fusedlogic » Calgary

fusedlogicTV and JuneWarren-Nickle’s sign MOU

Walter Schwabe — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:08:56 +0000

The publishing game in Alberta is changing, and we’re proud to be a part of it. fusedlogic announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group which explains that fusedlogicTV is now the provider of video production services unique to JuneWarren-Nickle’s (JWN) Canadian Oilfield Service and Supply Directory or COSSD.

This means that through this special COSSD video service as provided by fusedlogicTV, customers can now generate a unique looking video right from their office and desk using Skype with excellent production value. This service immediately increases the effectiveness of businesses in the Alberta energy sector once they realize, and understand how rapidly they can create high production value videos in order to increase brand awareness online.

Alberta energy sector businesses can use this service for direct and immediate communications with investors, sales and marketing, employee recruitment and labour relations, crisis communications and a lot more.

We’re excited at what this new MOU and business relationship with JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group represents in terms of new services. JWN customers are going to enjoy having access to cutting-edge digital video production, and how it will help them communicate to their global customer base in new ways.

Have a look at a couple of COSSD focused examples of this new video production service now available to all COSSD customers.

The first video demonstrates the possibilities with an interview style, on-camera host and virtual set.

In this next video, Rob Pentney, Director of Sales for JWN demonstrates how a customer using Skype at their desk can host their very own video segment.

Contact the team at JuneWarren-Nickle’s COSSD to book your video production project.

fusedlogicTV From the Heart

Walter Schwabe — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:15:52 +0000

This year has seen a lot of change happen in my life, I’ve written about the most devastating event in 2011, the passing of my father Bruce Schwabe well before his time.

I vowed that when I was ready I would do something to give back in his name. My dad was the most giving person in the world, if you were stranded, needed help and he was physically able to help, he didn’t hesitate, not for a second.

Here’s what we at fusedlogic would like to do. We’re going to dedicate one hour of video production at fusedlogicTV per month FREE to non-profit and charitable organizations in Alberta.

What does FREE video production at fusedlogicTV mean?

Simple, we’ll be setting aside (4) 15 minute show slots for non-profits. As a non-profit or charitable organization, you would “like” the fusedlogic Facebook Fanpage and then tell us what you’d do with the free 15 minutes of recorded talk show format video produced in the fusedlogicTV studio.

The top (4) ideas with the most Facebook likes at the end of the available voting time on our fanpage will win the available production slots for that month. You will have to host your own show, prepare your own simple script, and promote your own show as you see fit. As part of the provided free production service, fusedlogicTV will supply you with the ability to Skype in up to (2) people, and you’d also be able to invite up to (2) in studio guests.

Once completed, fusedlogicTV will supply you with your digital file, you’ll own the content. However, you will have agree to allow us to include production credits but your branding will be front and centre.

We’ll be starting this program formally in September, and just thought we’d give you an advanced heads up. I’m very excited about this, and hope that you’ll take us up on the offer once it’s officially launched.

Stay tuned…and get your creative juices going…if you’d like to see what these shows can look like, visit and subscribe to the fusedlogic YouTube channel.

Social media builds business in Calgary, Alberta

Walter Schwabe — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:29:49 +0000

Many in business spend their days talking about social media. Sure we talk about it too. We also use it in a very targeted way to build business. Many people spend all day being “social media rockstars,” building up their own account numbers. We spend time tending to our relationships, when we can….but we’d never call ourselves “rockstars.” Thankfully, a lot of the time we’re doing client work, and using the power of social media to drive new opportunities and revenue for them and us.

Using Linkedin, I reached out to some key people in the Alberta Oil and Gas sector. The ensuing conversation via LinkedIn led to Skype calls and discussions of potential social media and live streaming projects for fusedlogicTV. Which brings me to my quick trip to Calgary to meet with a few different firms at the Gas and Oil Expo and Conference on the Calgary Stampede grounds.

Steve Zurakowski from Dynamic Vision (shown above on the left) appeared on “A Brilliant Idea Every 60 Seconds” on fusedlogicTV a week ago.

