Social Software Explored

http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2006/03/27/is-ugly-the-new-black/

What would happen if someone came along and built a better craigslist by using new techniques like AJAX? I will have to admit that I could care less about the looks of things as long as they are functional. To me, the Google Mail is successful mostly because it is easy to use. It is not the most glamourous interface but it does the job well. Microsoft, Yahoo and even my Verizon account have interfaces that spend too much time being cool and a lot less time being useful.

Design, web design

As I travel around to the different PaperThin customers, I have the opportunity to meet other individuals that are truly connected to the web. The kind of people that read or write in Web logs (blogs), that not only understand the value of an RSS feed but actually use them. What I find to be interesting is that each of the places that I go, I eventually get into a conversation about their usage of the web. The only way that I can explain what I see is like this:Imagine if you would that there are 4 local channels for TV. And in each major metropolitan area those 4 channels are controlled by 4 different media companies. So in New York, Channel 1 is controlled by Company ABC and in LA, Channel 1 is controlled by Company XYZ. I know that this is not a good representation of the Web because the Web is global but what I guess I am talking about is the "undercurrent" of the web. We have all experienced the global web (you get the same funny video from three random people and your like 'yeah already saw that, that was funny') but this "local" web can be described by the type of information that travels in certain social circles.

For instance, I was travelling to DC and one of the people that I met there showed me this site:

www.wwtdd.com

Now this is a bit of a cult site but it has some interesting content and has been around for quite some time. This person appears to be completely connected to the world of hollywood and has all sorts of dirt on everyone. Some of the content that he posts is original and other pieces are referencs to news stories with either "this is the truth behind the story" or "here is some more information". When I returned from DC I heard on the radio someone mention this site.

Then while I was in Minnesota I spoke with one of their developer/designers (Forbes Robertson - funny guy) and he shared with me this which I guess I could have found from going to google viedo but who would have thought to type in "Trailer Park Boys" in the google video box.

http://www.trailerparkboys.com/

Wither way I find this hilarious.

And lastly, Mike Hyland (from Seton Hall) had this on his forum:

http://www.mikull.com/video/vw.wm (caution this may be a bit tasteless but since this is a serious topic, a funny video turns it around in a new light)
So what I guess I am saying is that even though we live in a world where the Web is connecting us all, we still need some social interaction in order to share our experiences of the Web. That is why I spend most of my time reading blogs (like the ones on the right). It represents a "pulse" on the Internet. What is truly out there from a content perspective and where the web is heading.

Well that's it for now…

CommonSpot, PaperThin, society

Just wanted to give a good ol CommonSpot shout out to the team at Seton Hall. It was a pleasure working with them during the Advanced Developers training. They launched with CommonSpot during the 4^th quarter of 2005 and I must say they have a great looking site (and that is not just because they are using CommonSpot). Anyways we had some good conversations that I wanted to share.

One of the biggest struggles with CMS implementations is the multiple number of teams that need to be involved and the differences amongst those teams. In most CMS installs you will have a Web team. These will be comprised of Developers and Designers. The Web team may or may not be a part of the IT department. So if the web team is not a part of the IT department then you have the IT department themselves. Primary role for this group is to manage the Servers. Main struggles for this group is that they most times they will manage the application servers but know little about the applications that sit on top of the application servers. Not having first hand knowledge of the applications causes difficulties because they know little about necessary settings required for performance or stability. The last group which is involved with the publishing process is either the Public Relations/Marketing group or the Communications group. A less technical group by nature, this group is often responsible for the general direction of the web site. However, since in most cases, they don’t Eat, Sleep and Breath the Internet, they have a difficult time understanding what is truly possible for the Web site. In my opinion, the successful web teams out there have an individual that can coordinate all of these groups, understands technology (Not only what is an RSS Feed but uses them on a daily basis) and communicates sound business ideas effectively.

We also had a few beers and talked about some of the new technologies coming out. We all agreed that we are looking forward to the new “Keanu Reeves” movie coming out “Scanner Darkly”. I put his name in quotes because although he was in the movie and did all of the “acting”, the movie is actually a cartoon. There is a really good article about it in the latest Wired magazine if you are interested ( LINK)

I also have permalinks over to Lee and Mike Hyland’s blogs on the right. Go check them out.

