digisqueaks

bbc’s ‘virtual revolution’ series

// January 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // media, technology

This morning I came across a Gizmodo post, Sneak Peek of New BBC Documentary ‘The Virtual Revolution.’ The multi-part documentary airs on January 30th. It’s a look at the internet featuring interviews with Tim Berners-Lee (MIT engineer behind the web), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Al Gore, Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, and Stephen Fry.

BBC has an ongoing website to capture the project in the making. You can also follow their updates on Twitter (@bbcdigrev). It looks like the series is divided into the following titles: 1. Power on the web, 2. The fate of nations, 3. The cost of free, 4. The web and us. I hadn’t heard of this series before, but it seems pretty interesting.
digital revolution is a four part series for BCC Two about how the web is changing the world. Due in 2010, it’s in production now, and we’re offereing a range of ways to interact with the programme team and the content we produce. get involved

Check it out at their official page BBC -- Digital Revolution.

slidescreen for android

// January 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // android, applications, cellphones, mobile

If you have a phone that runs Android as the OS, I suggest you try SlideScreen. It’s probably not an app that I would have found, had it not been for a recent Gizmodo post, SlideScreen Android App Replaces Homescreen With Beautiful Information.

SlideScreen can either run as a home screen replacement, or as an app that you just call up when you want to use it. There are three main sections on SlideScreen’s “home screen.” The upper section features updates to your email, phone, text messaging, and calendar. The middle section slides up and down and features local weather, time, date, battery power, and a few other icons that would normally be found in Android’s default status bar. The bottom section features stocks, Twitter, and Google Reader updates. At any time you can move the middle bar up to make the bottom section fully accessible via a cycling menu. You can also move the middle bar all the way down to cycle through your top section of personal updates.

The home button can be set to go to your default Android home, or made to go to the SlideScreen home. The menu button, with one touch, brings up your app library with a small area at the top to set 8 shortcuts. With a second touch of your menu button, SlideScreen brings up a choice of Phone or SlideScreen settings.

While it is very slick and a beautiful app, it still leaves a lot to be desired. If we’re adding Twitter support, where’s Facebook or instant messaging support? And where, I ask, is support for the regular Email application. I use Gmail which is nice on SlideScreen, but I also use Email to sync with my nonGmail addresses. Those addresses also happen house my business email. I’d also like some control over how much space each line item takes up, what color they are, and the order in which they appear. Hopefully the developers continue to add features and customization options.

All in all, this app is beautiful. I tested this app via the free version and used it for all of 5 minutes before purchasing the Pro version for $6.99 from the Android Market (SlideScreen). Take a look at the YouTube walkthrough (below) that Larva Labs has posted.

mobile web apps vs. native

// December 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // OS, applications, cellphones, mobile, software, technology

This morning I came across an article on ReadWriteWeb that briefly explored the concept of having mobile web apps versus mobile apps that need to go through an acceptance process. The apps may or may not end up in one of the mobile app stores. I’m a big fan of mobile apps in general.

I have an iPod Touch and have used many free and paid apps which I have purchased through the App Store. I also unlocked my iPod Touch for a time and took the chance to use some apps through Cydia. Recently, I bought the DROID and have been using apps which I purchased from the Android Market. On occasion, I also use mobile web apps.

In a location where phone service is not always available, I use many an app that does not rely on having service. Mainly these apps are for passing time (playing games) or catching up on a little reading with apps like Kindle for iPhone. A good majority of the apps I use on my phone or my iPod do require an internet connection whether it is wireless or 3G. For those apps, I wouldn’t really mind if the apps were replaced by web counterparts. A few web services that I use now (Xpenser, Meebo, Facebook) either only have a web app, or are inferior apps on either iPhone or Android OS and I would rather use the web interface. Some apps lack a user friendly, attractive UI and I would much rather just see development go into a web interface. If it’s something I use frequently, it’s quite simple to bookmark a web site on my phone’s desktop to return quickly.

A clear upside that I can see to a movement towards mobile web apps is that HTML5, CSS etc. is much more accessible than the development tools necessary to create apps for certain app stores. It would most certainly bring an increase in development and the web apps would most likely be accessible from all phone OSs. It would be nice to see apps that were just as good on Android as they are on the iPhone.

