Below are resources, links and guides for Amy Webb's "10 Tech Trends" talk at the Online News Association conference, held Oct. 28-30, 2010 in Washington, DC. If you have any questions or would like additional help, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Scroll to the bottom to view/ download a full set of notes.
Trends + links, in order of appearance:
#1 - Mobile Scanning
Amy explained the reason for the Ultimate QR Game at ONA and how 2d barcodes can be used for a variety of purposes.
#2 - Geofencing
Right now, users volunteer to participate in networks such as Foursquare and Yelp. In order to check-in and get new information delivered, users have to open applications and interact with them manually. Current apps are limited by the constraints of operating systems. Some phones offer push notifications, while others don’t. Notifications don’t always move with the user, which means s/he must check for updates... (see full notes below for more details and explanation).
Amy showed several advanced check-in applications, including:
Miso
Tunerfish -- this is actually a Comcast property
Fanvibe
Superglued
iSwi
#3 - Predictive Analysis:
In short, predictive analysis is about watching user behavior online and in social networks, collecting data, and determining what s/he may want to watch/ read/ buy/ etc. in the future. New stores in Facebook have access to predictive analysis tools. The “French Fry Algorithm.” (See full notes below for more details and explanation.)
#4 - Hyperlocal Hype Cycle Wanes
Amy started with some background on hyperlocal content and the origins of AOL Patch and explained why, according to various research and real-world case studies, current hyperlocal projects aren’t sustainable.
Instead, Amy explained how to make it work: Hyper-personal. 1. Content must be niche. Hyperlocal isn’t niche, it’s just geographically specific. 2. Local is where I am right now. Not necessarily where I live or work. 3. Content must be credible, and it has to be real-time. 4. It’s not just about maps and citizen journalism. 5. Content must be social and must involve social networks to succeed.
#5 - Dynamic Curation
People want to architect their own content experience, to interact with it, to manipulate the story, to alter the course of their futures. We talked about new dynamic content offerings. Amy demonstrated a number of great new tools, including:
Flipboard Wavii (still in private alpha) Storify (still in private beta) Qwiki (still in private alpha)
#6 - Search Gets Personal
There are a number of new search tools that harness social networks to dig deep for information. They can be incredibly helpful for reporters...and also terrifying if you become the subject of someone’s investigation.
Amy demonstrated Greplin which is still in private beta. It allows you to search through all of your social networks, as well as the regular web, email and in other places, all at once. She also explained Google’s acquisition of Angstro and how it will be used to power Google Me. Next, Amy showed how combining Spokeo with KnowEm can now be used to track down hidden usernames...and much, much more.
#7 - Augmented (Diminished) Realty
Amy quickly reviewed work by The Astonishing Tribe and prototypes that now allow anyone to view your social networks in real-time by simply scanning your face. She then explained the next iteration of AR: DR, or “diminished reality.” She demonstrated new technology that literally removes objects from view in real time. The process works similarly to the smudge function in Photoshop, except that it happens in every frame of a live video, over and over again in rapid succession. The result is literal invisibility.
#8 - Tablets Amy gave an overview of the 2011 tablets and looked at the specs of several models. Please see the Q4 Tablet Matrix booklet we prepared for ONA. If you did not get a hard copy, you can download one here.
#9 - Interactive TV
Amy talked at length about Interactive TV. We looked at the new Google TV and discussed the differences between Interactive TV today and PPV/ WebTV from 10 years ago.
Think in terms of: Operating systems: Google, iOS (Apple) TVs: Samsung, Toshiba, Vizio, Sony Boxes: Roku, Wii ISP: Comcast, Verizon Intermediary: Yahoo! Connected TV
Amy also discussed the differences between the operating systems. We looked at the MyGeneration iPad app.
#10 - Personal Metrics
Amy explained how in Contra Costa county, kids are now tagged so that parents, teachers and others can track them during their school day. Wal-Mart is also using RFID tags in clothing to track inventory.
Amy demonstrated a BodyMedia prototype armband, which tracks, in detail, your daily health habits (sleeping, exercise, body temperature, caloric intake) automatically. It syncs automatically to an iPhone or Android, and data can be reviewed and shared. Audience members got to see her real-time body metrics. The BodyMedia armband will start shipping Nov. 15th.
Download a bunch more stuff here, for free!
Webbmedia Group’s paper on Flipboard, sent to clients just before its official release.
Webbmedia Group’s 2007 QR Code Primer. An oldie but goodie!
Webbmedia Group’s Research Note on Baby Boomers and Mobile.
Are you playing Webbmedia's Ultimate QR Game at ONA? There are plenty of cool prizes still left! Click here to get started!
