I’m a huge fan of Lynette’s work, it’s inspirational and pithy and just a wonderful place for a stroll where digital thought is evocatively brought to life
This is how she describes her collection:
This is my personal dumping ground for various cool quotes, the odd stat, as slides to talk around when describing how things are changing online and in media & communications generally.
Do take the time to have a wander – her posts on each image’s formulation is a delicate journey of muse and insight.
She’s just to start a new adventure, inspired by this, which means that her amazing Flickr sets will not be populated as frequently.
But it means that I might make more of my own. (thank you!)
Look out for her book that will be released soon through Lulu.com.
This is so good I’m reproducing the whole post. It’s by Michael Rosenblum and called The Ice Story:
There is an old expression that says, “necessity is the mother of invention”.
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Necessity does not drive invention. Rather, new inventions come along and mess up every one’s life. They would, for the most part, prefer that they went away entirely.
This is true not only in broadcasting, but in everything.
Take ice.
Ice was once a fantastic business.
If you are old enough to remember, your grandmother or great grandmother had an ice box. This stood in the kitchen, and once a week the ice man came and delivered a block of ice. That was what kept the food cold and fresh.
Ice was harvested in gigantic ice ponds that were scattered across New England. In the wintertime, ice was harvested from those ponds and stored in heavily insulated ice houses. A good ice house could keep its ice in tact through the summer.
Ice was such a good business, and the science of insulation so sophisticated, that by the middle of the 19th Century, clipper ships delivered ice from New England all the way to India. One can imagine how the crowds swarmed the docks in Calcutta when an ice ship arrived.
If your father had an ice delivery route in Manhattan, you were almost certainly set for life. The ice business was a secure trade. Ice, after all, had been around since the Roman Emperors brought fresh snow down from the Appenines into Rome in the summertime to cool them. And by the mid 19th Century, the ice industry was massive. There were delivery routes, ice tongs, ice ponds for harvesting, ice houses for storage, technologies to cut the ice… it was massive.
Then, in 1876, Jacob Perkins, an American living in London, invented refrigeration.
In a moment, in a stroke, the ice industry was over.
The much sought after delivery routes, the seemingly invaluable ice ponds, the chain of delivery… all over, in a flash.
A new technology had rendered the entire industry… an entire world, obsolete. And all the crying and complaining and whimpering did not a bit of good. It was over. Ice was dead.
Technology is merciless.
When a new technology comes along, one either adapts or dies. And death is both swift and certain.
Darwin wrote that the neither strength nor intelligence are the best traits for survival, it is the ability to adapt to change.
Kodak was once the industry leader in photography. Say Kodak and you as much as said photography. But when digital cameras came along, Kodak was arrogant. “We are film” they said in Rochester.
Kodak could have owned digital photography. They were there first, had the market position and had they moved quickly could easily have adapted early. But they did not. They were too comfortable to see what a new technology was about to do to them. It destroyed them. Tell someone you have just bought a Kodak camera and watch their eyes.
The web, and in particular, video on the web are about to do to a whole range of industries what digital images did to Kodak.
The arrival of the Internet, and particularly video over the Internet is the equivalent of Jacob Perkins’ invention of refrigeration: a fantastic new technology that in a stroke wipes out whole businesses, some of them seemingly rock solid. They are not.
What is the value of a local TV station or a transmitter when infinite amounts of video can be delivered online direct to homes for almost no cost?
What is the value of a printed newspaper when the same information can be delivered to every home in the world instantly online at no cost?
Once that newspaper is online, what differentiates it, if anything, from a television station? If online can carry video, how can your former ‘newspaper’ only be in text when the medium can do so much more? (Do you see a lot of text-only TV channels?)
The entire world of media is about to change due to a new and very destructive technology. Those who adapt will survive, but they will evolve into something very different from what they are now. Those who fail to adapt will die. Like the invention of refrigeration, the Internet means the end of what was once a very old and established business.
And what you have seen until now is only the tip of the iceberg… so to speak
P.S. Savage Chickens also boast a Metal Band name generator- it’s funny but one of my best girlfriends has eternally won this competition in my eyes.
All girl AC/DC cover band= Clakker Dakker
Filed under: Zeitgeist
This is the sign on the soon to be hairdresser’s shop window just next to my favourite coffee shop downstairs from the office.
I’d never heard the term SOGO before-but I do love a made up word to create a sense of community. It is a buzzy little triangle of a suburbette undergoing rapid poshification. There’s so many creative agencies here that there’s a weekly soccer league. You can get everything from organic coffee to an espresso martini and you can have Facebook experiences of old colleagues and ex-boyfriends bumping into you as you cross the street or wait for the lift.
