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Read the following two articles:
 * [|Looking for the Next Big Thing? Ranking the Top 50 Start-Ups]
 * [|Garner: 10 Critical Tech Trends For The Next Five Years]

What is the next big thing?
That is essentially the entire goal of this exercise - for you to use the skills you've gained in class, via your readings and your experiences delving into technology, communication, and information. What is the next big thing? What do you think is going to be the one product or service the world is going to grab a hold of and not let go? The sky's the limit here - any technology, any field - and it does not have to exist yet - you can dream it up NOW! **The presentation** The other goal of this exercise is to introduce you to the world of poster presentations. These usually occur in academic and professional settings - where you have the opportunity to present the fruits of your research in a visually appealing way - as well as explain verbally in small groups (1 on 1, more often than not) what your research is and why it's important. For this presentation, your poster must address the following questions: Your poster must also include a mockup of your work - a prototype drawing or sketch of what you think the eventual product will look like or what the website or service will be designed as. **The deliverable - e.g., your poster** **The poster presentation** **The Wrap-Up** **Summary of due dates:**
 * What - what is your product or service that YOU think will be the NEXT BIG THING? What does it entail? What are your anticipated costs?
 * Why - why is it important? Why is it unique? Why should angel investors fund your project?
 * Who - who is your target market? Who will want to invest in your product/service?
 * How - how does it work? How much does it cost? How do you plan to market your product/service?
 * Where - where will this product or service launch? Is it geographically restricted - and if so, why?
 * **Your poster must be designed on a Powerpoint slide measuring 20"x30"**. Why Powerpoint? Powerpoint has been used at many institutions and organizations to design and print professional posters because in part of the ease of manipulating graphics and text while preserving their original quality.
 * [|You may use this template as a starting board - it's already sized to 20"x30".]
 * All of the participants' names must be on the poster itself.
 * Your poster must be submitted to this Canvas link by the due date so that we may get it printed for you, free of charge. If it is not submitted by this time OR you make significant changes after this date, you are responsible for having it printed.
 * Once printed, you will be notified via email to come and pick it up at the main office at the Louis Shores Building (first floor, 101). You are responsible for having it mounted to a hard surface (like cardboard). [|This product from Office Depot was recommended as an option for mounting as it is self-adhesive]. Your poster must be mounted and delivered to Casey at LSB 210 by NO LATER than Wednesday, 11/28/12.
 * During your lab sections on Thursday, 11/29/12, instead of lab in HCB, you will report to the Goldstein Library in [|BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE].
 * Find your poster and stand near it! Faculty and students from a variety of departments INCLUDING SLIS/CCI will be evaluating your posters based on clarity, design, feasibility, and effort.
 * Your poster will remain on display in Goldstein through the end of the day on Friday, 11/30/12; and published online in an online gallery.
 * The judging panel will determine the top three posters based on clarity, feasibility, design, and effort.
 * The top poster will receive both extra credit as well as a prize basket donated by the College of Communication and Information. The other two top posters will receive extra credit. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
 * Feedback will be provided upon request.
 * Register here. You may register as an individual or as a group of no more than 5 people. Do this by Thursday 11/1/12 at the end of your lab.
 * Section 1
 * Section 2
 * Section 3
 * Powerpoint slide due to Canvas by Friday, 11/16/12 @ 12PM NOON
 * Posters ready for pick up approximately Monday, 11/26/12 (TBA)
 * If you want to go in on a group order for posterboards, bring $9 in cash to me ($8/ea plus tax) by no later than Monday 11/19/12 by the end of class so I can purchase them and pick them up.
 * Presentation during your lab time on Thursday 11/29/12

HELPFUL LINKS ON ACADEMIC POSTERS
 * [|How to make a powerpoint poster]
 * [|Why use Powerpoint to make a poster?]
 * [|From Wake Forest]