Reagan Wireless Donation brings Christmas Cheer to Orphanage in the Philippines

"Today is Christmas in the Philippines.  The children thank you for your generous donation of the playground, bicycles, toys, food and medical supplies.  Tomorrow, we head to another orphanage with 186 children from 7-18 years old.  The children were very happy to receive your gifts," Fernando Kuehnel, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Kabataan Charity said in a letter thanking Daniel Kaufman, Reagan Wireless President & CEO.

An orphanage in the Philippines, where a typhoon devastated large parts of the country last month, has received a generous donation of $25,000 from Reagan Wireless, a leading technology company in the global cellular phone distribution industry.

The orphanage that is home to more than 160 children used the donation to purchase medical supplies, food, toys, bicycles, and build a playground which was unveiled on Christmas day.  

"This is an ongoing donation we have been making for over two years now.  The needs of the orphanages have increased since the typhoon as a result of kids either losing parents, or through the loss of job and possessions, making it impossible for some parents to afford to take care of their children," Mr. Kaufman said.

The Kabataan Charity is a 501(c) 3 charity with a mission to provide aid to orphanages or children's homes in the US and worldwide, including those in the Philippines.

More information about Reagan Wireless can be found at www.reaganwireless.com.

SOURCE Reagan Wireless

RELATED LINKS
http://www.reaganwireless.com

McCusker & Company's Service USA Division Launches New Line of Commercial and Consumer Android Tablets

ServiceUSA, a subsidiary of McCusker & Company, a leading worldwide provider of consumer and commercial electronics extended warranty services, will soon start offering its own branded line of commercial and consumer Android tablet products designed for the special needs of today's businesses, retailers, distributors and home users.

"We surveyed the tablet products out in the market today and recognized that there was a true need for a product branded by ServiceUSA and backed by the peace of mind of the McCusker & Company extended warranty protection," said McCusker & Company Chief Executive Officer Will McCusker. "Now our commercial and consumer customers can purchase a product that is endorsed by our firm with the same warranty protection they entrust for their other valuable electronics."

The tablet is being developed in conjunction with North Carolina-based 13 Enterprises. 13 Enterprises specializes in providing enterprises, educational institutions, hotels and other corporate projects with a complete 360 solution. They offer a full suite of tablet products along with custom imaging, assets tags, custom cases and even bulk or drop shipping.

"13 Enterprises was a great partner to develop and bring this tablet product to market," McCusker said. "We are looking to forward to launching this new Android tablet product in 2014 and sharing the availability of this technology with our valued customers."

ServiceUSA has also partnered with Computer Tree to provide the technical support, repair center, and help desk for the new ServiceUSA tablets. Service USA will provide sale and lease options for the products to corporations and distributors.

For more information about ServiceUSA, a division of Colleyville, Texas-based McCusker & Company, please check outwww.goserviceusa.com.

Colleyville, Texas-based McCusker & Company is a leading firm offering custom product protection solutions for a wide variety of consumer and commercial industries. The company specializes in fulfilling the underwriting, licensing, and administration requirements for international warranty and service programs.

Their comprehensive solution includes data administration; customer service; repair and depot facilities along with national onsite service maintenance and installation. They serve the electronics industry; HVAC; LED lighting; precious metals and auto parts industries among many others.

SOURCE McCusker & Company Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.mccuskerco.com

Facebook: Live Streaming (muted) Commercials

Have you heard the news about Facebook's new way to increase engagement, shares and likes for the MARKETERS? Please share your thoughts. 

#k10friends #k10networking #k10 #k10earth

___________________________________

FROM FACEBOOK NEWSROOM

Testing a New Way to Watch Promoted Videos in News Feed

December 17, 2013

Since September, we've been testing a way to make videos more engaging on Facebook, and as a result we've seen views, likes, shares and comments increase more than 10 percent.

We're beginning to test a similar video viewing format for advertisers. Marketers will be able to use this new format to tell their stories to a large number of people on Facebook in a short amount of time - with high-quality sight, sound and motion. This approach will continue to improve the quality of ads that you see in News Feed.

