What's To Come

From an article in PC Mag – a fascinating Infographic about the Spectrum Crunch. It tells the story of the incredible growth in the mobile industry and the stress on the spectrum, and most importantly solutions that could benefit us all.   The article may be found by clicking on this link: Infographic: How Bad is the Spectrum Crunch?

A friend tweeted the article – 6 Things to Know About Using QR Codes in Content Marketing  By NATE RIGGS | Published: JULY 27, 2011

A nice job looking at QR Code usage, what to do and what not to do. There is also a nice graphic showing Kendall Jackson Wine’s mobile application – http://44doors.com/technology/

Now we’re talking!  This shows a system of social media connections to promote their company and products.  QR Codes are one of these elements.

Last weekend I was at a soccer game at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City. QR codes were on the tickets, each seat in the stadium, and the programs. They are doing a good job encouraging the easy sharing of information and in fact, the social interaction of their fans through QR Codes.  More of this good stuff to come!

Enjoy!

I have been thinking about QR codes lately and in my blind state of excitement have dreamed of all sorts of uses for this square, two-dimensional maze.  I know they’ve been around for awhile, but smartphones and their cameras have now advanced to a point where the possibilities and practical use of QR Codes is reality.

This week I was eating at a great German place in the Kansas City Freight District and we started talking to the owner about QR Codes.  He is about ready to put them on his menus, bier lists, maybe advertisements and such. How incredible would it be to click on a QR Code coming into the restaurant that checked you in on FourSquare and provided a discount for your food, or Click a code to tweet about the tremendous Brat you just ate or beer you just tasted.  A progressive place could really make a splash with these options.  What about downloading the menu to your phone or posting on your blog?

Just about everywhere I turn, I see these opportunities, and it is just a matter of time before these cute little boxes are popping up all over!  Two weeks ago at the Royals/Cubs game I noticed a QR code in the program, scanned it and entered a contest to win free tickets!  I didn’t win….., but it was compelling and easy on a warm summer day at the ballpark.

So, go ahead, scan this code with your phone and enjoy the trip. Start opening your eyes to all of the QR Codes already out there. Scan them, have fun. I think we’ll see a lot more of them in the very near future!

Some great resources to review:

http://www.web-hosting-newsletter.com/2011/06/06/lessons-in-the-engagement-of-mobile-users-first-what-is-a-qr-code/

2D codes from AT&T

http://youratt.com/nextdimension?GUID=EAC22CD5-F5AD-4ECF-9E64-BF2891D4CCF1

Pinelas county use of QR codes

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2q7U33LmYE

QR codes in NYC video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3lrcOhmp9g&feature=related

Automotive dealer QR codes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFCqZSk2E40

By 2015, your mobile phone will project a 3-D image of anyone who calls and your laptop will be powered by kinetic energy. At least that’s what International Business Machines Corp. sees in its crystal ball.

Always fun to look into the future with IBM and see what could be. Enjoy the article from Bloomberg.com!!

IBM Predicts Holographic Calls, Air-Breathing Batteries by 2015

Here is a presentation I gave to the Heartland Paralegal Association on Social Media and Ethics.  Enjoy!

A recent article and study in Cisco Connected World Report “shows a disconnect between IT policies and workers”.

Some key findings from the study:

--  The study, which involved surveys of 2,600 workers and IT
    professionals in 13 countries, revealed that while most companies have
    IT policies (82 percent), about one in four employees (24 percent) are
    unaware that such policies exist. An additional 23 percent reported
    that their companies do not have IT policies on acceptable device
    usage. When combined, almost half of the workers in the study (47
    percent) either do not have an IT policy on device usage or do not
    know that one exists.

--  For those employees who have an IT policy, 35 percent say IT does not
    provide an explanation or rationale for why it exists, which can
    result in apathy, misunderstanding and selective compliance.

--  Among workers aware of IT policy, about two of three (64 percent) feel
    it could use some improvement. These employees believe policies could
    be updated to reflect real-world needs and work styles, such as
    finding an acceptable medium between device usage, social media,
    mobility and work flexibility.

--  Of those employees who admit to breaking IT policies, about two of
    every five (41 percent) say it's because they need restricted programs
    and applications to get the job done -- they're simply trying to be
    more productive and efficient.

--  One of five (20 percent) employees worldwide said they break IT policy
    because they believe their company or IT team will not enforce it.

--  This research points to an issue among many businesses worldwide: the
    need to re-evaluate and update IT policies to align with the growing
    reality of a workforce that is demanding more enablement to be
    connected anywhere, anytime, with any device and any information in
    their work and personal lives.

IT Policy Toward Employee Use of Social Media, Devices

--  Social media use is restricted to varying degrees around the world and
    per company. Although half (51 percent) of the employees surveyed
    worldwide believe social media, while not work-related, contributes to
    work-life balance, two of five (41 percent) said they are restricted
    from using Facebook at their job, and one of three (35 percent) is
    restricted from using Twitter at work or with work devices.

