“We see things as we are, not as they are…” Isaac Asmiov
Guardian Unlimited | Science | The prize: $10m. To win, just solve these science problems
First there was the Ansari X prize and now… well Human Genome mapping, Environmentally friendly cars and Orbital space flight. Its one way to generate innovation. Perhaps the government should shift their funding to this model? Its fascinating what the X foundation want to see developed.
Very high risk but great rewards - just ask Burt Rutan.
Johnnie Moore’s Weblog: The Business Experiment
Business Experiment is a great idea to explore the possibilities of new ideas in a business context - thanks as usual to Johnnie for pointing it out…
Johnnie runs a marvellous podcast with Chris Corrigan and Rob Paterson.
Someexcellent ideas for running conferences within this quite short little gem. I made some bullet point headings (ignoring Johnnie’s programme notes) in semi-chronological order:
The most powerful themes for me here are twofold, that of engagement and that of learning.
Engagment because the last thing you want to happen at a conference is people falling asleep, literally or figuratively. I certainly notice my levels of concentrating dropping and its important to be aware of these factors when implementing this type of thing, as well as making sure that individuals can participate in the action. this moves me neatly onto learning.
At the edge reminded me very forcefully of Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, that is the point at where your existing understanding ends and your potential for learning begins. Dialogue enables learning to take place and for speakers, experts, key note speakers to engage the audience by making sure you can take all the people with you facilitating learning as you move on (scaffolding?). I also think that having a variety of different activities in a conference is a good move. Whilst I think lecturing can have its strengths, as can discussion, we should not confine ourselves to thinking of conferences in such linear ways and look at multiple environments, activities, and personalities to assist in the process.
Perhaps I should set up some conferences / workshops myself?
Back to the podcast, to say that its well worth listening to, and got me thinking more about the subject. Eagerly awaiting the next episode.
Chris Anderson finishes his epic exploration of Long Tail TV with a great little expo:
… But first, let’s crisp up what I mean by Long Tail TV. The definition of the Long Tail in this context is: "content that is not available through traditional distribution channels but could nevertheless find an audience." For the most part, that’s niche content. It may not have been niche when it was made or niche everywhere but it counts as niche now where you live. This could include:
1) TV shows that are made but not broadcast in your area:
- Channels your cable provider doesn’t carry
- Foreign TV
- Local sports and events from places you aren’t
2) Old TV shows:
- TV from the archives, from ancient to relatively recent
- Current shows that you missed and forgot to record
3) Video of any sort that is made but not broadcast (the video found on the Internet Archive’s moving image collections, which ranges from the Prelinger Archives to SIGGRAPH animations, is a great example.)
- Independent films
- Commercials (which are broadcast but not scheduled and findable)
- Amateur video, including news
- Commercial/corporate video intended for targeted audiences
4) Video that could and would be made if only there were a good way to find an audience for it. (Steve Rosenbaum is blogging on this, too). The best sense of what that might be can be found by looking at the online video that’s been made since the broadband web became a reality…..
(You get the idea) Essentially then cluetrain for TV, blogging for TV, microcontent (of a video persuasion) and a worldwide market.
Linked into yesterday’s announcement about VOD and other initiatives like Telewest’s Blueyonder TV, BBC’s offering of online programming, you can see that some broadcasters and network service providers understand this. What I wonder is whether there could be a business model here (I’m very business focused today). Could this be the iTunes / iPod equivalent in video?
I mentioned previously that there are server - client and Peer to Peer models here. In addition I think from Chris’s categories above there remains a distinction between mass consumables (although perhaps less mass than previously) and true niche products/offerings - which I think could well be micro-content or be in the same league as online comics / e-books.
Could this be video blogging or video podcasting?
Perhaps this could link to the kind of issues with online photo storage? I think I end up coming back to digital lifestyle aggregators.
