Justmeans's blogshttp://www.justmeans.com/editorials/socialmedia/3204.htmlThu, 24 May 2012 23:57:06 GMThttp://www.justmeans.com en hourly 1http://www.justmeans.com/Linking-Africa-s-Farmers-to-the-Food-Crisis--A-Challenge-to-the-World-s-Mobile-App-Developers/49794.htmlSat, 10 Sep 2011 10:56:42 GMTReynard Loki "We need to focus on the links among hunger, water and energy, so that solutions to one can become solutions to all." -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, August 10 , Seoul[1]MTN, an ICT service provider in Africa, has issued a challenge to mobile application developers around the world: Make an innovative app inspired by the market realities in Nigeria. The international competition, launched in August and running through December, invites developers to create Android-based apps tha Read Full Article ]]> "We need to focus on the links among hunger, water and energy, so that solutions to one can become solutions to all." -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, August 10 , Seoul[1]MTN, an ICT service provider in Africa, has issued a challenge to mobile application developers around the world: Make an innovative app inspired by the market realities in Nigeria. The international competition, launched in August and running through December, invites developers to create Android-based apps that will be judged by their "relevance and user friendliness to the Nigerian market."[2]. Five monthly winners will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab as the first-place prize and a Samsung Galaxy S2 as the second-place prize. While MTN has identified Nigeria as a target market, the competition welcomes all apps that serve the particular needs of markets throughout Africa and the Middle East.THE MOBILE TECHNOLOGY LEAPFROGTechnology in the developing world is marked by leapfrogging -- skipping over one technology only to vigorously adopt the next one. Mobile phones represent a major leapfrog. While personal computers have not become nearly as ubiquitous in the poor world as they have in the rich world, mobile phones have. And Nigeria is an ideal country in which to test out new mobile apps. With 65 percent of the population using a cellphone, the nation takes first place in mobile phone penetration across Africa.[3] "As telecoms compete for a market of 150 million Nigerians," writes Dayo Olopade in Slate, "Web literacy, email usage and mobile-phone penetration has become among the highest on the continent."[4] Nigeria ranks high for mobile Internet browsing, with 31 percent of all Web content being accessed from a cellphone, far ahead of India (20 percent), Indonesia (11 percent) and the United States and United Kingdom (both 6 percent).[5]One of the most compelling ways that mobile phone technology has helped Africa has been to bolster the agricultural sector. In the developed world, farmers enjoy easy access to up-to-date market information. In Africa and the rest of the developing world, however, farmers lack this access. At the mercy of traders, they are forced to sell their crops at whatever price they are offered. But mobile technology is changing that, adding market, crop and weather data, convenience, connectivity and transparency to the small-scale farming industry.TURNING KNOWLEDGE TO POWER TO KILL POVERTYCellular-connected farmers, for example, can use mobile apps to check daily market prices and decide whether or not it is worth it to take the often long and laborious trip to the marketplace. Apps like Google Trader and Farmer's Friend create mobile networks that connect rural food producers with buyers. They also provide weather data and information about pest and disease control for crops and livestock.[6] All of these innovations are helping farmers in Africa maximize their output and income. No wonder that mobile phones in the developing world have been called "poverty-killers."With famine spreading throughout East Africa, climate change destroying crops and soaring global food prices, feeding the world's hungry is one of humanity's most pressing problems. Humanitarian aid, while absolutely necessary to help immediate needs, is not a long-term solution. Helping the farmers of the developing world develop sustainable agriculture and income is key to achieving global food security. MTN has thrown down the gauntlet to the world's developers with their mobile app contest. Hopefully, a good number of the submissions will directly help Africa's farming communities. At the United Nations Academic Impact Forum in Seoul last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said, "We need to focus on the links among hunger, water and energy, so that solutions to one can become solutions to all." To be sure, many of those links will be created by mobile phones.###NOTES[1]http://www.un-foodsecurity.org/node/1179[2] http://www.mtnonline.com/content/mtn-app-competition[3] http://www.ncc.gov.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=73[4] http://www.slate.com/id/2291123/[5] http://www.intomobile.com/2011/06/17/nigeria-enjoys-31-mobile-browsing-penetration-us-6/[6] http://www.grameenfoundation.applab.org/section/uganda-ag-appsimage: Farmers preparing the fields at the beginning of rainy season field, Plateau State, Nigeria (credit: MikeBlyth, Flickr Creative Commons)]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Royal-Web-2-0-Wedding-Sealed-with-a-Kiss/48844.htmlSun, 01 May 2011 04:04:27 GMTSangeeta Haindl We have had the royal web 2.0 wedding; Prince William married Catherine, and the world watched and participated online. The wedding is now the sixth biggest event in internet history. The top online events are the Football World Cup and the longest Wimbledon tennis match, both were in June 2010, and more than 10.3 million people per minute clicked on news about these sporting events.Anyway, back to the royal wedding. The BBC website quivered under the huge volume of traffic, as millions of peopl Read Full Article ]]> We have had the royal web 2.0 wedding; Prince William married Catherine, and the world watched and participated online. The wedding is now the sixth biggest event in internet history. The top online events are the Football World Cup and the longest Wimbledon tennis match, both were in June 2010, and more than 10.3 million people per minute clicked on news about these sporting events.Anyway, back to the royal wedding. The BBC website quivered under the huge volume of traffic, as millions of people accessed its coverage. Occasionally, visitors were greeted with an error message saying the website was experiencing "abnormal traffic" at around the time of 11am (GMT), which was the climax of the ceremony. Luckily, other major websites appeared to cope with the royal event that was predicted to break traffic records. A BBC spokesman said: "We are experiencing some technical issues with BBC Online due to the sheer weight of traffic, which may cause the site to be slower than normal in some cases."YouTube's live stream, which Google expected to attract 400 million viewers, ran smoothly. Palace officials collaborated with YouTube to deliver the official web 2.0 coverage to a global audience because of its unrivalled infrastructure of data centres and heavy duty fibre optic links. A spokesperson for Prince William said: "If anyone has the experience to do this, it's Google and YouTube". Livestream, which provided online video for the Associated Press and CBS, said the royal day was its most popular stream ever. While, mobile operators along the wedding route were successful in ensuring that well-wishers were able to call, text, tweet and update Facebook. In fact, taking no chances they installed temporary network base stations along key wedding routes to strengthen and double capacity. Across the UK voice call volumes were up 15 per cent and picture messages up 23 per cent compared to a normal Friday.Another interesting digital royal wedding 2.0 fact is that people were also frantically texting about the event. Texting traffic peaked at the start of wedding service which began at 11 am (GMT). Staggeringly, the daily texting/multimedia texting (SMS/MMS) traffic in the US and UK combined registered a whopping 600% increase! In the US texting/multimedia texting traffic increased 31% at the beginning of the royal wedding; this is probably due to the time difference between the countries, as Americans needed to wake at dawn or earlier to watch the event.It is likely to take several days before a complete picture of how many watched the royal wedding on line emerges; though what is clear is how the internet is changing the way people search and absorb information. The royal wedding is a perfect example of how important the web and connected devices have become to our lives to experience something like this; as people around the world went online for their web 2.0 experience of this event...this reflects just how far we have moved as a global society.Photo Credit: topoflists.com]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Technology-Changing-the-UK-s-Advertising-Landscape/48636.htmlWed, 27 Apr 2011 10:00:38 GMTSangeeta Haindl Technology has changed the UK's advertising landscape. The UK is the only country apart from the US where Google generated more than 10% of its revenues; and now in 2011 Google's UK advertising business is big business and set to overtake ITV, a UK television station and the country's biggest advertising earner.Figures released by the technology giant show that the UK generated $969m (593m) of revenue in the first quarter of 2011. Therefore, on present growth rates of around 25% per quarter, whi Read Full Article ]]> Technology has changed the UK's advertising landscape. The UK is the only country apart from the US where Google generated more than 10% of its revenues; and now in 2011 Google's UK advertising business is big business and set to overtake ITV, a UK television station and the country's biggest advertising earner.Figures released by the technology giant show that the UK generated $969m (593m) of revenue in the first quarter of 2011. Therefore, on present growth rates of around 25% per quarter, which it has sustained since September 2009, the search engine giant will generate between $5.2bn (3.2bn) and $5.6bn (3.4bn) in the UK; which is far more than the 1.7bn ITV will manage if it achieves a 15% growth during 2011. Lorna Tilbian, head of media analysis at Numis Securities says, "The significance is that everybody who is advertising now wants to see a return for their spending, and on the internet you can do that exactly. Whereas for television, it's still the case that, in the famous quote, half your money is wasted, but you don't know which half."ITV's results for 2010 show that that its net advertising revenue was 1.496bn, up 15.9% from 2009, while total revenues, including sponsorship, itv.com and media sales income, was 1.77bn; up 14.8%. However, even if ITV's entire business grows at 15% for 2011, it will only bring in 2bn. While ITV's business is growing, it is not expanding as fast as Google's, and while it is expecting to benefit from an advertising boost around the royal wedding this April, it is still not expected to push advertising growth beyond 15%. All this still leaves Google in the lead. The company's online portal for programming, itv.com is offering a path to internet growth and technology, where it would know its audience and be able to target adverts.However, there is little risk that Google will overtake ITV as the biggest source for spending as they are about different things. Google is about search and ITV is pure entertainment. Yet, both involve people's time and ITV as a station won't want people to spend time searching when they could be watching; though numerous studies show that the younger generation is capable of doing both at the same time. ITV has come through a bad patch where advertising revenues dropped, and overall receipts are no greater now than in 2006; and in 2006 Google UK was a small thorn with revenues of $1.6bn (1bn). Yet, since then times have changed through technology, and the search engine has never seen a fall in year-on-year growth. Its quarterly revenues are typically four times larger than in 2006.Photo credit: Ivanpw]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Web-2-0-New-Way-for-Advertising--Advertactivist-com/48517.htmlWed, 20 Apr 2011 10:30:38 GMTSangeeta Haindl Would it not be a better world where web 2.0 coupled with advertising was actually making a real difference to people, to communities rather than to the big corporate entities and brands? Well, in walks Jon Simpkin and his new concept Advertacitivist.com, which he has now launched in the UK to bring that change about.Advertactivist.com is a pioneering web 2.0 crowd funding platform that funds advertising and media campaigns that carry a positive social message. Its objective is to gather donatio Read Full Article ]]> Would it not be a better world where web 2.0 coupled with advertising was actually making a real difference to people, to communities rather than to the big corporate entities and brands? Well, in walks Jon Simpkin and his new concept Advertacitivist.com, which he has now launched in the UK to bring that change about.Advertactivist.com is a pioneering web 2.0 crowd funding platform that funds advertising and media campaigns that carry a positive social message. Its objective is to gather donations that will be used to fund advertising campaigns that can make a positive difference to our society, our communities, and our planet.Currently, the global advertising industry is worth $428 billion annually. Big companies spend huge amounts on advertising campaigns to persuade us to buy their services and products. Advertactivist.com wants to turn things on its head and asks what if advertising could be used for socially positive causes? Such as raising awareness about climate change? Or a political issue that is not being talked about in the mainstream media? Till now the ludicrous costs of mainstream advertising has been off limits to the most socially conscious individuals and campaign groups.Jon Simpkin, Founder and CEO, Advertactivist.com says, "My hope is that people join the site, become advert activists, and start using the power of advertising to highlight issues that are important to them. The potential for this idea is huge. Imagine, say, if 100,000 people all donated money towards a massive advertising campaign that powerfully highlighted the issue of child poverty or global warming?! The extra pressure this would place on governments, corporations and individuals to act would have a great affect on solving many of the world's problems.Getting to that level will not be easy but it iscertainlyworth a try." Simpkin's web 2.0 site already has signed up ActionAid UK with its Tax Avoidance Beer mat campaign, with other organisations coming on board soon, including a whole host of interesting media initiatives; interesting times for Advertactivist.comRichard, Director of Fundraising at ActionAid UK says, "I really like the idea, it's a very innovative way for charities to raise funds and awareness for their ad campaigns." Advertactivist.com is a web 2.0 concept that has the potential to provide a bigger opportunity to charities and not-for-profits for their advertising campaigns, which is normally a luxury; and hopefully this access to better advertising will lead to more success for their work, especially during these very difficult economic times.As Advertactivist.com tagline says..."Using the power of advertising in a socially beneficial way." Photo Credit: Action Aid UK and Advertactivist.com website]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Web-2-0--UK-Government-Looking-for-a-Director-of-Digital/48362.htmlWed, 13 Apr 2011 10:00:51 GMTSangeeta Haindl The UK Government is definitely taking the whole web 2.0 thing seriously as it sets out to hire a 'Twitter Tsar' with an annual salary of 142,000, a pay packet just below what the Prime Minister David Cameron earns. This will be one of the best paid jobs in Whitehall and was advertised on the Civil Service website titled, 'the new and exciting role of Executive Director of Digital'. Naturally, the announcement did attract feedback on Internet as people joked whether the candidates should apply f Read Full Article ]]> The UK Government is definitely taking the whole web 2.0 thing seriously as it sets out to hire a 'Twitter Tsar' with an annual salary of 142,000, a pay packet just below what the Prime Minister David Cameron earns. This will be one of the best paid jobs in Whitehall and was advertised on the Civil Service website titled, 'the new and exciting role of Executive Director of Digital'. Naturally, the announcement did attract feedback on Internet as people joked whether the candidates should apply for the job in fewer than 140 characters!A Cabinet Office spokesperson has said, "Twitter will be a tiny part of the job and to call this role a Twitter Tsar is like calling Richard Branson a flight steward." Martha Lane-Fox, the entrepreneur and the Government's unpaid digital adviser, was instrumental in setting up this latest vacancy and Ms Fox took to Twitter to say that calling it a "Twitter Tsar" was "mean" and misleading, pointing out that it was essential the government ran a cheap, simple 2.0 website to help citizens.The 'Tsar's position will ensure that Government initiatives are easily and clearly understood by the public when they search for information on web 2.0. The UK Government recognises that it needs someone to lead it, transform the way it currently interacts on-line, join up all the dots and make all the digital arms of Government connect. As many UK citizens are frustrated that if, for instance, they change their residential address on a the pensions website, other services like the driving licence agency do not pick up this detail, which then forces the individual to enter their change of address on to a separate website for their driving licence, which wastes time and effort.Ms Fox reviewed the Government's web 2.0 services and recommended that the Government's 750 websites should be simplified and brought under one umbrella site. In 2010 the UK's Coalition government said it wanted to axe 75 per cent of all Government websites, cutting annual web spending from 560 million to 200 million; Ms Lane Fox believes this figure could fall to less than 100 million a year.This is not the first time that the British government has advertised for a 'Director for Digital'; as its first stint into hiring a social media champion was when it recruited Andrew Stott, the original 'Twitter Tsar', in 2009, on an salary of 160,000. Mr Stott has since retired and now running Directgov, a web 2.0 website that supplies consumers with information about tax and benefits, plus provides details of consumers' rights when it comes to dealing with utility companies, landlords or local councils. So, this Government digital role will be a major player who will wield responsibility for overseeing and improving all of the Government's online presence and extending the number of public services available online; hopefully bringing considerable savings to the British taxpayer.Photo Credit: Marcie Casas]]>http://www.justmeans.com/4-Research-Driven-Principles-of-Social-Media-Analytics/48342.htmlMon, 11 Apr 2011 03:33:38 GMTRitika Puri As the fields of social media and web analytics evolve, it is becoming increasingly important for professionals to understand basic principles of data. In the last several years, social media has become a powerful advertising platform that connects businesses with consumers and visa versa.While consumers bear the responsibility of filtering through advertisements with a discerning eye, advertisers need to understand the role and power of data for two reasons: (1) to understand how to analyze and Read Full Article ]]> As the fields of social media and web analytics evolve, it is becoming increasingly important for professionals to understand basic principles of data. In the last several years, social media has become a powerful advertising platform that connects businesses with consumers and visa versa.While consumers bear the responsibility of filtering through advertisements with a discerning eye, advertisers need to understand the role and power of data for two reasons: (1) to understand how to analyze and interpret information for strategic decision-making and (2) to communicate openly and honestly with consumers. As social media evolves, the corresponding analytics and metrics are evolving as well as Twitter and Facebook have begun releasing demographic, georeferencing, and user engagement data to advertisers and decision makers.From Klout to QuantCast, Hootsuite, Bit.ly, and more, there are a number of analytics platforms for measuring benchmarks. But, it's also important to understand how the small numbers relate to the big picture. Here is an introduction to big-picture principles of social media analytics-- where foundations of social science & demographic research meet advertising and social media:1) Selection. When you're looking at a Facebook or Twitter community, you need to keep in mind that your users have chosen to join. On Facebook, especially, it is widely known that the fastest-growing demographic includes older women. Depending on your community, you might find an imbalance of a particular demographic -- for instance, you might notice that your population is heavily skewed towards women over the age of 40. Don't just assume that your brand, product, or website appeals most to that particular demographic. You need to keep in mind that certain demographics are more likely to engage certain groups in the first place. Social media analytics provide only one dimension for analyzing your brand. It's because certain people may be more or less likely that others to "self-select" in and out of your community.2) Qualitative and quantitative analyses are both valuable. When you're assessing user engagement, feedback, and your brand's reputation, neither words nor numbers alone are sufficient for telling the whole story. It's important to analyze benchmarks from a number of angles, simultaneously. A simple example: you can count the number of comments that you receive, but you need to read the comments to understand what people are actually saying. It's the substance of the comments that can help you make decisions based on your numbers.3) To measure influence and engagement, you can't rely on one number alone. Data, statistics, charts, graphs, and math are subjective. They are tools that help people explain a phenomenon or situation. Especially when you're dealing with indexes (like Klout scores, for instance), it's important to understand how the numbers are working to illustrate and overall point. Social media analytics are an art, and sometimes, you're better off selecting your own ratios and benchmarks for a campaign's performance.4) Social media is a marketplace that is governed by incentives. Think of your social media platform as a product. What does your product have to offer? A basic principle for analyzing consumer insights is that you need to know your audience. At the most basic level, consumers need motivation. You can't expect a Facebook page or Twitter feed to catch on just because it exists. You can think about it from a research perspective: when market researchers collect survey data, they frequently encounter noncompliance and hostility. Human psychology has a large part in determining a data collector's success. Are you polite? Do you give your survey respondent an emotional or money-saving incentive to respond? If you're a brand, consumers like you better if you are polite, provide a legitimate service, have a personality, and act responsibly.Photo Credit.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Media-Trends--First-British-Royal-Wedding-of-the-Digital-Era/48225.htmlWed, 06 Apr 2011 10:00:52 GMTSangeeta Haindl Normally when we think of social media trends we think of theInternet and mobile based tools for sharing and discussing information; however there's another trend that involves a prince, wedding bells and a soon to be princess. As here in the UK we are getting ready for the first British royal wedding of the digital era. On 29 April 2011 when Prince William marries Kate Middleton the day will be captured, celebrated and observed by a series of social media firsts.The first item to come out of th Read Full Article ]]> Normally when we think of social media trends we think of theInternet and mobile based tools for sharing and discussing information; however there's another trend that involves a prince, wedding bells and a soon to be princess. As here in the UK we are getting ready for the first British royal wedding of the digital era. On 29 April 2011 when Prince William marries Kate Middleton the day will be captured, celebrated and observed by a series of social media firsts.The first item to come out of the social media trends box is that this will be the first British royal wedding to be streamed live on the web, and this list goes on. As it will also be the first to have a mobile application; and the first with a soundtrack to be released on iTunes within hours of the ceremony. The Palace has been open to Universal Music Group, and its Decca record label, which plans to release the soundtrack of the wedding ceremony, on iTunes and later as a CD. In return Universal has promised a donation to charity.A British Royal wedding is normally associated with pomp, tradition and a stiff upper lip, but now through technology it is interactive, cross-platform,multimedia, multichannel, hyperlinked,24/7, user-generated, search-engine-optimised, downloadable extravaganza! Yes, the Royals are embracing social media trends galore. There is an official website, Facebook page and of course Twitter feeds all for the big 'W'.While social media trends and the digital media have played a big role in the build up for this event; television is also a crucial digital factor, which will come into its own on the day itself. The wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 was watched by 750 million people worldwide. Broadcasters from all over the world will be sending crews to London for coverage and Cristina Nicolotti Squires, ITV's Executive Producer (UK's biggest commercial channel) says, "The hope is that people will get up in the morning, turn on their TVs and sort of leave them on all day." While, Mark Lukasiewicz, Vice President, specials and digital media in the news division, NBC US television network says, "I think audiences are also going to welcome an event like this that's a little more about old-fashioned things and fun."So, when Prince Harry