June 5th, 2009
Wave is Google’s newest web based open-source collaboration tool set to launch later in the year. The recent developer preview event held in the States aimed to encourage developers to build tools for Wave to make it more useful and integrated for its future users much like with iphone applications.
Wave is based on a tree structure of communication which focuses around ‘hosted conversations’ the design of which is focused around real conversation patterns and speed of use. It integrates email and instant messaging all into the same message thread.
To make efficiencies, key strokes are streamed live in instant messaging to cut down on time you have to sit and watch the ‘katie is typing’ message like with other instant messenger services. This service even allows you to ‘drag and drop’ files into the conversation straight from your desktop rather than uploading attachments.
Other wave users can even see thumbnails of the files dropped into the conversation before they are fully uploaded.
My favourite bit is that you can add ‘robot’ users such as your blog to your wave. Adding the blog ‘robot’ to the conversation thread and anything which is said or done there is then uploaded to the blog itself. Any edits done within this thread will also be updated on the blog and non- wave users comments on the blog site updated to the wave thread. This could be great for collaborative blogging and conversations online.
Check out the full product video (it’s quite long) here.
by ross
and tagged blogging, Google Wave, IM, Manchester, PR, public relations, social media
Posted in Democracy | No Comments »
May 19th, 2009
If you want to be at the forefront of any subject there is no better way than to check it out online.
This week, I’ve been swotting up with Stanford University, who have utilised iTunes-U (a learning focused section on iTunes) to go one step further and produce a series of free public lectures. They focus on how to build iPhone applications and have proved incredibly popular with over one million downloads in only seven weeks.
The lectures are recorded from live classroom teachings delivered by Apple engineers. Apple currently has around 40,000 iPhone applications with new and amusing ‘apps’ being created daily.
With applications being touted as the new brand advertising – it’s no wonder the lectures have been so well received.
by ross
and tagged advertising, Apple, iPhone, iphone applications, Standford University
Posted in Gone surfing, Marketing | No Comments »
April 24th, 2009
I recently wrote a paper on digital evaluation methods for my Advertising degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.
One of my particular favourites was the new version of Facebook Lexicon. This improved tool will not only monitor buzz of a particular search term on Facebook walls, but will allow you to determine the gender, age and country of the poster, as well as the sentiment of the conversation.
It doesn’t stop there; Facebook Lexicon helps to build up a detailed picture of the people having the conversations. It presents a chart of the most frequently mentioned associated words within the post for which the search term appeared. Under the ‘pulse’ function it lists the most common interests of the individuals from their Facebook profile.
The only down fall with the new version is that there is currently only restricted topic search terms but it has been promised that these will be expanded in the future. However this is a fantastic tool for monitoring a social media campaign on Facebook and it shows why online PR is proving so popular with its clear and measurable accountability.
by ross
and tagged buzz communications, facebook, Facebook Lexicon, Lexicon, Manchester Metropolitan University, PR evaluation, PR monitoring
Posted in Democracy, Marketing | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2009
A friend of mine has tried all the diets under the sun in her quest for the perfect figure. Atkins, Weight Watchers, Slimming World as well as all of the ridiculous fad diets on the market.
Until recently she’s not been able to shift the weight long-term. That is until 13 weeks ago when she stripped her cupboards bare of snack foods, signed up to our local gym and set up her blog ‘In[fat]uation’ (not linked as she’s a little bashful!).
The blog has been a turning point, encouraging her to keep going after other diets have failed. She writes about her daily struggles with eating healthy and some bazaar and quirky methods to keep herself on track.
My personal favourite being ‘Pedro the pedometer’ which is now a permanent fixture on her belt and occasionally falls of when she’s strolling around the flat. Her witty and brave self actualisations about her eating habits and comical reflections of her day to day quest make for an interesting read.
The 44 followers of her blog offer words of encouragement and support if she ever feels like reaching out for a snack. The comments come in thick and fast as soon as she posts; having followers who are in a similar situation to herself has helped them to relate to her issues as they understand what it is she is going through.
To date my friend has lost an amazing 22 lb and is dedicated to her healthy lifestyle with some new found friends along the way. It seems that the power of the crowd is succeeding where the diet experts have failed.
by ross
and tagged Akins, blog, Diet, Katie, slimming World, Weight Watchers, weightloss
Posted in Democracy, Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 15th, 2009
The University of Southern California has been busy researching the effects of digital media on our everyday lives.
Their findings reveal that using social networks may ruin an individuals moral compass. The fast paced nature of news bites delivered through the likes of Twitter do not give people time to reflect on the information and apparently lead to us being indifferent to human suffering.
They claim children are particularly at danger; by not learning how to react to other peoples psychological states. The researcher’s advice was ‘not so fast’ and to use literature and social interactions to learn about humanity.
I don’t feel my moral compass is compromised by using digital media, instead the portrayal of news through the mass media is now complimented with social conversations that illustrate the personal context to the same news. That puts the personal face back on the news agenda.