There’s still dark and deeply sad shadows to the place though. A couple of weeks ago I lost a wrestling match with a young fellow over my bag when I was walking home. His face did not register my presence at all. Recently I was waiting downstairs for a cab when an old duffer shuffled up to me in slippers in quite a state of distress whispering: “Where is it? I’ve lost it. Where has it gone?” It nearly broke my heart.
I see SOGO is fresh and vibrant and successful, and I know Surry Hills is old and rank and broken. They live side by side.
Light and shade are part of the whole and might be embraced equally. It’s so much more pleasant to live in rarefied towers than it is to live on the street, so much so that sometimes we forget that not everyone has the same choices, the same access to resources, or the incredible privileges of energy and ability that the creative class afford themselves.
What did you see today? What did you do about it?
Filed under: Get Friendly
Have had some brilliant conversations this week on the nature of blogging.
An article I found mentioned that only 75 Australians are in the Technorati top 25,000 (Gavin and I some of those 75) but that seemed to make the journalist (and Ross Dawson) believe that the current state of blogging is some cause for concern.
Since when did blogging become a competitive sport????
I’m a believer that the invention and spread of the tool I use to share my thoughts may just have the same kind of impact that the invention of the printing press had. Good old Wikipedia has this to say:
“The printing press’s ability to quickly and uniformly disseminate knowledge aided in the propagation of Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses and other works of the Protestant Reformation, the European rediscovery of the Greek and Roman Classics that helped stimulate the Renaissance, the decline of Latin and the ascent of the various vernaculars, and the development of scientific journals and their specialist vocabulary, or jargon. The level of importance of the printing press is rivaled by few other inventions, so much so that “the invention of the printing press” is often used as a reference to the social, political, and scientific change experienced by Europe after the press’s introduction.”
Something that’s rattling around in my head about the difference is that you no longer need to pay for the means of production to publish content- all you need is access.
That access is not universally available, of course, but once you get there there’s a pretty unique spirit of sharing.
An example is Ryan Caldwell, who has kindly put forward this week 10 Articles All Bloggers Should Read (at least once)
- How to Write Magnetic Headlines
- How Can 10 Simple Articles Change Your Life?
- Scannable Content
- 10 Killer Post Ideas
- 7 Steps to Being Recognized as an Expert
- Converting One off Visitors to your Blog into Regular Readers
- 5 Simple Ways to Open Your Blog Post With a Bang
- The Art of Linkbaiting
- Before You Begin Blogging: A few things you should know
- 5 Surefire Steps To Increase Readership 300% (or more)
I have been called an evangelist by David Armano which probably isn’t too far off the mark. I am a champion of content creation, the public publishing environment of blogs, and the community that I have found by joining in. While I have been guilty of checking my Technorati ranking and felt sheepishly disappointed when that started to slip as the “Z-List” effect started to wear off, the benefits I have gained have come not from competing with others, but contributing.
What this week has reminded me is what CK passionately writes about: Let’s focus on SHARE, not size.
Filed under: Digital Strategy
Way waaaaaaaaay back in December I was tagged with a meme, which was to reveal 5 personal things that most people don’t know about me.
My fellow Age of Conversation author, C.B. from Flooring the Consumer tagged me here and has asked me to share a further 8 random things, so I’m playing in the personal philosophy card, 8 things I know for sure:
- Learning new languages not only teaches you more about your native tongue but can open up your mind
- Travelling provides an excellent opportunity to take out the personal trash, throw it out the window and leave it on the highway
- Collecting aphorism inspires brevity and wit
- It’s rare occasion when a smile is a bad way to start a conversation
- Saturday mornings must involve bacon and newspapers
- I need to see a big horizon- the beach or an uninterrupted sky on a regular basis
- I love my job- it’s creative and rigorous, it challenges and constantly pushes me to learn new things and to take the time to teach and inspire others
- Single malt whiskey is my favorite poison
So who to tag? C.B has asked for Aussies and some team building:
- Adam because not only does he bake a wicked cupcake he is not at all afraid to disagree with me (rock on!)
- James over and above his utter fabulousness, he’s a great partner in crime and world domination
- The lovely Laura because she’s interested and interesting
- Todd will intrigue and inspire
- and
- Matt because he frightened Joseph Jaffe when he was in Sydney by trying to explain complex systems. He’s brilliant.
Filed under: Digital Strategy
Reported in the fabulous Bannerblog:
Virgin Mobiles latest campaign Are you with us or What which covered press, outdoor and online has been using photos from Flickr that were under an attribution creative common license.
So what? you say. As long as you credit the photographer you can use the photo for free for any use. Sweet deal for the agency as photographers can be expensive. Damn if only Herb Ritts used Flickr. So nothing wrong so far, an email to the photographer or a free phone would have been nice, but nice doesn’t make the world go round.
