Web 2.0 – Page 17 – Ross Dawson

After a number of requests from friends I signed up for Aardvark recently. If you haven’t t come across it, it’s a social network for search, where your questions are given to whoever in your extended network is most likely to be able to answer them, as illustrated below.

It’s an interesting idea which has got a lot of buzz though not a lot of uptake yet. I suspect that this approach to social search is more likely to get traction within an existing social network rather than a dedicated one, though it’s possible that it could take off, most likely initially in specific communities.

The nub of how Aardvark works is by using your nominated topics, which can be input either by yourself or others. I entered topics of ‘enterprise 2.0’ and ‘social networks’ and others have tagged me with ‘business’ and ‘social media’.

As such I was rather surprised when I received this email from Aardvark:

(Aardvark) Help someone with a question about *adult entertainment business*

Hi Ross,

Briana/20/F/…..,.. just asked a question I think you might be able to answer,

“What’s the best way to learn how to be a stripper?”

To answer, just reply to this message, and I’ll forward your email along to Briana.

As it happens I don’t know the answer. So why did Aardvark think that I might know?

Tools for lifestreaming become available

I have had extensive media coverage this week for my forecasts for social technologies for 2016. One of the predictions that has attracted the most attention is that lifestreaming will become commonplace. Many of us will capture videos, images, audio of conversations and far more. This may be to record for our own purposes, to share with friends or family, or to provide access to teh world at large.

The underlying technologies to do it are certainly available, including cheap storage. However the practical tools that make it easy are only just now getting onto the market. It is not easy to rig up automated cameras or head-mounted video recorders and automatically synchronize with online systems.

The latest is a tool specifically designed for lifestreaming. New Scientist says:

Worn on a cord around the neck, the camera takes pictures automatically as often as once every 30 seconds. It also uses an accelerometer and light sensors to snap an image when a person enters a new environment, and an infrared sensor to take one when it detects the body heat of a person in front of the wearer. It can fit 30,000 images onto its 1-gigabyte memory.

The Vicon camera will be marketed to researchers initially at around US$820, and be available to consumers next year.

Interestingly, the device has emerged from the Microsoft Sensecam, which has been shown to help people with Alzheimers and dementia to recall the events of the day. This kind of memory aid could be equally as valuable to the rest of us.

Social Media Strategy Framework in Japanese – ソーシャルメディア戦略構造

Continuing our series of translations of Social Media Strategy Framework, today is Japanese.

See the original post for the full overview of the Social Media Strategy Framework in English and list of translations.

Please share this with any Japanese speakers.

Also be sure to let me know if you can suggest any improvements to the translation.

FTC regulates blogging! Insights into the new world of paid influence

The US Federal Trade Commission has released its long-awaited update to its “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” to now cover blogging and social media.

The headline news is that:

The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that “material connections” (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers – connections that consumers would not expect – must be disclosed. These examples address what constitutes an endorsement when the message is conveyed by bloggers or other “word-of-mouth” marketers. The revised Guides specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service.

Those contravening the FTC Act can be fined up to $16,000 per post (it has been increased in the last year from the $11,000 that has been widely reported).

In other words, the world of paid influence that we explored at Future of Influence Summit will be regulated and laid open.

This whole thing is a minefield, and I wish had more time to run through all of the issues, but here are a few top-of-mind points that need to be made about this:

Social Media Strategy Framework in Dutch – Sociale Media Strategie Kader

Continuing our series of translations of Social Media Strategy Framework, today is Dutch.

See the original post for the full overview of the Social Media Strategy Framework in English.

Please share this with any Dutch speakers who would be interested.

Also be sure to let me know if you can suggest any improvements to the translation.

Social Media Strategy Framework in Spanish – Encuadre de Estrategia de Medios Sociales

Continuing our series of translations of Social Media Strategy Framework, today we are launching the Spanish edition.

See the original post for the full overview of the Social Media Strategy Framework in English.

Please share this with any Spanish speakers who would be interested.

Also be sure to let me know if you can suggest any improvements to the translation.

SME Tech Summit in Sydney on 1 December – book the date!

The Insight Exchange is going from strength to strength. Its next major event is the SME Tech Summit, to be held on 1 December in Sydney. The Insight Exchange’s CEO Beth Etling has put together an extraordinary agenda for what will be a landmark event in the space. Keynote speakers include Tim Pethick of Nudie fame (see interview with Tim on the event blog) and the always-provocative and insightful Mark Pesce. Check out the complete agenda for the rich array of content and learning that will be available on the day.

Go to the registration page to see the very attractive offers and great early bird specials, which expire 31 October.

How did the event come about? It is now clear to anyone in business that technology is fundamental to how they work and bring in revenue. However only a small minority of companies have both the resources to use technology effectively, and the ability to keep on top of fast-moving but absolutely critical trends such as cloud computing and social media. There is a massive opportunity to assist smaller and mid-market businesses to deal with these issues.

Social Media Strategy Framework in Russian – Структура стратегии в социальных медиа

Continuing our series of translations of Social Media Strategy Framework, today we are launching the Russian edition.

See the original post for the full overview of the Social Media Strategy Framework in English.

Please share this with any Russian speakers.

Also be sure to let me know if you can suggest any improvements to the translation.

The potential of Government 2.0 and participatory democracy

Radio National’s Future Tense last week covered the issue of Participatory democracy, Web 2.0 and the Australian Government 2.0 Taskforce with an excellent program. The program can be heard or downloaded on the website, along with a transcript.

During the program I was quoted talking about the potential and the underlying demand for participatory democracy:

I think that there is a growing interest in [Government 2.0], and it is very different in different countries and in different demographics, but absolutely people’s interest is growing in participating and having a voice and being able to impact smaller things in the environment in which they live, as well as larger things such as the political parties in power. And I think that trend will accentuate over time, as people get more used to the ideas and the tools provided by participation.

However the core of the program is an interview with Dr Nicholas Gruen, who chairs the Australian government’s Government 2.0 taskforce, discussing what is being done currently. He noted: