Though I am moderately cool with technology, I learned of some new web tools and gadgets at this afternoon’s presentation of Technozoo with Leonard Souza of Acidblue Ltd.

Souza’s main point was that the Internet is changing the way we think and live. He proceeded with Web 2.0 examples, showing Joost which is changing the way people watch television, Skype which is changing the face of voice/visual communications, and KIVA.org which is connecting the world to offer low cost loans to small entrepreneurs.

When Souza asked how many people in the room had a iPhone, four of maybe four hundred held up their hands. He then demonstrated its features, saying that in less than a year it has gotten 28 percent of the smart phone business and accounts for 70 percent of the mobile Internet traffic. He showed how the iPhone could be used to order a latte at Startbucks, pointing up that a similar application could be used to request/check out library materials.

Next he showed a Microsoft promotional video on its future offering Microsoft Surface, a digital, interactive tabletop that can be manipulated by fingers and recognize devises that are set on its surface. The applications in the library are many: check out, loading audio books onto players, digital collections display, and more.

There was no winner yet in the Battle of the eReader. Souza described the Sony Reader (which can also read PDFs) and the Kindle from Amazon (which comes with free satellite Internet connectivity). He said that both have to develop still before they will become popular.

Gaming is close to Souza’s heart. It was his introduction to the world of technology at age eleven. He listed the big platforms that connect to televisions, but demonstrated what he thought was more fun, his little Nintendo DS. He turned it on and found several others in the audience and started a chat. He could have started a game with his new friends.

Getting back to Web 2.0 social websites, he discussed Digg, at which people report the news important to them. Readers vote on the stories and often big news comes to rest on the Digg home page. He watches the technology news, which often breaks on Digg.

Souza said that a big reason that the Internet has transformed the world is its democracy and equal access. He warned that AT&T recently tried to take over, asking Congress to allow it to charge higher prices for faster and more prominent service to big ticket players. The Internet community exploded with complaints, foiling AT&T. He urged librarians to keep up with this story and support net neutrality.

The last trend that the presenter discussed was One Laptop per Child, a movement to get low cost computers to children around the world. He thinks that the goal of reducing the price to $100 will be reached soon.

As a final word, Souza urged libraries to become as good online as offline. He said the key is digitizing collections.