This week, a small number of people will see video ads for the new film 'Divergent' begin playing as they come into view in News Feed on mobile and desktop. Here’s how it will work:

• Rather than having to click or tap to play, videos will begin to play as they appear onscreen - without sound - similar to how they behave when shared by friends or verified Pages. If you don’t want to watch the video, you can simply scroll or swipe past it.
• If the video is clicked or tapped and played in full screen, the sound for that video will play as well.
• At the end of the video a carousel of two additional videos will appear, making it easy to continue to discover content from the same marketers.
• On mobile devices, all videos that begin playing as they appear on the screen will have been downloaded in advance when the device was connected to WiFi – meaning this content will not consume data plans, even if you're not connected to WiFi at the time of playback.

We’ll continue to refine this new way for brands to tell stories on Facebook to ensure the best experience for people and marketers.For more specifics on this feature for marketers, read our post on Facebook for Business.Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Which videos start playing in News Feed?
A: At this time, videos start playing from:

1. Individuals (personal Facebook accounts or verified Pages
2. Some Pages, like those of entertainers and sports organizations
3. Summit Entertainment’s content for Divergent

Q: Is there a way to prevent these video ads from playing as they appear on screen?
A: The video ads will begin to play as you scroll through News Feed, but if you don’t want to watch, you can simply keep scrolling and the video will stop playing. Video ads are pre-downloaded when you are on WiFi so they do not consume additional data. 

Q: When do videos play with sound?
A: Videos will not play with sound unless you turn the sound on. To do this, click or tap on the video. 

Q: When will all video content begin to play as it appears on screen?
A: This is an initial, limited test. We will let you know if/when you'll begin seeing more video content begin to play as it comes into view. 

Auto Signatures REMOVE THEM

Automatic signatures on your smartphone, email, or other devices, advertising your device specs or manufacturer name, is NOT a good thing.

Most smartphones come with an auto signature enabled on the phone.
This usually says something like:
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy
Sent from my iphone

Many people have a certain amount of borderline psychotic brand loyalty. Remember every interaction with every potential customer counts. People and their device loyalty is equivalent to sports and car fanatics. The rivalry between Boston and New York baseball fans is similar to the one between Android and Apple.

Just because you love your phone, does not mean that everyone does. Chances are that many people you interact with, will have a different phone than you. People will start to formulate an opinion of you before you even meet.

When I see a stock auto signature it tells me two things:
1 - This person does not know how to remove the signature. They are NOT computer savvy.
2 - This person does not use the same device as me.

Sure any objection can be overcome, but why risk stacking the deck against you? We are human, and when humans have to make decisions, we weigh the options. When two identical options appear before us, we sometimes resort to picking petals off a flower to make a choice.

My basic tip for the day is to please remove the manufacturer loaded auto signature from your devices. Think of it like pulling the size stickers or hang tags off your clothes. YES IT LOOKS LIKE THAT TO THE REST OF US.

Side Notes for the Texually Inexperienced:
Android is an operating system (software) for Smartphones. A variety of smartphone hardware manufacturers use Android (Samsung, LG, HTC, and many more.)

Apple is a manufacturer of both hardware and software. When comparing we look at Android verses IOS (the Apple operating system).

Google+ Circulation - How to Use It

One of the biggest challenges I face when going after clients, is showing them what my follower number means on Google+. With the bulk of social media professionals hitting Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest with everything they have, many are missing the G+ wave that we are on. It is even more frightening when I see people on G+ trying to teach each other how to better navigate Facebook, rather then learning Google+ while they are here.

My #k10 method for explaining my reach is a three step process:

1 - Speak about my rank on CircleCount.com

CircleCount.com

2 - Explain the way that my posts on a particular subject will rank in the top results for people who follow me.
   
3 - Explain multiplication and the social network of Google+. If we use small numbers, let's start with 10 people. I have 10 people following me, and they share my posts with their audience. Those 10 people just turned into 1000. When I use my number specifically, I use a chart, with my picture in the middle with the current number of followers. Then I show a couple of other pictures of people who follow me, and their followers. The remaining follower count I multiply by 300, stating that this is the average number of followers each person has who follows me.

Now I know that this isn't science, and that my numbers will be off. This is the way I estimate it. I would love to hear what you are using to show your reach. How do you show your social media success beyond the follower number?

Why is this important?
We need to develop a standardized way to rank each other. Once we have collectively, as a community, established a norm, we will be able to use it when meeting with clients. The client will hopefully already know how we rank each other, so we can have meetings about action plans, and not impromptu educational introduction to Google+ meetings. Just like newspapers have circulation counts (see articles below), we need to have circulation numbers as well. This will translate into better contracts and higher ad sales.