Once again, social media has enabled me to reach out in ways I never could have in the past, it’s an absolutely critical business development tool for fusedlogic. Building relationships in person is incredibly important, social media opens doors, and draws us closer in between face to face meetings across Alberta and beyond. Today I met with people from Dubai, China, Calgary, Ft. McMurray and Halifax, all from a simple “inmail” within LinkedIn and within the next week or two we should be announcing a very exciting and major new global project.

After walking around the exhibition and meeting with a couple of clients, I ended up at the Xtreme Hot Oil and Pressure Service tent for a tasty beverage. Frankly, they had the tunes cranked up after the Expo closed at 5pm. I like these guy’s style and I was like a moth to a flame.

Due to the fact that this new business relationship isn’t quite signed off on yet, I won’t mention all the folks I met with today. However, in one case, we’ve agreed to announce a new powerful global relationship very soon. Stay tuned and thank-you for your support…

Getting Social with Schwabe – Episode 8

Evan — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:51:12 +0000

Episode 8

The municipal election extravaganza. Walter Schwabe talks with 9 different candidates about their use of social media within their campaign for this 2010 election. What they’re using, how they’re using it, and any impact social media may be having on their ability to generate votes.

Your outsourced CFO is a click away at Dorward and Company.

Subscribe in iTunes

Edmonton’s Open Government a model for Alberta

Walter Schwabe — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:55:14 +0000

: Image by mjb84 via Flickr

Scott McKeen of the Edmonton Journal wrote:

“City Hall has embraced open data. Great. But I’m confused”

McKeen goes on further to describe himself as a “second-class citizen.” In theory, because he doesn’t entirely understand or use technology in the way early-adopters within the City of Edmonton’s tech community do or will now that the city’s data catalogue has been partially released.

Although it’s true that some of this data has been publicly available online in some cases for years. The difference now, is that it’s in machine readable format now and not a PDF or application that doesn’t allow for independent coders to work with it. As McKeen explains this will inspire a new level of innovation in the Greater Edmonton Region. Our iPhone transit application Route 411 is a prime example of the kind of innovation that can take place when a city such as Edmonton, Vancouver or Toronto releases transit data.

Many may not be aware of the fact that I’m well into writing my first book on Government 2.0 and the “open data movement” that’s happening around the world as we speak. During this experience of exploration within government, I’ve managed to have some very interesting discussions and exchanges with thought leaders in Canada and the US. There’s a distinct overlap of social media, and this is where Web 2.0 applications are really shining and driving innovation. The return on investment for Open Data is a higher quality of life for citizens and a considerable savings in tax dollars.

Freedom to Create, Spirit to Achieve

Rather than make this about the book, I thought I’d provide another short list of applications or projects that are available as a result of government releasing data. A process which I’ve said many times on Twitter that our own Government of Alberta needs to work towards immediately. We need to be forward thinking in Alberta and of course, it takes more than simply stating, Freedom to Create, Spirit to Achieve. If one believes the propaganda behind the current Alberta brand, then it’s high time we act on it. I’m not referring to our oil industry, royalty reviews or the environment. Rather, our strong Alberta tech community putting words into action and leveraging our strengths, which are considerable and should be given “more credit.”

SIDEBAR: Not looking to sound overly critical, but why are we spending tax dollars to “rebrand” a department that has connections and rapport around the world at a time when what we really need is an “open government directive” and policy with teeth? Just think about the simplest of tasks for the over 700 people in this department that now have to take the effort to explain to people across Alberta and around the world, “no it’s still us, but change our name and update your address book.” Further, in the interest of transparency, every government worker should have a complete LinkedIn profile so that they can be easily reached. How’s that for making you feel uncomfortable?

This is constructive criticism from the heart – it’s also motivation, inspiration and evangelism for this great province and its’ people inside and outside government to embrace what’s already here and has been since 2007.

Below are just a few open data examples and sources from around the world on how government can work as a platform for citizens to leverage:

Government of Canada 2.0 Wiki

Code For America

Police Act Review Wiki

Streetswiki

OpenStreetMap

Edmonton Data Catalogue

City of Edmonton Social Media

Vancouver Data Catalogue

There are countless more applications and websites being launched, it seems daily, as more and more governments open their data to the public. I encourage bloggers across Alberta and beyond to create your own list and share it with the world. Increased accountability, transparency, participation and collaboration are the results. Those detractors from this movement are typically worried about privacy and security issues or they simply don’t get it. Privacy and security are important and yet, not barriers to be used as excuses for inaction.

For those government jurisdictions considering the open government movement here’s a list of guiding principles to get you started.

Open Government Data Principles

Government data shall be considered open if it is made public in a way that complies with the principles below:

1. Complete: All public data is made available. Public data is data that is not subject to valid privacy, security or privilege limitations.

2. Primary: Data is as collected at the source, with the highest possible level of granularity, not in aggregate or modified forms.

3. Timely: Data is made available as quickly as necessary to preserve the value of the data.

4. Accessible: Data is available to the widest range of users for the widest range of purposes.

5. Machine processable: Data is reasonably structured to allow automated processing.

6. Non-discriminatory: Data is available to anyone, with no requirement of registration.

7. Non-proprietary: Data is available in a format over which no entity has exclusive control.

8. License-free: Data is not subject to any copyright, patent, trademark or trade secret regulation. Reasonable privacy, security and privilege restrictions may be allowed.

Compliance must be reviewable.

Clearly, Open Data is here!

The Open Data movement is something that all levels of government, in all regions within the industrialized world and beyond should immediately be looking to address. This isn’t a matter of “if” it’s going to happen, it’s already here. Being discussed for nearly 3 years now, more action is required. Yesterday on Twitter, Kathy Telfer according to her LinkedIn profile a Director in the Government of Alberta but her Twitter account says she’s a communications consultant for the Government of Alberta. (Who by the way is working on a great project called InspiringEducation). That said, Kathy was extolling the virtues of “patience” as it relates to the Government of Alberta and the current adoption rate of social media. With all due respect to the belief that citizens need to be patient, strategic and prudent, which I agree with to a point. What the majority do not know is that the impending release of the “latest version” of social media guidelines and policies for the Government of Alberta has been more than a year in the making. I suggest we need to “speed up government,” while increasing transparency. Patience in government is often a crutch that reinforces the slow-moving status-quo. Imagine what we could accomplish if we looked to speed up even 25% of our efforts? I believe that our governments have incredibly smart people working for them who want to work with more urgency but don’t have the support to do so.

Our leaders need to provide these people with a directive to move which supports internal early-adopters and evangelists who are chomping at the bit. The Government of Alberta in particular needs a Chief Information Officer to bring into policy discussions, the perspective of an Open Data culture. Further, we need to realize that while Premier Stelmach may be in Dubai speaking about our oilsands, the environment and our efforts around that issue. We, in the Alberta tech community, another one of Alberta’s key industries, require more than a $100 Million dollar tech fund that has strings attached to it. While that’s wonderful, we need speed, we need policies and programs that reflect today’s fast paced open and collaborative ecosystem, not yesterday’s proprietary silos. We need the government’s culture to change and support us on the fringes, outside of academia. We need a government that understands that by the time a researcher has filled out the funding application to further “differentiate Alberta’s research institutions,” someone could have written the code for a new Twitter or GoogleWave like application and they need support at the speed at which they work. This isn’t what’s best for government process, it’s what’s best for its’ citizens. Don’t just start attending DemoCamp in Edmonton or Calgary, start funding companies and developers at DemoCamp. Business plan contests are great, and there are other methods we should be employing. This shouldn’t take this long to get our ducks in a row and at the risk of not being politically correct we don’t always have to include every single slow-moving agency, organization or institution, academic or otherwise, before the first project gets support.

We need Government 2.0 leadership to go with our Web 2.0 ideas.

Patience? We’ve been patient, we continue to be patient and yet, there’s evidence throughout our political landscape which suggests that patience is running thin…

The oil industry in this province may be content to refrain from communicating openly about the issues, Alberta’s tech industry will not take the same approach and folks…we know how to self-organize, amplify messaging and engage to apply pressure in a myriad of ways.

