Daily updates on what I’m reading. Links with my notes. I also just tweet links and things that interest me @dina

• What a great sensory anchor or imprint for a brand! The Scent of Memory: Design, Experience & Perfume | via @futurescape – CLIP: “Scent design. Scent is place and memory—it is experience recalled. Every scent, in the microscopic particulate nature of its diffusion, is distinctive, unforgettable to those who are mindful, informing a significant part of our experience. The memory is a story, and to designers, the idea of linking story and experience through formed visualization—from container to packaged expression, from word to identity, from photography to patterning—reaches deep into the darker, psychic place of scent embedded in our recollections forever. Sensing, scent and sentience—all come from the same Latin root: sentire, to feel. As designers, that’s where we live: generating the (e)motion of feeling in the signals of message, form, place and storied visuals.”
• Internet Hindus and Madrasa Muslims – @amitvarma explores group polarization [via @prempanicker] – CLIPS: “Here’s how Sunstein summarised the results in his book: “In almost every group, members ended up holding more extreme positions after they spoke with one another. [...] Aside from increasing extremism, the experiment had an independent effect: it made both liberal and conservative groups significantly more homogeneous — and thus squelched diversity. [...] Moreover, the rift between liberals and conservatives widened as a result of discussing. This phenomenon is called Group Polarization. Sunstein defines it thus: “When like-minded people deliberate, they typically end up adopting a more extreme position in line with their pre-deliberation inclinations.This explains why the internet is such a polarised space. And he ends with humour – “Also, I would request anyone who wishes to coin more such terms to at least alliterate. Blogging Buddhists and Joomla Jains sound far more musical than Internet Hindus, if a little more niche. No?”
• Colour me purple! Colour & Gender – results of a survey [via @hiteshmehta] – This is funny!!! CLIP: “I decided to calculate the ‘most masculine’ and ‘most feminine’ colors. I was looking for the color names most disproportionately popular among each group; that is, the names that the most women came up with compared to the fewest men (or vice versa). Here are the color names most disproportionately popular among women: Dusty Teal, Blush Pink, Dusty Lavender, Butter Yellow, Dusky Rose, Okay, pretty flowery, certainly. Kind of an incense-bomb-set-off-in-a-Bed-Bath-&-Beyond vibe. Well, let’s take a look at the other list. Here are the color names most disproportionately popular among men: Penis Gay, WTF, Dunno, Baige ! … that’s not my typo in #5—the only actual color in the list really is a misspelling of “beige”. And keep in mind, this is based on the number of unique people who answered the color, not the number of times they typed it. This isn’t just the effect of a couple spammers. In fact, this is after the spamfilter. I weep for my gender”
• What Are You Going to Do When the Internet’s Gone? asks @davepollard – CLIPS: “What are you going to do when the Internet’s gone? That is the question that no one dares ask. I’m not talking about Net Neutrality and the takeover of the web by corporate interests. I’m talking about its simple disappearance, as infrastructure that’s simply unaffordable and unsustainable in a world of economic, energy and ecological collapse, stops working and falls apart.” …. “How well will you be prepared to adapt to the end of the Internet? Are you dependent on it, now, for critical information you need, for connection with those you love and those you seek to love, to work with, to partner with, and for what brings you joy or blessed escape? The biggest uses of the Internet today are music, porn, health information, games, and amateur photo/video sharing. To the extent you use the Internet for any of these things, do you have a way of doing them, with no or low technology, when the Internet’s gone?”

I was asked this question at the Anthrodesign group, in the context of a conversation around getting into the swing of a project and developing some working momentum . I shared there, how I often find myself turning to my blog and twitter communities for helping me with my thinking on qualitative and ethnographic research projects. I was then asked these questions: Could you elaborate a bit more on how you tap into your twitter community? with the limited character set, do you drive them to answer in more detail on your blog? How effective have you found twitter in generating meaningful conversations and resources?

Sharing my response here with a few modifications – there are many many ways I use Twitter, apart from keeping in touch with people, the world, and sharing warm fuzzy feelings or rants. I’ll try and describe some of these:

• If I’m looking for advice (from a community I trust) on say which phone to buy next, or where to find macbook chargers, or how to solve a particular problem I find I can really rely on my twitter community.  During the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks Twitter was what kept many of us feeling ’safe’ (in the way of experiencing it together) and connected to the outside world, as we were stuck in our homes. We also used it to try and reach out to people who were affected – eg. sourced and published lists of victims from hospitals (and directed people to those lists via links on twitter). I’ve often also used Twitter to help mobilize action around immediate causes like someone needing blood of a certain group in a specific hospital. But these are all very specific short term needs being addressed by quick responses.