What is causing all the problems is that the photographers didn’t get model release forms for the people in the photographs. Most budding photographers wouldn’t even know what that is or need to. Not only did Virgin Mobile fail to get photos with models releases they insulted some of them with the actual ad. They did a double whammy with the image above the girl is 15 years old. Ouch.
While bloggers and the Flickr community are up in arms, none of them are lawyers and this could all fizzle to nothing. Virgin seem to have changed all the photos on the website Are you with us or what.com.au to remove any faces.
The general agency spot poll consensus is “Yeah Flickr is a great place to get free photos”. You even break copyright law by basing vector artwork on a photo you don’t own copyright for see here. Although this is a lot easier to hide and harder to prove.
Virgin Mobile could have avoided any negative press by just paying a partly fee to those who agree and opting to not use photos for those who don’t.
If you want to read more about this then check the article in the Australian, the offending Pen pal photo, a Flickr group discussion where even Flickr’s GM weighs in, or here where a representative of Virgin Mobile’s advertising team apologizes (slightly) or just Google it and read for hours.
Bannerblog have the official response from Virgin Mobile’s media people:
“Flickr is about providing a platform for photographers to reach new audiences. As such the decision to feature Flickr photography was based on the desire to champion a vibrant, current, online community. It was part of an approach designed to reject cliched ‘advertising’ imagery in favour of more genuine and spontaneous shots. It is typically Virgin to embrace fresh initiatives and the democratic spirit of Flickr matches the inclusive nature of our ‘Are you with us or what?’ campaign. The images have been featured within the positive spirit of the Creative Commons Agreement, a legal framework voluntarily chosen by the photographers. It allows for their photographs to be used for a variety of purposes, including commercial activities. All of the photographers have been accredited in the adverts.”
ABC Radio / Triple J had a discussion on this – listen.
I can’t help thinking that, as a big brand with deep pockets, being half-arsed is no way to act when you get questioned by the community that you profess to be ’supporting’. Celebrating a spirit doesn’t give you license to not have rigour around legalities and not to compensate all the parties involved in the creation of your message.
A hot topic in ad land is about how to protect and charge for agency IP. Unless the players in commercial content creation game stand up for the little guys, how can we set the agenda with our clients. Become the change you seek.
.
Should is a banned word.
Personally it makes me laugh.
Professionally it raises eyebrows.
Filed under: Get Friendly
There’s a new branch in Toronto.
Filed under: Digital Strategy
I’m working on the most delicious challenge. Engage and excite the students who have the right stuff to rule the world.
Hot!
It’s a tremendous relief- the solution doesn’t have be be cool or catchy, but the hook must be very, very smart. Compelling. It must challenge and excite engagement and understanding. It’s an invitation to those that get it and barrier to those that don’t.
The reference image is the wording of an ad Ernest Shackleton placed to solicit men for his 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Not a very enticing offer, but 27 men did sign on, and although they were unsuccessful in the technical sense—before they even set foot on land, their ship was crushed in a vise of ice, marooning them for more than a year—they did manage, miraculously and heroically, a safe return.
While the men who took the challenge earned their place in history, the ad itself seems to be a fable. I’m hoping to create a real call to action that inspires heroes too.
Research can just open your mind. I’m loving our Millenials. What an amazing generation we see growing up before our eyes. They are formally educated, technologically literate, adept at multitasking, intuitive detectors of bullshit, an ambitious bunch of young people who have a pretty good handle on the kind of world they live in.
I take my hat off in awe and thoroughly believe that the world will be in very good hands.
Watching the Age of Conversation unfold is just fascinating- this is a meme map from Grokker (it’s only aggregating activity on Yahoo! and Wikipedia, so it’s not showing Facebook, YouTube (nice work Luc!), LinkedIn…..)
The energy surrounding the release of the book has generated sparks of silliness and serious discussion across the web. Fabulous to see that the book actually is a catalyst to conversation and community.
Kickass bloggers are clapping their hands like little girls in pigtails, even little ‘ol me had a thumbs up mention over at PSFK for this overview- weeeeeeeeeee!
What happens when over 100 experienced marketing bloggers work together to create conversation and awareness about a project? I’d suggest grabbing a cold one and getting a view- the fireworks have already started.
Filed under: Digital Strategy
This week I’ve been variously inspired and terrified by:
- Matt from EngineersWithout Fears, who has written possibly the best headline on a blog ever:
- Robert over at Middle Zone Musings:
“most of us have blind spots of some sort or another. (Don’t think it’s true? Really? If you dare, find a true friend. Ask them.) The problem, you see, is it’s been there all along; you’ve just gotten so used to it that you don’t even notice it anymore. You’re too close to it.”
I’m loving where this is taking me- the importance of friends as true mirrors (they need to be both put in place and referred to) in combination with the discipline and self awareness required of keeping tabs on yourself.
