How wise are the... crowds?

Source:

Sharing Information Corrupts Wisdom of Crowds | Wired Science | Wired.com

There is a principle which is one of the the basic in statistics and opinion polls. If you take a large number of people and ask them their opinion on something, most of them will probably give you an answer close to reality. It is also called common believe or wisdom of the crowds. Modern societies (mainly democratic ones) are based on this principle. Their goverments are elected by the majority of voters. However, the question of the source article is how unbiased is the crowds opinion on something when they know what the majority of the society is thinking on it.

Take for example a pop star that you don't really like. You can't say you enjoy his/her songs. You have a neutral and maybe slightly negative opinion on him/her. What if you knew that 70% of your friends think s/he is talented and like him/her. Whould you give him/her a second thought? Whould you alter your opinion to his/her favour? Well... this is another phenomenon called mass psychology. We often tend to follow large masses' opinions even if we are not 100% sure about them.

Now combine the latter with social media like facebook and twitter where you can easily see what large groups of people follow. Even better you can identify frineds of yours that you might respect their opinion in those groups. There you have it. A much easier and more effective way to bias the wisdom of crowds. So the question is... how wise are the crowds today with all this social media information sharing? The source article discusses the question and presents an experiment which shows that maybe crowds are not as wise as they were without all this social information sharing.

How do you want your... algorithms?

Source:

The Danger of Algorithms

I'm a programmer and have to say my job is writing algorithms, so... I love them! However that was not the case when I read the article above. Not to mention when I watched the talk on the video. What Ali Pariser is saying in the video is that there are plenty of algorithms that take under account a variety of parameters when we search (google) the web and read our newsfeeds on facebook. The experiment with two people googling the same keyword and taking different results is stunning!

So here come's the question. Yes, we'd love to have algorithms filter content and suggest to us the best of it. But what happens when these algorithms work and you don't know it? Even worse, what happens when these filters are applied without giving us any control on how they work? Do we end up with information junk food? Do we end up with the information that some people want us to see and ignore the rest of it? What about different point of views? Can we reach them easily? Do the algorithms allow us to think and understand different points of views? Do we end up in our own little information bubble or we connect we the rest of the world?

Think about it!

How do you view the world now?

Source:
Social media and your changing world view - TNW Social Media

Sometimes you have to read an article to realise it yourself. Our way of communication through social media has changed and still changes the way we view our world. First of all, you can keep in touch with friends in other countries and learn the news from their point of view. Not to mention that you can also read about what's happening from everyday people you never knew (see Twitter) and will probably never meet. Using social media made each one of us a reporter and news consumer at the same time. Every post an tweet is a small article about what's happening around us as we see it. From the tinyest to the biggest events.

First time I realized this power was some months ago with the events in Egypt. Having a friend of mine there and following his tweets made me feel as I was right there. Reading tweets and posts from real everyday people such as me and you those days made you feel you were there. Second time was in Japan earthquake. Same feeling. Empathy and realization of what's going on. Followng the events from the source, from everyday people living them right there, right now, changes the way you understand them. And that's a first step in breaking the barriers societies, religions, cultures are building.

Living events is one part of the change. The other is reading about other people's opinions. You don't have to necessarily agree with them. Having firends with different cultural backgrounds and reading their opinions in various subjects takes you in their place. Makes you stand in there shoes. Even if you disagree you can at least understand why they are thinking the way they are. The only way to feel that up to now was by reading news from newspapers, listening or watching them on radios and tv channels. Nowadays you can see the real people's opinions without the media's filter. That's a big change. Mass media's filter distances you from the actual events and in many cases alters reality. Well now, with social media... that filter is gone and the distance is closing. You can find out what real people are thinking just by some clicks and that's... magic. Let's just hope it works for good!

Schools on Facebook.

Source:
How Schools Can Use Facebook to Build an Online Community

Given the fact students nowadays are heavily exposed in the new digital world and social media are a big part of it, how can schools use them efectively? I know that many of you will probably stop reading right now thinking I'm crazy to discuss such a topic. It's not a taboo, students even in very young ages have facebook profiles. It won't be long that you will start seeing facebook profiles of 7 or 8 year old kids appearing as suggested friends to your profile.

So, it doesn't help at all trying to stop the inevitable. But since we can see it coming we can brace ourselves and our kids for it. Schools utilizing social media to connect their students and share content and infromation with them can also teach them how to use social media correctly. Apart from sharing content and information about their events and activities thay can also inform their students about how to protect themeselves when using social media. All that and many more can be done using the media itself and giving live examples of how to protect yourself and what can be caused from not using it correctly.

