Social Software Explored

I have posted a bit on RSS and while I am not a “super” expert on RSS but I am a big fan and I have posted a bit on this topic in the past so when I saw the following link: “Levels of JavaScript Knowledge” which was based on “Levels of HTML Knowledge” which was in turn based on “Levels of CSS Knowledge” I thought - what better way to describe what I have seen lately as we hire for PaperThin.

I started talking with many smart people who were interested in joining our Web based software company. I felt that there was a pretty good litmus test for the type of individuals we wanted to hire. Banking on the theory that you fill your bus with smart people first and then figure out where the bus needs to go, I would ask our potential employees about their knowledge of RSS. While I would also ask them about their views about the web and social networking and SOA, the RSS question seemed to be the most important. From that I have derived these levels of RSS knowledge

Level 0 - “RSS, Never heard of it”
I almost thought about not evening offering this level to the interviewees but it seemed logical. Let’s understand what this person looks like:

1.) They have never visited a major news site (CNN.com, MSNBC.com, ESPN.com etc…) or if they did the orange buttons for “xml” and “rss” never intrigued them.
2.) Clearly those same people were never intrigued enough to google “rss”.
3.) Obviously they have never seen Firefox and were probably not involved in the IE beta.

Level 1 - “RSS, Heard of it but I have no idea what it is”
Ok, so at least this individual has their ‘glasses’ on which means that are not blind to the idea that something else is going on in the web world besides HTML and images. Although, they probably don’t even know that the web page which contains the “RSS” links is written in HTML. It might also not be a stretch that this individual has also never heard of Firefox

Level 2 - “RSS, Yeah I use RSS for reading my favorite blog”
Now we are getting somewhere. This individual shows some promise. They are probably someone that enjoys the web and probably spends more time reading Weblogs then they do reading the local “printed” newspaper. Ideally, this individual would be very coach-able and probably “excited” about the development of the Internet in general.

Level 3 - “RSS, Just got finished uploading my Flickr photos and posted the gallery on my blog”
Clearly this individual has been using Firefox for over a year and has more extensions loaded in Firefox then they have pure Software packages installed on their mac. This individual may also know about OPML and attention.xml and is more likely to have been the first kid in their entire extended family to have an IPod . More importantly, this user of the Internet can describe the difference between RSS 1.0, RSS 2.0, Atoms and the ITunes podcast RSS. Future CIO indeed.

Level 4 - “RSS, ha - working on 3.0 with Dave and by the way I make 20K a month blogging”
There are really few people who understand what is next for the web and are always active. They are probably currently active as a speaker for various technology pod-casts and have been mentioned at least once on the following web sites (in order of precedence):

- TechCrunch
- digg.com
- Valleywag
- Any Web 2.0 Workgroup blog

I am certainly no where near Level 4 but I work hard.

Oh and by the way as far as the other “Levels”

HTML - closest to Level 5
CSS - Level 5
JavaScript - Level 5

I have been programming the web for quite some time and am proud to say that I learned HTML using SimpleText with a Mosaic browser.

Blogging, RSS, Software Development, Web 2.0, society

So there is this underground marketing current which almost “appears” at will. Think about the explosion of Google, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, Del.icio.us - all of these sites are among the most popular on the web without one thing - Television Advertisements. Heck they really don’t have any mainstream advertisements. When was the last time you saw an ad on CNN.com for Del.icio.us? You didn’t - and that is remarkable.

I have seen a lot of ads on TV lately for Ask.com - you must remember them - they were the site which was previously launched as “Ask Jeeves?” - that corny little butler that was supposed to hunt for your information. Well they are at it again with this whole - “monkey” campaign which compares other search engines -with little or no tools - to Ask.com with their “Binoculars”. The tool allows you to “preview” the page before you navigate to it. In this small 150px by 150px window.

And who could forget slogans from other Internet company’s: “Do you Yahoo!?” “GoDaddy.com” “When I grow up - monster.com”. They all spent millions for 30 second advertisements to help launch their brand.

