Is social media a fad? Just another over-hyped overnight phenomenon that will perish as quickly as it flourished. Or is it a trend that could cause a dramatic (and permanent) shift in the way we communicate and build influence, the way businesses market their goods and services and the way information is disseminated. The following video based on the book Socialnomics by Erik Qualman present some startling statistics that are hard to ignore by well, anyone.
Not only has social media 'overtaken pornography as the #1 activity on the Web' but if facebook were a country, it would be the world's third largest behind China and India.
According to Erik, "We don't have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we Do it."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Gold Trimmings, Rolex Clocks, yes it's Dubai!
First impression of Dubai, gold trimmings, rolex clocks everywhere, palm trees, yup they have money and they're not afraid to show it. Oh and yeh, it's HOT!! It's a whopping 95 degrees at night.
You definitely feel the stares as a solo female traveler strolling across the airport. But I was comforted by my choice of clothing, a floor sweeping skirt and a nice cotton jacket. A designer bag and I would fit right in, at least in my head. Fashion is eminent here, and the women have the handbags to prove it.
More to come.
- Posted from an iPhone
You definitely feel the stares as a solo female traveler strolling across the airport. But I was comforted by my choice of clothing, a floor sweeping skirt and a nice cotton jacket. A designer bag and I would fit right in, at least in my head. Fashion is eminent here, and the women have the handbags to prove it.
More to come.
- Posted from an iPhone
Friday, June 11, 2010
Destination Dubai/India
En route to Microsoft Research India's (MSRI) summer school on socio-economic development in Bangalore, India. Stuck on a plane right now to Dubai for 14 hrs. If I had any takers I would swap a kidney for a window, and even throw in a liver for first class. I have almost always flown at a window seat, no luck this time, but I think I'll survive. I have about 10 papers to get through before I get there, which is sometime in the next two days.
On the bright side, at least my bag just got bumped to business class...since all the other luggage that went in after mine have now conveniently occupied all the overhead space. Yay me!
See you in the future!
- Posted from an iPhone
On the bright side, at least my bag just got bumped to business class...since all the other luggage that went in after mine have now conveniently occupied all the overhead space. Yay me!
See you in the future!
- Posted from an iPhone
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Managua, Nicaragua!!
So I'm heading to Nicaragua in Central America. I will blog if I get to some good ole Internet or if my iPhone cooperates. Stay tuned!
- Posted from an iPhone
- Posted from an iPhone
Friday, March 6, 2009
Lots of reading and more reading
Really not much to say about my research after the first two weeks. As expected, it was FULL of reading. Some very interesting, some not so…well you get the point. 
Interesting material I read on ICT4D or HCI:
Gary’s (my research adviser) and Matt’s book:
Mobile Interaction Design
Since I’m looking at implementing the water quality reporting/alerting service on cellular phones (more commonly referred to as mobile phones in Africa), this addresses the constraints of designing for this platform. Chapter 11 is very informative; it warns against developing applications around cultural dimensions like Hofstede’s cultural classification, and suggests an effective approach when designing for cultures over than one’s own is to employ ethnographic or anthropological techniques.
Most people are shocked when they hear that the mobile penetration rate in South Africa exceeds 100% of the population, which basically means that just about everyone (rich, poor, educated, uneducated, young and old alike) has a mobile phone (or even two). So mobile phones provide a good platform to implement information services like the one I am designing since this is the only ‘computer’ many people in South Africa will have access to. For many, not only is their mobile phone their ‘land line’ telephone, it’s also their main access to information. This is true in many developing countries like my home country Jamaica.
Interesting material I read on ICT4D or HCI:
Gary’s (my research adviser) and Matt’s book:
Mobile Interaction Design
Since I’m looking at implementing the water quality reporting/alerting service on cellular phones (more commonly referred to as mobile phones in Africa), this addresses the constraints of designing for this platform. Chapter 11 is very informative; it warns against developing applications around cultural dimensions like Hofstede’s cultural classification, and suggests an effective approach when designing for cultures over than one’s own is to employ ethnographic or anthropological techniques.
