Wi-Fi is todays' topic

So after my weekend, wi-fi is my topic of choice.

Why? Because although apparently in downtown Detroit we have it, it's absolutely nowhere to be found. But the marketing says we do!

We've seriously stepped back in wi-fi connectivity down here. It used to be we had a few coffeeshops and the like which had free wireless... and today, we only have Starbucks and things like Hard Rock (which hasn't been operable for awhile). And these Starbucks, the ones who have wifi don't have power plugs, and the ones without wi-fi have power plugs. How stupid, especially because Starbucks makes money off of the wi-fi. And although I prefer free, I will occasionally pay.

But I can't if there is no power.

Mike Wendland had an article about wi-fi and how people aren't using it, and uses a UPS store as an example. I have to ask the question, who is going to use wireless access in a UPS store? Absolutely no one I know. I've never been to a UPS store that even has a place to put my machine... let alone sit and work, or get a latte.

It's like wi-fi at the Borders downtown, that has no coffeeshop and no place to really sit. It's okay for marketing, but we're (the tech using community) is smarter than that. I'm not going to crack open my laptop in the middle of a bookstore between rows of books.

This is an example of people who know nothing about the patterns of a technology trying to implement the technology. Again, corporations and businesses are throwing money out the window in a race to be "cool" (which, by the way, determines many business decisions). Soon, I will release an informative paper on the subject on our web site for everyone to benefit. For now, check out this IHT article on the subject.

The reality is that wi-fi is a great draw if it's free, and there's a good atmosphere for the purpose. I remember a place I used to go that would have six to eight users of the wifi almost every evening; why? It was near where people lived, it had a good atmosphere in which to work; I go to Espresso Royale Caffe in Ann Arbor, and the place is constantly filled with people buying drinks and using wi-fi; college students yes, but also older people as well.

I'll edit this post and link to the new paper when it's done. We've got some big changes in store at the shop - very exciting times.

Brits have me thinking again

On BBC Radio 4, I was listening whilst working to a very intersting segment about micro-innovation. That's where basically there are "FabLabs" that are basically desktop fabricators. It makes the point that the "Digital Revolution" is over, and now it's a manufacturing one (which makes a whole lot of sense from sitting in the spot I am in Michigan).

But the focus of the story was micro-innovation.. where these farmers in India were inventing their own gadgets and improvements to make their own lives easier. The link to the place is here.

What's also interesting is that when the inventive force isn't necessarily profit, lots of common-sense solutions develop. It sorta turns the whole process around.

Not saying for-profit innovation is bad; nothing of the like. But what I am saying is that it is interesting when it's done for a completely different reason. It personalizes products; and creates markets of 1 to a million.

Why do I mention this? Because it ties into perfectly to what we talk about. Digital media has really been the first way that people can serve micro-markets well and cost-effectively. Whether it be digital audio (music, podcast, etc) or software for specific tasks (those of us using Macs know all about small programs that do one thing really, really, really well), the world market has been turned upside down with this.

And, in turn, I think some people looking at outsourcing as the death knell to our way of life need to remember that we're always innovating forward... what are people going to do when you can fabricate what you're looking for on your desktop? You already can receive/create/distribute all kinds of digital goods (which doesn't shut out professional work - it's commonly part of the quality differentiator; and for businesses, they always are going to need to look outside for expertise in things).

Now, I don't think we're going to start making cars in our living rooms, however, if fabrication techniques keep changing, you may completely eliminate people from the manual labour/fabrication side of the equation (save for managers/engineers/etc).

It's interesting, scary, thrilling, all at the same time. Only time will tell where it ends up.

Digital Repentance

Was on the StartupNation forums, where I happened upon someone who was looking to raise $1 million bucks. Well, they were a little short on details on high on "please help," so I made a comment about doing an online version of their elevator pitch on the radio show.

Figuring, they came in from the 'net, maybe they haven't found the radio show yet.

I write up this post, as kind as I can, with links and things to the radio show and aural podcast. I post.

Then, I look at their profile, and stop in my tracks.

They haven't heard the radio show... Because they're deaf.

I, world, today, am an idiot. I have edited my post accordingly, and if that person sees this blog I do wholeheartedly apologize. What's worse is this person probably got the first message as an email and I open with talking about the radio show. I am so, so sorry.

And it made me think... I'll make sure to include transcriptions of the podcasts I do from here on in. I thought about it, I've even went "that's a good idea." But, now, it's forefront in my mind.

Almost no one does transcriptions... but it's probably a very, very good idea. As much as podcasting can be a new awakening of information for the blind (as I have read), it can also be exclusive of the deaf and a transcript is definitely necessary of what we do.

I have learned my lesson. I am not perfect, but I will continue to try.

More 'net annoyances

This has proven me that in fact, there are lots of extremely stupid people.

The past day my company contact form has been inundated with spam to addresses. That's right. Spam on my contact form... if there is yet another way these morons can waste computing time and bandwidth, this is it.

What's even better is that it's not even complete english! It's things like "iv constrction dog cat." What the (blank) is your point? You can't upload attachments. You can't make the email link go somewhere else on the contact form.

