Security, software highlight tech at DNC

July 30, 7:10 AMBusiness ExaminerDarrell Proctor

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Business Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The Democratic National Convention in Denver runs Aug. 25-28.

Technology will play a huge role at the Democratic National Convention, from the miles of phone, electrical, television and Internet wires at the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field at Mile High, to the hundreds of cameras trained on the participants and the streets of Denver.

It permeates the event so much that the DNC has even outlined its technology strategies to make the convention the most environmentally friendly political gathering ever.

The City of Denver also is upgrading its technology for the event. City officials for months have prepared security plans, many of them hidden from public view. But we do know the city has signed a nearly $1 million contract with a private company to provide new security cameras to expand an existing system known as HALO (High Activity Location Observation).

The cameras will be installed throughout the city. Officials haven't said how many new cameras will be watching the goings-on, but they have said the eyes in the sky are partly to help officers' response time to any incidents.

Even the voting process at the convention has a technical upgrade. Microsoft - the "Official Software and HD Content Provider" for the event - said that "during the nomination process, Microsoft technology will support a voting system that will provide up-to-the-minute delegate vote totals electronically to the Office of the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee, allowing timely reporting of vote tallies as compiled by each delegation's Chair."

In addition, the Democratic National Convention Committee is using Microsoft software "to support the delegate tracking system to gather and manage a multitude of information about Convention participants ... Microsoft technology will support the creation of a software platform to support the DNCC's credentialing operation, facilitating the management and distribution of credentials for the event."

Xerox also is putting its stamp on the event, providing printing services designed to be more energy efficient and eco-friendly.

There are plenty of ways for the public take advantage of technology to learn more about this convention, which runs Aug. 25-28. The DNC's Web site has a multimedia section, where viewers can take a digital look at past conventions (you can even download desktop wallpaper and screensavers).