Of course, there are many downsides as well. First, it would be hard to charge for web apps, although I suppose there could be subscription type fees applied. Second, like the current stores, there would be an overwhelming amount of shovelware out there and would most likely open the phones to web delivered virus attacks. You would also need a signal in order to access the apps and at first, page transfers will be slower than moving around in native apps.

Native apps are preferred for now, but I’m guessing there will be a big increase in web app development next year, especially as the divide between phone OSs continues to grow. If developers could make a web app that could compete with similar apps across the various app stores and find a way to make a profit, it could start a wave of innovative new web apps that everyone could benefit from.

twitter lists = organization at last

// November 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // applications, online, social media, technology

Alright, so I have to admit that I didn’t bother using Twitter lists when it was first introduced. I was just messing around with my account and decided, eh, why not. I made a private list and started adding a few friends. I instantly realized what all the buzz was about. I follow around 750 people on a daily basis. Do I see every tweet that comes in? Definitely not. Out of that 750, there are only 10 or so people that I actually know personally. LIST! Now I can I see the posts of just those few people. I can make it private and call it whatever I’d like. I can make lists of professors I’d like to follow, blogs, tech experts, etc.

If you have yet to jump on the Twitter list bandwagon, here’s a few resources that may be of some help:

HOW TO: Use Twitter Lists – Mashable (The Social Media Guide)

There’s A List For That – From the Twitter Blog

10 Twitter Lists You Should Follow – Read Write Web

Listorious – Keeps a directory of public Twitter lists. You can search or browse and find the lists you’d like to follow.

TweetMeme Lists – Finds the lists that are most tweeted about.

great WIRED article: viral marketing, meet social media

// October 30th, 2009 // No Comments » // media, online, social media, technology

Yesterday, WIRED featured a great article by Curtis Silver titled Organized Chaos: Viral Marketing, Meet Social Media. It starts out with of the history of viral marketing and goes on to explain how viral marketing and social media are interconnected more than ever and will continue to grow and evolve. He features some great quotes by industry leaders concerning their approach to social media and marketing.

Response to Grown Up Digital

// September 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // media, online, social media, technology

I just recently finished reading Grown Up Digital, by Don Tapscott. I had come across the book on Hanson Hosein’s website (while reading up a little on UW professors). He has a “Must Read” page of his website which features this, as well as many other books concerning the internet and social media. I am so glad that I did take Hosein’s recommendation. Grown Up Digital is an excellent book.

Grown Up Digital is a book which details key factors that distinguish the Net Generation from all other generations. Tapscott advertises the book with a great video (seen above) in which he quotes several critics of the Net Generation. The quotes are of course, all negative. Tapscott goes on to say that he completed a $4 million research study focused on the Net Generation, and as far as he can tell, the critics are just making things up. As Tapscott writes in the end of his book, the critics are scared of something which they don’t understand. He later goes on to say that no generation has ever been very trusting or admiring of younger generations by the time are elders. He goes as far as to include evidence of similar feelings from ancient civilizations. I agree, it’s expected. But, as Tapscott says, generations need to look past differences and learn from each other if we are going to move forward.

Grown Up Digital for me, was a very different read than it will be for many of the people I have recommended it to. The best thing about the book for me is that I easily relate to Tapscott’s findings. I am after all, part of the Net Generation (11-30 years old by 2008). Tapscott writes that the most important factors which define the Net Generation are: freedom, customization, scrutiny, integrity, collaboration, entertainment, speed, and innovation. As I read, I couldn’t agree more with what he had found.

The book covers everything from a summary of his findings to how to deal with the Net Generation as an employer, parent, marketer, or teacher. I found it very interesting that he was stressing how much people need to change their interactions with the Net Generation, as well as with future generations. I hadn’t really given it much thought until I read the book, but he’s right.

In the chapter to teachers, he tells them that things drastically need to change. Students are basically over stimulated and have access to nearly any information that they will ever need (within seconds). Teachers need to stop lecturing and need to start helping guide students through the learning process. It reminded me of a quote from Albert Einstein, “Never memorize something that you can look up.” It seems we may have gotten to this stage on a wider scale then he could have ever imagined.