Whomsoever is doing this, you're wasting your time and money, because whatever "bot" you employed is peppering me with junk. I can't even get ripped off if I wanted to!

On a different topic, saw something interesting on a forum, an interesting (however short) interview with a design expert about blogs and RSS. I like it, because it's a very practical, non-rose-coloured-glasses view about it all. View it here, in StartupJournal.

Are Blogs Useful & More Funny Spam

Haven't posted in awhile... things have gotten quite busy.

The team has had the pleasure of picking up two new clients this week, one local and one from the great state of Texas (or is that a republic? Was that the one that was a pseudo-country and then joined the union? I forget these things in my old age).

Did a rush project and got a very kind email with the words

I now know that no one else would have been able to do what you did for us.
It was a miracle.

Very interesting take on blogging in a couple places. First I like is on the BBC, on the In Business podcast. He does a nice primer asking some questions that I think lots of people may ask about it. Check it out here... I subscribe to this podcast. I know, it's British, but I find alot of it applies over here too.

Another interesting question was posted on the StartupNation forum. I really wish the thread would liven a bit, because it talks about one of the more interesting items on the "blogosphere," where a company which seems to be imploding (I know nothing other than what are in the blog posts) and it's leaders seem to be tearing into eachother publicly. It really makes you think the value of blogs; quite frankly, as I type today I must remember that it's quite possible the people reading this could think I'm as daft as the people on that blog.

I hope not. I hope it's entertaining and informative to somebody.

Let's leave you with my Daily Slice of Spam:

Subject: "Hi, mountain fern."
I love it. I'm a mountain fern.
Didn't know that a mountain fern could have an email address, a blog, a media company... and even better, who in their right mind would go, "yes, I believe someone will click on this. There are a high percentage of ferns and fronds on our list... it's been statistically proven. Send that out!"

What's even better is the rest of the spam is complete gibberish, such as "non legenderean oval-bodied net ton ocean bug new mexican moonlight school."

All I can think of is a line from Barenaked Ladies on their Rock Spectacle album (I believe live from Montreal) where Ed Robertson is feeling bad for not knowing directions to some off place and then a woman derides him for not knowing... "Lady, You're an Idiot!!"

I guess you gotta know the album to find it funny. Enough rambling. Good night, see you all later.

p.s. When you check out Ed's Blog, read bandmates Steve Page too. He's a luminary when it comes to digital music... he gets the reality of the situation (as I'm sure the whole band does).

It all fits together

When I was communicating with a prospective client, I think I've come up with the most succinct description to have a great web presence. It's all stuff I've believed for a long time, but it had never came out quite right, and maybe it still needs a little trimming:

"Everything locks together to make a great site. The Brand locks into the Design; Design locks into the Functionality; Functionality locks into the Experience; the Experience locks into the Brand. It's a complete circle."

It applies for podcasting, for web design/development... for anything internet. Off to create graphics. And if it's not already (tm), I call dibs!

Ever feel like others are moving faster?

That's how print ads feel today... the sales of online ads are outpacing print ads, with online spending going up 35% whilst print .3%, according to IHT.

This of course begs the question... is print going to die? I truly think not, however, all print publications need to address and create new content for the web, in order to maximize return. The web, unlike what some believe, is not print, it's not TV, it's not radio. It's all of these things put together, and common, converged medium to pull in content.

The most beautiful "R" word

Finally.

For years, there has been a group of dedicated people that knew that this metro region NEEDS co-operation and regionalization. It's been a dirty word. I've heard people called racists and communists around here for the mere thought that there needs to be a mass transit system (not two, wasting buckets of money), that there needs to be co-operation on a range of issues.

This region is so scarred by racism and poke-your-neighborism it's ridiculous. We separate like oil and water, and not just along racial lines. We catfight between eachother holding onto our one-square mile fiefdoms (thank you Michigan state constitution), afraid of losing any power for the common good.

Finally, I think we may be at the tipping point. There have been repetitive news articles that a good sum of business folks are just fed up with things not working. I'm not in Mackinac, but I'll tell you that I am and all my friends who have already left this state were, because in part, of the silly, childish games our leaders have consistently played pandering to a constituency of fear and isolation, wasting our tax dollars while professing to save them.

No more. Finally, we're in the tank enough between the automotives and the ground we're losing to other cities and states that our leaders might just listen to the sensible cries. The sensible cries that say if you have 900,000 poor people packed together who can't get to work it's a bad idea. The cries that say we need COBO to succeed. The cries that the zoo makes more sense as a regional entity. The cries that we're throwing money out the window expanding for developers into all areas of the 10-county region and letting our inner suburbs' infrastructure rot... because sprawl is now consuming our suburbs. The sensible cries that no matter what some may think, we're all interdependent and our economic future is knitted together just like every other region in the entire world.

Sorry folks, unlike what I've been told by some, it's not the rest of the world that's doing it wrong, the statistics and the jobless prove that we're the odd ducks.

I hope this dream doesn't die on the island this week. The fate of millions in this state depends on leaders doing what they are supposed to do... and that's lead.