In a world where almost everyone will have a digital identity (or even better a cyber-identity) it's safe to know that teacheers in schools will teach your children how to protect themselves. Better safe than sorry.

Books Die Hard

Source:
Why Books Will Probably Never Die - TNW Media

In a previous post I noted out the benefits from reding ebooks instead of classic paper books. Some, may have misunderstood it but I never said that books will stop to exist. Books will exist for ever (or at least I hope so). As the nature of publication is changing towards digital there will always be the classic part of paper books.

So, for my readers who thought I was tottaly on the e-book side, there's an article with arguments for paper books. After all, I am one of those who still enjoy reading a paper book and I am currently reading one. However, I believe that the best part in reading a book is its content. So either you read it in paper of in electronic format the real value of it will still be its content.

Let's face it... books are like Bruce Willis in "Die hard'!

Let the world saving games... begin

Source:
Why the future of work is play - TNW Industry

I know that many of you will think that I am joking. No, it's not a joke. According to the article and Jane McGonigal, games can save the world. Gamers are so enganged in them and share a set of characteristics that everybody should have to make the wolrd whould be a better place. Usualy we play games to escape reality. What if instead of just escaping reality we could apply what we've learnt from our game in the real world?

That's the idea. Engage gamers in games that will influence them in the right way and make change their lives for better. According to the article we need half the population of earth to devote about an hour of gaming everyday in order to achieve that... epic win!

So... do you want to play?

Is there something special about Fridays?

Soource:
Why Users Are More Engaged With Social Media on Fridays

This post is posted on a Friday for a reason. No... I won't give any hints on good restaurants, cafes or clubs for the weekend, but as the research in the source suggests Friday is one of the best times to gain traction on your posts! So, if you are relaxing on your nice leather ergonomic chair heading for the weekend and checking on Facebook or scanning through Tweets to see what your friends are up to then please continue to do so.

In any other case, just take a second and think of yourself on a Friday afternoon, after a tiresome week, in your office just before you head out. What whould you do? Check on Facebook and Twitter? You are not alone!

Now, if you excuse me, I see my friends on Facebook are heading out for a coffee so... I have to go too.

TGIF!!!

In social media we trust.

Source:
Finding Faith on Facebook - TNW Social Media

If Jesus, Buddha, Moameth and all these religious icons were living today, whould they have a Facebook fan page? How many followers whould they have on Twitter? Well... believe it or not, they do have Twitter followers and Facebook friends and fans. Churches around the world are discovering the power of social media and using it to provide advice, shelter, help and whatever is needed to their followers.

Social networking sites are an excellent opportunity for religious groups to reach more people especially young ones, connect with them and help as many as they can. As long as they are willing to do so. I don't know if Facebook can destroy tradition within church but I think in a time when everybody is anxious over their everyday needs, having a religious mentor to talk to (even from a facebook chat) is far better than not going to church at all. We all need to believe in somthing to get courage, strength, and make ourselves better human beings. So, if Facebook and Twiiter can help in finding them by communicationg with priests and pastors, let it be.

One up or one down?

Sources:
Social Search, without a Social Network - Technology Review
What challenges does Google's +1 face? TNWGoogle
Why Google's +1 is not the social web TNW Social Media
What Google's +1 Means for Facebook

Lately, my RSS reader is crowded with posts about Google's new attempt to enter the fields of social media and Facebook. It's called "+1" and it's actually a button next to each search result form Google. Once you click on it Google knows that you recommend that result for others. It's more or less... Google's "Like" button. This means, that once you've set up a Google profile you can show your friends (also having a Google profile) what you like, while you are searching in the web.

To be honest out of my almost 200 contacts (in Gmail) there are only half a dozen of them with Google profliles that I am connected to. In addition, when I joined Facebook I didn't have to register yet for another email account and everything else that comes with Google's profile. I just did it for the networking without any additional burden (such an email account). Same goes with LinkedIn and other social networks.

So, first of all, Google needs to seperate its goals. If you are building a social network then do just that! And then offer the option to connect it with everything else. As for example in Youtube. When they acquired Youtube they didn't oblige anyone to turn their accounts to Google (they are doing it now after some year of buiding the user network).

