You Are Not A Gadget
Once every year I rewrite my core speech, updating my thinking and ideas. This time round I’m giving it another degree of thought as I want to use it as the foundation for a book.
For the past ten years or so I’ve been a huge advocate of all things social. That’s not about to change. What I am becoming more cognizant of are the effects of social media. Jaron Lanier’s You Are Not A Gadget lit a fire under many of my thoughts and provided a refreshing perspective on what we need to do to thrive in the social age. I strongly recommend reading it.
Years ago, a CEO I worked for said “anonymity breeds irresponsibility”. Jaron is right, don’t post anonymously unless you are really in danger. I wonder how many community managers are really looking at the identity of those posting on their sites. Systems for accountability need to improve.
We need new ideas and thinking for rewarding creators. We need to make more time to create and craft – and not confuse that with expression. Posting photos to Twitter is not the same as creating art. Jaron’s idea that we “post a video once in a while that took you one hundred more times to create than it takes to view” drives home the idea that we need to create, not just transmit.
As I glanced through my Twitter feed looking at the brands I love and follow, I was surprised how much of the communications were trivial. Jaron suggests we “write a blog post that took weeks of reflection…”. Again, authentic communications – the stuff we want — shouldn’t be trivial.
You Are Not A Gadget enforced for me how much work brands have ahead of them to connect with customers through social. And how big the issues are for all of us living in the social sphere.
Love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read the book.
That Yahoo! Weather App
Is just gorgeous. And the mail ap is pretty sharp as well. Good stuff Yahoos!
Great products maketh the company. The future might be bright and sunny for Yahoo afterall.
Wired At 20 Years
A great read on the formation of Wired – arguably the most important magazine in Tech. I remember the first issues and hanging with Louis and Jane in the Wired offices. Was very cool. John Battelle’s impact on the industry has been remarkable. All goes to show that the good guys can win. They not only changed they way we talk about technology, but what gets included in the talk. And from a pure design standpoint, they tipped the old rules on their head.
Shift
Just finished reading Shift by Hugh Howey. A brilliant read. It tells the story of how the world came to be in Wool.
The twists and turns he adds to the story told in Wool give a richness to both stories. Highly recommend taking the time to read both. I if you haven’t started either, I would start with Shift and go on to Wool.
Keep them coming Hugh.
13 Rooms
Last night we had the opportunity to experience 13 Rooms – an absolutley stunning exhibition.
Kaldor Public Art Project #27, entitled 13 Rooms, brings together 13 famous artists and more than 100 performers to present an innovative group exhibition of ‘living sculpture’ within 13 purpose-built rooms. It will challenge you, fry your synapses and cause you to rethink art. It was remarkable. It’s only in Sydney for 11 days. In fact, its only on Earth for another 11 days.
Get there while you can.
Kaldor Public Art Project 27: 13 Rooms, Episode 3 from Kaldor Public Art Projects on Vimeo.
disclosure: my employer, Commonwealth Bank, is a sponsor.
