken the concept to new levels of ubiquity, not […]
Read More >The Personal Benefits of Your Community-Owned Network
November 20th, 2012
Shortly before I started grad school in 2005, I got a laptop that had built in WiFi. To help some of us “old timers” who hadn’t been in school for some time, the university had refresher courses to help us remember what we had once learned and perhaps forgotten since undergrad days. I believe […]
Read More >Innovation with Fiber
November 14th, 2012
UTOPIA isn’t Google, and Utah isn’t Kansas City, but what is happening in KC provides an instructive lesson on the power of innovation. As Google starts to connect residential customers to its gigabit fiber network, a funny thing is happening: because the roll-out is residential first, start-ups in the area are renting and buying homes […]
Read More >Centerville is Connected!
November 12th, 2012
By Mayor Ron Russell Several years ago, Centerville City joined with 10 other Utah cities to form the UTOPIA fiber optic network. We were pioneers, taking on a project with unknown challenges and the promise of unlimited potential. Like the other cities, we viewed the development of true high-speed fiber-optic connectivity for our citizens as […]
Read More >The Power of Choice
October 30th, 2012
An election is all about choices. Do you want Candidate A or Candidate B? Are you for Proposition 19 or against it? Will Judge John Doe be retained in office or not? To make an election worthwhile, one needs to have alternatives from which to choose. Democracy wouldn’t get very far if there were only […]
Read More >Managing Expectations
October 12th, 2012
I love movies, and since I was a kid I’ve been a big fan of the James Bond franchise. But, I didn’t find great enjoyment from Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan’s last Bond flick. It was too preposterous, too absurd. So far, it’s the only Bond film I’ve seen only once. Must have something to […]
Read More >The Right Fit
October 5th, 2012
In 2008, I purchased a pair of shoes on-line. I had been coveting a pair for a couple years, as the style was very elegant, and I could definitely use them in my “wardrobe.” When the shoes arrived, I realize that the sizing was off. I ordered the same size I always wore, but for […]
Read More >“I am UTOPIA” Contest
October 1st, 2012
UTOPIA is a community-owned fiber optic network dedicated to making advanced broadband a reality for our member cities in Utah. This network allows residents, business, and other institutions to connect to the world in a way they have never experienced before, providing blazing fast Internet speeds, phone, and television services. Whether you’re a current UTOPIA […]
Read More >“Wisdom and Knowledge, Diffused Generally”
September 18th, 2012
Yesterday in Orem, Utah Valley University cut the ribbon on its new Center for Constitutional Studies. Not coincidentally, yesterday was Constitution Day—the 225th anniversary of the day when the U.S. Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention. As part of the festivities, the Center welcomed David McCullough, world-renowned author and historian, whose works include 1776 […]
Read More >Apple’s Innovation Paradigm and Broadband Connectivity
September 12th, 2012
With the launch today of the iPhone 5, as well as redesigned iPods, Apple has once again proven that technology is never static. Innovation is the name of the game, and companies who get behind the curve (yes, we mean you, Nokia, RIM) do so at their peril. While in the grand scheme of things […]
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