Text as Interface — The Usability of Words
More than ever, text is a part of the user experience. Do we appreciate the art involved? Has the medium changed the message?
How Much Is Enough? Disagreements About Scale in the Age of Information Abundance
A debate about scale touches on how two players are also ramping up their presence, and how that might topple the status quo.
Google Announces Opt-Out Village
In response to consumer concerns, Google announces its new Opt-Out Village. Happy Friday!
Think Social Media is a Fad?
A video compilation of data, set to a familiar tune, showing why social media is changing the world.
Google Knol — Vanity Publishing Fails Again
Google Knol is fading fast. Why didn’t it work? And when will it be put out of its misery? Meanwhile, Google opens the doors on a faster, more accurate version of its search engine.
The Strength of Weak Ties: Why Twitter Matters in Scholarly Communication
The special nature of Twitter makes it ideal for information sharing, and allows it to exploit the links that matter most for information dissemination — the weaker links in the social space.
Facebook Acquires FriendFeed, Hitler Throws a Fit
The social media world was thrown for a loop when Facebook announced its acquisition of FriendFeed. Even historical villains were upset, as captured in a smart parody video.
A Decade of “Crossing the Chasm” — The Mountain Has Moved
My copy of “Crossing the Chasm” is 10 years old. What’s changed? Are we crossing it fast enough?
$80,000 per Song, and Perceptions of Copyright
Two court decisions assign enormous fines for infringing copyright by sharing songs online. Is this a sign that the public is not as jaded about copyright as we’ve been led to believe?
Interview with Jason Roberts from the ISMTE Annual Conference
An audio interview with Jason Roberts, founder of the ISMTE, recorded after a keynote in Baltimore Tuesday.
Will Feudalism Fade from Knowledge Exchange?
Feudalism was a necessary step in social organization, but is it the end-state for academic organization? A number of related events this past weekend make me think not.
Stochasticity — and You Can Dance to It!
A video tribute to randomness, with a beat you can dance to. What better for a Friday?!
The “Article of the Future” — Just Lipstick Again?
Elsevier’s “Article of the Future” prototypes appear, and only spotlight the underlying conceptual problems for a traditional, article-centric publisher.
Deleting Books — A New Kindle Dilemma
Amazon demonstrates its ability to remotely remove content from the devices, creating an Orwellian stir with its customers.
Sci Foo Camp – Day 3
Sci Foo Camp 2009 — Day 3. Journals of the future, video games, rocketships to Mars. It’s all in a day’s work.