After reading so many articles and trying the feature myself I thought. Well... since there are only 5 people I know that are going to see what I "+1"ed what's the point? Let's just hit the Like or  Share button instead! I can see the point in Google's movement since advertising in social media is turning into a major player in the ad industry. However, I have my doubts if "1+" is going to work. They 've tried the social thing before with Buzz and Wave and it failed. Trying to force users to come to your network especially when you don't have that critical mass that Facebook does is quite difficult.

I think they need to lure us into it. Show us the "1+" button (and relevant stats like how many people liked a page) without having to subscribe to Google for starters. And then, when people actually start to use it in their everyday searches... throw in the candy. It could be Search results personalization according to your network, or seeing what your friends are prefering or... whatever. Don't just tell us..."It's going to be great but you have to sign up" make us WANT to sign up. Make it necessary for us.

So.. what't it going to be... "+1" or "-1"?

Whould you give your work away for free online?

Source:
Should you give your work away for free online? - TNW Media

I have to admit it. I'm still indecisive about this question. As a consumer of books, music, movies and generally art I whould dream the day when everything was for free! I know you all want it. Not having to pay for buing your favorite artists' albums, not having to pay to read your favorite books and so on. Not to mention, that in a world where art is free, people will be educated much better and without the financial barrier. And this kind of education is so necessary in our days.

On the other hand... thinking as a software programmer and also getting in the artists's shoes I can see the problem. How whould they survive if they don't gain anything from their art. I'm not talking for the hobbyist's but for professional writers, professional musicians, professional directors, actors and so on. How whould they live if we don't pay them. At the end of the day, apart from the good critics and the public opinion about their work this is also an additional incentive for them. Not to mention that many of them depend financialy on it. Why whould a professional artist continue to produce art if s/he can't have some kind of income from it. Advertising within their art (we 've already seen it on video clips, movies etc.) is an answer to that but... what if they depend solely on that advertising? Whouldn't that compromise their product?

I don't have a definte answer on these questions. I just wanted to shere them witho you. However, I welcome whoever offers their work for free and I admire them!

The police is going... social.

Source:
Social Media and the Law: Police explore new ways to fight crime - TNW Social Media

“There is less debating about whether or not to get on social media. Now it’s about – we understand we need to do this, so how do we go about it?” That's the ending line in the article and it's really interestin now many ways the civilians can benefit from the police using social media. Instant information sharing, building a better more usefull social profile, investigating background and usefull information in specific cases and most importantly protect from new kinds of crime on the web.

There is no doubt we are entering a world of parallel lives, digital and real. This doesn't mean that the new digital world won't carry the social problems of the real one. Crime is one of them and in the new digital world is transforming in new forms. Having a police that takes under account these developments and tranfers its actions (protect and serve) to the digital world is vital.

However, there is a thin red line in usage of personal information and modern laws have to face this challenge. Crossing this line can be dangerous not only for civilians but for policemen too. So... yes... police should go social and it is going social in many countries but legislation should also follow the lead.

Is the cloud safer than... earth?

Source:
Why the Cloud Is Actually the Safest Place for Your Data

I know that many of you would think I'm crazy if I told you that the cloud could be a safer place to starage your data than your own hard drive. Well... given that even security experts cannot be 100% sure about their computer's security maybe outsourcing it to a major company is a good idea after all.

I know what you are thinking. How can I be sure that they won't use my data for other purposes. Well that's why there are "Terms of Service". Take the time to read them. I fo you don't like it or you think there are parts compromising your data security... then try someone else. If you don't find anyone trustworthy enough... keep it to your hard drive. Hawever, I think the benefits from keeping your data on the cloud are more than keeping them in your place and the risk (especially for common users without security expertise) is not comparable.

As for the data usage from the company that keeps them... for the time being the worst thing I saw happening is using it for targeted advertisement. Personally, I have deveoped the so-called "banner blindness". Ads... it's like they are not there. It has to be something REALLY interesting to catch my attention and I don't think I'm the only banner-blind in the world.

So... what do you think? Cloud or Earth?

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Is Google making us lazy?

Source:
Keen On… Why Google Is Making Us Fat and Lazy [TCTV]

Is ti really so? Is Google making us lazy? Does it serve us the junk food instead of healthy food? Can we use Google as an example in other industries? Really interesting questions and sceptism about Google's evolution and the impact on our lives.

What do you think? Are you afraid of Google? Do you think it's making you lazy? Do you think it serves you junk food instead of spinach?

