Which Department Owns Social Media?

Should Social Media be managed by PR , Customer Service or Marketing Department?  The article gives an interesting view that a company cannot ignore.

Which Department Owns Social Media?

What if a hotel know what you want?

The New York Times has an article on behavioral tracking,  cameras that can follow you and monitor every move and everything you touch.  On the web, online retailer can track the search terms, your 'like' and even your wall posting in Facebook and Tweeter.  Now with mobile devices such as a smart phone, retailer can send ads to you based on your past preferences and behavior.

If you spend 1 to 2 hours a day on the Internet,  you will properly lost track of how many entities are tracking you. Not to mention what they are doing with your personal information.

This seem like a serious intrusion of privacy.  And in the US,  consumer advocates has been promoting the notion of informed consent whereby company clearly notifies you of its policies and their intend with your personal information.

Look at it the other way round. 

Imagine you step in to a hotel you checked in last year during your holiday.  The hotel staff promptly address your name correctly.  Your check-in process was smooth as silk because they have already assigned you a room based on your last visit.  When you entered the room, you noticed that there is an extra power socket on the dressing table.  It seem that the hotel remembered your special request during your last visit.  In your mind you would have said: "wow, this is great service!". 

Will you be angry that the hotel actually recorded your behavior of your last visit? You would properly not if it translate into excellent service the next time you visit the hotel again.


Now, let's go one step further. What if, you noticed that the hotel has placed some promotional material in your hotel room.  There are promotions on camera. special tour packages to attractions in the city.  Something strange was that these promotional materials matches your recent searches on the Internet before you come for the holidays.  It seem that the hotel 'knew' what you are looking for during your stay here.

Will you be presently surprise or feel that your privacy has been intruded?

What do you think? 


Slipstream - Consumer Tracking Outstrips Protections - NYTimes.com

Blogging declines among teens, young adults - Internet - News

it seem that we have advanced from just blogging to just updating our status on Facebook and twitter etc. Blogging declines among teens, young adults - Internet - News

Three Cups of Tea One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

I have been reading this book written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  It tells the story of how Greg helps to build schools for the poor in remote and secluded places of Pakistan. I am deeply affected by his story.

I too have a dream to help others.  Be it building schools or creating a fund to help the poor.  It has been my dream.  However, I have always think that I need to have enough money first before I could do all this.

This book has changed everything I believe in.  Greg show me that you do not need to have money to do good thing. Just have your determination and your belief that you can do it. People will starts to believe in you and support will come it way.  It will be difficult and challenging.  Like Greg has experienced, it is harder than climbing the K2.

I am going to climb the K2. 

MI5 dumps spies who can't use Facebook and Twitter - Telegraph

Even the UK intelligent service is re-looking at its employment requirements.  If you do not have a Facebook account or a Twitter, you better start one. 


MI5 dumps spies who can't use Facebook and Twitter - Telegraph

BBC: Tributes to 'father of computing'

Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen lead tributes to Edward Roberts, the "father of the PC", who died at the age of 68.

While we take computer, internet and other social network for granted, we should not forget how this was made possible by a couple of innovators and entrepreneurs.  Is interesting to see how Microsoft became what it is now.  All thanks to a simple person - Edward Roberts - who believed in them.

Do you have what it takes to spot such talents?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8600493.stm

 

Global Audience Spends Two Hours More a Month on Social Networks than Last Year | Nielsen Wire

Based on a recent survey conducted by Nielsen, people are spending more time on social networks. Web users across 10 countries spent roughly five and a half hours on social networks in February 2010, up more than two hours from the same time last year.  This seems low because I believe many of my students spend more than 2 hours a day updating their walls and twitting. 

How many hours do you spend on social networking site per day?


Global Audience Spends Two Hours More a Month on Social Networks than Last Year | Nielsen Wire