If you are interested in collaborating on creating a standard, please comment and let me know. We are all on top of the wave, and we can significantly impact the way that Google+ is used and ranked among other social networks.

These are two examples of how Google+ followers are showing on Google. This is just the beginning. Many major newspapers are still not on Google+.

Click on Pictures to See Articles About Newspaper Circulation

What Is Wearable Tech, and What Can it Do for Me?

Top tech markets - younger Americans and early adopters - are the most likely to have concerns

There's an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt. That doesn't necessarily apply to all walks of life, as the seeming omnipresence of such products as smartphones and tablets doesn't seem to be driving consumers away from the desire for still better, stronger and faster ones. But lack of familiarity? Well, that may well breed ambivalence.

A new Harris Poll investigates Americans' familiarity with and attitudes toward wearable tech devices – small electronic devices that can be carried or worn under, atop or as part of one's clothing, and finds that nearly four in ten Americans (37%) indicate that they're not at all familiar with such devices and an additional third (33%) say they've heard the term but don't know anything more about them. This lack of familiarity is likely playing a role in the fact that roughly six in ten Americans (59%) don't understand the need for wearable tech devices.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,250 U.S. adults surveyed online between November 13 and 18, 2013 byHarris Interactive. (Full results, including data tables, can be found here)

As seen in previous research, uncertainty and trepidation are also strong when Americans are asked at what point, if ever, they would consider purchasing wearable tech. While 17% say they will consider doing so when it drops to a reasonable price and roughly one in 10 (9%) will consider it when they believe the "bugs" have been worked out, over a third (36%) – the largest segment by far – simply say they are not sure, and an additional 19% say they will never consider buying a wearable tech device.

"We believe that the category's essentially limitless possibilities are actually working against it, making it harder for consumers to wrap their collective heads around the segment. People need to understand what wearable tech is and how it can benefit them," says Aaron Kane, senior research director at Harris Interactive and a consultant on the company's new TECHpulse research tool, a study which monitors technological trends. "When smartphones came to the market, while most consumers probably couldn't have predicted the many directions the apps market would take us they at least understood that the products would at least look like and function as, well, phones. But with this emerging category, neither form nor function can be assumed."

Perks and perils When asked what benefits wearable tech could have on their lives, nearly half of Americans (46%) and majorities of Baby Boomers (57%) and Matures (62%) indicate that it won't have any; 54% of Americans believe it could benefit them in at least one way. Echo Boomers (ages 18-36) show more optimism about the segment, with seven in 10 (71%) identifying at least one benefit it could have on their lives. Some of the top benefits the wearable tech devices are seen as potentially having on Americans' lives include:

• Keeping them informed (26% of Americans; 33% of Echo Boomers),
• Making them more productive (18% of Americans; 29% of Echo Boomers),
• Making them feel more connected (18% of Americans; 27% or Echo Boomers), and
• Making them healthier (14% of Americans; 20% of Echo Boomers).

On the other hand, when asked about their biggest concerns with wearable tech devices only one-fourth (24%) of Americans say they don't have any concerns, while 76% have at least one. The top concern is price, with four in 10 (41%) saying they will be too expensive. Privacy and lack of unique features are the next strongest concerns, with nearly three in ten each indicating that such devices will make it too easy for others to access personal information and that they don't do anything consumers can't already do on a device they already have (28% each).

• Notable here is the fact that the most promising consumer segments for wearable tech – Echo Boomers and Early Adopters – are among the most likely to have concerns about wearable tech.
  • Echo Boomers (83%) are more likely than either Baby Boomers (73%) or Matures (66%) to indicate having any concerns about wearable tech.
  • Similarly, self-professed Early Adopters (79%) are more likely than Late Adopters (70%) to express concerns.

Further driving home the need for the wearable tech products to distinguish themselves more from existing tech devices is that fact that over six in 10 Americans (63%) say that wearable tech devices must meet their needs better than current technology for them to use such products.

Finding a focus Another topic investigated was interest in seeing wearable tech impact specific industries. Healthcare appears to be the frontrunner in consumers' eyes, with just over half (52%) indicating that they want to see wearable tech devices make a major impact in this industry. Just over four in 10 (42%) would like to see it make a major impact in the fitness industry, and 36% would like to see it make a major impact in the home automation industry.

