Monthly Archives: January 2011

The Social Media Revolution is for Real

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Crowds in Cairo, Egypt, January 30, 2011

Quick, my iPhone, I need to Tweet this!

Recently I highlighted the retro-digital movement with a fun poke at the Newton, the precursor to the hand held movement.  Now the Middle East is erupting with revolt in Tunisia

, Yemen and Egypt.  George W. Bush projected the hope that the war in Iraq would be about new regimes, and I guess that is likely to happen based on the news of the day.  I’m not taking sides in this issue – so statesman like of me, but rather I’d just like to comment on the tools that are driving this forward in such a lightning fast manner.

This is our first Twitter and Facebook revolutions.  Wow and these technologies weren’t up and running when we decided to invade Iraq after 9/11 and Afghanistan.  Twitter is now coming up to it’s 5th anniversary, and Facebook, is just now starting out to conquer the world, or at least the part that Google doesn’t control.

Imagine, our first Social Media Revolution.  I can’t wait until the T-shirts are out.  This almost happened a couple of years ago in Iran, but the regime there caught on and was able to head it off before they lost control.  The outcome in Egypt is very fluid and no one knows how it will end.  What we do know is that cutting off the Internet connections to Egyptians scored a major rebuke from President Obama – just not the right thing to do.  I’d be pissed as well if someone tried to cut off my lifeline.

When I talk with my clients about “disruptive technology” it is in a whole other context.  Many, especially my clients who are closer to my age with lots of grey hair, don’t fully comprehend the changes, but are trying to.  This should go a long way as a proof source for where the future is going.

There is a host of information from media on this situation – the best article for now I found from Scott Shane in yesterdays New York Times – “Spotlight Again Falls on Web Tools and Change.”  I’ll highlight more as it comes on line in my suggested reading side bars.  Tomorrow the thoughts from Evgeny Morozov who highlights some of the downsides of the technology- mainly that it is being used to track dissidents.  Disruption cuts both ways I guess.  Carrier pigeons or Newtons, anyone?

Bring Your Newtons to the New Digital Revolution

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Apple Newton - 'My Precious'

Apple Newton - 'My Precious'

I found an article from Dominic Basulto that really hit all of my ‘analog’ buttons.  After gorging on the news and shiny tools at C.E.S. last week I found his “Making Sense of the Retro-Digital Movement” very interesting and delightful.  With our major journey into the digital world it is nice to see that there is some push back away from the light into a darker analog world.

I have developed a specialized consultancy based on a lot of what Dominic alludes to.  I try to guide normal or ‘analog’ people through the mysterious digital world they find themselves in.  Most of the analog offspring were ‘born digital’, and at worst they are fully functioning hybrids who can live in both worlds.  As an early adopter (geek to most) from the 60’s I find myself at best a ‘hybrid’ – and I have taken on the role of guide or sherpa to many of my brethren – thus I became the ‘Analog Sherpa’ – no costume needed, thank goodness.

Dominic has seen that there are retro events that show that many of the ‘digitals’ are adopting analog tools – like carrying their iPads with covers that look like old books.  I can’t wait to see the first ‘steampunk’ iPad – perhaps it will look like an old Newton with Hopalong Cassidy stickers on the back.  As a lifelong gadget freak, a Newton was just about the only thing I didn’t buy- though I coveted it.

So what does this mean?  Dominic posits that the retro-digital movement is a sign that the digital and analog worlds are started to merge.  With so many seniors now on Facebook the divide between the generations is decreasing – to the distress of their grandchildren.  Technology is here for everyone; there is no escaping it – not even in your isolated cabin in the Idaho woods.  Wi-Fi for all is the new battle cry.  Onward my analog soldiers, drop that dial-up modem and ‘get real.’

Fear and Loving from Las Vegas – Geeks Version

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Last week began the 2nd week of the holiday shopping season that now follows right after Christmas.  AKA  “Consumer Electronics Show” it is held in Las Vegas and despite its name it is not for actual consumers to attend, but for industry insiders to glimpse and ogle all of the new technology coming to the market this year.  I am a geek, but I can’t get in, so I have to watch from afar, wiping drool from my computer screen, and during bouts away from my computer, off of my Droid X.

The amazing thing about CES is that it used to really astound attendees, now not so much.  Most of those coming already know about what they will be seeing, but now they get to kick the tires up close, and ogle (I love that word) all of the show models who are now back in vogue again.  The bigger news for the last several years has been who hasn’t been there – Apple.  For some time Apple chose to leave CES and hold their own announcement launches.  Last year, 2 weeks after CES, Steve Jobs showed the iPad.  Now it is changing the way we read and communicate away from our computers.  This year there were 35 new iPad like tablets that were shown at CES.  From zero to 60 miles and hour in under 2 seconds is what the change feels like in the digital world.

This used to be the showcase for not just Apple, but also for Microsoft.  Boy have things changed for both camps.  Last year they showed a type of tablet running Windows 7.  It fizzled, and the successors to that model are running the Android versions of software.  A big hit for Microsoft, the former elephant in the room (not a jab at Steve Ballmer, or at least not intentional).