And then there is Google. Amazing. This little search engine came out of nowhere and stole the stage with it’s simple home page, amazing speed and incredible accuracy. They became the most popular search engine on the planet without a lick of advertising. Heck they have even obtained covenant status similar to that shared by the “Kleenex” brand for its “Kleenex” facial tissue. You don’t find things on the Internet any more and you certainly don’t “Yahoo something” - you “Google” it. For instance, I ‘googled’ that story about the… or I ‘googled’ so and so and returned…

Two questions arise from this 1.) What would happen if Google did create TV (or other mainstream media) ads? and if they did - 2.) What would they say? I can think of a few:

“Google - we are not taking over the world - we are the world”
“You’ve tried oxygen now try Google”
“When your Kitchen sink just has to be a part of your Desktop”

Marketing, Software Development, Web 2.0, advertising, society

“We will destroy Oracle and SAP because they won’t be able to respond to the innovation we are about to unleash”.
Marc Benioff (CEO-Founder SalesForce.com)

Why is a software company that has only been around since the turn of the century able to make statements like this? Maybe because Marc Benioff is a big mouth and a hell of marketer or maybe because he is correct? Why would AppExchange ever have an opportunity to take Oracle out of the picture?

Innovation is finally leading the way
Back when the Internet boom first occured it was fueled by ideas. Innovation was a leading factor in the success of some of the early Internet companies. Yahoo!, Amazon.com, Dell and many others all had innovative ideas. New ways of doing the same thing. Yahoo! produced easy to use tools and search engine that made finding information easy. Amazon.com made purchasing books easier then ever and Dell revolutionized the way we purchased computers. These companies were all successful (and continue to be successful) because they were innovative.

Somewhere along the way a “shakedown” occurred and all of the companies that were truly not innovative crumbled. Granted some companies crumbled for other reasons but most simply because they did not innovate. Look at some of the popular technologies making waves in the world today during this new technology boom: Google, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Zillow.com, SalesForce. Why are they successful? Well it’s simple, they are innovative. Google … do I really need to discuss any of these? They are all flipping the online software world upside down with their innovative features.

With all of this complexity wee need simple tools
In all of the companies I mentioned making waves in the world today, they all have one thing in common (save Zillow.com which can be a bit busy) - they all do what they do and do it well. Is there really any simpler search engine then Google? For those users out there who no nothing about HTML is there any easier way to publish your thoughts and connect with your friends then MySpace? And YouTube - c’mon - dosen’t get any easier.

The Interent is expanding and not only in the amount of computers and sites available but also the number of people who are using it. As the number of users grow so does the diversity of that user. In it’s infancy the web was used primarily by those individuals that have grown up on computers. The classification of “Intuitive Interfaces” had to change.

In the words of Marc Benioff:

“The future of technology is all lower cost and easier usage,”

AppExchange 2.0?
In light of all the changes that have occurred in the recent past as it pertains to on-line software what makes Marc so certain that his innovation will change the world of on-line information storage? Right now we can only wait but in a few weeks we will know what Marc and company are thinking

At the heart of ADN at Dreamforce is technology — the features, tools, and APIs that will inspire developers looking for new ways to innovate. At ADN, salesforce.com will preview the biggest update ever to the AppExchange Web services API, one of the industry’s most popular Web services.

Combining concepts from service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web 2.0 patterns, this new API will open the door to applications that can combine on-demand with traditional software, and Internet services with each other. In addition, a new set of tools for building directly on top of the AppExchange platform will make it possible to create sophisticated, enterprise-class solutions — capable of meeting the most challenging business requirements — on demand, and without software.

From the “DreamForce 06” web site.

I only wish that I could be there for the announcement.

