Here is a link to a MIT technology review article that sheds some light on a trend that I continue to see in my work as well. Social media is finally taking hold (reaching the tipping point) in the workplace. I am seeing this at the university as more-and-more graduate students are coming to me interested in studying Web 2.0 tools in their places of work.
I have been thinking about this for some time. How does Google impact us? Do the algorithms keep us sharp and expand our thinking. Or does it narrow what we do and make us less functional? Is our increasing reliance on Google rotting our brains and turning us in to lazy halfwits? Here is a link to...
Led by the Jane McGonigal (Creative Director) - Social Chocolate is developing new social adventure games. They invite you to play a network game on their website to get to their secret wall. Click on the image below to play the game - when you complete it add a comment to their "secret wall." I will be watching for your comments.
YouTube has created a YouTube Creator Institute to teach people how to produce better videos. I think this is much needed - I applaud YouTube in this effort. Particularly if they focus their efforts on teaching aspiring video producers how to create video that goes beyond basic self aggrandizement such as the Fred Videos and moves those producers toward helping others learn and grow as individuals (more like the help with a bow drill set). (Oh, who knows - maybe FRED has taught someone something or helped someone out - probably).
As they state it, "the YouTube Creator Institute equips promising creators with tools, education and promotion to bring their talent to the world." They are running a contest that rewards the inaugural winning class a paid YouTube Creator Institute experience including: tuition, round-trip airfare, food and rooming costs. I just hope that the judges reward innovation and not more cultural debauchery.
Maybe I should submit... what do you think? What would it be? Anybody have any ideas?
Technology review's list of the 50 most innovative companies 2001 is now out. This is always interesting to peruse. Here are a few that I plan to watch in 2011.