decides to settle down and tie the knot there will still be room for him to be a digital media innovator and incorporate another social media trend, and so maybe we will have a British Royal wedding in 3-D.Photo Credit: Oldmaison]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Open-Source-Solutions-for-Internet-Marketers/48101.htmlFri, 01 Apr 2011 22:52:25 GMTRitika Puri The world of Internet, web 2.0 and social media marketing decisions are becoming increasingly data-driven. To quickly and efficiently analyze market research data and large datasets, sophisticated tools are necessarily. Unfortunately these tools can be expensive, especially for contractors, freelancers, small business owners, and nonprofits. Given the cost of software, it can be tough to compete with agencies and big businesses.The following tools provide legitimate and high-quality options for Read Full Article ]]> The world of Internet, web 2.0 and social media marketing decisions are becoming increasingly data-driven. To quickly and efficiently analyze market research data and large datasets, sophisticated tools are necessarily. Unfortunately these tools can be expensive, especially for contractors, freelancers, small business owners, and nonprofits. Given the cost of software, it can be tough to compete with agencies and big businesses.The following tools provide legitimate and high-quality options for people who may not be able to afford mainstream software. These options are licensed for commercial use, so they are free and legal for students, businesses, and nonprofits to use:Open Office: This is an open source alternative to Microsoft Office, and it is currently owned by Oracle. Open Office includes Microsoft-compatible spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation tools that are equivalent to Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.PSPP and R: If you need to conduct any statistical analyses, traditional market research software (SPSS and SAS) can be quite expensive. Meanwhile, Excel may not provide the resources necessary to handle large datasets. PSPP provides a visual, point and click environment for basic statistical commands while R provides functionalities that are more sophisticated.Open Web Analytics: This free analytics software allows website owners to analyze how users are engaging with websites. Campaign tracking and e-commerce tracking reports are available.Pew Internet and American Life Project: Syndicate data from market research vendors can be expensive, especially for small businesses, freelancers, and nonprofits who need to minimize their operating expenses. The Pew Internet and American Life Project, from time to time, releases its datasets for public use in SPSS format (which can be opened in PSPP). Their data comes from a social science perspective that helps individuals and companies understand how people are engaging with the Internet. If you do use Pew Center data, familiarize yourself with their licensing terms since you will need to source them properly.Census Data: Location-based marketing is becoming increasingly valuable for Internet marketers. At the most basic level, it is important for markers and advertisers to know their demographic in terms of age, gender, income levels, and needs. Census data is freely available from the government for businesses, nonprofits, students, and other individuals to research geographic marketplaces. This information might especially be helpful for location-based search engine marketing and search engine optimization campaigns.QGIS: If you're interested in mapping your statistical data, QGIS is a free and open source alternative to commercial GIS software. QGIS allows users to map demographic information in a visually appealing way.Photo Credit. ]]>http://www.justmeans.com/China-Uses-Technology-to-Track-its-People/47987.htmlFri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:45 GMTSangeeta Haindl China has recently announced to track every mobile phone user in Beijing, that's 17 million cellphone users in Beijing, through global positioning technology as the government claims technology will ease transport congestion. However, experts and human rights campaigners have expressed concerns and warn it could be used to control dissent. This new initiative, which translates as 'Platform for Citizen Movement Information' will be introduced as a pilot schemes for an 'information platform of rea Read Full Article ]]> China has recently announced to track every mobile phone user in Beijing, that's 17 million cellphone users in Beijing, through global positioning technology as the government claims technology will ease transport congestion. However, experts and human rights campaigners have expressed concerns and warn it could be used to control dissent. This new initiative, which translates as 'Platform for Citizen Movement Information' will be introduced as a pilot schemes for an 'information platform of real-time citizen movement' to help with traffic management; and the municipal government hopes to start the project in two parts of the capital within the first half of this year.Li Guoguang, deputy director of the Beijing municipal science and technology commission, says, "To some degree, it can effectively increase citizens' travelling efficiency and ease traffic jams." The project would be used to tackle congestion by allowing officials to monitor the flow of people through the transport system and Chinese citizens would be able to buy the information. Though more sensitive information, such as the location of individuals would not be available.While Beijing's roads are increasingly congested, experts believe there are plenty of other ways to assess and manage traffic. Instead they believe this project will be used for security purposes too. Wang Songlian, who is part of the Chinese Human Rights Defenders network says, "I think despite the excuse of traffic control this is part of the escalation of the use of technologies to control social discontent" and points out that last year the government introduced compulsory registration for anyone buying a sim card. Wang Songlian adds, "A lot of activists have said their cell phones are already tracked by security forces. They use it to locate where people are and whether other activists are going there. For ordinary people, the government is worried about social unrest. Often there's a spark somewhere and everyone gathers and puts out information. By registering people and tracking them, it enables them to find out about particular protests and punish individuals."Professor Chen Derong at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications says, "Certainly the use of the platform will not be limited to gathering traffic information. Officials in other areas, such as anti-terrorism and stability maintenance, will also find it useful.Also starting soon in a port neighborhood and then spreading across Shenzhen, a city of 12.4 million people are residency cards fitted with a powerful computer technology, where the data on the chip will include not just the citizen's name and address but also work history, educational background, religion, ethnicity, police record, medical insurance status and landlord's phone number. Even personal reproductive history will be included, for enforcement of China's controversial "one child" policy. Plans are being studied to add credit histories, subway travel payments and small purchases charged to the card. A case definite case of 'big brother is watching'.Photo Credit: maveric2003]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Technology-Bringing-Advertising-to-Virtual-Life/47922.htmlWed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:58 GMTSangeeta Haindl Technology could one day create a revolution in advertising; bringing it to virtual life. The latest report out by the Centre for Future Studies and commissioned by 3MGTG, who specialises in digital advertising foresees the first step to be advertisements that adapt to our moods. The technology has been dubbed 'Gladverts' by the report's authors and they envision a world where emotion recognition software (ERS) can tell if you are happy or sad and then serve up an advert based on how you feel.Ad Read Full Article ]]> Technology could one day create a revolution in advertising; bringing it to virtual life. The latest report out by the Centre for Future Studies and commissioned by 3MGTG, who specialises in digital advertising foresees the first step to be advertisements that adapt to our moods. The technology has been dubbed 'Gladverts' by the report's authors and they envision a world where emotion recognition software (ERS) can tell if you are happy or sad and then serve up an advert based on how you feel.Advertisers have long yearned for a world in which they could engage people walking down the street and similar to Steven Spielberg's hugely successful 2002 film, Minority Report, where