We’re speaking today with Len Hause, Internetologist and founder of MashBrain where he consults on Internet marketing and technology strategies. Today we’re talking about the Transformation of the Grid. I’ve known Len since the early 1990’s where we worked in IT at Motorola. Len and I where involved in dozens of Intranet and Internet-based projects during the early days of the enterprise learning how to use the Internet.

There’s been quite a bit of discussion lately about the nation’s electrical grid, from aging components, demand exceeding output, discontinuity from sector to sector to potential for terrorist attacks against it.  So, I thought a conversation with Len would be helpful to get the bigger picture of how the lessons learned in building the Internet could be applied to a new generation power grid for the nation.

1. - How has the the transformation and maturity of the Internet affected other sectors? What analogies can we draw between the Internet and the electrical grid?
2. – What are the driving forces and technologies?
3. – Who are the players?
4. – What are some of the initial changes we will see?
5. – What is the scope of the transformation?
6. -What role will open source, or internet standards-based technologies play?
7. – What new markets will emerge?
8. – What role will Social Media play in this transformation?

This interview is 7:45 in length. We chat in my studio about SXSW 2009 this year, the rise in people suddenly adopting ’social media consultant” titles, and comments about his book “Social Media One Hour a Day”.

This was shot with a rental camera I was testing and I didn’t get the focus as razor sharp as I had hoped. That’s how it goes sometimes when you’re testing new gear.  Anyway, it’s the content that counts so enjoy the conversation. Dave is easy to connect with, a good friend and one heck of a smart social media dude.

Here’s Dave …

Tom

Part 1 – download

Part 2 – download