Touring the Virtual World in Our Pajamas and Slippers

As virtual world interfaces are gaining popularity, many believe this breakthrough technology would become the future means by which we access information.

Second Life, a popular virtual world, allows users ("residents") to interact and collaborate through customized avatars. Its objective is to offer cost-effective, innovative solutions by integrating virtual world into our traditional real world setting. Second Life has particularly wide application in the education environment. Popular use includes serving as classroom replacements, classroom enhancements, recruiting tools, and self-directed learning tools. Specific benefits include:

• Allows teachers or professors to reuse class materials easily
• Enables the university to offer classes to students around the globe
• Imposes low hardware requirements on students
• Provides an experience that is uniform and compatible to various platforms
• Uses generic tools that are recyclable between classrooms and universities
• Integrates with in-world tools, such as furniture and text-entry equipment, to tailor a classroom setting according to one's needs
• Allows educators to create, monitor, and investigate 'interactive experiments' in science
• Allows users to observe different aspects of the weather and meteorology monitoring lab
• Allows higher education's graduate programs to advertise its capabilities and recruit new students
• Offers interactive teaching tools for self-directed learning, progresses at an individual's own pace and availability

Yale University has created two Second Life islands with two projecrs. The first was a simulation project of the recreation of the Seeley J. Mudd Library on Second Life. The second project was the design of a virtual paper mill on Second Life in which students can explore the mill's operations including the machinery and processes. Both projects offer effective, inexpensive, and seemingly real experiences that would otherwise be unattainable.

Other interesting applications of virtual worlds can be found in purchasing, trading, and social gaming. People purchase virtual gifts at relatively inexpensive price for others and for themselves. For example, people can purchase Facebook gift items, Farm Coins and Cash for Farmville, or Xbox accessories for avatars. These micropurchases can amount to big venue for the creators of such products. Virtual goods are high in intangible value because gift-giving allow people to spread love and "exchange sentiments" with one another. People bought accessories, either to upgrade their avatars or enhance their gaming experience, allow them to express their uniqueness and assert their identities. In the virtual gaming environment, researches are being conducted to study gamers' behavior, which will offer insights to enhancing future gaming experience.

With virtual world interface gaining ground like lightning one obvious question is, when virtual world sales are becoming so quickly, how is that going to impact the real world economy? In other words, if we are satisfied with doing everything in a virtual world, then would we be needing clothing other than pajamas and slippers?

Sources:

Hand, Randall. "Learning in Second Life: Virtual Education VizWorld.com." VizWorld.com - Visualization, Computer Graphics, and Animation. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.

O'Donnell, Jayne. "Unlike reality, virtual retail sales are hot, especially for avatars." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.

Patuwo, Grace. "Yale Daily News - Virtual world, real money in 'Second Life'" Yale Daily News - The Nation's Oldest College Daily. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.

Schonfeld, Erick. "Augmented Reality Vs. Virtual Reality: Which One Is More Real?" TechCrunch. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.

"Understanding interaction in virtual worlds." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. Web. 21 Feb. 2010

Are You Ready to Venture into a BRAND New World?

Thanks to the development of social media, contemporary job hunters are afforded new and creative ways of finding that dream job online, without having to blast out blind resumes and constantly look up job-boards. There are online social networks, so-called "Professional Web", that help people manage their career. For example, LinkedIn, Ziggs, and ZoomInfo are great tools that enable people create a profile page, convey their skills and experience, and boost the image they want to present to the world.

Even better, many of these online networking tools are free-of-charge. Yes, I mean FREEBIES, again!

LinkedIn, a relevant social network available since 2003, has aggregated over 20 million members. It offers useful resources for professional and businesses as well as advertises free in-person networking events. Due to its abundant source of people's information, professionals can find creative ways to use the site. While a marketing professional may use it to promote his or her company's brand, conduct market research, look for prospective clients, and check up on competitors, an HR professional may use it to recruit, do background checks, and host email campaigns. All other folks may use it for open networking, Q&A, introductions, recommendations, and many more. Further, some businesses offer cash incentives to anyone who recommends candidates that result in successful hire. To further grow its user base, LinkedIn has also introduced new updates and additions such as group media, profile page, and iPhone application. Like most social networks, LinkedIn has its values as well as its flaws. Thus, users need to be aware of its potentials and use it wisely.

Now that we have venues to make us visible out there, how are we going to do it?

One way to effectively promote ourselves is through Personal Branding. We need to develop a strategy to campaign ourselves. We must be able to address questions such as what makes us stand out from the crowd, what are our greatest strengths and remarkable personal traits, what are our work ethics, and what value-add do we offer to our project teams, etc. We also need to know our mission and our passions (i.e. what do we want to do and what we want to be famous for?) and be able to deliver, with style, a unique and representative message about us.

In campaigning ourselves, one key step is to find ways to gain visibility. Some ways to promote word-of-mouth marketing include engaging in activities that can enrich our profile and show our skills, maintaining good social networks with our colleagues and friends, and growing influence and reputational power over those we work or associate with. The goal is to create a perception in others that we exhibit creditability, leadership, and power. Sometimes, it may mean teaching a class, contributing to a local newspaper, joining panel discussion, or presenting at workshops. Other times, it may mean volunteering for tasks at work that can broaden our involvement and thus allow us to voice our opinion on important issues. Bear in mind that, in order to get optimal results from using social media such as LinkedIn, we must invest time and effort in regularly assessing the changing market. This allows us to keep our skills in line with the market demand, and reinvent ourselves as necessary to maintain our brand's value.

Will all being said and done, is it safe to assume that our career would be a smooth sailing, with little left to do except inquiring the Magic 8-Ball regarding our luck or waiting for a wishing star to zoom by? Or, do we still feel that our career remain a challenge, like a checkerboard, a maze, or even a Rubix Cube?