Work with us, we’ll collaborate with you and help you work even more efficiently. Transparency and open data means we can help you accomplish this and countless other tasks right here at home. You don’t need to buy Microsoft, SAP and IBM solely anymore. Your Alberta tech community will make you look good, you just need to support us by enabling our creativity through the “open government movement” and in my humble opinion, “sooner rather than later…”

All it takes to get things started is a memo from the right person.

The future of your city

Walter Schwabe — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:23:44 +0000

One of the greatest things about social media is that there are tremendous amounts of conversations to learn from, but what about the conversations at the kitchen table? Many a great idea has been discussed there. What if Edmontonians, folks in Red Deer and Calgary decided to communicate their ideas in a more public sense? In this case, at futureedmonton.ca or futurereddeer.ca or futurecalgary.ca.

Frankly, this is not a new concept. Communicating ideas online has been happening for years in all sorts of ways. What we’re suggesting is that this process can be chaotic and unorganized. Our solution is to provide a very simple series of websites that empowers the everyday citizen. There are so many citizens who may currently make limited use of the Internet in their lives. We hope this very focused concept that’s easy to use will inspire them to contribute their great idea for their local city or town in just a click or two.

These sites will be providing the ability for local citizens to participate at their local level and potentially affect change on a macro-level.

Every time there is a new idea posted, the Twitter accounts for each site are updated. If you’d like to follow from Twitter, the usernames are @futureedmonton, @futurecalgary and @futurereddeer.

Here’s the twist:

We’re loosely tying these sites together to provide a macro perspective on the ideas of what Albertans are contemplating. Everything will be crowd-sourced, right down to “functionality requests” of the sites themselves and how they evolve. We believe the elegance of this concept is in it’s simplicity and we encourage you to participate by voting, commenting or submitting your own idea for your city.

We’re also launching a special offer for towns and cities in Alberta today so tune into Global Edmonton at 5pm.

Edmonton Twitter evolution continues

ASaffel — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:34:25 +0000

I suppose I should have called this post “the Alberta Twitter evolution continues” to include the Calgary Twitter community and those around the province. That would have worked just as well I suppose. Over the last couple of days I’ve been thinking of how much I enjoy Twitter and all the new relationships I’ve built up.

In recent weeks the Edmonton twitter community has grown considerably. Why? Well, some members of the local media have decided to fire-up their Twitter accounts and publicize doing so. Even the City of Edmonton has gotten into the act. In fact, Albertans from many walks of life are joining Twitter, including those in political circles, but that’s another whole series of posts.

So, I’ve decided see where the Edmonton Twitter community feels it fits when compared to the generally accepted best practices described in the well-known social media standard Groundswell. You’ll notice that I’ve thrown in a bit of my own interpretation for good measure as well. Figure 3-2 on page 43 of Groundswell shows The Social Technographics ladder. Many members of the Edmonton Twitter community may fall into one or more of the following technographic groups.

Where are you in the Twitter universe?

Joiners - essentially, you’ve joined Twitter because you were encouraged by something you read, watched or a even more likely because you’ve been encouraged by another Albertan to join. You may also belong to at least one social network such as Facebook or Linkedin. In fact, to be considered a real Joiner you’re setting up profiles in several places.

Just for fun I’ve provided a short-list below of new members within the Edmonton Twitter community that may fit into this category based on current level of followers. These folks are at 100 or less followers (this number is a moving target so it’s not exact). There are many new users but these are a few that happened to use the #yeg hashtag at the time I was writing this post.

If you’d like to add your name to this list to increase follows just leave a comment with your twitter profile name and what category you feel you fit into best.

Spectators - After joining the community, a lot of observing Twitter and its culture takes place. This is of course a natural activity and, not to worry, everyone does this to some extent as this eco-system continues to evolve. We’re all learning…that’s one of my favorite things about social media in general. The opportunities to learn from others are immense and I consider myself to be a life-long learner. Having said that, as a Twitter user, your updates are very low as are your followers – you’re watching quietly.

