Anytime there is a technology discussion that includes words like reliable, killer user interface, revolution, or instant-anything eyebrows begin to raise, or you wonder what Apple is up to now.
Steven Levy's article in Newsweek about Amazon's new ebook reader is certainly interesting. I agree this "will change the way readers read, writers write and publishers publish" (p. 57), but the jury is still out if this is a revolution.
The attractiveness of this latest entrant into digital books includes the long battery life, independence from a personal computer, and wireless capability. But it is the many other content capabilities beyond books that make this intriguing; like access to newspapers and magazines, ability to connect to Wikipedia, Google, blogs, other web pages, and even other business documents in PDF format. Together these capabilities do make this device the "iPod of reading" (p. 58).
Books and reading in general has been a social activity for centuries, but the question remains: will people want to hold a digital book in their hands or curl up in their favorite spot to journey with the author? Will the limitations of sharing, loaning, or shelving books hold this gadget back or will the overwhelming mass of content take us there eventually?
From a business perspective, Kindle is very efficient. What are your thoughts about the pros and cons from a social interaction perspective?
SOURCE: Levy, S. (2007 November 26). The Future of Reading. Newsweek, pp. 57-64.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Friday, February 01, 2008
Do You See Me Now?
Facebook allows users to upload and tag photos of anyone in their network. Once tagged, you anyone in your network can see these photos. There has been some concern about how this "feature" will impact job searchers as Human Resource (HR) organizations become more connected to social networking sites.
This tagging process on Facebook is manual, however, there is new start-up on the scene, Polar Rose, that dynamically tags photos using face-recognition software. This takes the HR concern to new levels as photos are uploaded by friends and foes alike and you may (or likely) may not be aware that photos of you have been uploaded.
With the growing concern for privacy as well as international security and the beginning stages of HR groups incorporating social networking technologies into their recruiting practices, what are the pros and cons of something like this?
Schenker, J.L. (2007, December 24). Finding Faces in the e-Crowd. Businessweek, p. 70.
This tagging process on Facebook is manual, however, there is new start-up on the scene, Polar Rose, that dynamically tags photos using face-recognition software. This takes the HR concern to new levels as photos are uploaded by friends and foes alike and you may (or likely) may not be aware that photos of you have been uploaded.
With the growing concern for privacy as well as international security and the beginning stages of HR groups incorporating social networking technologies into their recruiting practices, what are the pros and cons of something like this?
Schenker, J.L. (2007, December 24). Finding Faces in the e-Crowd. Businessweek, p. 70.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wireless Society (sort of)
Increasingly we see our pop culture incorporating internet technologies into their normal routine. With the increase in wireless capability, we also see a dramatic rise in our ability to connect not just for voice, but data and rich-media as well.
However, the limitation we are finding is the lack of cooperation of those who control these networks. Organizations like AT&T, Nextel, T-Mobile, and Alltel have a challenge as they seek to protect their interests (which translates into revenue) while cooperating with a growing demand for portability and access. Bruce Meyerson identifies how some are challenging this lack of cooperation on the grounds that it violates free speech.
What do you think? Should we be able to send messages between carriers without charge?
SOURCE: Meyerson, B. (2007 December 24). Not On Our Network, You Don't. Businessweek, p. 34.
However, the limitation we are finding is the lack of cooperation of those who control these networks. Organizations like AT&T, Nextel, T-Mobile, and Alltel have a challenge as they seek to protect their interests (which translates into revenue) while cooperating with a growing demand for portability and access. Bruce Meyerson identifies how some are challenging this lack of cooperation on the grounds that it violates free speech.
What do you think? Should we be able to send messages between carriers without charge?
SOURCE: Meyerson, B. (2007 December 24). Not On Our Network, You Don't. Businessweek, p. 34.
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