Reflections on readings for Mar 1st (make-up class)

I've never heard of Identity 2.0 before I listened to prof. Lessig's presentation. According to him, the Internet comprises of four basic layers:
- physical (wires)
- logical (that allows it to be read in the Internet way)
- application (browsers, operating system) and
- content.

To enhance privacy (an ability to control how people learn about us) we need to develop and introduce an identity layer which he calls Identity 2.0. It'll help people to control how others get data about them. People themselves will decide if a link to their identity can be drawn by others and selectively reveal their information. Such a technology could help to fight defamation, gossip and lies that nowadays can be easily spread on the Internet.

He also advocates the idea of decaying links - links to your data that would disappear from the virtual space after some time. It'll get rid of not relevant information that the Internet is full of now.

Prof. Lessig's presentation touched on other interesting topics you can read about in Andy's blog here.

Reflections on readings for Mar 4th

I think I'll have a real hard time creating my avatar in Second Life. With people saying you can be whoever you want to be etc. First, does not it kinda imply that you are already not who you want to be? Second, if all avatars are good-looking and you cannot look like a chubby bold 40 something guy you are, wouldn't any avatar become a display of your low self-esteem? I know, I'm over-thinking this, but still.

Now, to what I liked about SL.

1. Great educational opportunities! It can replace or enhance classroom experiences, be an effective self-learning tool and help to recruit more students to universities.

2. Vast business opportunities! In 2009 the transactions on SL (sale of virtual cloths, furniture, gifts etc) totaled to $567 million US dollars.

I don't think I'd ever "live" there, but I'd be happy to go learn and do business.

Reflections on readings for Feb 25th

As many of you, guys, I'm still trying to learn how to use networking and LinkedIn, so the readings for the coming class were very relevant to me. I usually get a nice warm feeling when I read something that makes perfect sense. Like I did when I read Penelope Trunk's article. I was especially relieved to read that you do not network when you job-hunt. Before today I thought I did, as this is what most people were telling me. You do "call in favors" rather than "network" in a pure sense when you do not have a job. It makes perfect sense!

I also appreciated her idea how networking is more about giving than asking for. It just so happens in peoples' relationships that we are more willing to oblige someone who already did something nice for us (or even just offered to) than otherwise.

And last (but not least) I liked her mentioning how you can get some time "talking" to interesting and/or important people in blogs, the opportunity that those people may not give you in person (as they are too busy or too far away.)

10 ways to use LinkedIn was an useful read too. Beware, though, that apparently as the first comment to this article says, when three people whom you send an invitation to connect respond that they do not know you, your LinkedIn account will be blocked. Forewarned is forearmed.

Reflections on readings for Feb 18th

Absolutely loved all the flash mob videos! Liberating, entertaining and fun!
What a great way to bond with people, laugh and create stories that you'll remember for the rest of your life. Was really impressed to see Coca Cola using the flash mob already for its advertisement. Good job, syrup producers :)

To use flash mob techniques for advertising will be very effective. In the usual TV commercial, for example, we see beautiful women and satisfied faces and want to be like them. But with the flash mob people who either participate or witness such a "out-of-the-box" doing, get connected to a brand right away right there, and such connection is stronger because it's based on a personal experience, on what you felt yourself. Usually this feeling is close to euphoria (of seeing something extraordinary) and makes you feel special. That feeling in combination with the brand name = "I gotta have that Coca Cola". Genius!

Do you, guys, think our class of 2010 can produce its own flash mob video? We can call people via FB, meet in 118 on Friday, brainstorm and have fun. Thoughts?

Thumb poems - of course; they had to come! Whenever people can read, they can read anything (if it's on the phone, it does not have to be a sms, it can very well be a poem, a written phone-friendly poem). I would also imagine a twitter or a thumb poetry glossary (if the authors want to develop characters with more depth or more sophisticated plots.) I'd also say a collection of short jokes. They would not only entertain oneself, but be usefull to use in a conversation. A good ice-breaker and a pick-up line...