AppExchange, Internet boom 2.0, SalesForce, Service Oriented Architecture, Software Development, Web 2.0

While I could not find anything in the “About Us” or “Blog” sections of the YouTube website explicitly denying the US Government the right to uploading propaganda videos, I would say that in general this is possibly a bit off the path from YouTubes goals. Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against Anti-Drug videos targeted towards children. And to be honest it’s a bit genius for them to post them here. But isn’t this a bit hypocritical? Or at least a bit of a slap in the face?

So our government can build multi billion dollar software products to track every one of our emails sent over the Internet. And they can force publicly traded companies to divulge private search information (our private search information). And now they can post on YouTube???

Isn’t YouTube _our_ playground? Its like when your mom barged into your room when you had the door shot (and locked). That’s your space man. What’s next? A George Bush page on MySpace? Geez, give us some room to grow.

Video, Web 2.0, movies, society

Ok, so this is just weird but I guess when you are a superstar animal “tamer” you have to sit down and wonder: “When I die it could very well be during the taping of one my shows. I mean I did wrestle a 6 foot alligator the other day and last week that poisonous snake was a bit close to my larynx”.

According to a comment posted on “TechAddress” by a fellow in Australia, Steve Irwin did _not_ want his death televised. After a bit of review I found that he did indeed state that the camera should keep rolling and that his death on film would “…be the ultimate for me”. [wikipedia]

My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it’s shaky or slightly out of focus, I don’t give a rip. Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, ‘Crikey!’ just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me.

So who has the rights to that film clip? If this was Steve’s true ambitions would he have put in place some legally binding contract with Discovery Communications and BBC Worldwide to force them to publicising his death (assuming that it happened during the filming of an episode)? I am sure this must be public record somewhere.

Who stands to benefit from the publicising of the event?
So on a more morbid note (and possibly what is holding up the process to deliver the tapes) is what domain should this tape fall under? Is it public domain and should it just become free property for all to see (probably not). Is a network like Animal Planet brash enough to televise this as an “Event”. Wouldn’t advertising during this event be equal (if not surpass) that of the Super Bowl?

What if there was some copyright protection placed on the file and it was “quietly” delivered over the web without much traditional media hoopla. It could then be “low key” enough to not draw attention to the network, but by forcing the viewing of the event through their website they could stand to benefit monetarily. Proceeds could go to benefit Steve’s favorite wildlife fund (I am sure his kids are set for life).

Video, Web 2.0, movies, society

Some may argue that we have already reached this point but if we haven’t we will soon. From the definition of Tipping Point from the great book from Maclcolm Gladwell. Wikipedia has it defined as this:

The phrase tipping point or angle of repose is a sociological term that refers to that dramatic moment when something unique becomes common.

So after reading this (Blogging for Dollars) article which was posted to the Business 2.0 web site I would say that we are close.

What will happen when sites like TechCrunch (and use the term “like” because there is nothing really “like” TechCrunch) become so common place that the line between traditional journalism (that with which we are familiar to now) and non-mainstream journalism (that with which blogging represents) becomes so blurred that the very ideals around blogging and Web 2.0 become compromised.

We have seen this phenomon throughout history. A good example of this is Punk. I would have to honestly say that I was not one of the early adopters of Punk but I could certainly see those individuals in my school that were. I have seen SLC Punk and read a bit on the ideals of Punk. I can respect the movement. I somewhat believe in it’s cause.

Let’s take Punk on a journey past mainstream. What if in the early 80’s the movement took the entire country by storm. Heck let’s say it takes the entire world by storm. No more governments, no more rules - Anarchy in the fullest extent. In a certain light that would actually prove harmful to the original ideas of Punk. We would no longer “stand out” as individuals. We would all be Anarchists and that would be normal. Nothing special, nothing extraordinary.

Let’s take that same principal and apply it to the Citizen Journalist (Blogger). Currently, the movement is fueled by what some may consider to be to much political agenda in mainstream news. Some may argue that the movement is designed to enhance the current news channels by connecting people of like (and not so like) mind using new interfaces.