• I often use Twitter (and my blog – they’re linked BTW) to have meaningful conversations, tease out some areas, ask for help on resources, opinions, suss out experts, or participants for studies. Obviously, with no mention of the actual client or specific subject of research. A recent example – a client is looking to understand Durability as a driver for purchase in her category, and I  broadened the issue and asked a question on Twitter  - the thought to actually blog this series started off with this tweet – and responses to it - looking for evidence that ‘durability’ as a brand proposition isn’t a big purchase driver for youth today. egs, links anecdotes welcome!”.  Sometimes its linked back to my blog, or to something someone else has published and I’m always amazed at both the depth and width in the sharing of perspectives that it evokes.

• And I use it increasingly to share links around what I’m reading or find interesting. The way I do it, is bookmark the link on Delicious and I’ve automated it to show both at my blog, and on Twitter. Often, these are starting points for meaningful conversations among several tweeters who share similar interests. And as importantly, if not more, I get to see all their marvelous links too!

• Or to live-tweet an event I’m at, as I did with TEDIndia last year and then just aggregated my tweets at my blog, and TedXMumbai more recently. The interesting thing about such tweets is you actually have people responding back in real-time, you feel your community is ‘present’ too, and often their questions and comments are shared back at the conferences. These could be conferences around my areas of work too.

• To amplify interesting thoughts, ideas, requirements, needs of others I follow on twitter thru RTs.

• Every post I make on my blog, every bookmark I link to at Delicious – is tweeted. As a result, it helps me broadcast my thoughts, and encourages people to come in and add to the conversation. It really doesn’t bother me where they do this – as today it’s possible to weave much of this into a lifestream of sorts. (I know this might be annoying to those who follow my blog, my twitter profile, and facebook as there can be much repetition – I need to find a way to sort this one out!)

So to answer the question more directly … I find I’m using Twitter increasingly both as a quick-byte sort of space – in and out, and as a gateway or pipe through which information and conversations flow!

Would love to hear your views – How do you use twitter or your blog in generating meaningful conversations and resources around what you do?

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• The case against Opera Mini on the iPhone | Great technical overview before launched – Found this article interesting. My own experience with the Opera Mini browser on the iPhone was – can't be bothered after just a couple of minutes. It was fast but it didn't render better, it didn't scroll and now I know why. Speed – yes it is faster on Edge networks. The comments in this article are interesting relative to WAP like pasts. It's going to turn up on some new Nokia's as well although those are targeted more at emerging markets where data connections and costs are more important. That said you can use it and try it out on the iPhone. It's free.
• Some iPad thoughts – from @mrblog | Not sure I’ll lend you mine – there are some limitations – David writes a thoughtful post on why he's not quite ready for an iPad. For a heavy computer user it won't replace your laptop / desktop today. However, I do enjoy reading on it more and more. Nice form factor for surfing the web and I've now got it well integrated with shared synced bookmarks and various posting options. Delicious, Instapaper, Twitter etc. My laptop will stay home for conferences etc. Its certainly a travel / holiday device too.
• TweetPhoto: Did a “Hole-filler” Just Get Funded? | I’d like to know too! – Is Twitter at a one off point where it simply applies $'s and integrates a whole group or is that package of features? I don't know. It does make me uneasy.
• Nokia announce 3 new Networking Phones – Lowering the price on smart phones – I'd have to do a few more checks to really understand the C3, C6 and E5. They look interesting and I understand the general feature set and differences. The thrust is keeping in touch with all your messaging channels. How it works with Ovi and / or independently I'm not sure. I'm not all that keen on Qwerty keyboards – usually too small for my fingers or thumbs. C6 looks like a 5800 upgrade. This is a real response to both Blackberry and Samsung Corby. Focus is messaging integration.