To see or not to see? Visibility appears to be a subject of some contention when it comes to wearable tech. On the one hand, the majority of Americans (58%) say they want camera-equipped wearable tech devices to be clearly visible – a likely byproduct of privacy concerns, and as such likely a concern being voiced by those who would not be wearing it themselves. However, a strong minority (43%) say they'd be more likely to use a wearable tech device themselves if it couldn't be seen.

Son, I don't think I have as big a problem with pockets as you do Of course, one selling point of wearable tech is that, since you never really put it away, you never have to take it out either. Nearly half of Americans (48%) admit that they'd like to be able to access smartphone functions without having to dig in their pocket or bag.

• This is especially pronounced among Echo Boomers, with six in 10 agreeing that they would like to have this ability. Echo Boomers are more likely than any other generation to express this desire, particularly in comparison to Baby Boomers and Matures (60% Echo Boomers, 52% Gen Xers, 38% Baby Boomers, 36% Matures).
• Men (53%) are also more interested in this ability than women (44%).

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

The Harris Poll^® #95, December 11, 2013 By: Larry Shannon-Missal, Harris Poll Research Manager

SOURCE Harris Interactive

NorwayLights; New Mobile App Shows You to the Best Northern Lights Display

OSLO, Norway, November 27, 2013

"To see the Northern Lights dance across the Arctic sky is a 'once in a lifetime experience'. We want to enable more people to experience the Northern Lights in Norway this winter by making it more accessible," says Per-Arne Tuftin, Director of Tourism at Innovation Norway. Today he launches a brand new mobile app, Norway Lights, making it easier to predict the appearance of the Northern Lights.

According to scientists, 2013 is said to be a record year for the Northern Lights. Now researchers predict the winter season of 2014/2015 to be another good year for spotting the Northern Lights as well.

"Arctic Norway is the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights," according to the director of tourism in Norway, Per-Arne Tuftin. He promises a spectacular display this winter.

Norway - the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights

If the conditions are right, you can experience the Northern Lights all over Norway; however, the northern lights appear much more frequently across the Arctic Circle in the northern parts of Norway.

"Norway is in the centre of the Northern Lights zone, so the probability of seeing the lights are very likely on any cloud-free night between October and March. Though the Northern Lights are visible in other countries, Northern Norway's easy accessibility and optimal conditions make it one of the best places on Earth to see them," Tuftin claims.

"Accessibility and climate conditions make Northern Norway a great destination for experiencing the Northern Lights. There is no other place in the world where chances are higher," adds Per-Arne Tuftin.

New, free and easy-to-use, app: NorwayLights

During the last decade it has become easier to predict the weather and upcoming Northern Lights conditions. Visitnorway wants to make this knowledge available to anyone interested in experiencing the Northern Lights for themselves and launches a brand new free mobile app, called NorwayLights.

"We are happy to see that an increasing number of tourists are coming to Norway to chase the mysterious Northern Lights for themselves. We hope that our new free app, NorwayLights, will make it even easier to spot the northern lights this winter," says Tuftin.

Download the free app here:
http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Games-and-more/New-app-from-visitnorway/

Boiler Plates

The boiler plate is an area on the bottom of a press release that shares the highlights and useful information about you. Think of it as the information you will stamp on every press release you write. Also, include this on your email under your signature.

This is one way I use to leverage my influence on Google+. One of the great things about being on G+ right now . . . we are at the top . . . all of us . . . who are active on G+ rank well!

Please post your boiler plate below if you want to show it off, or if you want to ask advice to improve it.

KrisTen is an Independent Reviewer, Communications Coach, and Editorial Writer. Taking a unique approach to reviews, she has developed a loyal following of over 16,500 on Google+ and growing. CircleCount.com ranks KrisTen in the top 1% of all profiles on Google+, and among the top 600 US women on Google+. Kristen appears as a guest personality on YouTube Shows, Google Hangouts, and community discussions. Kristen, as owner of over 60 Google Communities, including the international G+ Network, is texually teaching people how to network locally and globally. Kristen’s innovative approach to communications coaching, starts with a custom designed engagement blue print for each client to streamline and maximize communications with customers, investors, staff and social media. www.google.com/+KrisTenK10

Entry Level Social Media Jobs

Google+ is taking over! When I am planning a night out, I often research and Google to make sure I know where I am going, and see if there are any reviews. Google is linking everything. A few months ago, I Googled for directions to this grocery store. I noticed that someone tagged them with the comment to instruct people to shop at the store next to theirs. I posted about this on Google+ and tagged King Kullen. I never received a reply from them, AND they never took it down.