CommonSpot, PaperThin, Uncategorized, funny

Ok, this is my second visit to Switzerland and I have to say it is quite difficult doing business here. It has a bit to do with a few things:
1.) I am american and everyone knows it.
Although this is certainly a factor, I don't think it is the most important. Switzerland is quite the "hodgepodge" of people. While I wouldn't consider it the same melting pot that we see in the US there is certainly a variety. For instance, the Web team here for IMD has 3 Italians, 1 Canadian, 1 French, 1 French - Swiss and 1 German -Swiss (yes german-swiss and french-swiss are two different types of people). So the fact that I am from another country is no big deal because everyone else is.
2.) The language
This certainly is a factor _outside_ of the workplace and while within the Web team you will hear at least 3 different languages at the same time communication at the business level (decision making, meetings) are all conducted in English. Almost everyone _knows_ english in all of the shops and restaurants they are certainly partial to French. And although I do feel this may attribute to some of the difficulties it is not the most important reason I find it difficult to be here.
3.) Communications in general
I feel so disconnected here. Besides the fact that I miss my family terribly, I am not _free_ to communicate as I would like. For instance, if you don't know the code to call the US is 001 + the number. Since I have not memorized that yet, making a call to the US takes longer then I am used to. Since I have to use a calling card, talking to my family is also difficult. Not to mention the time difference with the people I have grown accustumed to working with on a daily basis. And the kicker - it is costing me about 2.4 swiss francs per minute to be online. With the dollar and franc being so close ($120 US –> 123 Swiss Francs) it is very apparent that this is not what I am used to. I am used to being able to pick up the phone at any point and call anyone at anytime (cell phones are really expensive for US over here so that is not an option). I am used to opening a web browser and getting on the Internet at anytime I want. I think because I am so _connected_ in my life in the states, it becomes difficult to be _disconnected_.
Surely if I was here _disconnected_ with my friends and families it would be different. For now, I need to get through this week and hopefully find some high mountain to ride my snowboard down this weekend.

switzerland, travel

I am in a restaurant in the Ouchy district of Lusanne Switzerland and I have to say we as american patrons to american restaurants/bars are spoiled (well I guess you could call it that). This is my second trip back to Switzerland and I am not sure if it is the Italian Swiss or just the culture, but I am in a restaurant with probably 25-30 patrons (maybe more) and there is one waiter. In the US there would be at least 2 maybe 3. So I am not sure if it is the volume of work that this waiter is handling or just how it is here at Italian restaurants but his service is horrible. I look at this service in two ways:

1.) Culture - the US culture is much more fast paced than this life style (at least compared to here in Lusanne). I love good dinner conversation like the rest and it may just be me, but I am really here to eat. My wife is an excellent cook so we can talk over her good food anytime. I like to be waited on and these guys like to talk. If I were to separate the different portions of the meal into percentages it would look like this:

- 10% review menu wait for drink
- 5% wait for food after order (seriously, my pizza was done in 5 minutes - and its really good)
- 40% wait for waiter to come back and ask for another beer
- 30% wait for waiter to come back to ask you if your finished
- 15% wait for check
——————————-
100% frustrated with service

In the US you are asked every 5 minutes or so if you’d like something or if everything is Ok and I guess I have grown accustomed to that level of service. So in comes the culture. The Swiss can talk! They love to talk, so maybe when the waiter does not come back for 20 minutes after they have run out of wine, its ok for them. Not me. I have now been waiting 5 minutes (seems like longer) for another beer.

Option 2:

2.) Gratuity - OK, so get this, the 7.5% gratuity is included in the meal. Yup, so not only do I have to ’suffer’ through this service, but at the end of my meal, this waiter is going to get 7.5% of my bill in a tip that he would be lucky to get in the US. Maybe the other side of the coin is that he has no incentive. He can continue to give horrible service and be guaranteed a certain amount tips. I am not sure if waiters are compensated the same as US waiters but if its anything like the US, this guy can not be making a ton of money.

Reminds me of the part in Reservoir Dogs where mister pink (Steve Buschemi) does not want to tip. Anyways, I know I’ll be back, and maybe next time I will order:

235 AS Roma
Parmesan, poivrons, oeuf, mortadella, salami, champigons, piments

Just as soon as I learn what “poivrons”, “ouef”, “chamigons” and “piments” are.