- Jeff Flemings over at Digital Hive talking about a return to rigor:
- “It’s important to think of a target audience in more granular terms that are actionable as well as inspiring, as well to apply some old fashioned rigor to thinking about what the communication goal is, along with how we use channels to accomplish the goal.”
- The link between our ever increasing commuting times and social isolation:
- every ten minutes more of additional commuting time cuts all forms of social connection by 10%. So ten minutes more commuting time means 10% for your dinner parties, 10% for your dinners with the family, 10% for your club meetings and so on, and 20 minutes more commuting time means 20% less of all of those things
- Sean being very brave, talking about fear
- Drew and Gavin putting together the The Age of Conversation, which Ad Age has a full length article up on. Buy it here.
Filed under: Digital Strategy
P .J. O’Rourke on an earlier attempt to create a parallel universe:
“With Epcot Centre, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn’t think possible in today’s world. They have created a land of make-believe that’s worse than regular life.”
With Australia’s extremely suck worthy broadband there are not more than a couple of thousand people having a v….e……r….y s…..l…..o…….w experience in Second Life.
So no, I will not be building an island anytime soon, but it is awesome to work with brands who, at least, ask the question.
Filed under: Digital Strategy
A tippy top fun journo friend of mine recently asked me:
Katie old fruit,
You might be able to help me with a story I’m writing for the Good Living section of the Herald. The story is basically trying to define what it is that makes a good local restaurant that you keep going back to…and I remember you mentioning that you were a regular at strangers with candy. can you supply a few words as to WHY? I’d hope to include it in the story as an explanation of the various aspects that make a place a regular.
The article, Local Heroes, has some ingredients that might be shared with Brand Managers who need to gather return visits.
If you can think of a restaurant as a website, then these might be your menu staples:
- friendly experience, rather than just a basic service
- consistency: innovation keeps you fresh but still serve up old favourites
- it’s the personal touch that matters; it’s knowing people; provide that extra bit of ‘welcome back’
Filed under: Digital Strategy
Action! There’s an Art to the Emerging, Engaging Conversations.
It’s Common Sense. Build Bridges to your Customer’s Attention with Authenticity.
Cuthrough the Clutter. It’s all about Collaboration, (be Consistent) the Collective Consciousness Connects.
Breakthrough Barriers and the Bottlenecks of Brand Experience- don’t be a Bore.
Creating Customers is Capital: Facilitate the Face To Face, Follow Up in Full Circle fashion. It’s Ageless.
Give. Grow. Be Human. Be Happy. That’s the Idea.
Governments, Grandmothers and News Hounds agree. Non-Conversation is Not Enough. Internationalization and Invitational Intimacies make Local Media a Monkey.
Listen: there’s no Limit to the Lifeblood Conversation can pump, no Love Lost- only Opportunity.
It’s a People Paradigm, a Renaissance of Real World, Real Relationships and Revelation. The Restorative Rules are: Start, Share, Speak Up, Shout Out, Start Songs, be Strong, Share again.
It’s not just Television any more Toto!
Visualize the Ultimate Two Step Thead that dances between Value and Viral- it’s User Centered. Don’t be Unnconnected.
Give Voice to the Voiceless. Give Warmness to Wallflowers
It’s the Age of Conversation.
This week I’m loving….
- Facebook widgets, especially this lovely one by the ever so clever girls and guys at Footprints
- Bluejacking. You can find a whole load of stories here. But basically it’s like throwing a note in the ocean (with your mobile phone) knowing that the island is nearby and that it will get picked up.
- The Uniqlock an embeddable world clock with music and kooky dancing types, found over at the excellent Punk Planning
- Alternate Reality Games for their ability to engage and articulate complex issues: check out World Without Oil involves by the player wiki, official game blog, and the MySpace blog. You can also register at the trailhead site, and check in with developments at the Unfiction forums.
- LastFM and my Bernard Fanning radio station
- Link love from people I care about and respect
- Getting new team members, celebrating the damn fine ones I work with and the future possibility of weekends- there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
Filed under: Digital Strategy
Ford’s new branded entertainment series has hit the web: Where are the Joneses.
The synopsis is that Dawn (left) has found out that she is the child of sperm donor and she now has the list of the other 27 siblings who are scattered across Europe. After contacting her new found brother Ian (Right) they begin the search with Jonti, the director filming their journey.
Besides being a funny (and interactive) show it is also a large marketing experiment sponsored by Ford that utilizes various web services and projects to deliver and process content. As the actors travel through Europe they write a blog that is a central “hub” for all the content. When new videos are available you can watch them on YouTube, photos are hosted on Flickr. They also use Twitter, MyBlogLog and many other web tools.
The whole project is interactive. Not only you can comment on the content but also you could influence the storyline and work on screenplay. This part of the project is hosted at wherearethejoneses.wikidot.com
(found on wiki dot by michal frackowiak )
