Getting Social with Schwabe – Episode 3
Retail is an incredibly competitive landscape, in this episode Walter Schwabe speaks with Jay Myers, Lead Web Development Engineer out of Best Buy headquarters in Richfield Minnesota about the Semantic technologies he and his team have embedded within BestBuy.com to improve your online shopping experience. Retailers of all sorts and sizes won’t want to miss this interesting show about how the retail industry is changing as a result of the social web.
Retained to help Envision Edmonton
I’ve been watching the debate about the Edmonton City Centre Airport for sometime now. However, when one takes a balanced look at how things have transpired and the intentions of both sides of this discussion, and having talked with people directly involved, it becomes more apparent to me there is more to this issue than the simplified and ridiculous rich fly guys vs. rich developer guys argument.
I’m announcing that we have been asked by Envision Edmonton to provide social media help and since this is a service we provide, we’ve agreed to help. I wish we would have had more time, however, we’re here to help our clients and we don’t shy away from tough projects, as in a heated debate like this one, that just means we’re going to have to work hard and quickly. The bottom-line is our services are needed by an honest client and we’re going to provide the best service possible.
Consider us on the “Demand the Vote” side of things. Even if you’re for closing the airport, you should still support letting democracy rule the day via a public vote. Volunteer to help collect signatures, if you’re undecided take a look at the documentation and the facts. If nothing else, read Kevin Libin’s column today in the National Post about recent developments.
FastCompany Wants to Measure Your Influence
Beth Kanter is totally and completely responsible for this whole thing…well, ok maybe not, but she is responsible for putting out a link to FastCompany’s Influence Project. Which I clicked and then subsequently added myself to the mix.
I then put my customized link out on Twitter asking the question of those listening whether they though this idea worked. The response was immediate. The link was quickly ReTweeted by Jas Darrah (you should follow him by the way) and then I was engaged in a short but interesting discussion about the value of this project with Thom Kearney here are his tweets during our exchange. You’ll need to scroll down to read up, sorry for the reverse flow of the content, I simply cut and pasted it…
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fusedlogic
@thomkearney Be sure to “Run To The Hills….”
24 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to thomkearney -
thomkearney
@fusedlogic I look forward to learning more about influence and how to measure it. 26 minutes ago via HootSuite in reply to fusedlogic
- thomkearney
@fusedlogic lol Yes there is value there in this conversation. And my brain hurts. Have to rest up for IronMaiden tomorrow. Goodnite. 27 minutes ago via HootSuite in reply to fusedlogic
- fusedlogic
@thomkearney I think you make a fair point. This is a very simple exercise. 28 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to thomkearney
- thomkearney
@fusedlogic Sure I guess there is value in the study. Just think the measure is superficial. Not sure how you would go further. 30 minutes ago via HootSuite
- fusedlogic
@thomkearney See Thom, I look at this discussion with you as interesting, and it all started because I sent out that link…:) 31 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to thomkearney
- thomkearney
@fusedlogic Influence is an interesting subject…how much influence will I keep if I send you to links that provide no value to you? 32 minutes ago via HootSuite in reply to fusedlogic
- fusedlogic
@thomkearney Well, that’s the study point. Does it? Influence is important, and does this shed light on it, is there value? 32 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to thomkearney
- thomkearney
@fusedlogic IMO it just seems kind of shallow. Does clicking on that link really do anything for you or @kanter – is that real influence? 35 minutes ago via HootSuite in reply to fusedlogic
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- fusedlogic
@jdarrah thanks for the RT Jas, the engine is growing in real time, kind of cool. 36 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to jdarrah
- fusedlogic
@thomkearney I first saw the link from @kanter because I respect her work, that influenced me to click in the first place. 40 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to thomkearney
- thomkearney
@fusedlogic at first glance it looks like bs to me. Influencing me to click a link that does not provide value is empty. Maybe I missed it. 43 minutes ago via HootSuite in reply to fusedlogic
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- fusedlogic
Does this work? What’s your opinion? I’ll be covering this on the radio show…http://fcinf.com/v/coyf about 1 hour ago via Fast Company Influence Project
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kanter
Checking out @fastcompany influence project http://fcinf.com/v/dcnc about 1 hour ago via CoTweet
I found that exchange with Thom valuable, he makes great points about the value of the entire process, one that I’ll find interesting to watch over the next few months. FYI, if you click on my link (much appreciated) http://fcinf.com/v/coyf and sign-up FastCompany will include your picture in the November issue.
Also, I’ll be heading into the studio tomorrow and I’d like to include this as part of the show, so if you participate tonight I’ll be watching how this all unfolds and will hope to mention this activity…
Has Facebook made photos better?
Yesterday’s announcement and post by Facebook product manager Sam Odio entitled “Making Facebook Photos Better” has inspired me to ask the question. ”Do you think that’s true?”
The default reaction might be to think this is “facial recognition” software. According to Annika Heinle of Facebook Corporate Communications, “this is not facial recognition software in the sense that it recognizes specific people. Instead it is a facial detection feature that finds faces in photos.” There in lies the difference, a big one. The intent of the software is to make it easier to tag photos – which I think is a good thing.
This all stems from the recent corporate acquisition of Divvyshot, the creators of this software. A smart investment since there are over 100 million photos uploaded a day according to Odio.
Still, one might ask since Facebook continues to struggle with a large segment of users who are revolting against their privacy policies, will this go any further? Some might see this as yet another step in the wrong direction, albeit a small one in this case. Certainly Facebook’s track record with respect to privacy is abysmal, bad move after bad move so there it is reasonable to question the social networking giants’ intentions.
What do you think? Conspiracy, smart acquisition, don’t care either way? Leave your thoughts here and we’ll use them on the radio show…
UPDATE: Canadian lawyer launches class-action suit against Facebook as covered by CTV, and Canadian Press.
Do you think this lawsuit has a chance? Would you participate?
Kelsey Grammer and Kelseylive.com
We’ve all seen the episodes of Cheers, and Frasier and I have no doubt that many if not all of you are large fans of 5 time Grammy winner Kelsey Grammer‘s work. Recently, I’ve noticed that his Twitter activity has increased and found it interesting yesterday when Bill Zucker started following me. I like to do research especially when someone like Zucker starts following me and that interest in this case led me here to KelseyLive.com.
I registered so that I could investigate the site and see what it was all about. I found myself in a live chat with Kelsey Grammer himself within the site, discussing his recent goal to achieve 1 million followers. This is truly the interesting thing about the social web. One minute you’re reading a blog post about the future of the social media, or at least one perspective on that topic at AdAge and the next you’re live chatting with the same person who portrayed a slightly neurotic psychologist.
Here’s a shot of the site.
While chatting with Kelsey, he mentioned that he’s in New York City right now in the middle of a Broadway show entitled “La Cage aux Folles,” and he shared with me that the show is nominated for 11 Tony Awards, the turnout has been “fantastic,” he said. With an 8 show per week pace I find it even more amazing that Kelsey Grammer was up as late as he was and building community at what was past 3AMin NYC.
My impression of the TODHD live streaming network is overall positive AND yet there is work to do. This is a stand alone newly formed online community that has some interesting content deals in place with major sports leagues mixed in with folks I’ve never heard of before and then stars like Kelsey Grammer, which I think makes it really unique in its own way. I will be interested in learning more and watching some content over time. Finally, I want to applaud and thank Kelsey Grammer for the opportunity to chat.
Frankly, I found the whole interaction a bit surreal, this was Dr. Frasier Crane for heaven’s sake…and HE WAS LISTENING…!