Personally, I think the answer is somewhere in the middle and it depends heavily on how you use what Google offers you. You always have to be alert, open minded and well informed. And that's NOT only with Google!

The Literal Web Crowd: Are you part of it?

Source
A Critical Analysis Of The Literal Web Crowd: The Tools You Need To Survive In A Humorous World

This is not a news article. However, I found the analysis of the Literal Web Crowd quite interesting.

We use humour in our real lives for almost everything. It's somenthing you can't live with. You can't socialize without having a certain degree of humour. Humour indicates a certain degree of intelligence in a person. Sarcasm can be a great tool to communicate the most serious messages. Being able though to get the humorous tone in a face to face conversation is easy since there is also body language to support it.

What happens with stauses and comments on social sites is also very similar but without the body language. You can find the most hilarious conversations in comments on a friends status. Being able to get the funny part and built on it is one part of the story and some people just lack the ability to build. Though, getting the whole conversation leterally is even worse. It can lead to situations that you've never imagined and most probably getting literally whatever your friends are writting on their status or comments will get you isolated. Nobody will read your messages, nobody will comment on them and you'll get to a point where you'll have the feeling that nobody gets you! Well... guess what... It's the other way round. So... cheer up... read between the lines... pay attention to the tone (you can feel it even in written messages)... and built on it.

The world will be much more enjoyable this way!

Women in the web.

Source:
Why Women Rule The Internet

It has always been about them. No wonder why women rule the internet too!

It's not that they are in leading positions in internet related companies, but they are the main driving force behind consuming. They plan, they organise, they buy, they spend! So why care about men when women do most of the shopping? Adding to this that they are more open to socializing and they can remember more people in their social circles than men... there you are... that's the big player in the social networking sites!

I'm not surprised by the article. It's another real life phenomenon trasfered to the web. Have a window shopping stroll in a mall and count how many windows are about women and about men. Women win. It's common knowledge! Remember those conversations you have with women when they try to remind you of a person you know but forgot. It's remarkable!!! They never forget them! Even if they've just seen them once in their life!

So... I'm not surpised at all, seeing the same thing happening in the web. It's just another sign of how are lives and social activities are being trasfered in a parallel web-based universe. The cyberspace is being built using the same social rules we have in the real world for centuries!

E-book or P-book?

Source
Ebook sales in the US double year-on-year, paper books suffer double-digit losses -- Engadget

It wasn't long ago that I was saying that reading a plain old paper book could never be substituted by ebook reading. Well... I don't know if this is just a trend in US or something that will expand further. One thing I can tell you for sure, is that after giving a try to ebook readers on my mobile device and seeing the ebook reader devices in stores I'm changing my mind. You might not have the feeling of paper but the feeling from reading a good book doesn't change either in paper or in electronic format. The important thing still is the content and that's not going to change ever (I hope).

In addition, you also have the feeling of being a little more "green". When the customers ask for ebooks there is less demand for paper books and consquently less enviromantal destruction.

Finally, ebook readers offer a number of features that make reading even more enjoyable. You can easily share the progress of your reading, see other readers' opinions on what you 're reading, share extracts with friends etc. When you 're reading a great book, don't you always want to tell your friends about it? Discuss it with other readers? Ebooks make this easier. As soon as you start reading you can feel part of a worldwide group of readers and share your feelings and experience right away.

There is strong advocacy on the other side too and I am not saying that I'd like paper books to dissapear. However, now that I saw the other side what I can say is... don't knock it till you try it!

That's the way you do it!

The news:
Google Ventures Launches $10,000 Startup Referral Program For Employees

Well... you know what they say. Never do something that you can get someone else to do it for you!

Google changed it a bit. When someone's doing something we'd like to do... we buy them! Now their employees get in the game too! Find us something interesting to buy and win 10000$! Sounds more like a new gambling game but... it is now an official (nevertheless clever) policy!

Social sites and human rights.

Source:
Blog - SXSW: Building Human Rights Into Social Sites
My view:
Social sites today are extending our classic social interactions. Being able to communicate so easy your ideas is both a blessing and a curse. However, I think that having a larger, universal audience that can criticize or support you can be a filter that you can't just ignore. Having social sites interfering in any way with this kind of freedom of speech would be a huge mistake!
They just have to provide the appropriate technology and defend the freedom of their members from any threats.

Welcome!

This blog is all about technology news that get my attention and I just want to write about them.
So simple!