Reflections on the readings for Feb 11th

I read two very interesting articles today "The Dumbest Generation? Don't be Dumb" and
"Nobel Laureate Says The Internet Makes Us Dumb, We Say: Meh", and disagree with both of them. It's NOT the dumbest generation.

Evolution is smart. It gave us our thumbs, made us attracted the most to the opposite sex during the best reproductive years of our lives, it gave us the ability to fear so that we live longer etc. And generally, what we have to do in our lives is mainly driven by our desire to survive.

This generation is not dumber than the previous one; it just lives in different circumstances and plays by different rules. You do not need to have a broad view on the world to get into college because the width of knowledge you'll be SAT-ed on is limited and known in advance. You do not need a college degree to get a job. In this country, you can work minimum-wage jobs and still be able to afford shelter and food.

In the past, parents taught their children how to hunt, fish and fight. Now they teach them how to touch-type, google and drive. Both approaches give enough information for the kids to survive.

Reflections on readings for Feb 4th

Conversational Marketing/Word of Mouse - first article
John Battelle on Conversational Marketing - second article
What is the Real Time Search? Definitions&Players - third article (this one was not assigned)

Am I gonna get to hear from Coca Cola whenever I tweet my friends that I'm thirsty? Really??? It seems like it's exactly what companies want to do with conversational marketing and real time search.

As described in the first article, for the last 10 years the Internet produced three solid ad categories:

• "Display" or "banner" ads (graphical boxes on web pages)
• Classified ads (like Craigslist)
• Search advertising (now it's the largest)

According to the second article, the headline of what's going on in on-line advertising today is "Return of the Brand". The new trend in building brand awareness on-line is conversational marketing. As John Battelle put it: "If you don't join the conversations customers are having about you, your brands, and the things that matter to your brands, then you're dead. Maybe not immediately but over time you will become irrelevant. So you need to create a set of muscles that allows you to be a brand in the conversation." (John Battelle on Conversational Marketing) There are many companies, including his, now that help businesses to build relationship with leaders of influence. The results are promising.

He also talks about another interesting development on the web - real time search. Real time search is basically looking through material where there's practically no delay between composition and publishing (like tweeting). Blogging already is not in that category as it takes time to write a paragraph and do research (minutes compare to tweeting's seconds). Real time search lets you see what people are saying now and presents you with an opportunity to engage into the conversation.

I know that in my career I will have to worry about my company's bottom line and how effective the marketing is etc, but, God, I hope social media where I have a page will let me to opt out from conversations with Coca Cola... Well, it's not just a matter of hope, they'll lose me if they don't.

Reflections on readings for Jan 28

CBC - The Current - Cambrian House Crowdsourcing

Today was not lived in vain - I learnt two new words!

Crowdsourcing - is basically outsourcing to an open crowd of freelancers.
Prosumer - a consumer who's also a producer.

I also found out that

• crowdsourcing helps companies to cut costs on corporate research and get more new ideas
• it makes more sense to crowdsource to intelligence networks that have been created for that particular reason
• freelancers get to work but will have to sacrifice IP rights to their client.

Despite the fear that crowdsourcing takes full-time jobs away, I'm not opposed to the idea. I agree with the speakers that it brings value to the company (more affordable and efficient) as well as the freelancer (no 9-5 "slavery"). Hope some day I join that crowd.

Big Firms Eye "Open Innovation" for Ideas

One more story that proves that IBM is a smart company. They built the world fastest computer - "Blue Gene"- and let it to be used for free. Scientists can apply to use "Blue Gene" to test new ideas. Usually, IBM selects those who suggest the hardest tasks.

By doing so IBM:

• Stays on top of the game. Companies are getting too complex to have all aswers in one place. IBM can get the answers from all over the place now.
• Can share the profits if new things get created during this initiative. Think first-mover-advantage-and-shifting-standards kind of profits...