Digital Kids Conference April 25-26 Hosts 70+ Tech Brand Speakers: Sony, Angry Birds, Ubisoft & More

Digital Kids
  

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Updated 3/28/12

All images in this post by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The 6th Annual Digital Kids Conference gets underway April 25-26, 2012 at the Pasadena Convention Center in the L.A. area. By the name and the kid photos I've used to illustrate this post you'd think this event was for kids or parents, but keep reading and you'll see this is actually a professional development conference for adults. In fact, this year 70+ speakers will take to the stage to share their expertise, from top producers of kid-related digital content, services, and software to the related industry's infrastructure that supports this burgeoning marketplace.

New Kids iPhone Gadgets from Griffin Technology, CES 2012

The conference of panels, presentations, and interviews exposes the field's professionals in every category to best practices, trends and effective strategies to successfully develop and market products and services to digital kids and youth and by extension to their parents and teachers.

Among the high profile organizations that have presenters participating are the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Department of State. Sony Online, Symantec, Norton, National Geographic Animal Jam, Highlights for Children, the NFL, Cartoon Network, Ubisoft, Rovio/Angry Birds, Google, Yahoo! Kids, The NPD Group and many others also will be sharing their expertise and knowledge. Additionally this event features three people I personally admire: Beth Blecherman, TechMamas.com; Stephanie Azzarone, Child's Play Communications; and Larry Magid, CBS News Tech Analyst and children's Internet safety pundit -- all who are tops in their particular niches.

Vintage photo of my now-teen son in the early days of the Internet

According to Digital Kids Conference, this is the largest gathering for professionals serving the constantly connected kids and youth content technology sector. In fact among industry peers it is considered a must-attend event for entertainment and media companies competing in today's digital world.

Focused on digital kids and online and mobile technologies, there are five conference tracks including Safety, Content, Operations, Business and Market Research. Experts will address a wide range of opportunities and challenges intertwined with everything from mobile and tablet apps to social games, virtual worlds, social media, and other niches. During the two-day event attendees will learn how to build, manage and monetize services, products and interactive content.

Like many kids, my triplets started using computers before they reached the age of 2

The Digital Kids Conference takes place Wednesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 26 from 9 am to 5 pm both days. The venue is the Pasadena Convention Center located at 300 E. Green Stree, Pasadena, CA 91101.

Digital Kids is produced by Austin-based Engage Digital. Engage Digital creates and produces technology-focused industry conferences and trade expositions. For more information, a full schedule of speakers and tracks as well as to obtain tickets, visit DigitalKidsCon.com

Today's toddlers are exposed to more content than ever, Dwell on Design 2011

 

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing producers of digital kids content today? How are these problems being solved? Please share your expertise as a professional working in the industry or your thoughts on the subject as a parent with kids.

FTC Disclosure:  I will be attending this conference to cover for MommyBlogExpert.com as a credentialed member of the media. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Prius c Hybrid 2012 Car Review - New Member of Toyota Prius Family is Fun & Fuel Efficient

Automotive

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In January the newest member of the Prius family, the Prius c from Toyota, made a big splash for its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. At the time of that announcement I was just wrapping up a test drive and review of the previous new kid on the block, the Prius v. So at that point I was prejudiced. You see, I'd had such a fabulous long distance test driving experience with the Prius v to the Consumer Electronics Show several months ago that I couldn't imagine that the Prius c would even compare.

Me test driving the New 2012 Prius c Hybrid Car from Toyota

That jaded opinion changed when I had the privilege as an inaugural member of Toyota Women Influencers Network (TWIN) to be one of the first to take the Prius c for an in-city test drive around Torrance, California, the U.S. corporate headquarters of Toyota.

This was a little less than two weeks before the car was even available to consumers at dealers. So it was thrilling to have this kind of insider's opportunity to try various 2012 vehicle models out during the TWIN Camp Toyota hosted for us with the company's product managers and marketing team on hand to personally show us around and answer questions from our social media group of women bloggers.

