Abbott & Costello in the Modern Era — An Update on “Who’s On First”
If Abbott & Costello were around today, they’d have a great time talking tech. Here’s how it might go.
Can the Creativity of Social Persuasion Cure “Corporate Asperger’s Syndrome”?
When we lose track of the social role of our materials, we miss opportunities to accomplish our goals in refreshing ways.
arXiv Receives $883K Stimulus Grant
A three-year NSF grant will create new tools for arXiv e-print repository.
The e-Book Revolution — If At First You Don’t Succeed . . .
E-books are changing the world of publishing, but rather than creating something new, too much emphasis is being put on re-hashing failures of the past. The changing market doesn’t have to be a zero sum game, and the rise of new forms may not spell the death of the book as we know it.
More Viewers Watching More Ads — The Lessons of the DVR Paradox
DVRs increase viewership and engagement with advertising. Will we be able to recognize the equivalents in our industry when they arrive? Are some here already?
How Meaningful Are User Ratings? (This Article = 4.5 Stars!)
Are user rating systems a good way of measuring the quality of an author’s research? More and more websites are abandoning 5-star rating systems as the results they give are deeply flawed. PLoS’ approach will probably suffer the same problems.
Publishing in the Google Ecosystem
Complaints against Google miss the point — it’s the Google Era, and publishers who work well with this major upstart have plenty to look forward to.
iPhone + Book = PhoneBook
A mixture of traditional and new that is effective, simple, and rather astounding.
Participation Value and Shelf-Life for Journal Articles
Discussion forums built around academic journal articles haven’t seen much usage from readers. Lessons learned from the behavior of sports fans may provide some insight into the reasons why.
Google Maps a Disruptive Path with a “Less Than Free” Pricing Model
In a set of disruptive moves that may be unmatched, Google is positioning itself to simultaneously compete effectively in smartphones, GPS, geo-ads, and operating systems, all based on a “less than free” pricing model.
Scientists Are Using Social Media Tools (and May Be Using Social Networks, Too)
Two new analyses — one in Cell, and one of a bit of source material from another post — suggest scientists are pretty likely to use social networks and social media.
The Hidden Economic Carnage in Science and Education
Economic statistics don’t measure science or training well. Our fields are being hurt inordinately, but the damage isn’t being measured. What will it mean long-term?
Google Wave: When More Is Too Much
Google Wave is a cacophony of functionality that doesn’t even try to reveal its value or purpose to the user. You have to be determined to use Google Wave in order to make it work for you.
NIH Funds a Social Network for Scientists — Is It Likely to Succeed?
The NIH spends $12.2 million funding a social network for scientists. Is this any more likely to succeed than all the other recent failures?
The Original Macintosh — A Review from the Wayback Machine
Stumbling across an early review of the first Mac shows how far we’ve come.