Sources:

Branding Image

Lidsky, David. "It's Not Just Who You Know." FastCompany.com - Where ideas and people meet | Fast Company. 19 Dec. 2007. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.

Peters, Tom. "The Brand Called You." FastCompany.com - Where ideas and people meet | Fast Company. 18 Dec. 2007. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.

Ryan, Liz. "The Savvy Networker." Yahoo! HotJobs - Thousands of jobs. Find the right one. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.

Wallace, Brian. "How to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn." Social Media News and Web Tips – Mashable – The Social Media Guide. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.

Beware of Mobile Stalkers...They're on the Loose

Many telecommunication businesses believe that the GPS-enabled phone is a game changer in the wireless phone industry. As early as 2007, mobile social networking already existed, integrated with GPS location awareness programs (such as Buddy Beacon and Rave Guardian) and cut-down versions of social networks (such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter). Businesses expect this nifty new gadget to spice up the life of many, especially those under 25. While many embrace this new revolutionary technology with open arms, others fear potential cyberstalking.

Here are some positive and negative aspects of Mososo:

Pros:

• The GPS-enabled phone can pinpoint your location and direct you to places such as famous landmarks, motorway services, restaurants, or other entertainments.

• The whereabouts of your friends can be quickly located, making it easier for you to hang out with them.

• Software like Ubisafe can help parents to track the exact location of their children.
  

• The GPS alert services can help locate an elderly relative in distress quickly.

• A cyberscort service, such as Rave Guardian provided by Rave Wireless, Inc., links to campus police to ensure the safe arrival college students to their destination.

• Location-based services can generate business opportunities through the use of ad marketing.
  

Cons:

• To some, there are privacy concerns since the GPS phone keep tabs of you even while you are asleep and you have no control over who knows where you are (or who is stalking you)

• Being tracked by your friends, boss, or loved ones every minute of the day can be quite annoying.

• Being bombarded by location-based services with targeted ads and updates, and having your phone screen clogged up regularly can be irritating.

• Location awareness posts safety concerns. Pedophiles or identity thieves can hack into the mobile network and locate the whereabouts of you and your family members.

• The software application can be extremely addictive. Youngsters can stay logged into a virtual network, thus losing awareness of the real world.

Two years ago, some people were skeptical of the location awareness program on wireless phones. Today, it is evident that this integration solution is gaining popularity. As an example, back in 2007 mobile social network programs (like Buddy Beacon) were available only on compatible phones. Today, such programs run on multiple wireless carriers and phones. Speaking of which, Campus Police at American University is currently using Rave Guardian as a part of its student safety program.

Well then, if we had food, water (although some may prefer beer), and a GPS-enabled phone that we could text, send photos, watch movies, hound our friends, and locate hot spots (of course transportation and some money would be nice), then what else would we want?

Sources:

Cieslak, Marc. "Rise and Rise of the GPS Mobile." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 7 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

Goodale, Gloria. "Students' New Best Friend: 'MoSoSo'" The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com. 19 Jan. 2007. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

Hamilton, Anita. "A Wireless Street Fight - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 15 Feb. 2007. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

McCarthy, Caroline. "The Mobile Social: Not Ready for Prime Time?" Technology News - CNET News. 13 Feb. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

Samsung Mobile Phone. Digital image. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

Is the World Getting Creepier?

David Simond's Word of Mouse discusses Conversational Marketing, a new breakthrough of online marketing. Through this form of advertising, marketers draw on the the power of the Internet social networks, such as Facebook and Myspace, to connect to consumers and promote their products and services.

As expected, there are pros and cons to this new trend.

Pros:

• It's cool to become friends (or fans) of my favorite bands and organizations on Facebook because I get updates on what's new (e.g. new music, latest fashion, upcoming events, discounts, and freebies). I happened to be a fan of AMF 300 Shady Grove, a local bowling alley. It is just notified me about college night on Thursdays from 9:00 PM to midnight. College students who show their college ids can play unlimited bowling for just $10, eat for $5, and drink for $3.

• It is also good to show what you're a fan of. Not only does it serve as a conversation starter, it also come in handy when friends and family need hints on finding me gifts.
  

Cons:

• I find the Fandango scenario kind of creepy. Imagine you purchase movie tickets (via Fandango) while signed into Facebook, it automatically notifies your Facebook friends via news feed as to which movie, what theater, and what showtime. If the "not-so-desirable" someone decides to come along or show up unexpectedly, it's not easy to say "no". In fact, this is also true with online Blockbuster Movie Rentals. When you add a movie into your queue, it notifies your Facebook friends via news feed which movies you are interested in seeing.
  

• I also find the status update on Facebook creepy. Sometimes it feels like someone is watching what I put out there. For example, if I update my status or information page about liking Starbucks, there would be abs on the right offering free $25.00 gift card (which is usually a scam attempting to solicit personal information.

Regarding the statement that "Facebook allows its users to opt out of sharing their information", I find it frustrating at time. Facebook updates its site as often as people change clothes, and when that happens, all the privacy settings get messed up. It sucks because everything gets shared again until we reconfigure the settings.

For the article Why Conversational Marketing Requires Fundamental Business Change, Vicky Tamaru identified three requirements of conversational marketing to be effective. These include on-going, two-way, and authentic conversation with the customers. However, I feel that these are general marketing strategies for most businesses. In order to retain customers, a business must maintain good relationships with them and earn their trust and loyalty.


Sources:
Image

Tamaru, Vicky. "Why Conversational Marketing Requires Fundamental Business Change | Branded Entertainment." Business Resources, Advice and Forms for Large and Small Businesses. Web. 02 Feb. 2010.

"Word of Mouse." Economist.com. Web. 02 Feb. 2010.