The other big participants in the CES were all of the coming versions of 3-D TVs.  I’m still not on board with this trend, but then I have a hard time seeing HDTV with all of my versions of ‘blended lenses’ to see across the room.  Sound not so bad, but then I have to change the batteries in my hearing aid or I’m dead.  Getting old in the digital age does have some perks, even if the tiny batteries are expensive.

The last comment on what I gleaned is that this will also be the year of 4G coming to many of the cell carriers.  The bad news is that they all say it is coming, but someone forgot to put in the upgrade order with the engineers who build the systems.  Even my carrier, Verizon, is touting their new system, but it will take years for it to roll out to most areas.  Too make matters worse they are announcing that they will sell iPhones – yeah, but the demand on the system from the projected increase may shake coverage to its roots and dropped calls will increase there, not on AT&T – boo.  Last year there were 4 iPhones and one standard cell running on AT&T and Verizon.  This year there are now 4 Android phones and one hold out iPhone – slated to go to the new iPhone when it drops.  The score – 4 less AT&T phones and now 5 Verizon serviced phones.  Change is great, but it’s getting crowded on the new party line.

The big question is – what does all of this mean?  Change is accelerating, everything is moving towards digital, and those who provide content and channels will control the world.  That means that Comcast and Time Warner will be the big winners.  The big losers – old media who live in the print world exclusively.  They are declining, and most are now fully onboard and ready to push out their content to iPads, Tablets and Smartphones.  The plop sound in the driveway of your newspaper at 5AM is destined to be replaced with the ping on your digital appliance of choice very soon.

Disneyland Is Always Tomorrowland

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Disneyland CastleOver the holidays I got a real blast from my past with several articles regarding Disneyland.  Many of you know that I spent my college years working at D-Land, both undergraduate and graduate years.  It is also where I met my wife.  I tried to sell both of my sons on working there, but alas, they would have none of it.  Not cool anymore.

The Frank Rich editorial in the NYT “Who Killed the Disneyland Dream?” highlights the promise of Disneyland, circa 1956, as the representative place where all could come together and share what would be called ‘the happiest place on earth.’  The live metaphor for his tale comes from a 30-minute film made by Robbins Barstow, an amateur filmmaker who documented his family’s trip to Disneyland in 1956.  The film has recently been admitted to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

The Barstow family won a trip to Disneyland sponsored by the 3M, and a condition of the trip was to make a film of their journey.  The film shows the promise of D-Land, an egalitarian world that was available to all.  My first trip to D-Land came that same year as a 9 year old…and it was wonderous.  Rich’s point is that the promise of Disneyland has changed over the years, as Disneyland itself has changed.  What has not kept up with that original promise is our economy and unshakable faith in the promise of a better future.  In 2011 we have been shaken, our economy is not robust, but the Disneyland dream is still as real as ever.

You can see that the Disney folks continue to push that dream in another article from the NYT – this one on the work that is done to keep lines moving and the guests entertained while waiting for one of the nine rides the average guest will experience in a single day.  Their goal is to boost that to 10 soon, with the expectation that great experiences will bring their guests back more often.  Give them what they want and they will return.

The last article in my reading this holiday period had to do with the closing of the park over the vacation due to over crowding.  Yes Virginia, there is a capacity level to the park. I know because I was part of one of the first tests back in 1967 when we fanned out to count heads at a designated time on the 3rd Saturday in August, which was the traditional busiest day of the year.   I don’t know how the Disney folks made it up to their potential guests, but I’m sure it included some ‘pixie dust.’  Disneyland teaches us all how to market, listen to our customers and continuing strive to make our buying experiences better.  I learned that lesson a long time ago…and I still have some ‘pixie dust’ stored away for emergencies myself.

Let Sherpas Be Your Guide

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Sherpas Leading the Way

Sherpas leading the party

A while back I highlighted an article I found in the LA Times regarding Sherpas who had relocated to Colorado and were thriving in their new habitats, mainly as business people.  What I wanted to do, but failed to do was tell my personal story of my work with real Sherpas, and the reason I adopted the term for The Analog Sherpa Group.

In 1971 I was detailed to the German Alps with the Special Forces group to oversee adventure and mountaineer training for US Army troops.  At Bad Tolz I came into contact with 2 Sherpas who had been brought in to teach us about authentic high altitude climbing.  As I young Infantry officer who had gone through some of the best training the Army had to offer I thought I had my gear ‘squared away.’  In fact I found out that I knew very little about the mountains, and leading people through the mountains.  Our two Sherpas taught us more than any of the official cadre knew combined.

They out climbed us, out carried us…and all with smiles and selfless determination to make sure that everyone succeeded on each trip.  They were ever quiet, but always smiling.  They taught us everything we needed to climb, and how to smile in the face of adversity.  The funny thing was that neither of them spoke English and none of us spoke their language.  A single interpreter sufficed to help with the technical words, but their smiles and gestures proved to be the true ‘guiding factor’ we needed to accomplish our tasks and climbs.

They taught me a lot, and I’m proud to claim to be a Sherpa today, if only in business, the message and guiding factors are still the same.  Keep moving forward, no matter how heavy the load.  Time to rest tomorrow.  With that in mind you can accomplish anything.