Devices and Shopping — New Trends, New Potential, and New Perils for Retailers
As customers become facile with a new level of information infrastructure, what will that mean for us over the next few years?
Wordnik, the Online Dictionary — Revisiting the Prescritive vs. Descriptive Debate in the Crowdsource Age
Can an online dictionary combining wiki and search do better? In some ways, yes. In others, there’s still the intractable problems of English to solve.
Better Late Than Never? Economists Grapple with Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure
A major economics association establishes conflict of interest and disclosure rules for its publications, expecting others to follow. But is the lateness of these rules reassuring, or maddening?
The Secret to Your Perfect Look — By Adobé
The secret to a beautiful you? Just apply this, and all your concerns about your appearance can disappear.
The Mirage of Fixity — Selling an Idea Before Understanding the Concept
In despairing over the loss of “fixity,” Nicholas Carr unintentionally reveals how fluid even printed materials have been.
Trickle-Down Thinking — Does Anyone Understand Why Universities and Not-for-Profits Have Large Endowments?
Follow the money in academic publishing, and you find ponds that resemble the larger lakes of academia in general. By mimicking endowment practices originating at large universities, are not-for-profits limiting their ability to grow?
Paper and Press — How Vanishing Technologies Become More Precious
Two shops from a bygone era fight for survival in downtown Los Angeles. Moving into the future doesn’t guarantee that things improve or become more edifying, as this video shows.
The Best Dishes of 2011 — A Selection of Remarkable Posts from Another Great Year
When the data fail us, it’s up to the palate to discern the finest creations from the Kitchen. This year, there was a feast of offerings. This is one attempt at listing the most savory.
Getting Real About Amazon — Taxes, Prices, Competition, and Long-term Strategies
Amazon’s retail juggernaut has many people upset, but perhaps we should all reflect on the fact that a company devoted to customer service, thin margins, and a long-term disciplined strategy can thrive.
YouTube — Long-term Strategy Pays Off With Amazing Stats for 2011
How many views did YouTube have in 2011? More than you might imagine. Is it any wonder YouTube is front and center in so many cultural shifts?
Dangerous Restraint — Is Censoring Science in Anyone's Best Interest?
A controversial request that two journals censor full data reporting for fear of bioterror raises many questions, points to precedents, and hints at a better way to handle the problem than stifling scientific information.
Chefs' Selections: The Best Books Read During 2011
From classics old to classics new, the Chefs’ discursive reading habits surfaced some gems in 2011.
"Hating Amazon Is Not a Strategy" — The World Reacts As Amazon Opens a New Front in the Pricing Wars
The misplaced anxiety and consternation publishers and authors showed in the face of Amazon’s Price Check app revealed an industry and culture rooted in the past. And that’s not where the readers of the future are coming from.
More On the Power of Mobile — Trends, Functionality, and Adoption All Point to Dominance
Mobile integration with plants, carpets, and shoes? Yes, they are increasingly being used, as the centrality of mobile devices increases.
Measuring the Wrong Things — Has the Scientific Method Been Compromised By Careerism?
As we continue to measure the number of papers, citations, and the combination, perhaps we should be measuring a much lower number — the number of studies that can be replicated after publication.