Archive for the 'Global Implications' Category

May 12, 2008

Heidi Skinner

Published by
Heidi Skinner

Topics
Compelling Experiences, Emerging Technology, Global Implications and Uncategorized
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Green + Wired = Better Living Experience

Wired.com was kind enough to invite me to the opening of the Smart Home at the Museum of Science and Industry last week. In three words, I can sum up the entire experience: Green is Amazing. And the fact that technology is enabling the efficiencies, makes it all the more amazing.

To-date, I’ve been doing my part to go green, by reducing my consumption habits – in many cases, making sacrifices to save energy and resources. While my quality of life hasn’t been compromised, I can honestly say that the standard of living hasn’t increased because I recycle or use my own bags at the grocery store. The Smart Home, however, is employing technology to make life better.

(more…)

May 9, 2008

Geoff

Published by
Geoff Sowrey

Topics
Compelling Experiences, Global Implications and Organizational Implications
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Having a Health-y Experience

My wife had experienced strange (and very uncomfortable) abdominal pains for a number of years. No one could ever properly diagnose it. Every time the pain flared up, she’d trundle off to a clinic, they’d run a couple of tests (which would always be inconclusive), and a couple of days later it would disappear again. Painful and frustrating, since the obvious conclusions were that no one was reading the history of what was happening, and we both knew it would come back again.

Finally, last December (during another bout of pain), she lucked out and got in to see her long-time doctor. (Yes, read that sentence again. I said “lucked out” to see her own doctor. But I digress.) After recounting the last few years of goings-on, the doctor recommended something a little different. A new test revealed acute appendicitis.

Photo from fgfathome on Flickr

In all of this running around, one thing struck me as being so backwards that I was amazed that someone didn’t accidentally remove, say, my wife’s spleen. Everyone communicated verbally. Is it just me, or did we suddenly regress 100 years?

(more…)

Read comments (5)

Apr 18, 2008

Cory Brunsel

Published by
Cory Brunsel

Topics
Emerging Technology, Global Implications and Tools & Technologies
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes)
Loading ... Loading ...

Scan Me!!!

em_post_.jpg

What is this?

This is an EZ code – which is one of the many types of 2D barcodes currently available to mobile users. The EZ code format was designed by ScanBuy and mobile solution provider. This EZ code contains a link to a special article on the topic.

What do I do?

First of all you’ll need a mobile device, equipped with camera that supports this activity. Next you’ll fall into one of 3 categories:

1) You may be lucky enough to already own a new device that comes with a built-in barcode reader, such as the Nokia N95 series. In this case you should be able to go ahead and run that application on the device and scan the above EZ code.

2) You have a device with no software application to scan the EZ code. In this case you’ll need to install the application on your mobile device. Here there are a few options to consider:

3) The last scenario is unfortunate, but does happen too often at this point. Your device is unsupported and you will not be able the test out 2D barcode scanning – sorry.

Just want to read the post? If you’re unable to successfully execute the steps above or you’re simply time compressed,  see the post here.

Read comments (2)

Apr 16, 2008

Dave Robertson

Published by
Dave Robertson

Topics
Compelling Experiences, Customer Insight, Global Implications and Methods of Work
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

And I forgot my camera …

mexicodf.jpg

Image: Paco Olvera Monterd

Amazing how refreshing a change of scenery is, isn’t it? I spent a good part of last week in Mexico City on business, and the warmth of the people, the refreshing business culture and the great food made it a memorable journey. It’s been a long time since I traveled outside of the United States and Canada and the trip brought back pleasant memories of traveling in the North Pacific, China and Southeast Asia too many years ago. It was also a firm, but friendly reminder of the assumptions that we can make about customers and research.

(more…)

Read comments (2)

Apr 14, 2008

Matthew Milan

Published by
Matthew Milan

Topics
Global Implications
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (7 votes)
Loading ... Loading ...

Is Information Architecture worth saving?

Yesterday at the Information Architecture Summit in Miami, I delivered a presentation called “The Information Architect and the Fighter Pilot“. As part of this presentation, I looked at how the theories of John Boyd, a brilliant military strategist, could help us think more deeply about the practice and discipline of information architecture.