Daily updates on what I’m reading. Links with my notes. I also just tweet links and things that interest me @dina

• Skype and iPhone 4.0 – Telecoms and Social Networks | @stuarthenshall – CLIP "Unfortunately this means… VoIP on the iPhone is really just a dumb pipe. What’s important is the CallerID. Rich CallerID’s will get you more. Unless I know you.. your Skype name is useless to me. You profile may help although without context you get a block, or ignore etc. By contrast a Facebook call request from a friend of a friend with some context or equally a Twitter talk request (remember Phweet anyone!) may be a better way to complete that call. Similarly, if you are a business and I want a reservation by OpenTable. I put in a request. How should you present that call back to me? Equally I have a problem with Comcast. How should that Tweet be presented? If I’ve had nothing and been on the line for 20 minutes with my health care provider…. In fact for all those services. Ask yourself if you are willing to add to your account details.. my preferred callerID. Should that co be a Facebook Fan like page… or a TwitterID or something else?…"
• cnewmark: Trust and reputation systems: redistributing power and influence – CLIP: "People use social networking tools to figure out who they can trust and rely on for decision making. By the end of this decade, power and influence will shift largely to those people with the best reputations and trust networks, from people with money and nominal power. That is, peer networks will confer legitimacy on people emerging from the grassroots.<br />
  This shift is already happening, gradually creating a new power and influence equilibrium with new checks and balances. It will seem dramatic when its tipping point occurs, even though we're living through it now.<br />
  <br />
  Everyone gets a chance to participate in large or small ways, giving a voice to what we once called "the silent majority."<br />
  <br />
  (Okay, I started with the bottom line. The following is a relatively brief summary of how I got there, deserving much longer treatment from really smart people.)"
• Nokia Aims a Tablet at Apple: Exclusive | TheStreet.com – CLIP:"Nokia, which has been watching Apple and Research In Motion (RIMM) run away with its smartphone business, can't afford to let this opportunity go by. Like the jump into netbooks with the Booklet, Nokia has shown a recent eagerness to respond to new markets. "I feel they have to do this, or risk falling behind in the category," says Kumar. Pricing and timing are critical if Nokia has any hope for success in tablets. Nokia needs to have a tablet ready for sale in time for the back-to-school computer buying surge and well before the holidays, says Kumar. With Apple's iPad starting at $500, Nokia has to aim lower — at what will likely be a moving target. "The problem here is that the pricing of tablets is likely to drop at a furious pace over the next four quarters," says MKM's Kuittinen. "Nokia needs to get its products out fast and ramp up the production rapidly or it's going to be tough to play catch-up."

Daily updates on what I’m reading

• Is Social Media a New Addiction? | Retrevo research shows how Social Media is eating into bedtime [via @billives] – Stuart Henshall had asked Is Your Mobile Changing Your Bedtime a short while ago too – http://www.henshall.com/stuart/2009/12/06/is-your-mobile-changing-your-bedtime/ – CLIP: "What is it about social media that causes people to spend so much of their precious time trading information with friends, family and even giant corporations? Of course, we already know the answer; it’s fun and can be rewarding both socially and financially. The latest Retrevo Gadgetology study asked social media users questions such as when, where, and how much time they spend on sites and services like FaceBook and Twitter. We were not surprised to learn how many people appear to be, shall we say, obsessed with checking in with their social media circles throughout the day and even the night."

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• 8 Things Your Phone Will (Probably) Replace | many cases already has….more important to look beyond these examples too cliche. – I like the 8 examples although many users have already begun integrating many of these into their lives. Money as in wallet and video conferencing projectors are not here yet. Money is a huge deal. Still I'd like to see more re health and services in these examples. There's also many expectations that the majority of users won't know or understand yet. Eg print from mobile. Many mobiles can, it's just the printer technology is not broadly spread enough yet. There are other products that don't get mentioned. DId I say "radio"? for example? Pandora re-invents radio…. in fact "mobile music" reinvents speakers… parties etc. We should be careful "lists" don't gloss over the changes in real behavior. Re directions… or reading the paper, music sharing, social gaming, travel management, etc.
• Hardware Becomes Software | nice set of picture examples from guitar tuner to remotes –
• Job Search, Version 3.0 | Better tools exist even on Twitter than just tweeting off a search to find that job. – An observation. This tweet doesn't provide enough detail beyond the curiosity of who is asking for a job. The obvious value-added method is to provide a "link" although sending them outside Twitter doesn't really help much. So the question is… how do you keep the exchange escalating within Twitter? How do you provide the additional information and an easy channel to further discussion without all the "follow" – "email" – "phone" etc? <br />
  <br />
  The second issue is how do you find the leads you want? You require a notification service. Timely leads may or may not lead to a more effective conversation. It will communicate that you understand the medium that you are using. <br />
  <br />
  This person's strategy was a fail as they had no way to share the CV / resume as part of their Tweet and retain communication inside Twitter. There's also no opportunity for references or otherwise while the twitter profile lacks the development of time. <br />
  <br />
  Job's 3.0 or 2.0 or whatever it is called is coming to Twitter.

