January 2011
8 posts
3 tags
This is how we lose: metered net, and net...
It’s 2011. Net neutrality isn’t cemented in our laws, and the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has just legalized Usage Based Billing for home broadband connections - in other words, paying for the internet the same way you pay for data on your cell phone. This isn’t strictly a net neutrality issue, but it’s the same brand of anti-consumer thinking....
The internet is not made of hugs.
This is my manifesto for 2011, and I’ve been putting off writing it.
It’s going to bother some people, and it might even change a few opinions of me. But it’s important, and not just because it’s been driving me nuts for six months.
The internet is not made of hugs.
By this I mean, it’s time to leave internet kindergarten. It’s time to abandon the beautiful...
5 tags
The experiential uncanny valley.
The current state of ‘intelligent’ websites is buried in the uncanny valley.
Similar to how computer animation has a point of extreme creepiness when it is close, but not quite accurate to replicating human gestures and expressions, technology has the same curve.
When services like Google Latitude display a graph indicating where you work, live and socialize, without you actively...
6 tags
The only important question:
How does this fit into someone’s life?
Whether you’re creating a product, or a service, or a marketing message to encourage people to acquire a product or service, your only question is: how does this fit into someone’s life.
For the product, this is use case / product market fit / the core of the concept. And too often, the answer is ‘because it’s awesome’ or...
8 tags
Calling Bullshit on 'Gamification' as a Buzzword.
I resolve to stop being impressed by comments about gamification unless we all agree that games need more than points and a leader board and awards.
Points are great for tracking progress, but the number in the corner of my book goes up the closer I get to the end. A book isn’t a game, regardless of that rising number.
A leader board is a great way to tell who’s winning, but the...
3 tags
“Using the social to “build buzz” and “push product” is about as smart as using a...”
– Umair Haque http://blogs.hbr.org/haque/2010/04/from_social_media_to_social_strategy.html
4 tags
