By Juan Pablo Guarin-Camargo, SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS): Syracuse’s next step in its pursuit of becoming the next major tech hub on the East Coast comes in the form of a tiny flying robot.
According to Syracuse.com, “CenterState CEO, an economic development and planning organization, will hold its third annual Drones Over Downtown event from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. [on] Tuesday (Aug. 6) at the outdoor patio of The Tech Garden business accelerator at 235 Harrison St.”
The event is meant to promote Central New York’s growing commercial drone industry, hosting more than 25 different industry vendors from across the state.
Attendees will be given the chance to operate a drone inside of a large net, as well as partake in “3-D drone simulations, free T-shirts, giveaways, and [enjoy] food and beverages from local restaurants.”
Along with the integration of Verizon’s 5G wireless network, the growing commercial drone market is helping Syracuse achieve its goal of becoming a major tech hub.
For drone enthusiasts like Newhouse professor and Syracuse.com journalist Charlie Miller, Syracuse’ growing tech boom couldn’t have come any sooner.
Miller told NCC News, “Well, I think Syracuse is doing everything right. I think that’s a good thing for the city. People today need to embrace technology, not shun it, it will attract more people. We want Syracuse to grow as a city and not be stuck in the past.”
As a journalist, Miller believes that drones provide members of the media a new tool to help bring consumers closer to a story than ever before.
“Well, you know, a journalist’s job is to take people where they normally cannot go. Okay, so like when I was the police reporter, I would go to crime scenes and interview criminals or police,” Miller told NCC News. “Now… at crime scenes, when they have the whole area cordoned off, we can shoot up the drone kind of paint a good picture of what is going on. Within reason. I know there are a lot of restrictions, and we have to work with the police. So we don’t violate any regulations, FAA or local.”
But as just a regular drone customer, Miller appreciates the help that drones can provide to improve the quality of life for common citizens.
“I had a leak in my roof a year ago. And I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. I figured that I might have lost in a windstorm, a shingle or two. I brought my drone right up when hovered over my roof. And I found it. So that was a practical reason.”