*UPDATE*
So I spoke with some of the -non swiss- folks here that agreed that the service was lacking. They also confirmed that the reason is that the waiters/waitresses are paid better per hour then you would be in US and the “Tip” (can’t really call it that) which is included in the bill is just extra.

Also
poivrons - peppers
ouef - beef
chamigons - mushrooms
piments - peppers (maybe hot vs. not not)

society, switzerland, travel

I just returned from my trip from Minnesota. I want to officially thank the Research Web team at Mayo Clinic for a great week. We finally go their production servers up and running on Thursday night. You can see their sites here:

- mayoresearch.mayo.edu
- discoverys.mayo.edu
- www.minnesotapartnership.info
- clinicaltrials.mayo.edu

(They also have an intranet and they are all running CommonSpot) New servers, new version of CommonSpot - Sweet!

Anyways I had a few things that I want to post about and it is 12 at night so I am not going to have time tonight but I just wanted to write them down so I don't forget

1.) Trailer Park Boys - 2 posts here essentially - the show is really funny (thank forbes) and google video rocks!

2.) I had a sickening idea on my flight back after looking at my water bottle that I purchased _after_ I passed through all of the security. Sickening.

3.) Google's purhase of the Writely software. Very interesting for the content management space - more on this and hopefully some comments from the team at PaperThin

Well I am going to sleep now, I will have 2 excited boys in less than 7 hours wanting more of my attention than I can possibly give.

CommonSpot, travel

Ok, this will definately be funny if you have ever (or known someone that has) engaged in TOO Much mulitplayer.  Let me start this by saying that I have (not played to much, but knew someone that did … seriously).  I used to work for this ISP in the town that I grew up (props out to Netsense.net) and back when the Internet first started (at least for me in ‘96), we had the fastest connection to the Internet (duh…we worked at an ISP) and so after work and sometimes during work (with our boss non the less) we would set up a Quake server and frag the hell out of each other.  We hired this designer guy who was wicked into these games.  He even paid like $75 a month for a cable modem before anyone else knew what cable modems were so that he could play Quake.  He even had a clan and created a clan page where they could display all of their major frags and winnings.  As a side note, he was so good that I think he coined the term ’strife’ as a way of moving quickly and efficiently in Quake.  Anyways, I have since lost touch with this guy but I can guarantee that he and the others at NetSense would certainly appreciate this site.

http://www.purepwnage.com/

enjoy.

funny, hilarious, movies

I have been using Salesforce at work for some time now. I will have to say that I have had my issues with Salesforce in general but I have to admit I am pretty impressed with their API's. I got in to the API's when I wanted to expand our use of SalesForce. Since I am not a big fan of the UI and they way information is managed I thought that the Web Service approach would give me access to do what it is I think that they do best "Store Contact Data". Sure there are some great features in Salesforce like reminders and task management and auto email and … all sorts of stuff. But being that I am not a Sales person I don't need all of them. However, since a lot of what I do at work is work with Customers most of the information is invaluable. In general, I feel that their calendar approach is implorable and thier features for auto notification and multi user notification is gross at best.

But, since we own the software and our contact data is so important, I have to play nice. So here is the reason for my post. The App Exchange, is very interesting. I am currently in the process of managing consulting projects that have begun to grow in number. Since I now have to implement a process where each consulting project has stages and phases and resources and contacts and deliverables and on top of that I have to grow the consulting business, I need to start tracking it. I am interested in working with Salesforce data, but not from a sales perspective, but from a project perspective. I will be updating this site with my findings. Hopefully they are good.

Read more if you want … TechCrunch had a great post today.

Technorati Tags: salesforce, web services, api, crm

AppExchange, SalesForce, project management

Lets play 20 questions…

No,
I am not at home (I miss you guys)

No,
I am not on a deserted island (love to see you here Shannon)

No,
I am not riding my snowboard in the Swiss alps (get back to me in a week or so…)

No,
I am not in my home state ….

OK, so I got tired of 20 questions, I am in Minnesota, Richmond to be exact. The Mayo Clinic Captial of the world. Currently I am watching a movie (The Island) interesting so far.  I have been working with the Mayo Clinic since Monday and I will be here until Friday. Training them how to use CommonSpot.  They turned over their team and want to understand what it is that they can do to utilize CommonSpot some more.  Fun Fun.
I am getting back to my movie, so …

Later.

Getting Started, personal