Either way, what happens when Blogging becomes so mainstream that it IS the conventional method of conveying the news. Doesn’t that then put blogging at the same position that conventional news today.

Here are some example articles about “Blogging for Dollars”:

PayForPost Blogging
Web site which lists links for getting paid to blog
This came out over a year ago

I read a lot of blogs about new software (see the side bar). What amazes me is how many times I will see a post which is not favorable to a software application be miraculously turned around a few weeks later after the CEO/Founder contacts the person blogging and explains more about the product. Whereby the blogger reverts their original decision. It is already happening. How far will it go?

[[UPDATE]]

So here is a good example of a blog doing the (and I quote) - “…sponsor-writeup-catchup week”.

Personalize better with blueorganizer 2.5

In the post the writer clearly states that they looked at the product earlier on in the year and now that the company is a sponsor of the blog, the writer is looking at the product again and giving it an even more favorable review.

Blogging, Web 2.0

Ok, so this week I received the most traffic to my blog ever. You know who did it for me? Steve Irwin. Everyone and their mother has been looking for the death video of Steve Irwin. Hoping that some ‘connected’ blogger has some secret access to the file. I have received over 200 requests for that article in the week span since I wrote it. Amazing. Here are some of the search tems that users have been using:

steve irwin death video
actual steve irwin death video
“steve irwin video”
you tube steve irwin
the actual film on Steve Irwin’s Death
steve irwin death video on internet
actual video of steve irwin\’s death

This is inline however with my recent post regarding the Web and the new medium for history. If that ever get’s leaked to the Internet, it will forever become accessible at some level to anyone who want’s it. Every heard of the phrase “Don’t wish for something you may just get it?”. Half of these people are probably just curious. If (and when), they see the video, are they going to be satisfied. Will they wish that had not seen it.

I certainly am not interested in watching his demise. He was a respectable human being who touched many lives with his zanny attitude and uncanny ability to get up and close with every dangerous animal on our planet. He may have single handedly moved the environmental protection movement ahead 10 years by exposing so many people to the beautiful (and not so beautiful) creatures tha inhabit our planet.

I can remember watching the video of John F. Kennedy being shot when I was in like 8th Grade. It was for our history class. We rewound the tape 10 times to watch his head get ripped apart and to see the immediate reaction of Jacquiline. She was terrified, I can remember it vivdly.

In the near future events like this will be caught on (either some survellience or satellite) camera and will forever become a part of history.

Video, society

I am writing this from our Nations Capital. I have travelled here today to deliver some training to the National Park Service on our product CommonSpot CMS. Today was a weird day and I was not to keen on travelling (especially flying to D.C). I decided to fly out of Providence instead of Boston (figuring that if anything was going to happen today it would happen out of a major city). This is not what I want to talk about (everything went fine and I am here safely). What I want to talk about is an extension on a previous post I made about the emergence of this new media - Internet Video. I guess it is not really “new”, but it sure is becoming popular.

Sites like ESPN and MSNBC.com have had video on their site for a long time. Way before Google Video, YouTube and the many others (check out http://www.break.com). But over the course of the last 9 months or so, all of the major news carriers have been offering supplemental (and sometimes primary) content in the form of Video. Some sites offer this as a free service while most are offering two flavors - the free version (small, short video’s) and a premium version (in-depth productions with large screen resolutions and full commentary - similar to a regular broad cast). It seemed to me to happen almost overnight and all kind of launched at the peak of Google Videos’ popularity (recently usurped by YouTube’s extraordinary growth). What does this all mean?

Well today I take this conversation a bit further. Since this is the anniversary of 9/11 I will add another perspective to this and talk about the Internet as an archive as general. If you read CNN.com at all you would have noticed that their front page was plastered with links to two video segments (each over an hour long) called “9/11/01 As it Happened”. The videos are actual videos uncut from the morning of 9/11. Amazing footage of what is probably one of the single most defining moments in US History (next to the signing of the Declaration of Independence). We were glued to our seats at work (or at home) as this amazing attack unfolded right before our eyes. And this video spared no details. Even catching one of the planes flying right into the trade center building LIVE.