the film showed the future in the year 2054 where adverts spoke directly to the main character, Tom Cruise. Daniel Steinbichler, CEO 3MGTG's says, "Steven Spielberg got it wrong. It will be more advanced than the director ever imagined. Instead of just recognising consumers by name, technology such as gladvertising will allow brands to offer interactive experiences."In Japan, technology company NEC has developed a system which can work out a person's gender, estimate their age, and serve up adverts suited to that demographic. Further in the future this targeted advertising may go a step further by not only knowing your mood, but also information such as age, sex and interests, possibly powered by social networking profiles. Naturally, this new technology has got privacy campaigners worried.Alexander Hanff from Privacy International says, "We have a situation where the boundaries between our online and offline worlds become even more blurred and we currently have no regulatory or legislative regime in place to deal with these dangers." A main concern will be how personal data is collected and by whom, as one idea is to use publicly available social networking information, while, another is to tap in to existing market research. Moreover, the interactive nature of 'Gladverts' may offer a service in return for information, a trend already seen with public Wifi hotspots, which require assorted personal details before use. However, concerns over the amount of data collected by firms operating online has lead to recent changes to the EU's ePrivacy Directive, tightening controls on the types of digital kept. Across the pond, in the US, Loopt, a social network catered to mobile-device users is using technology to allow advertisers to send alerts to Loopt users, based on their location, when they want to offer them a limited-time deal. So, for instance a restaurant looking to fill empty seats could alert a nearby Loopt user of a special price for a meal if they arrived first. This initiative is called 'Reward Alerts' and will begin soon. These latest announcement mark the next step in the evolution advertising and location will be a key component in the future of marketing.Photo Credit: Greg Knapp]]>http://www.justmeans.com/RIP-E-Readers/47898.htmlTue, 29 Mar 2011 18:23:50 GMTSangeeta Haindl The original e-reader was a device that solved fairly simple inconveniences faced by readers by offering efficient and easy (read: electronic) access to written content. It was (OK, still is - but not for long) a welcome alternative to carrying around more content than would have been possible if the material were printed, and it offered a more eye-friendly screen when compared with other portable options, like laptops and phones. But Barnes and Noble's announcement that it will be releasing an Read Full Article ]]> The original e-reader was a device that solved fairly simple inconveniences faced by readers by offering efficient and easy (read: electronic) access to written content. It was (OK, still is - but not for long) a welcome alternative to carrying around more content than would have been possible if the material were printed, and it offered a more eye-friendly screen when compared with other portable options, like laptops and phones. But Barnes and Noble's announcement that it will be releasing an updated Nook with e mail and app capabilities this spring suggests that the simpleton's e-reader may soon be obsolete. It will likely evolve to be a multi-media, laptop-esque device which is capable of downloading books - among other, more popular things, like the Angry Bird game. It ought to be renamed 'The Multi-tasking Reader-Watcher-Socializer'. Rest in peace, e-readers.Photo credit: NOOK Color]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Squidoo-and-SocialVibe-Put-Social-Media-Platforms-to-Good-Use/47884.htmlTue, 29 Mar 2011 15:32:52 GMTSangeeta Haindl The power, financing, and influence of social media is being used for charitable causes on some platforms. Two fairly new sites have done a particularly impressive job at raising awareness and money: Squidoo and SocialVibe.Squidoo, launched in 2005, allows users to raise awareness and money for their favorite charities by making blog-entry like pages (or 'lenses' as they're called on the site) about anything at all - it could be a lens about their non-profit or it could be about dog food. It doe Read Full Article ]]> The power, financing, and influence of social media is being used for charitable causes on some platforms. Two fairly new sites have done a particularly impressive job at raising awareness and money: Squidoo and SocialVibe.Squidoo, launched in 2005, allows users to raise awareness and money for their favorite charities by making blog-entry like pages (or 'lenses' as they're called on the site) about anything at all - it could be a lens about their non-profit or it could be about dog food. It doesn't matter. Lenses benefit from advertising revenue, which is donated to the user's charitable organization of choice. It's a brilliant way for people to raise money and awareness for a cause without dipping into their own pocket - and it's ongoing. It takes about 10 minutes to create a lens, and as long as that lens isn't deleted, it keeps raising funds, little by little ('microdonations' as Squidoo's Editor-in-Chief Megan Casey calls them) for as long as the site is alive.Three years after the launch of Squidoo, another (betarific) site with charitable intentions came on the the scene: SocialVibe. Since its launch in 2008, the site has achieved a significant following and companies likeMicrosoft,Visa,Apple,Disney,Coca Cola,Kia,Kraft,Macys,Nestle,Procter & Gamble andDiscover help to drive its success. SocialVibe is an online community platform that mobilizes the site's users to promote charitable organizations they like and the brands that support those organizations. Users make a profile and badges that show their support for a cause or organization - and when they recognize brands that also support their cause, they are awarded with points that can be redeemed for a variety of perks such as donations for their chosen charitable organization. In a nutshell, it's an organic, well-meaning way in which brands can build consumer loyalty and engage customers in a common social mission.Photo credit: Squidoo]]>http://www.justmeans.com/An-Interview-with-Mark-Graham--Blogger-and-Director-of-Research-at-the-Canadian-Museum-of-Nature/47850.htmlMon, 28 Mar 2011 16:04:28 GMTSangeeta Haindl You've been blogging since 2008. Why did you start?I work at the Canadian Museum of Nature, one of Canada's national museums. It is a place that does science research based on the vast collection that we have and add to regularly. We discovered that most of our audience did not know anything about our research and why it is important. I started blogging because it seemed like a good way to tell those research stories.Is your blog written to serve a primary purpose or department (e.g. marketing, Read Full Article ]]> You've been blogging since 2008. Why did you start?I work at the Canadian Museum of Nature, one of Canada's national museums. It is a place that does science research based on the vast collection that we have and add to regularly. We discovered that most of our audience did not know anything about our research and why it is important. I started blogging because it seemed like a good way to tell those research stories.Is your blog written to serve a primary purpose or department (e.g. marketing, or education)?The purpose of the blog is to better explain what goes on at a significant scientific institution. So the stories are about one of the museum's core roles, to conduct scientific research. That said, as a director of research, it's hard not to admit that it dwells on the activities of my department.Do you find that your online community is different to the 'real' museum community? In other words, do people visit your blog, watch the YouTube videos, or follow the museum's tweets as a result of their interest after having visited the museum, or are most of your visitors people who may not have the opportunity to visit the museum in person?My online community mostly interacts with me through the web. After that, there is great hope that any inspiration will lead to further interactions with us, or other natural history media, virtually or otherwise. There are some exceptions. For example, when I give lectures I always let everyone know that I write a science blog. Directly before and after my talks there are spikes in visits to the blog. As a national museum, we are always thinking of better ways to be successful at our mission across this huge country. We know we are very good with people who walk in the front door and we are trying to be better at reaching others who interact with us virtually.I've noticed that you don't have comments on your blog. Have you blocked this