Both of these mediums have a place when it comes to understanding humanity.
by ross
and tagged moral compass, PR, public relations, Sociology, Twitter, University of southern california
Posted in Democracy | No Comments »
April 2nd, 2009
I’m sure this week you’ll have read the news that Birmingham City University is to offer MA degree courses in social media, teaching students to use the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Bebo.
Being a final year student, this has been a hot topic around the campus.
Yet some of the resident students at Birmingham University have criticised the course, complaining that it offers nothing which couldn’t be self taught.
Being a student living in the ‘digital generation’ I understand more than most that using social media for PR, journalism and advertising is a different ball game to personal networking.
The rules, models and best practices are still being created.
Although a degree, with a set agenda at this moment would be a waste of time – a Masters with a great deal of research can only be a good thing.
There is still so much to be discovered about the online world, how communities work together and ideas are shared, that offering a forum for some of the best minds in PR and journalism to expand our knowledge seems like a good idea.
Who knows – I might even sign up!
by ross
and tagged Birmingham, Birmingham University, degree, facebook, Journalism, journalist, masters, PR, public relations
Posted in Democracy | No Comments »
March 24th, 2009
One of the wonders of the internet is that you can pretty much search for anything that has been before.
A new service created by friend of the agency Tom Scott called Tweleted allows you to retrieve deleted tweets, for as Tom puts it, ‘good or evil’.
Another nice little service I recently stumbled upon was FutureMe. This service allows you to send an email to yourself in the future.
The ‘public, but anonymous’ option makes the site an interesting read. Letters include – birthday congratulations for 30 years in advance, children’s career and life ambitions and self pep talks from people in unhappy relationships. The best of the entries are even available for viewing in their book ‘Dear Future Me’
With the dissertation in the bag, I’m planning on writing something to my 40 year old self – along with a few predictions . . . if you’ve got any ideas what should be on there send me a tweet.
by ross
and tagged deleated tweets, FutureMe, public relations, Tom Smith, Twelter
Posted in Democracy, Gone surfing, Marketing, Technology | No Comments »
March 19th, 2009
Having such a hectic lifestyle, I rarely have time to sit down and read a whole newspaper. Instead I prefer my news to come in a concise 140 characters beamed to me as it happens. It seems I’m not the only one:
Last week Hitwise recorded that Twitter received more homepage visits than the Guardian, Times, Sun, Telegraph and Google News UK. (figures didn’t include hits via applications such as Tweetdeck or Twitterrific.)
It’s not that we’re getting the full story in those 140 characters; Twitter is becoming the place to go for the very latest news.
During February, Hitwise reported that 9.6% of Twitter’s downstream traffic went to News and Media websites, and 41% of that went to the News and Media – Print sub-category, which is dominated by the newspaper sites.
If the consumer is getting it’s news from Twitter – then PR needs to ‘get’ the power of Twitter very quickly.
by ross
and tagged Google News UK, Guardian, Hitwise, Sun, telegraph, Times, Twitter
Posted in Democracy, Marketing, Technology | No Comments »
March 12th, 2009
You may have noticed over the weekend that some of your photos on Facebook were replaced with a “question mark” graphic.
You were not alone; the hard drive failure causing this disruption affected 10-15% of the photos uploaded. It may come as no surprise but Facebook is not only the number 1 social network in the UK, but also the largest photo hosting site with over 10 billion photos.
Don’t Panic: Facebook has reassured users that the photos will be restored early next week.
Facebook has cut a smart move using its blog to reassure its users. Especially when issues such as this arise, users want to vent their anger somewhere and be kept in the loop as to what’s happening with ‘their’ content. Facebook doesn’t respond to comments directly but at least they are keeping users up-to-date with a personal touch.
Apparently ‘Evan, an engineer, is working alongside Doug Beaver, Myles Uyema and the rest of the photo storage team to restore your photos as quickly as possible.’
Thanks Evan, Doug and Myles, keep up the good work.
by ross
and tagged facebook, facebook photos
Posted in Gone surfing, Technology | No Comments »
March 5th, 2009
Last summer, I scored a placement at Democracy PR – and while all my fellow students were serving in bars, traveling the world or lazing about – I was learning what it was like to work for a small agency intent on changing the world of PR.
Returning to Man Met was a bit of a culture shock, but I’ve been keeping in touch with the team and when Jen asked if I’d do a little guest blogging I jumped at the chance. After spending most of my time blogging about what I had for tea, sharing some of my research about social media and digital with you guys is a big step up.
So, I’m just about to complete my degree in advertising and brand management whilst writing a paper all about online communities which I will present to some social media big wigs in a few months time (I’ll keep you posted, let me know if you want a copy) until then, i promise to share with you lots of the online discoveries I make.
Talk soon
by ross
Posted in Democracy | No Comments »
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