Another section was for employers. This was something I could relate with entirely. Net Geners are fast, innovative, social, and need feedback. I witnessed these factors at work in both internships and in school. At my internship I worked much faster than my employer ever thought possible. I would have weeks worth of work done in a day, or, sometimes even five minutes (if it was a situation where a simple script could be applied). In school or work, I worked best if I got positive, or even negative feedback. I just needed to know which direction I was headed in. Turns out it’s a common trait of my generation. Next, something that is appearing all over the net more and more -- the need to be social. More and more employees want to balance work, family, and fun. We want family time just as much as fun time and work time. We don’t think there should be a set dividing line, and as long as things get done, balance is a good thing. This is most commonly seen with the increase in telecommuting for jobs or in studies where more and more people are found taking social breaks online or to collaborate with other employees. I have experienced this the most while in college. We had a particular class in which we worked in groups on jobs for local clients. We all took turns being project managers and in general things went smoothly. In fact, we worked so well together that we had to tell the professor that he needed to back off a little bit because he was giving us irrelevant orders or getting on us to do something one way, which we had already done more efficiently another way.

I couldn’t really relate with some of the section for parents. The one thing I could relate with is having families become more democratic then they used to be. My sister and I were always told to be “seen, not heard” by our parents, but that was never really an issue as they usually involved us in most of their visits with friends. Tapscott said that the parents of the Net Generation are less likely to allow children certain freedoms because they got in trouble when they were young as a result of too much freedom. This was not the case in my family. We were allowed to go outside, go to the neighbors’ houses, bike ride down the road, etc. I have, however, seen this in other families. My parents were strict where the needed to be, but otherwise, were pretty relaxed. We had video games and used the computer at a pretty young age, but we didn’t get into trouble. We understood boundaries. The thing I cannot at all relate with is moving back home. I can relate to feeling comfortable enough to do so, but I would much rather be self-sufficient.

Another point I related to easily was having a million things going on at once. The TV is usually always on, but I hardly ever watch it. The only time I really interrupt what I’m doing to watch the TV is if I hear an interesting headline on the news or a funny joke. I watch television shows, but on Hulu. Adium (a chat application with my 10 or so different accounts), is always open, I get my Facebook notifications from the menu bar on my Mac, I always have a ToDo list app somewhere, along with 10 different tabs in Firefox, an RSS reader updating and of course, Email. I usually read about 50 articles a day from various blogs, check YouTube or Vimeo videos that I find in articles, share articles on Facebook, Twitter, Digg and Delicious, as well as send personal updates a few times a day. Yet, with all of those interaction, I still get work done quickly and efficiently and I also know when to close it all out and focus solely on the project on hand.

Lastly, I was glad that he included information here and there about the benefits of video games. Yes, some people have an addiction, just as they can be addicted to the internet (or anything else for that matter), but in moderation, playing video games can be very beneficial. As Tapscott cited, there have been numerous studies which found that people who play video games develop a certain portion of their brain that otherwise wouldn’t get developed. Hand-eye coordination improves, but so does the ability to keep visually aware of multiple objects at once. Massive multiplayer online games can also help people develop management skills if they work with other players in teams.

There are upsides and downsides to all of the technology that my generation has grown up with. It seems to me that there are so many ways things can improve by using the technology which we all have access to nowadays. We can all learn from each other and network for a common goal easier than ever before in the history of the world. We can meet people of different races, religions, and age groups with the click of a mouse and a few entries a keyboard. All generations have much to learn from those that come before and after them. I hope everyone reads Grown Up Digital because it explains a lot and should help close a lot of gaps in all different situations: work, school, family-life, reaching out to a crowd, etc. Go grab a copy!

what the f**k is social media? – slideshare find

// August 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // media, online, social media, technology, what?!

Mashable is one of my favorite blogs to read. The content is always interesting and covers a variety of social media topics. Today I came across a post titled, What the F**k Is Social Media? Here’s an Answer. The post goes on to explain that marketing director, Marta Kagan created a presentation titled What the F**k Is Social Media? last year and has now followed it up with a second presentation titled What the F**k Is Social Media: One Year Later. Marta gives a whole slew of statistics related to social media and different quotes from business executives basically saying, if you don’t get involved, you’re screwed. It’s definitely a presentation I will share and one that I will probably refer customers to if they are still in doubt on the subject of social media and why they should get involved. Take a look at the presentation above.