function, and if so, what is the reasoning for that?Under the title of each article in tiny letters, there is a link to the comment box. I'm not sure why it is so small, but that is the way it was set up. Maybe that is why I get so few comments?Is there anything unique about the ways in which social networking operates for museums?I follow a few museum sites, but I cannot comment on the entire museum community. I can tell you that museums try very hard to keep track of all kinds of outreach tools. The rapid developments in digital social media is a major preoccupation for communications of all sorts. We discovered that to keep a community interested, we need a group of bloggers so that posting can happen frequently - more frequently than one person with other full-time duties can handle. So our next phase of blogging will see a new post every week from someone in our group of staff writers.Do you think that the activity of a museum's online community could affect funding at some point in the future (if it doesn't already)? For instance, is a museum with a gazillion virtual visitors more likely to get federal grants?If anyone can provide dependable insight into how to get museum funds from federal sources in Canada, they will have a momentous consulting business. That said, the more relevant a museum is to civil society when it carries out its mission, the more valuable it is as a cultural institution. If we had a gazillion followers through digital media (or even a billion), we would certainly use that in funding applications to make a case for our impact on civil society. Currently, federal funders are more interested in who visits the museum in-person because that involves entry fees, parking, hot dogs, the gift shop, etc. Financial sustainability is a priority with cultural institutions because federal funding sources have other important financial preoccupations. We also use digital media for our development efforts, from membership drives to donations.Does the museum plan to go on foursquare? If so, could users 'check in' to individual exhibits and achieve Foursquare titles/status like Deputy of the End of the Earth Exhibition?We have a very savvy Web Team and I am sure they are assessing all of our efforts, including Foursquare. We currently give a little taste of the exhibit on the web and try to encourage in-person visits. We also support many other digital media methods for sharing information.How about second life? Any plans for that? And in a similar vein - how far do you think a museum should take their activities on social networking (SN) platforms? Do you foresee museums hiring a SN department to manage and promote the online community? Would that be reasonable...or ridiculous?The Canadian Museum of Nature is trying to encourage Canadians to make the most out of their first life, the one that occurs in the natural environment, here, in-person, on Earth. Our mission is to connect people with nature. I think a balance of social media that conveys inspiring messages, yet allows enough time to at least walk over to a window and look at the birds flying by would be a start. Hopefully people will walk boldly outside, over to a park, touch a tree, identify a flower and eventually develop a complete passion for the natural environment. Let me step off the soapbox for a moment and say that use of social media by museums is extremely important because we have to maintain market share (financial sustainability) and outreach (social relevance). How we do that will be different from one place to the next, from reality to virtual reality. I am sure that larger institutions, such as the Smithsonian, the Natural History Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, would be right in line for more extensive Web Teams that include specialists in social media. What is reasonable for each museum, as an entire social media department or as a few resourceful enthusiasts, is to understand the nature and importance of rapidly emerging applications and provide an orientation for their institution to use these tools for the best advantage of everyone.Photo credit: Mark Graham,Canadian Museum of Nature]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Unique-Web-2-0-Competition-for-a-French-House/47717.htmlMon, 28 Mar 2011 07:00:23 GMTSangeeta Haindl A British couple, Ian and Bernadette Weyde are using web 2.0 to help them return urgently to the UK to look after their elderly mothers who are suffering from ill health and who now desperately need them. So, the Weyde's have embraced the internet and created an online competition giving someone the chance of a life time, where they can win the Weyde's 25,000 foot home in SW sunny France. This property is like no other property competition; it is a story with heart, giving everyone the amazing o Read Full Article ]]> A British couple, Ian and Bernadette Weyde are using web 2.0 to help them return urgently to the UK to look after their elderly mothers who are suffering from ill health and who now desperately need them. So, the Weyde's have embraced the internet and created an online competition giving someone the chance of a life time, where they can win the Weyde's 25,000 foot home in SW sunny France. This property is like no other property competition; it is a story with heart, giving everyone the amazing opportunity to win a complete lifestyle change.On 3 April is Mother's Day here in the UK and as the Weyde's launch their web 2.0 competition in time to mark Mother's Day, it makes this story more poignant. The French property is extraordinary, all 25,000 square foot of it, offering huge letting potential. It currently has two houses, two independent ensuite bedrooms, a self-contained unit and function rooms. In addition, outline planning permission for three further properties has recently been obtained to convert a section of the buildings. The lucky winner will win the property with the majority of its fixtures, furniture and fittings. Together, Ian and Bernadette have lovingly modernised this beautiful palace of a building bringing it back to life.Ian and Bernadette have been living their dream in the sunshine after Ian was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and say, "We found this stunning property in a medieval village of the banks of the Charente River close to Cognac region; and the 25,000 square feet of buildings form a quadrangle around a third of an acre garden. We came up with online competition idea as we not only need to get back to the UK as soon as possible, we also wanted to do something unique and fitting to the property. Using the power of web 2.0 seemed the ideal way of doing so."The Weyde's have spent four very happy years here; made many new friends and found the French lifestyle easy to adapt to. Naturally, they are devastated to have to leave and will miss the warmth they have experienced from people they have connected with during their time in France.The web 2.0 competition is easy to enter, all people need to do is click on the link www.hotpropertyfrance.com to be in with a chance to win a dramatic change of lifestyle, and crucially at the same time help Bernadette and Ian get home to the UK for their ailing mums. Like all good competitions there are terms and conditions, so please do read them and also note that due to Internet gambling regulations this competition is restricted to certain countries; though open to everyone in the UK over the age of 18; so go play; and good luck!Photo Credit: www.hotpropertyfrance.com/Bernadette Weyde]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Media-for-Kids--Dangerous-or-Not/47834.htmlSun, 27 Mar 2011 23:03:00 GMTRitika Puri A recent study from CNN and Parenting.com reveals that social media, texting, and online communities have become an important part of children's lives. Among popular sites that teens visit are Facebook and Twitter-- areas where children can access unlimited information and where trends such as cyberbullying have been on the rise. The report found that young adolescents spend more time socializing via online communities than in real life. Technically, kids under the age of 13 are not allowed to c Read Full Article ]]> A recent study from CNN and Parenting.com reveals that social media, texting, and online communities have become an important part of children's lives. Among popular sites that teens visit are Facebook and Twitter-- areas where children can access unlimited information and where trends such as cyberbullying have been on the rise. The report found that young adolescents spend more time socializing via online communities than in real life. Technically, kids under the age of 13 are not allowed to create Facebook pages; however, one-third of surveyed parents reported that they allow their kids to access Facebook anyway. More than half of teens visit social media sites more than once a day, and 75 percent have cell phones.These forms of