The Ourhouse Weblog: Nothing is Written
Nothing is Written
Do you remember the scene in Lawrence of Arabia when a man is left behind overnight, during the unforgiving journey across the desert? Omar Sharif says it would be madness to return for him, it would lead his would-be rescuer to certain death under the unforgiving sun. It is Written, he says. Lawrence ignores this advice and heroically returns, uttering the words Nothing is Written.
Johnny, as usual, posting something intelligent and provoking. His suggestion of using applied improvisation is interesting in that it is something he has briefly shown me and it is wonderful at opening up different ways of thinking and approaching subjects - ideal for creativity in my opinion and lots of other things according to the Applied Improvisation Network . Personally I think in business people tend to be too uptight about using ‘alternative’ ways of approaching things. Techniques such as improv can be great fun, and shock horror you can enjoy yourself whilst still gaining significant ideas and possibly a ‘business’ advantage.
You could certainly do worse than get John to come visit…
www.KMWorld.com Magazine Archives
Excellent article outlining two of my favourtie topics: Knowledge Management and Complxity. This snippet (the conclusion) speaks volumes:
So, the attempt to make explicit the tacit knowledge in an organization may in fact be an attempt to short-circuit the chaotic process of emergence. But that’s exactly what emergence doesn’t allow. In such cases, a KM system can nourish the intelligence from which wisdom emerges but neither replace it nor make it explicit.
This is why so called ‘best practice’ programmes or initiatives never work, and why trying to implement knowledge management to a business case is so difficult: its success or failure is based upon emergent properties, far more complex than initially obvious.
Its why when I hear that best practice will help us speed up our throughput and increase our productivity that I develop a cynical attitude. After all following a best pratice process eliminates the ability to be creative and innovative, takes away chance and serendipity and heads us towars the emrgence of failure.
Dave has a desire to see communication in the business world improve:
Most of us spend much of our lives in meetings and reading. I wish more of the people that drone on and on in unfocused Powerpoint presentations, or write long unfathomable treatises, would learn to apply some discipline to their oral and written communications. Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle approach to structured thinking is one excellent methodology that could help
His suggestion of using the Pyramid Principle is worth taking a look at. I personally tend to use stream of conciousness type appraoch and then edit text and arguments later. This approach is far more structured and offers an extremely powerful way to get arguments across but also to provide solid reasoning as to why those arguments are valid.
Its worth reading the comments too, for more approaches.
Jean Houston Quotes - The Quotations Page
“We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.”
This is a belief that far more people need to have and to takeon board and to live. I include myself within that.
From the excellent Column Two:
Fubini’s Law, which goes like this:
1. People initially use technology to do what they do now - but faster.
2. Then they gradually begin to use technology to do new things.
3. The new things change life-styles and work-styles.
4. The new life-styles and work-styles change society
… and eventually change technology.
I thought this neatly summed up some of my thinking around design and markleting. The key point being that while you can develop products with certain functions or market segments in mind, people who buy the products may do something very different with them and force you to change your thinking.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Games suffer from ‘geek stereotype’
“Games are still too difficult for a mass audience,” she told the Game Developers Conference, held at London’s Earls Court last week. “People don’t focus on gameplay. Instead they make a beautiful game that is no fun.”
One of the main obstacles was the complicated controls of many of today’s games, as well as tough levels which left many players frustrated.
“You want a game that is challenging but never frustrating,” said Ms Fryer.
She urged game makers to come up with titles that would appeal to a hardcore 15-year-old gamer as well as someone older who just wants to have fun.
Absolutely. The figures point to gaming being a mass market phenomena and revenues rising, people are spending more and enjoy the experience but gaming needs to broaden its appeal.
Sony’s Eye Toy for the PS2 is a big step in the right direction. A brillaint idea, with simple, annoyingly addictive games for everyone to play. They may not have the beauty or the depth of something like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City or Halo but my 6 year old can play, even my 2 year old can play and know (roughly) what they are doing, and moe importantly compete against me and their grand parents.
If you have a PS2, I wholehearted recommend the Eye Toy - buy it now!
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