Prius c comes in edgy colors like Habanero and Summer Rain Metallic

I think what surprised me most about the Prius c was the overall feel of interior space as well as the way the vehicle handled. Power was excellent upon acceleration, too. I really couldn't feel the difference as I drove, speeding up and slowing down, as the car switched automatically between electric and fuel modes.

Owning a hybrid vehicle often means getting priority parking

Experienced  from the driver's seat -- though slightly smaller than the Prius v I'd previously tested -- this was certainly comfortable and adequate. That really says a lot when you consider that I am rather tall and still found that the headroom generous, whether  getting in and out of the car as well or when driving.

Me behind the wheel of a 2012 Prius c at the end of my test drive

Watch this short and sassy clip to see the new Prius c come to LIFE, literally




The Prius c is available in four different models with a variety of amenities among them the sophisticated Entune technology in two of the models. Color choices, depending on the model, include an edgy palette of youthful and fun hues ranging from Absolutely Red, Magnetic Gray Metallic, and Habanero to Classic Silver Metallic, Moonglow, Blue Streak Metallic, and Summer Rain Metallic to elegant classics like Super White and Black Sand Pearl.

Cat Lincoln, Clever Girls Collective, matches perfectly with Prius c in Habanero

In summary, with all that plus a starting price of $18,950 and average mileage the best of any non plug-in hybrid car at 53/46 mpg, there is a whole lot to like about the smallest car in the Prius family.

See Toyota.com for more information about the aesthetic and functional features of the Prius c as well as all the technical specifications of this vehicle and dealers where you can test drive it for yourself.

Watch for another Mommy Blog Expert post shortly explaining what TWIN is and how I got to become associated with Toyota. That post will also give you an idea of the kinds of things our team of women brand influencers learned about and experienced during our camp experience.

Toyota HQ Lobby in Torrance, California

Would love to hear from others who have had a chance to drive the Prius c. Also, you're invited to leave a comment if you have stories about any of the other members of the Prius family that you have driven.  I look forward to hearing all about it.


FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. As a member of TWIN I was hosted by Toyota for TWIN Camp as well as have had the use of various vehicles during the program.  I did not receive any compensation for writing this post or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota or any of its brands. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Win a Trip to BarkWorld Pet Blogger Social Media Conference & Expo in Atlanta, Contest Ends April 30

Pet Blogging

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All images in this post from BarkWorldExpo.com

Eukanuba Paws In Motion to BarkWorld Sweepstakes

Here's your chance to win an all expense paid trip sponsored by Eukanuba to attend BarkWorld Conference & Expo in Atlanta, October 25-27, 2012 , the only industry-wide educational conference covering the full spectrum of social media and lifestyle discussions for pet lovers in every field. 

BarkWorld is the place where humans, social media & dogs merge

That means that anyone creating content through blogging, social media, gaming, mobile apps, tech start ups or other niches within the pet industry will benefit by attending. As a matter of fact, pet industry companies of virtually every size will have the opportunity to learn and acquire valuable skills to fully tap in to the power of new media. You'll also have the opportunity to interface with major consumer brands such as PetCo, Eukanuba, and Iams, to name just a few of BarkWorld's 2012 sponsors. The best part is this conference is dog-friendly so you don't have you to leave your four-legged friend at home, he can join you for this event.

Enter the Eukanuba Paws In Motion to BarkWorld contest by posting a compelling blog post (or YouTube video) about why you want to go to #BarkWorld 2012 then promote the post within your social media community! 

One Winner will receive

• A ticket to BarkWorld 2012
• Roundtrip airfare to conference (w/in continental US)
• Roundtrip airfare for your pet (w/ in continental US) 
• Three-night hotel stay at the host hotel, Westin Buckhead (includes room & tax)
• Roundtrip airport transport in Atlanta, GA 

Two Runner-ups will  each receive: A complimentary full-conference ticket to BarkWorld

Contest Entry Details

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.