Keeping Up With The Time

Posted on July 29, 2008

I am intrigued by the power of opening up one’s platform to the world of programming talent out there.  The results are impressive as both the flood of applications for Facebook and Iphone have proven.

One example of the fruits of this strategy is the Emerald Chronograph (Iphone’s App Store Pick of the Week).

Here is how they describe it…

Watch collectors, astronomers, and those who simply admire a beautiful feat of engineering have been waxing enthusiastic over the Emerald Chronometer. A $4.99 application, Emerald Chronometer models seven “high-end mechanical watches,” offering such “complications” as sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, longitude, latitude, and others.

In short, this $5 app turns your Iphone into a fancy, mechanical watch.  Why wouldn’t a high-end watch company want to take advantage of this technology as a viral marketing play?  The team behind the app is right here. All that one would have to do is…call?

It is certainly an interesting way to get those who are “saving up” to have a small taste of the real thing. And, even better, it is a constant reminder that the “real thing” is out there waiting for you when you do want to drop the $3-6K on a really nice watch.

Just a thought.

Tapping A Movement

Posted on July 25, 2008

Rarely is there a “big idea” that really is a BIG IDEA.  BIG IDEAS are rare.  And more often than not, they come from small places.  We like BIG IDEAS…almost as much as we love small places.

See this video case study of how Unicef tapped Droga5 to ignite a true MOVEMENT that just may save the world (or at least a couple of million people).

If you don’t get goose bumps…you are cold as ice (water).

 

 

 

Clarity

Posted on July 23, 2008

Sometimes one picture is worth 1000 words.

Note: image found on ffffound.com

An Unusual Customer Event

Posted on July 22, 2008

What do you do when you need to grab a quick bite…and you are stuck in a field…in Romania?

Had the architects planned for this?  Ethnographies?  Ride-alongs?

On Ideas

Posted on July 22, 2008

ZeFrank on the preciousness of ideas.  

I think that he is onto something.  

Ideas.  Use them or lose them.

A good reminder.

Design…That’s Practically Criminal

Posted on July 21, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The planners in Loeben, Austria have just erected this beautiful design experiment.  The design is certainly breakthrough.  Let’s hope that it helps convince the residents, not to break out.

 Yes.  This is a jail.

 Can you believe it?

Here are a few more photos of what has to be the most luxurious correctional facility on the planet.

 

A New Realty Reality?

Posted on July 21, 2008

What if…2000 reasonably astute Americans could tell you what your home would sell for +/-2%…more than a month before closing?  It could happen.  Actually, it already has.

I am big on mashups and bullish on prediction markets.  In the wake of the mortgage meltdown, Realius and Zip Realty have combined forces to create “Price Me Now”.  Think one part Google, two parts Zillow.  This prediction market asks average Americans to guess the sales price of home in Boston and Bay Area.  Game players who most successfully pick the sales prices get IQ points.  Playing off of one’s desire for “cred”, Zip and Realius are reaping the rewards of unparalleled data.  Then of course, the educated real estate buyer can take advantage of Zip to buy said property outright.

 Its an alliance the provides even more power to the people….at a time when those in real estate are feeling particularly powerless.  Realtor beware.  James Surowieki would be so proud!  If the rollout goes as planned, “Price Me Now” may be coming to your neck of the woods.

Google is certainly paying attention.  Care to map out their next move?

 

The Network Effect (on us)

Posted on July 14, 2008

Albert-Laszlo Barabasi’s book left its mark on us back in 2002.  We still think that it is a pivotal work that is worth a read if you’ve missed it.  His theories have played out in Google, LinkedIn, Facebook and Ning.

It was Barabasi’s work that first led us to James Surowiecki and The Wisdom of Crowds.  Our Customer Cabinets(TM) were the end result.  Why should anyone “rent” access to a sample of their customers after all? It is far more effective to sponsor a community of customers and potentials…and tap into them constantly for advice and insight.  Add a robust database on the back-end and you have a strategic asset that just gets smarter about each respondent with every question you ask.  Infinite Learning.  Awesome Advantage.

Now we are on to the next application of these important theories about networks.  For years we have used Mind-Mapping in focus groups.  Get ready for Mind-Mapping on steroids.  We are excited…and the new product’s launch is just around the corner.

Stay tuned.

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