Companies are SO FACEBOOK TRAPPED, and are missing the entire Google+ ship!

What other things are companies missing?
How about the point, that when anyone who is following me does a Google search and it is something I have posted about, my post comes up towards the top of their search. That is 15,000 people who want to know my opinion first. That is pretty amazing.

I love it, because the people I circle have posts of information that are far more relevant to me, than the usual Google search results.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR JOB SEEKERS
If you are serious about breaking into the pool for paid social media positions, you need to start building your resume now. A few tips:

1 - Check your profile, and make sure it is acceptable for an employer to creep. Typos are not a big deal. What is a big deal . . . the temperament in your posts. Remember these people dropping in to see your profile do not know "who you are." Employers are looking to see if you are real, honest, down to earth, fold well in to the company culture and identity.

2 - The smaller your following, the more important each person is. If you have a following of less than 300 people, you need to look through them to be sure that they all accurately reflect you. A following of 300 is easy for a recruiter to creep.

3 - Create a Google+ Page for your business! If you don't have a business, create one for a hobby or philanthropy. Grow your page, and grow your resume at the same time. Once again, keep in mind that your page should be employer appropriate. If you live in Colorado, a page for medical marijuana use is completely acceptable. However, same page based out of New Jersey may not be looked at so favorably.

4 - Create a Google+ Community, or Moderate in a reputable one. There are already paid community moderators on G+, but they are kept secret. People don't want other people to know what they are paying for. I have been ghost writing for years. This means, people pay me to write something for them, and never get credit for it. They get to use my work as their own. The ghost writers are coming to social networks. They are building followings and then NOT DISCLOSING when they are paid for their comments etc. We just have to accept that this IS PART of the culture.

5 - Create a BLOG and learn how to publish your BLOG to your Google+ Page.

6 - Extra credit . . . create a YouTube channel and learn how to navigate it.

FINAL THOUGHTS
You are already ahead of the pack. You are on Google+ learning this social platform at your own pace. Every time you see a website, or company promoting to LIKE them on FB or FOLLOW them on Twitter, or Pintrest, or Instragram . . . and G+ is missing . . .you know . . . there is an opportunity for you! You are in the KNOW! I am here to happily assist any of you as you peruse a career in social media and hope you call upon me if you need any help :)

MTFBWU

HELP HELP HELP - HELP YOURSELF!

Any decent piece of software has a help menu. Sometimes the help menu is hidden on the bottom of the screen or in the index. Learning how to navigate help menus can be your greatest tool for staying Texually Positive. Empower yourself by being a master of most any software program by teaching yourself how to use it through the help menu!

First pic a software application that you are already comfortable working in. This may be Microsoft Word or Excel, Google Docs, or even Google+.

Finding the help menu is often the most difficult part about using a help menu. There have been times, when I could not find the link at all in the application, and Google searched for it.

Most help menus are arranged in two ways. First by topic, like an index, and the second, using a search box to sort though the index. When learning how to use a help menu, I suggest starting from the beginning of the index and reading it through.

Help menus have come a long way. They are interactive, and intuitive. Some include problems to solve, and test your proficiency in what you just learned. There are others that have step by step video instructions. If you are having a hard time grasping a concept, you can always research and get more help by looking up the topic on YouTube.

I cannot stress the value of reading and using help menus. I recommend learning on an application that you are already comfortable with, because you WILL be AMAZED to discover things YOU DIDN'T KNOW you could do!

FINAL THOUGHTS
Software applications are always evolving. A LOT OF PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE, are simply MS Office programs on STEROIDS. I bet most you don't know that MS Outlook can be customized to look however you would like. Run a puppy business, and want to have entry fields about which puppy shampoo you need to use on your client? Yes, you can do that on MS Outlook, and export the information into spreadsheets. That is just one example. MS Navision is a program I use often, and that is a perfect example of people paying TENS OF THOUSANDS too much on a "template" based on Excel.

PEOPLE MAKE MONEY ON WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
This is why I encourage everyone to be texually active!

MTFBWU

Texual Electricity

When was electricity discovered? When did we learn how to harness it and use it? How many years ago was that? 

This is the best timeline I could find to share with you. I would like to know:

How old do you think you will be when you die?

How many years ahead do you plan?

What invention would you love to see in your lifetime?

