Innovation came from some surprising sources this week, which we saw first-hand at MITX's ‘Where's My Bus? Govt 2.0 in Massachusetts & Public Data Strategies for Mobile and Social Media Professionals' event. We met a government agency using new media to engage the public with amazing results, developers creating remarkable applications with something as lackluster as masses of data, and a man with the know-how to build a transit tracking clock with a 4 year-old cell phone.

Tuesday's event, Time Management for the Technology Savvy with Anne Sugar, provided interesting insights and pointers for junior-level digital and marketing professionals on how to better prioritize time in the office. Anne also discussed tactics to remain cool and collected during stressful times so you don't become unproductive. Below, Anne answered three of the key questions that were covered in the workshop. You can find out more about Anne's work and contact her here. 

The major themes for technology and content based sessions were activity streams, context, augmented reality and location based social networking.

Not only has the State recognized Internet marketing and business as a significant contributor to our economic system (as we stated in our market sizing study, the industry contributed more than $28 billion in revenue to New England's economy in 2009), they are "practicing what they're preaching" by using social media and digital strategies to reach the citizens and create civic engagement. 

Onto Game 2 of the Tech Hub Foosball League - a multi-week championship tournament bringing together Boston’s best techies, strategists, and innovators for the opportunity to prove their foosball mastery and network with people in the space.

Game 1: Pinyadda, Boston on March 11

The Damage: Check it out!

Game 2:  EchoDitto, Davis Square coming up this Thursday, March 18!

The Damage: Don’t know yet! But make sure to sign up your startup for networking, foos, and win awesome tech hub prizes. (And stay tuned for photos)!

The Tech Hub Foosball League is the result of a collaboration between Chase Garbarino of Boston startup, Pinyadda and BostInnovation and Bonnie Shaw, of EchoDitto. The seeds of the collaboration were planted during a conversation about what it means to be a startup working in the Mass Tech Hub, and how to create fun collaborations across the sector. Prizes for the tournament will include everything from a consulting workshop with the biggest names in innovation, to a shiny trophy for the office trophy case.

If you want to prove your foosball skills and network with the best the Tech Hub has to offer, sign up on their Facebook Group, and include a team profile. You can also find them on twitter @techhubfoos.

May the foos be with you!

Who else is fed up with waiting in the pouring rain, the umbrella-thrashing wind, and the bitter cold with only one question on your mind; "where's my bus?!"

We're really excited to announce the nominations for the inaugural MITX Future Leaders Group.

We like soapboxes.  They can be fun to listen to, maybe even stand on, when someone is passionate about what they believe in.

We're pleased to highlight another of our guest bloggers! Welcome to Rebecca Corliss, of HubSpot! If you, or someone you know, would enjoy joining our blogging team, please contact jessica@mitx.org. 

 Last night's event at UK Trade & Investment drew a crowd of diverse sorts with dozens of questions on social media integration and practicality - and industry pros and authors Lois Kelly, Erik Qualman, Larry Weber, and Dan Zarrella, with moderator Robert Davis, were ready to dish their best practices.
Attendees were able to send their questions in advance for the panel to address at the event, which allowed the audience to interact & ask their follow-up questions throughout. Here are some of the great questions and the candid comments the panel had in response:

Clients seem to consistently have a fear in becoming involved in social media because of the doors it opens for negative feedback - How can you get them over that fear?