Through observation and learning, confidence begins to increase and gradually this impacts activity type and volume. Conversations, exchanges of information, direct messages, link posting all increase. The newest members of the Edmonton Twitter community become more involved in terms of the types of Tweets and level of participation. Generally, an increase in tweet volume tends to happen and a need to “break the story” or “RT” (re-Tweet) interesting tweets also starts to take place. Possibly the courage to post links of their own blog posts or the first Twitpics start to appear – personality really starts to shine through.

Critics - As ones’ personality starts to shine more and more within their tweets. I believe a further diversion of grouping starts to happen. Commenting, taking positions on various subject matter that before may have been considered controversial like politics for example starts to happen. The person has much more confidence now and so rating, reviews and criticism tends to happen more. Further, if the person is sarcastic in nature, a skeptic or generally negative this also presents itself.

Collectors - Personality and confidence allows the newest members of Edmonton’s Twitter community who are remaining active to communicate things like hobbies. Music, photography are two top ways people start to demonstrate these traits. Links to other profiles on sites like flickr and Last.fm are used.

Creators - I’ve left this category towards the end because when it comes to Twitter I think that this group is really a catch all in a lot of ways. If you’ve created even one Tweet you could technically be considered a Creator. However, I define Creators in this case to be Twitter users who are active in almost all of the technographic categories in some way, have several profiles, share numerous types of content from video, audio, photos, links, opinions, etc. The most active of all the groups, Creators are separated by the reason they’re there: to build relationships, to build an army, to build credibility, to build intelligence and observe trends.

Autobots - (I’ve invented this last group.) Twitter naturally has this built in ego-meter that is your “followers” total. Some fall into the “I must have a million followers” mentality and I admit I watch my own numbers too. How can you not? Having said that, some go to great lengths to “monetize” their Twitter activity somehow. For example, let’s say you like to sell e-books, “not that there’s anything wrong with that.” However, an Autobot would then employ various automated software apps to auto-follow people and almost certainly auto-direct-message (DM) people with their affiliate e-book selling site link. Now just like with Viagra spam, if the 8% of people who got those spam emails didn’t buy Viagra via this method then the spam industry may not exist.

Be wary of those who are strictly focused on just creating a larger number. Jeremiah Owyang from Forrester Research tweeted this recently:

@jowyang bloggers are arguing about how much 100,000 twitter followers is worth http://tinyurl.com/c3z6nk I say earn trust, not buy it

Walter Schwabe

CPRS Edmonton gives back…

ASaffel — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:37:23 +0000

…”Oh the weather outside is frightful….” However, what’s going to be delightful is the fact that at a presentation to a group of public relations professionals today we’ll get to raise more food bank donations.

I want to thank the folks from CPRS Edmonton from the bottom of my heart for not only inviting me to speak with them today but more importantly for supporting Edmonton’s Food Bank and the fusedlogic Food Bank Challenge in particular.

As many of you can tell from our blog and (even a bit of press, yeah baby!) or the section entitled “Food Bank” we’ve got something going on with Edmonton’s Food Bank. As mentioned above it’s the fusedlogic Food Bank Challenge.

This really is exciting because outside of our daily client work we can focus on having some fun with our social pals, friends and acquaintances and explore our collective desire to give back. Contrary to what others may think, I think it’s in our human nature to want to give. This exercise will help prove my hypothesis. 1 million pictures of 1 million donations in 1 year. WOW, talk about being able to measure results. Regardless of where we end up (past our goal…) this will be a great learning experience for all concerned. Human nature, social conversation and even the advantages and disadvantages of some of the technology…lot’s to observe and learn from.

Plus, for the gadget freaks we get to play with our digital cameras too. Speaking of which I’ll ensure we get lot’s of photos of the donations made by the Edmonton’s PR society today and post them on our Facebook group

Oh and by the way, look out Calgary, Edmonton’s gunning for ya…I know that my pals in Calgary who are reading this right now are shakin in their space boots (it’s in their nature). You better go take some pictures of your donation drives before we here in Edmonton get too much of a jump on you…and Flames fans this goes double for you. Oilers fans will never stand for it…

Welcome to the new Battle of Alberta!

Walter Schwabe