Part of my presentation dealt with my perspective that Information Architecture is an incomplete discipline; Information Architects are great at creating structure, but aren’t adept in the act of “unstructuring” things. In my opinion, most IA’s aren’t up to speed when it comes to designing web environments that have emergent properties.

(more…)

Read comments (17)

Mar 10, 2008

Cory Brunsel

Published by
Cory Brunsel

Topics
Emerging Technology and Global Implications
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (4 votes)
Loading ... Loading ...

Social Media Mayhem?

We can all agree Social Media is here to stay. It has been fascinating to watch the evolution as it has naturally become common place for individuals and organizations globally. There are countless examples of the great things the social space brings; reuniting old friends, tying people with like interests together, career networking and meeting new friends are just a few. Businesses are tapping into the social media space and continuing to find new ways to make it a stronger marketing tool. The technology is there to allow most anything and that’s exactly what we’re witnessing.

Take last week’s news report out of Ryerson University in Toronto. A student has been accused of cheating by his engineering faculty for running an online study group via Facebook. If the student is found to be in the wrong he faces potential expulsion. For details on this story please view CBC’s story.

(more…)

Jan 25, 2008

Geoff

Published by
Geoff Sowrey

Topics
Global Implications and Tools & Technologies
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (6 votes)
Loading ... Loading ...

Do you put too much faith in technology?

I had a couple of recent technological hiccoughs in my personal sphere. At the time, I passed them off as mere inconveniences — although I ranted quite loudly (warning, objectionable language) on one of them. But it was only when I stopped and took a step back that I wondered something:

Do I put too much faith in technology being there for me?

Borrowed from http://www.flickr.com/photos/14708858@N00/

Which then led to some interesting questioning as I looked at the world around me. How much are we dependent on technology being there? It’s so pervasive now that most times we don’t even think about it.

At least not until it doesn’t respond.

(more…)

Jan 7, 2008

Dave Robertson

Published by
Dave Robertson

Topics
Compelling Experiences, Emerging Technology and Global Implications
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes)
Loading ... Loading ...

2008 Predictions: Is value the new black?

This is my son’s eeePC. This little computer accompanies the Apple iPhone on Wired’s list of Top 10 Gadgets of the Year.

If I had to choose just one device, I would probably take the iPhone. If my son had to choose, I know he’d pick the eeePC.

He’s not alone. In December, this gadget got people talking. I heard about it from support people at CM, the counter guys at my local hole-in-the-wall technology store, and my brother-in-law, the (jaded) tech support guy for a local school board. The reaction sounded like a choir of Keanu Reeves impersonators. “Whoa…”

Another small, cheap laptop - so what?

Read comments (6)

Jan 2, 2008

Matthew Milan

Published by
Matthew Milan

Topics
Global Implications
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

2008 Predictions: Identity Crash

Sometimes, having a cool wand can be a career limiting move.

We’re all familiar with the stories about people running into problems when their private and professional paths cross in the online space. They aren’t new, but up to this point they’ve been curiosities to the average web user. My prediction is that this will change in 2008. The coming year will bring the collision of fronts to the online masses. This will be due in no small part to a continuing increase in social network usage. It’s going to be messy in the short term, but in the long term we’ll see real advances in how to design experiences that give people better control of their digital footprints. That being said, we won’t get to that place without a little pain. Read on to see why I think we’re in for a bumpy ride.

(more…)

Read comments (2)

Dec 21, 2007

Dave Robertson

Published by
Dave Robertson

Topics
Compelling Experiences, Emerging Technology and Global Implications
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

3 Quick Questions: Giving the gift of XO

At this time of year, agencies everywhere like to thank clients for their patronage. Critical Mass is no different. What’s different this year is how we’re doing it.

We decided to take the money normally dedicated to the usual stuff and donate it to the One Laptop Per Child Project on the behalf of our clients. It will go to purchasing XO Laptops for 100 children in developing nations. Instead of the bottle of wine or the chocolates, our clients will receive their own XO under the Buy One Get One Free Program.

Dan Evans, our President of Experience Design and long time CM’er, agreed to answer three quick questions about the importance of the XO Laptop, the idea of supporting the project and whether we’ll be seeing one at Critical Mass soon.

(more…)

Read comments (2)
« Older Entries