Many times people tell me that I am crazy for thinking that things like world peace, or free energy are possible. Look at the discoveries in this timeline. This about how these people were received by their peers. 

What would have happened if Ben Franklin harnessed the lightening and said it a gift from Zeus. Just saying . . .

Think on it. 

MTFBWU

Timeline of Electronics

http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/electricity_timeline.htm

By Mary Bellis

600 B.C.

Thales of Miletus writes about amber becoming charged by rubbing - he was describing what we now call static electricity.

1600

English scientist, William Gilbert first coined the term "electricity" from the Greek word for amber. Gilbert wrote about the electrification of many substances in his "De magnete, magneticisique corporibus". He also first used the terms electric force, magnetic pole, and electric attraction.

1660

Otto von Guericke invented a machine that produced static electricity.

1675

Robert Boyle discovered that electric force could be transmitted through a vacuum and observed attraction and repulsion.

1729

Stephen Gray's discovery of the conduction of electricity.

1733

Charles Francois du Fay discovered that electricity comes in two forms which he called resinous(-)and vitreous(+). Benjamin Franklin and Ebenezer Kinnersley later renamed the two forms as positive and negative.

1745

Georg Von Kleist discovered that electricity was controllable. Dutch physicist, Pieter van Musschenbroek invented the "Leyden Jar" the first electrical capacitor. Leyden jars store static electricity.

1747

Benjamin Franklin experiments with static charges in the air and theorized about the existence of an electrical fluid that could be composed of particles. William Watson discharged a Leyden jar through a circuit, that began the comprehension of current and circuit. Henry Cavendish started measuring the conductivity of different materials.

1752

Benjamin Franklin invented the lightening rod - he demonstrated lightning was electricity.

1767

Joseph Priestley discovered that electricity followed Newton's inverse-square law of gravity.

1786

Italian physician, Luigi Galvani demonstrated what we now understand to be the electrical basis of nerve impulses when he made frog muscles twitch by jolting them with a spark from an electrostatic machine.

1800

First electric battery invented by Alessandro Volta. Volta proved that electricity could travel over wires.

1816

First energy utility in US founded.

1820

Relationship of electricity and magnetism confirmed by Hans Christian Oersted who observed that electrical currents effected the needle on a compass and Marie Ampere, who discovered that a coil of wires acted like a magnet when a current is passed thorough it.

D. F. Arago invented the electromagnet.

1821

First electric motor invented by Michael Faraday.

1826

Ohms Law written by Georg Simon Ohm states that "conduction law that relates potential, current, and circuit resistance"

1827

Joseph Henry's electromagnetic experiments lead to the concept of electrical inductance. Joseph Henry built one of the first electrical motors.

1831

Principles of electromagnetism induction, generation and transmission discovered by Michael Faraday.

1837

First industrial electric motors.

1839

First fuel cell invented by Sir William Robert Grove, a Welsh judge, inventor and physicist.

1841

J. P. Joule's law of electrical heating published.

1873

James Clerk Maxwell wrote equations that described the electromagnetic field, and predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves traveling with the speed of light.

1878

Edison Electric Light Co. (US) and American Electric and Illuminating (Canada) founded.

1879

First commercial power station opens in San Francisco, uses Charles Brush generator and arc lights. First commercial arc lighting system installed, Cleveland, Ohio.

Thomas Edison demonstrates his incandescent lamp, Menlo Park, New Jersey.

1880

First power system isolated from Edison.

In Grand Rapids Michigan: Charles Brush arc light dynamo driven by water turbine used to provide theater and storefront illumination.

1881

Niagra Falls, New York; Charles Brush dynamo, connected to turbine in Quigley's flour mill lights city street lamps.

1882

Edison Company opens Pearl Street power station.

The first hydroelectric power station opens in Wisconsin.

1883

The electric transformer is invented. Thomas Edison introduces the "three-wire" transmission system.

1884

Steam turbine invented by Charles Parsons.

1886

William Stanley develops transformer and Alternating Current electric system. Frank Spraguebuilds first American transformer and demonstrates use of step up and step down transformers for long distance AC power transmission in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. TheWestinghouse Electric Company is organized. 40 to 50 water powered electric plants reported on line or under construction in the U.S. and Canada.

1887

In San Bernadino, California, the High Grove Station, first hydroelectric plant in the West is opened.

1888

Rotating field AC alternator invented by Nikola Tesla.

1889

Oregon City Oregon, Willamette Falls station, first AC hydroelectric plant.

