How can artists in Northeast Ohio learn more about

I am not clear as to what technologies were discussed but I can give you a glimpse of the future of technology and how that can relate to the Arts.
Video-Video-Video! The explosion of the usage of video has just started. The various formats & media channels will be vast. In conjunction with the technological side of creating these vidoes - the artistic side will seperate the great from the fair.
The sub-areas within the topic of "Video" can range from production & design to the usage of various mediums within a video - there is no shortage of opportunities. I hope this helps.

Thank you, Steven. Can you provide more detail about the various income-producing opportunites that you see now and in the future for artists, visual and other?

Joan

Joan - Income producing ideas? Now your getting tough - haha. I base the following on my past exp. in designing - producing and hosting a TV program (video) on Cox cable for one year - it was called Tech Business Solutions.
First of all, understanding how to use the various software products to produce & edit a video are in demaond today. I believe that adding the audio is also another area of desired skills and requires more than a technical mindset. Writing of the scripts - coupled with the overall coordination - including things like clothing & sets could really use someone that thinks creatively out of the box but at the same time promotion marketing oriented.
Finally, a good video campaign may be driven further with hard copy promitional materials such as: brochures, give-a-aways, etc. and TODAY inter-related graphics are critical in conveying a non-verbal message within a second or less.
Summary: Specific skills and/or bundled services with an artistic flair will be in high demand, especially for the lower $ market levels (ie: that meanns small business). My crystal ball went dark but I hope that helps.

Thanks! Creative and artistic influence has benefits across the board. New web and video based technologies are emerging, and the cost of production is making the tools more affordable and within reach of more and more with ideas, skills, and drive. Being able to provide quality services for small business with the services you describe could be a worthwhile entrepreneurial venture for a young creative person (or old for that matter!). These are great ideas. It seems that many technologies can be "creative" but where is the client/market for those services. At Ingenuity there were a number of great creative art installations, clearly of value as stand alone art experiences. I'm always looking for help in translating that into our day to day work environments. With the cost of high density video monitors decreasing, it seems that licensing art that moves, changes, or even video, could soon have a market.

Joan - regarding potential opportunity markets. (in my opinion) I have found that many of the existing video production companies tyipcally pass on the smaller projects ($5k or less) in lieu of obtaining larger.
I believe this market niche is wide open but obviously must be based on volume and/or other bundled services. An example is Cable Media commericals. Although the air time is fairly reasonable - getting a quality video can be a challange and again, many comapnies do not want to touch a job that is only $1-$5K.
I also believe that there is a second tier opportunity and that being an advisor for other related marketing efforts for the same businesses that develop a video. Video's for web sites will BOOM but again there is the cost factor. If someone can dovetail their artistic abilities with technology - I believe it can be a win-win.

Based on some brief research, I believe the initial capital investment can be recouped within the first year very easily. I would be open to speaking to one of your groups (pro bono0 if you desire and you can contact me directly. Take care.

Joan and Steven -great conversation. If I may add to Video! Video! Video! and income producing opportunities I would wholeheartedly agree that the opportunities are booming and there is no end in site. Our Internet video company was designed from the ground up, to offer a new product with a unique value proposition for a new customer base. Not to be compared with second tier or the work of upper end traditional companies (no offense was taken by your comment Steven). The many incomparable differences include delivery through new video serving devices through networks and technologies i.e. phones, ipods, rss feeds as well as the unique demands of a new interactive audience. While we know the pricing of the actual video production is considerably lower (today) as you mentioned, the cost to produce is also lower. We are in a position to offer many value added services including interactive programming, animation, video player design, video marketing and video search engine optimization, and more. In my opinion it's an entirely new business wrapped around video. For the artistic community the new video boom will mean endless opportunities for writers, designers, actors, musicians, ... artists.