Most people are shocked when they hear that the mobile penetration rate in South Africa exceeds 100% of the population, which basically means that just about everyone (rich, poor, educated, uneducated, young and old alike) has a mobile phone (or even two). So mobile phones provide a good platform to implement information services like the one I am designing since this is the only ‘computer’ many people in South Africa will have access to. For many, not only is their mobile phone their ‘land line’ telephone, it’s also their main access to information. This is true in many developing countries like my home country Jamaica.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Masters thesis in South Africa??!!
Yup it’s true; I will be heading to South Africa for 10 weeks to do my thesis project to complete my Masters in Information Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. My research area is Information and Communications Technology for Development, (ICT4D) and Human Computer Interaction for Development (HCI4D). This will be a more technical blog, my personal blog is at deanzbro.blogspot.com.
Where?!
I will be joining the Computer Science department at the University of Cape Town as an international research affiliate working under Prof. Gary Marsden there.
What?!
Basically I will be designing an information and alerting service to inform consumers about the quality of the water they drink or use on a daily basis. This falls under a bigger international project called the Aquatest project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and spearheaded by Bristol University which seeks to develop a low‐cost water quality test kit to be used by both water professionals and the general public in developing countries to test and monitor water quality. It also seeks an information management solution that will allow for easy collection and management of water quality data gathered from testing.
Why?!
Simply informing someone when their water source is contaminated could save a life. Contaminated water is the root cause of numerous diseases such as Diarrhea which claims the life of 1.8 million people a year. In fact it is a major killer among communicable diseases preceded only by respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS (WHO, 2008).
PLUS it’s a legal requirement! Yup water service providers are required by law to report water quality test data to consumers in an easy to understand manner. In South Africa pretty much none of the water service providers do that. Why? It’s a challenging problem… In a country with eleven official languages and a large illiterate and semi‐illiterate population, how do you present water quality data in a way that is easily understood by all? And what medium is appropriate for disseminating water quality information to consumers given the existing technological constraints?
The answers to those questions, Ha that’s where I come in!! So stay tuned :)
Where?!
I will be joining the Computer Science department at the University of Cape Town as an international research affiliate working under Prof. Gary Marsden there.
What?!
Basically I will be designing an information and alerting service to inform consumers about the quality of the water they drink or use on a daily basis. This falls under a bigger international project called the Aquatest project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and spearheaded by Bristol University which seeks to develop a low‐cost water quality test kit to be used by both water professionals and the general public in developing countries to test and monitor water quality. It also seeks an information management solution that will allow for easy collection and management of water quality data gathered from testing.
Why?!
Simply informing someone when their water source is contaminated could save a life. Contaminated water is the root cause of numerous diseases such as Diarrhea which claims the life of 1.8 million people a year. In fact it is a major killer among communicable diseases preceded only by respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS (WHO, 2008).
PLUS it’s a legal requirement! Yup water service providers are required by law to report water quality test data to consumers in an easy to understand manner. In South Africa pretty much none of the water service providers do that. Why? It’s a challenging problem… In a country with eleven official languages and a large illiterate and semi‐illiterate population, how do you present water quality data in a way that is easily understood by all? And what medium is appropriate for disseminating water quality information to consumers given the existing technological constraints?
The answers to those questions, Ha that’s where I come in!! So stay tuned :)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Goodbye Google... the long trip home
We left fairly early in the morning... I don't even think I really slept. The trip was long and rough. I was excited about flying first class, so much that I skipped my religious routine of purchasing McDonald's before my flight... a long 6hr flight I might add. To my dismay and DISBELIEF the airline (name withheld to protect the not-so-innocent) ran out of food in FIRST CLASS! Is that even possible? Its not like I was even in the last row... so instead of a 'hearty' meal of scrambled eggs, pancakes and sausage that the first couple rows were served, I had to settle for dry cereal and a sympathy banana... I was so upset I turned that down. Starvation sounded more appealing at that point. Sleep.
sigh... I think I just dreamt about that Google omelet I had at one of the many restaurants at the Googleplex.
13 hrs later... Back to life in good ol' upstate NY.
sigh... I think I just dreamt about that Google omelet I had at one of the many restaurants at the Googleplex.
13 hrs later... Back to life in good ol' upstate NY.
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