Single phase power transmitted 13 miles to Portland at 4,000 volts, stepped down to 50 volts for distribution.

1891

60 cycle AC system introduced in U.S.

1892

General Electric Company formed by the merger of Thomson-Houston and Edison General Electric.

1893

Westinghouse demonstrates "universal system" of generation and distribution at Chicago exposition.

In Austin, Texas, the first dam designed specifically for hydroelectric power built across Colorado River is completed.

1897

Electron discovered by J. J. Thomson.

1900

Highest voltage transmission line 60 Kilovolt.

1902

5-Megawatt turbine for Fisk St. Station (Chicago).

1903

First successful gas turbine (France). World’s first all turbine station (Chicago). Shawinigan Water & Power installs world’s largest generator (5,000 Watts) and world’s largest and highest voltage line—136 Km and 50 Kilovolts (to Montreal). Electric vacuum cleaner. Electric washing machine.

1904

John Ambrose Fleming invented the diode rectifier vacuum tube.

1905

in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan the first low head hydro plant with direct connected vertical shaft turbines and generators is opened.

1906

In Ilchester, Maryland, a fully submerged hydroelectric plant is built inside Ambursen Dam.

1907

Lee De Forest invented the electric amplifier.

1909

The first pumped storage plant is opened in Switzerland.

1910

Ernest R. Rutherford measured the distribution of an electric charge within the atom.

1911

Willis Haviland Carrier disclosed his basic Rational Psychrometric Formulae to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The formula still stands today as the basis in all fundamental calculations for theair conditioning industry.

R. D. Johnson invents the differential surge tank and Johnson invents hydrostatic penstock valve.

1913

Electric refrigerator is invented. Robert Millikan measured the electric charge on a single electron.

1917

Hydracone draft tube patented by W. M. White.

1920

First U.S. station to only burn pulverized coal is opened.

Federal Power Commission (FPC) is established.

1922

Connecticut Valley Power Exchange (CONVEX) starts, pioneering interconnection between utilities.

1928

Construction of Boulder Dam begins.

Federal Trade Commission begins investigation of holding companies.

1933

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) established.

1935

The Public Utility Holding Company Act is passed. The Federal Power Act is passed. The Securities and Exchange Commission is established. The Bonneville Power Administration is established.

The first night baseball game in major leagues is played made possible by electric lighting.

1936

Highest steam temperature reaches 900 degrees Fahrenheit vs. 600 degrees Fahrenheit in early 1920s.

287 Kilovolt line runs 266 miles to Boulder (Hoover) Dam.

The Rural Electrification Act is passed.

1947

The transistor is invented .

1953

The first 345 Kilovolt transmission line is laid.

The first nuclear power station ordered.

1954

The first high voltage direct current (HVDC) line (20 megawatts/1900 Kilovolts, 96 Km).

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 allows private ownership of nuclear reactors.

1963

The Clean Air Act is passed.

1965

The Northeast Blackout occurs.

1968

The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) is formed.

1969

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is passed.

1970

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is formed. The Water and Environmental Quality Act is passed. The Clean Air Act of 1970 is passed.

1972

The Clean Water Act of 1972 is passed.

1975

Brown’s Ferry nuclear accident occurs.

1977

The New York City blackout occurs.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is formed.

1978

The Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) is passed, and ends utility monopoly over generation.

The Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act limits the use of natural gas in electric generation (repealed 1987).

1979

The Three Mile Island nuclear accident occurs.

1980

The first U.S. windfarm is opened.

The Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act establishes regional regulation and planning.

1981

PURPA ruled unconstitutional by Federal judge.

1982

U.S. Supreme Court upholds legality of PURPA in FERC v. Mississippi (456 US 742).

1984

Annapolis, N.S., tidal power plant—first of its kind in North America (Canada) opened.

1985

Citizens Power, first power marketer, goes into business.

1986

Chernobyl nuclear accident (USSR) occurs.

1990

Clean Air Act amendments mandate additional pollution controls.

1992

The National Energy Policy Act is passed.

1997

ISO New England begins operation (first ISO). New England Electric sells power plants (first major plant divestiture).

1998

California opens market and ISO. Scottish Power (UK) to buy Pacificorp, first foreign takeover of US utility. National (UK) Grid then announces purchase of New England Electric System.

1999

Electricity marketed on Internet.

FERC issues Order 2000, promoting regional transmission