Tech news and trends
Our talking tech expert Nyika Allen, President and CEO of the New Mexico Technology Council, joined New Mexico Living to talk about last weekend’s Startup Weekend ABQ.
The event begins on a Friday night featuring some of the best local entrepreneurial ideas and by the end of the weekend, some ideas are turned into a startup business. If you have an idea for next year’s event you can sign up now online.
Our tech expert, Nyika Allen, President, and CEO of the New Mexico Technology Council joined New Mexico Living to explain what blockchain technology is.
Blockchain is “a technology that allows people who don’t know each other to trust a shared record of events”. This shared record, or ledger, is distributed to all participants in a network who use their computers to validate transactions and thus remove the need for a third party to intermediate.
Blockchain technology could revolutionize the future of data. It is a technological database which maintains a constant record of transactions. Those in the finance industry are the most interested in this technology because it allows transactions to take place without a middle man. This was an idea taken from BitCoin and is just the beginning of what it can offer businesses and people.
In his original Bitcoin white paper, Satoshi Nakamoto defined an electronic coin – the Bitcoin – as “a chain of digital signatures” known as the ‘blockchain’. The blockchain enables each coin owner to transfer an amount of currency directly to any other party connected to the same network without the need for a financial institution to mediate the exchange.
We can illustrate how a blockchain works by using Bitcoin as an example, as shown below. Bitcoin, like other blockchains, uses cryptography to validate transactions, which is why digital currencies are often referred to as ‘cryptocurrencies’. Bitcoin users gain access to their balance through a password known as a private key. Transactions are validated by a network of users called ‘miners’, who donate their computer power in exchange for the chance to gain additional bitcoins using a shared database and distributed processing.
Our talking tech expert, Nyika Allen President & CEO of the New Mexico Technology Council, joined New Mexico Living to explain Subscription Economy.
The economy is shifting to new models of consumption and the subscription economy is here and hot, but you’re going to need an app to help you track and manage all your subscriptions. You may be part of the subscription economy and not even be aware of it, it includes all the items you sign up for on a monthly basis and pay for it with automatically. This can include technology, entertainment, clothing, makeup and even bills. The app Truebill keeps track of your subscriptions and will alert you if there are any changes. The app is available on android and iOs linked with your bank or credit card and then manages the payments you make.
Nyika Allen, President & CEO of the New Mexico Technology Council, joined New Mexico Living to give us the details on a recent IT Contracting Audit.
A recent Transparency Report created by the Office of the State Auditor examined government procurement in the information technology industry. The IT industry had the highest proportion of reported out-of-state contracting of any industry in Fiscal Year 2015.
They found that 40 of the 48 million contract dollars, used in IT were issued to companies out of the state of New Mexico. The state now has to continue to track and establish goal toward making state purchases.
There is an event on Wednesday, April 11, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., where State Auditor Tim Keller will present the details of the audit. You can get tickets to this event and more information about Tech in New Mexico, visit their website. Read the final report online.
Office of the State Auditor Transparency Report
Our talking tech expert, Nyika Allen, President and CEO of New Mexico Tech Council, joined New Mexico Living to explore some of the best tech options to help take the stress out of filing our taxes.
She brought with her two apps to help you this year. The first is from the Internal Revenue Service, which allows you to not only file your federal taxes, but you can track you return, refund and make payments right from the app. The second, from Intuit, is a calculator which allows you to estimate your refund or expected payment.
Both apps are compatible with iOS and android.