communication are creating new territories for parents to navigate-- and it's not a job that a net nanny can fulfill completely. Even still, new forms online and cell phone communication are continuously evolving, and it's sometimes difficult to understand the effect of social media on children-- adults haven't grown up with it.According to CNN and Parenting.com, the online world is one that can be quite "intense"-- especially given the amount of time that adolescents are spending on social media sites. Teens to spend a lot of time on Facebook are at risk of developing a form of depression from being isolated from parents while struggling to find a peer community. Depression can result from acts such as defriending, gossip, and of course -- cyberbullying. It is recommended that parents contact a pediatrician if their children start showing signs of depression.In any case, CNN reports that we should also focus upon the positive influences of social media in kids' lives. Online communities, for instance, provide support networks for kids who may be considered "outsiders" at school. Kids can find other like-minded kids-- writers, artists, musicians-- to share talents, provide emotional support, and talk with one another. For kids who are "outsiders," these types of social networks are invaluable.In this new digital age, parents should make an effort to understand how their kids are using the social media space. It's important to engage in open communication with kids to understand how online communities affect their social circles. We may not be able to outpace new technology, but it is important to grow with a resource that has become such an integral part of kids' lives. For kids especially, social media is a double-edged sword that parents need to keep in check..Article Source: CNNPhoto Credit.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Mobile-Security--Should-We-Be-More-Careful/47798.htmlSat, 26 Mar 2011 16:43:16 GMTRitika Puri A recent AVG and Ponemon Institute survey reveals that United States mobile customers are excessively relaxed about mobile security. The study examined security precautions in the context of popular activities. The study found that phone, personal email, business email, address book, texting, store or move data, Internet browsing, obtaining documents, calendaring, viewing documents, listening to music, scheduling tasks, shopping, camera, and social networking. Many of these activities involve sh Read Full Article ]]> A recent AVG and Ponemon Institute survey reveals that United States mobile customers are excessively relaxed about mobile security. The study examined security precautions in the context of popular activities. The study found that phone, personal email, business email, address book, texting, store or move data, Internet browsing, obtaining documents, calendaring, viewing documents, listening to music, scheduling tasks, shopping, camera, and social networking. Many of these activities involve sharing of personal information through credit card transactions and distribution of personal information.The study found that people feel relatively safe about their cell phone use with respect to personal and business information and take few precautions to protect information. Few users use phone-locking passwords, and those who do frequently duplicate the passwords that they use for their desktop and laptop computers.According to the survey, 84 percent of mobile users use the same phone for business and personal use. According to social media blog Mashable, using one phone for both personal and business use can double a user's risk. For instance, if you lose your phone, both your business and personal data becomes vulnerable. If you have one phone for business and one phone for personal use and you only lose one phone, you reduce the risk associated with your confidential data.With respect to personal data, 66 percent of respondents say that they store information including contacts, photos, contact lists, and personal dates. This type of information, if in the wrong hands, could expose a user to the risk of identity theft. Another 23 percent of respondents said that they stored password information in their phone.The survey also addressed the question of whether users were concerned about viruses. According to the report, users were more concerned about receiving marketing promotions and advertisements than getting a mobile virus. Perhaps the growing apps realm is still too new for users to feel concerned about virus. As recent news concerning the Android market place show us; however, mobile viruses are a possibility and legitimate concern.Sixty-six percent of the survey's respondents reported having made a purchase via mobile phone, and 14 percent engage in mobile banking through apps or browser interfaces. Comparatively, 12 percent of users have experienced mobile fraud. In any case only six percent thoroughly check their monthly cell phone statements, and only eight percent check statements when they are high.In light of this information, only 29 percent of consumers report that they have considered using a mobile anti-virus software.What's your opinion? Should we be more wary about our mobile habits?Photo Credit.Article Source: Mashable. ]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Pew-Examines-Donations-to-Japan-Relief/47761.htmlFri, 25 Mar 2011 18:53:33 GMTRitika Puri A March 23rd Pew Research Center Report revealed that Americans under 40 are just as likely to donate through electronic platforms as through traditional means. The findings represent a sociological shift in philanthropy, as text messaging and online donations are becoming as prevalent as donations made through the phone and postal service. While older adults (above 40) prefer using tools like the mail and phone, adults under 40 prefer both digital and traditional means for donating. The Pew Cen Read Full Article ]]> A March 23rd Pew Research Center Report revealed that Americans under 40 are just as likely to donate through electronic platforms as through traditional means. The findings represent a sociological shift in philanthropy, as text messaging and online donations are becoming as prevalent as donations made through the phone and postal service. While older adults (above 40) prefer using tools like the mail and phone, adults under 40 prefer both digital and traditional means for donating. The Pew Center calls this behavior a "striking shift.MethodologyThe study is based on telephone interviews from March 17 through March 20th, among a sample of 1,004 adults above the age of 18 in the United States. Interviews were conducted in English. More information about the study's methodology is available from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.ResultsIn the first few days following the disaster 21% of respondents said that they made a donation to assist tsunami and earthquake victims. In addition, 24% said that they were planning to make a donation. More than one-third of individuals who who donated gave money through an online platform, text messaging, or email. Older adults are more likely to use online giving platforms than before; however, they still prefer traditional means like phone and mail services.The behavior of digital giving is also increasing among college graduates. Following the 2005 Indian Ocean tsunami, 33% of college grads reported that they gave traditionally, and 10% reported that they donated digitally. Now, donation patterns are roughly even: 12% gave digitally while 14% donated through traditional means.ImplicationsA major goal for nonprofits is fundraising, and sometimes, organizations struggle to adopt an effective strategy. The Pew Center's findings help illuminate shifts in giving behavior for organizations who may not be sure where to begin their efforts. For fundraising, a number of tools and strategies are available -- phone calling, letters, emails, social media, etc.; however, nonprofits need to strategize in order to run effective campaigns with a strong return on investment.The Pew Center's findings help relief efforts and nonprofits identify demographic trends in philanthropy and giving. Given this information, we see that an email or social media campaign may actually be more effective for reaching out to individuals under the age of 40. On the flip-side, the study reminds organizations to rely on non-digital resources like mail and phone-calling. This kind of strategic demographic targeting can help operations run more smoothly.Photo Credit.