--  More than one in four (28 percent) workers are restricted from using
    instant messaging at work or with work devices, and one in five (21
    percent) are restricted from doing personal e-mail on work devices and
    during work hours.

--  Two of every three employees (64 percent) believe their IT teams and
    companies should loosen up and allow social media use during work
    hours with work devices, citing work-life balance as a key reason,
    particularly because many of them can work in a mobile, distributed
    fashion and put in longer hours as a result.

--  The use of personal devices like iPads and iPhones is also restricted
    to some degree. Globally, almost one in five (18 percent) employees
    are not allowed to use their iPods at work, and almost one in five (18
    percent) are restricted from using personal devices like
    employee-owned laptops or phones.

--  The majority of employees (66 percent) believe they should be able to
    connect freely with any device -- personal or company-issued -- and
    access the applications and information that they need around the
    clock. Policy or no policy, many employees will simply do it, raising
    the question about how effective a policy is and how IT can update,
    enforce and ensure better compliance.

The Rise of Video in the Workplace

--  The use of video is on the rise as a form of consumer and enterprise
    communication. Globally, more than two-thirds of IT professionals (68
    percent) feel that the importance of video communications to their
    company will increase in the future. This sentiment is particularly
    true among those in Mexico (85 percent), China (85 percent), Brazil
    (82 percent), and Spain (82 percent).

--  However, not all employees who wish to use video communications in the
    workplace are able to do so today. About two in five employees (41
    percent) said they cannot use video as a communications tool at work,
    with more than half of employees in the United States (53 percent),
    the United Kingdom (55 percent), Germany (55 percent) and France (60
    percent) not having the capability of using video for workplace
    communications.

About the Study

--  The study was commissioned by Cisco and conducted by InsightExpress, a
    third-party market research firm based in the United States.

--  Cisco commissioned the study to maintain its understanding of
    present-day challenges that companies face as they strive to address
    employee and business needs amid increasing mobility capabilities,
    security risks, and technologies that can deliver applications and
    information more ubiquitously -- from virtualized data centers and
    cloud computing to traditional wired and wireless networks.

--  The global study focuses on two surveys -- one centering on employees,
    the other on IT professionals. Each survey included 100 respondents
    from each of the 13 countries, resulting in a survey pool of 2,600
    people.

--  The 13 countries include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany,
    India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the
    United States.

The dust has settled, the results are in and now we’re looking and some of the dynamics behind the scenes of the recent elections. Did the use of social media by candidates make a difference?

Some of this was captured well in an article by The Associated Press, listed on NPR.Com  titled:
In Social Media Election, The GOP Capitalizes

This year, most major candidates had a Facebook page. Election night results went directly to smart phones. And everything — the campaigns, the ads, the voting — was filtered through social media.

Not all campaigns were effective in their use of social media. Some just put out a Facebook page, never updated it and the biggest opportunity lost, didn’t interact with their fans. How can one mobilize a group for a cause or candidate if you don’t engage them???

Once engaged, will the people who won their election continue to use social media to engage the people they represent?  Now, there is the greatest benefit!

This is from a couple of presentations I gave last week. Similar, but more up-to-date to a presentation given last Spring.  Enjoy!

Nine out of 10 videos watched during the 2008 presidential campaign that mentioned Obama and McCain were produced by citizens trying to influence each other. An explosion of political conversation is happening on these networks, and the last people to arrive at the party are the politicians themselves.

Interesting insights to what’s going on in the political arena and especially how the public has led the movement to political use of social media. Some of the claims and stats are really eye opening.

Go to: Social Media Changes Politics in the U.S., Sparks Revolutions Around the World

Enjoy and I look forward to your thoughts and comments

We are in the midst of a charged political season with the high profile campaigns using anyway they can muster to get their messages out, engage volunteers to help their efforts and engage voters. Campaigns have effectively and ineffectively used social media to engage. I mean to use the next several posts on What’s To Come to explore these dynamics.

Effective uses:

• Increase the number of “touch-points” with voters, donors and volunteers. Use frequent updates on Twitter, Facebook, and blogs in concert to increase the “Buzz” around your campaign. Encourage supporters and volunteers to re-tweet and share posts to their friends and followers.
• Create a personal connection between the candidate and supporters. Candidates and campaigns who take the time to become part of the social networking community can realize the benefit of direct and personal connections with their supporters. This is much more personal than a mailer or commercial and creates solid, grass-roots support.
• Get more mileage out of video. Debates, interviews and commercials and be captured and reused using YouTube or other video sites then spread through links on blogs, Twitter and Facebook.
• Promote an event. Facebook and Twitter are perfect for creating and event and inviting others to attend. Great for parades, fundraisers, forums and yes,,,, Election Day!  A great way to engage in a positive and participatory fashion.

Over the next few days as we edge in on the August 3rd Primary elections, I will discuss some of the ineffective uses of social media in campaigns, elaborate further on things that do work and point to a number of articles that discuss these uses.

What campaign related social media hits are you receiving right now? How does it affect your opinion or level of activity?

Looking forward to your comments!