What you received that day was not only the events as they happened but also a new emerging portrayal of news. CNN was the first to cover the attacks by using a local New York Affiliate. The Affiliate was broad-casted around the world and was essentially put on the spot with little to no information about the event. Over the course of the morning CNN pieced together the events by tapping into many resources including
- Eye witnesses
- Local news crews
- Political and Social Servants

Anything they could get their hands on. Simultaneously, all of the world was taken for this amazing ride as the news casters, torn between their feelings about the events and their own fixation on the delivery of this content as it happened, unravelled a puzzle of terror.

Education as you know it has changed
This topic enlightens my on another subject (which is really what I want to talk about), which is education. As I think about my two son’s future and what they may learn of this event (and others). I can’t help but think about how this new media will provide more insight into these events then ever before. No more “microfiche”, no more “microfilm” - just point click and watch.

Think of a history class 15 years from now - how will it change. Video vs. Reading. Surely there will still be books. Surely some information will have to be discovered the old fashioned way. I am sure this is happening now but imagine a wiley History teacher. Say someone that is currently in the 7th grade and has experienced this first hand having grown up in the Instant Messaging age. What will she do to explain this phenomenal event to her 8th grade history class. Think of all the resources she will have to arm her students with the truth.

Think of all of the points of view she will be able to offer
- Professional Video from news casts
- Personal home videos shot from across town in nearby high rise apartment buildings (search google and you will be amazed)
- Blogs and Wiki’s
- Prepared digital content of the findings: Open-Content projects like “Complete 911 Timeline” - certainly subject-able but contains valid sources.

Combine all of this with some of the raw footage that can easily express the emotions of everyday people as the tragedy was happening.

Here are a few other events “caught on film” that are worth noting (none having quite the rich resources of the 9/11 tragedy):
- Walking on the Moon
- Assassination of Kennedy
- Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia Tragedies
- Waco (watched an excellent Documentary on this on the Documentary Channel - worth visiting).

I find this time in life to be the most exciting time for information convergence. All mediums coming together to allow everyone with a computer ($100 dollar laptops) to explore.

powered by performancing firefox

9/11, Internet boom 2.0, Video, Web 2.0, personal, society

Everyone is wondering when the video of Steve Irwin’s death (the actual film of him getting stabbed in the chest by a stingray) is going to hit the airwaves. At first I thought to myself “Oh that is going to hit YouTube in a week”. But the more and more I think about this, I have to disagree with myself. I don’t think that this video will _ever_ hit YouTube. Not if YouTube wants to stay popular because the fact of the matter is, watching a famed hero die is not something I want my kids doing. Now I know all about the movements on the Internet to produce a free environment for sharing information. This is not about that.

What it is about though is “Where in the hell did all of those Steve Irwin Video’s come from” Seriously though, I looked at the site today (because I was half curious) and in the last day over 200 videos were posted about Steve Irwin. Most of them are tributes and/or parodies about Steve.  I wonder where the footage comes from?  Do they tivo it and download it to their computers?  Are we seeing the advancements in video sharing as a result of operating systems like Windows Media Server?  Too be honest I don’t have Steve Irwin video footage hanging out on my computer. This is amazing. This guy wrestled alligators. Big alligators. I was actually a bit surprised to hear that it wasn’t an alligator or a wicked poisonous snake that finally got the best of him.

That aside, what I think is truly remarkable is that we are seeing the beginnings of the new medium at work. People armed with their super fast computers, broadband connection, DVD burners and editing software, are now sharing their thoughts and ideas in ways that I could only dream.

Rock on YouTube and please…keep the Steve Irwin death video off the site…please.

Internet boom 2.0, Video, Web 2.0, funny, personal, society