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Technology-Now-Playing-a-Role-in-the-Indian-Bachelor-s-Life/46864.htmlFri, 25 Mar 2011 10:00:32 GMTSangeeta Haindl Technology is now playing a role in the Indian bachelor's life through a website called Bharat Matrimony, which has a new service called 'Biwi Ho Toh Aisi' (BHTA) which means, 'A Wife Worth Having' in partnership with WebChutney targeted at unmarried men in search of their perfect soul mate. BHTA is simple and extremely engaging, giving single Indian men a chance to choose their 'virtual wife' from a list of characters that closely resemble dynamic real-life personalities; a peek into the type o Read Full Article ]]> Technology is now playing a role in the Indian bachelor's life through a website called Bharat Matrimony, which has a new service called 'Biwi Ho Toh Aisi' (BHTA) which means, 'A Wife Worth Having' in partnership with WebChutney targeted at unmarried men in search of their perfect soul mate. BHTA is simple and extremely engaging, giving single Indian men a chance to choose their 'virtual wife' from a list of characters that closely resemble dynamic real-life personalities; a peek into the type of wife they would like as a life partner; a unique opportunity to get a taste of what it's like to be married.Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and CEO of Bharat Matrimony, says, "As part of our constant effort to innovate the way systematic matrimonial searches are made, BHTA offers individuals a flavour of married life while still allowing them to relax from the busy work schedule as they get a partner to share their normal day-to-day routine. It is a different take on traditional methods to allow you to make an informed choice." Indian culture is getting a helping hand from technology as arranged marriages are very much a part of society.Users log on with a special code and then embark on a voyage of personal interaction that revolves around his daily life in five easy steps. The website uses technology that allows the men to select their 'virtual wife' from a list, where each on the list has a unique character and style of speaking. This gives the user an actual feel of being married to a woman and the interactions with the virtual wife happen through a simple reminder service that the user subscribes to for use on his mobile phone. The reminders range from loving ones to eat lunch or breakfast to filling the spouse in on the latest soaps or gossip, or simply for that romantic just-like-that call, the virtual wife is always there for her 'husband'.India's love of technology means it has over 100 matrimonial websites, with a projected growth rate of 120 per cent and with over 20 million registered users, BharatMatrimony has successfully completed 13 years in the field of online matrimony and has a consistent success rate of getting people together in marriage. It has kept BharatMatrimony ahead of all competition.Unfortunately, though there is no similar technology for the single Indian women.Bharat Matrimony may not exactly be an accurate way to pick the kind of woman you want to marry but none the less, it is a creative way to encourage men to step forward and sign up to find a virtual wife.Photo Credit: dod_anji]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Airbnb--A-Successful-Business-Model-Where-Everyone-Wins/47681.htmlFri, 25 Mar 2011 02:01:24 GMTSangeeta Haindl Airbnb,a fairly new, online company that was founded on a simple concept - providing people who need a place to stay and people who have a spare space a tool to connect - recently achieved one million nights booked. It's an impressive step for the company (particularly given that they're under five years old), but it's a giant leap for the collaborative consumption movement, which Rachel Botsman says is in its "nascent stages" and has the potential to be a cultural and economic catalyst for wide Read Full Article ]]> Airbnb,a fairly new, online company that was founded on a simple concept - providing people who need a place to stay and people who have a spare space a tool to connect - recently achieved one million nights booked. It's an impressive step for the company (particularly given that they're under five years old), but it's a giant leap for the collaborative consumption movement, which Rachel Botsman says is in its "nascent stages" and has the potential to be a cultural and economic catalyst for widespread changes in the ways in which we live and do business.Airbnb's success is a good sign for a number of reasons. First of all, it's just plain comforting to see page after page of reviews about positive user experiences. It seems that, on the whole, strangers on the Internet tend to behave well. "I'm staying overnight with this guy I met online" doesn't have the same scary vibe that it would have just a few years ago. Now it's "I'm staying with a guy that has a great spare room with an ocean view and 180 five star reviews - and the address is registered."Beyond the feel-good factor though, Airbnb's continued success is evidence that collaborative consumption isn't just something that people consider when the hotel/motel options are booked out, nor is the primary reason simply to save a buck when the economy is down. Sure, lots of people tap into Airbnb's services in part to find a good room at comparatively cheap prices - but there are plenty who use the site to find places that go for thousands of dollars per night. If the company was merely driven by a response to a bad economy, now that the markets are up and unemployment rates are taking a downward turn, one would expect Airbnb's business to slow, or at least taper a bit. But instead, it's growing - and fast. The company reported a month-over-month growth of 65% last January. A diverse crowd of people that span the full range from rich to poor have obviously found value in their Airbnb experience - a value that extends beyond financial incentives.Coupled with the fact that Airbnb spans multiple continents, it seems that the business has tapped into more than a simple pragmatic solution for travelers and people with spare rooms. It's more than just collaborative consumption - it's collaborative culture - or rather, cross-culture, if one considers that the listings span 170 countries.With regard to the business model: Airbnb takes a 10% cut of the booking price, which means that 90% of the money for one million nights booked went directly into the hands of 'normal' people. And the 'click' down economy is surely more benefitial for the majority than the 'trickle down' theory.The United States has been widely criticized for its overly capitalistic and greedy/corporate-heavy business culture, but it seems that crowd-sourcing entrepreneurs and betapreneurs like Airbnb are finding a happy medium where everyone wins. So congratulations, Airbnb. Sharing is caring indeed.Photo credit: Airbnb]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Eco-Apps-for-All-Occasions/47553.htmlWed, 23 Mar 2011 14:28:58 GMTSangeeta Haindl To be truly successful, smartphones require smart users. Likewise, eco-apps require eco-users. Here are a few good apps to use when you're eating, driving, staying in, out shopping, or just generally resolving to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.EatLocavore is worth every one of the 299 pennies you'll have to spend to get it. This app lets you know what foods are in season in your location (so long as your location is within the United States). In addition to reducing your carbon f Read Full Article ]]> To be truly successful, smartphones require smart users. Likewise, eco-apps require eco-users. Here are a few good apps to use when you're eating, driving, staying in, out shopping, or just generally resolving to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.EatLocavore is worth every one of the 299 pennies you'll have to spend to get it. This app lets you know what foods are in season in your location (so long as your location is within the United States). In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, you may discover that eating in season is tastier, too!Not sure if you should get the tuna roll or the salmon roll? The iPhone Green Sushi Selector app dishes out information about which kinds of fish are being farmed, which are caught (and what methods are used), and a general low-down on which fish selections are the most environmentally friendly and the healthiest (read: least likely to contain harmful levels of mercury).DriveCarticipate (iPhone) and Green Rider (a Force.com app) will help you to secure a ride-share.Stay HomeThe iPhone MeterRead app records your energy use, estimates your monthly consumption and allows you to track how making little adjustments can save energy, and decrease your bill - ultimately saving you a wad of wallet-friendly green.ShopGreenGlamGo offers suggestions on eco-friendly fashion designers and retail outlets. It's a newbie, though, and is currently only available to Nokia users.ResolveGreen You is an Android app that helps you design a personalized 'green plan' to reduce your carbon footprint. It also helps you track your progress.Check out the iPhone's Good Guide to get information about general product information and where they fall on the eco-friendly radar.Photo Credit: Wikipedia, 2007 iPhone]]>