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• Teens Love Facebook, Hate Blogging, Are Always Online, and Don’t Use Twitter | "online" is missleading here re mobile – Nice update with no real surprises yet this article fails to differentiate or clarify what "online" means. They say everyone goes online. That is not the same as teens going online with mobiles. Multi-channel communications becomes really interesting at that point.

Sometimes I really don’t get it. Why does a toy brand bring out something that might be hot with Mummy Bloggers? Really Mattel and “Puppy Tweets”? How soon will you get bored. Apart from the “tech” knowledge you will need to use it.

Is it wishful thinking? Will it drive women to toy stores to buy “Collector Barbies” because the market for Barbies is… well soft? Or is it some radical experiment in the future… Imagine “Tweeting Barbie” “Oooooh, I just lost my clothes”. Or perhaps,  they have a conversation with them… Barbie reporting from home… Barbie on a day out. “Barbies…last post”. Please make it soon.

In its first-ever toy created for the canine community, Mattel is introducing a product called “Puppy Tweets” that meshes the hugely popular Twitter with consumers’ love of pets.

Puppy Tweets is a plastic tag with a sound and motion sensor that you attach to your pet’s dog collar and connect its USB receiver to your computer. Then you create a Twitter account for your dog and enjoy updates all day from Sparky or whatever its name is on your computer or smartphone.

via Mattel takes innovation to the dogs with its Puppy Tweets

Daily updates on what I’m reading

• Mattel takes innovation to the dogs with its Puppy Tweets – CLIP: "Puppy Tweets is a plastic tag with a sound and motion sensor that you attach to your pet's dog collar and connect its USB receiver to your computer. Then you create a Twitter account for your dog and enjoy updates all day from Sparky or whatever its name is on your computer or smartphone.

  The tag is set with several pre-recorded tweets that are triggered by the dog's activities. So if he's running around, you might get a tweet that says "I finally caught that tail I've been chasing and…OOUUUCHH!"

Jon Husband pointed me to “The Moment Social Media Became Serious Business” in HBR. Part of sharing with him my previous post on why #socialbusiness is nothing new. The article and the reading of it provided more clarity for me.

Here’s the deal. #SOCIALBUSINESS  is dead in the water because it is not the problem or the opportunity. I’m going to make a quick case to say I don’t think it is social media either. What organizations should prepare for….

Real-Time Open Delivery

Now what do I mean by that? Let’s look at an example, one economically similar to those referred to in the HBR article(which unfortunately ends up with the idea that social media will change organizations). That in my view simply isn’t a foregone conclusion.

Example: Imagine for a moment that all customer complaints were filed using Twitter. Yes the tweets are delivered in real-time and we call this a social media channel. Yet the real fact is… all complainers make all their complaints public. The tweets are delivered to the organization and it’s competitors in real-time. The organization doesn’t have days or even hours to respond. In fact a day will come when competitors might just nab these customers and fix it for them. In fact we had a similar argument with Phweet… making telephone calls public or as visible as an email cc. It saves time in business just like other newer collaboration tools do.

Where Jon’s pointer helped and a conversation with him added perspective was competitive advantage will only come when an organization knows how to lead and respond to and in a real-time open delivery environment. This is the real focal issue. Yet these are not new drivers — toward transparency, open source, lower costs of communications etc.. are well known. So listening is not going to be the strategy. Neither is putting people through social business training. What matters is whether or not you have a strategy for real-time public information exchanges where the customers are more powerful and they can gather information more rapidly than you can. Concurrently, do you have a strategy where you can turn such public exchanges to competitive advantage. A more hidden example would be what API’s can you provide to your own information assets. API’s in this case aren’t social business.. however it may be smart business.

But by summer, the conversations I was having with senior executives about the use of these new technologies took on a very different tone. Recognition grew that 2.0 technologies could be used to change the way work gets done in fundamental ways. Interest in exploring these new ways of working, of sharing information, of collaborating to enhance productivity and meet business goals, was here.

Advances in our ability to communicate always change the way we live and work — the two are inextricably linked.

a little later in the piece…

But each time our communication capability expands, several predictable things occur: An increase in the scope (distance and speed of reach) and richness of our interactions affects the way we organize, shifts the balance of power, and influences how we get things done.

via The Moment Social Media Became Serious Business – Tammy Erickson – Harvard Business Review.

Fact is… what will give you more power and protection as an individual? Going public with more of your agreements with organizations. Today even the threat of a Tweet can be powerful. Tomorrow everyone will understand the advantage.