net neutrality & censorship

Got one more!
“Are you missing the boat on mobile?”

I’m hoping we can get a couple mobile-savvy folks to talk about where mobile is going and how to get in on the action.

Background, FWIW: I have a theory (which, for all I know could be total bunk) that unbeknownst to many, social media is serving as a bridge toward the mobile-centric future. By that I mean that as companies accept and/or embrace social media, they will get more comfortable dealing with content/interactivity that exists in a 3rd place (as opposed to the web-based controlled content they now know, but resisted vehemently back in the late 90s — don’t get me started!).

I think this acceptance of OPC (other people’s content) will make it easier for companies to embrace the idea of mobile, which essentially is OPC plus Space and Time.

As I said, FWIW…

If you’re looking for stats, Lisa Foote (@footenotes) is the queen of mobile stats.
If you’re looking for the developer point of view, Justin Grammens (@justingrammens) is a great resource. He has developed on a majority of the mobile platforms.
I would be willing to sit on a panel and give the perspective of a ‘power user’. I keep pretty close tabs on the latest and greatest hardware and software in the mobile space.

Cheers,
Breon

To elaborate, Lisa and Justin know MUCH more about mobile than previously stated.

Didn’t mean to pigeon-hole them

PowerPoint Karaoke Baby!

Ok friends – we (space150) are working on a really fun project with Imation Corp who is sponsoring a nation wide #PPTK contest.

And UnSummit has kindly allowed (or should I say – un-prohibited?) us to have a little fun with #PPTK!

Imation has donated Prizes for this event (who wants a “You Down with .PPT?” t-shirt?) – and anyone who participates will be elligible to win the national prizes too!

Full details at http://www.powerpointkaraoke2009.com

Telling better stories — or: authenticity is easier than you realize — or: everybody thinks your product is boring (and that’s OK)

Essentially a response I’ve been formulating to the myriad requests we get to help clients “go viral” with a video. A great idea, in theory, but not always a best (or necessary) approach. In fact, many times a failed attempt to create buzz/community around a brand can be more harmful than doing nothing.

My discussion would (hopefully) foster a conversation where honest gripes, constructive criticisms and noteworthy victories can all be shared as we explore a path to better, more authentic content.

I love Jake’s ideas about telling better stories and being more authentic. I want in on that discussion.

for the mobile convo you’re gonna want lisa foote (@footenotes)

as for the “telling better stories” convo — i’d really like to vent a bit in there. hope there aren’t soft toes in the room (but don’t care if there are)

I’d love to be a rowdy crowd member at the mobile discussion, specifically vis-a-vis how HTML5 is a godsend and the future of how a lot of mobile applications will be made.

As for Jake’s discussion, I’m available to make snarky comments.

Per Mykl’s suggestion, I think we need a design-related session (and I’d be happy to facilitate it). Let’s call it:

Rearranging Pixels: What Design Does and Why It Matters

Graphic design is often considered the ugly step-child of web development, and is frequently relegated to a second-class status. It’s either considered to be all about pretty pictures (which everyone wants, but no one wants to admit to caring about), or it’s only about usability. But effective design can speak to your audience and communicate meaning far beyond mere words.

So what is the proper place for graphics design in the world of web? How should web designers and web developers work together to achieve better results? This session would be an opportunity to discuss the good and bad of the web design process, as well as to contribute suggestions on how to improve the process for all.

Topic: Social Media & The Enterprise

We’ll talk about the challenges involved with using social media type concepts, tools and methodologies inside an organization. With large or high-profile brand reputations at stake, the effective use of social media becomes less clear and more involved. The idea is to talk through these issues that big-brand social media champions need to think about and deal with to successfully get start using social media.

I’d love to facilitate a session called “psst, your balls are showing.” aka fake it ’till you make it.

As a writer who left a fulltime job to launch a new creative business, I find myself alternating between extreme courage and sheer terror…. But I have my reasons for taking this leap, and above all I want to inspire other newbies…. Or re-invigorate the ones who already succeeded. I think if we work towards a collective success… We will all make it to the next level!

All I ask is that should I facilitate a session that I don’t compete in the same time slot as Nyberg.

Type your comment here.

Here’s a session that already comes with a facilitator.

How to become your own top client: Turning your consulting skills into a viable, standalone business

This session is for writers, designers, coders — really, anyone who sells their skills to clients at an hourly rate and wonders if there’s more? Is it possible to use your skills to create a product or service that earns you an income that is not limited by the number of hours you can work each week? Or, perhaps you’ve realized that as a freelancer, there is no exit strategy. You can’t sell your practice.

Jeremy Gavin (@screenfeed) has agreed to facilitate. He is a graphic designer (he was once Prince’s graphic designer!) who has turned his skills with design and Flash into a growing business, ScreenFeed which provides HD content to owners of digital signage networks.

I would love to help chat about SM implementation-Its always been an interest of mine, and I have spent some time chatting with lawyer-types about the legal aspects.

If I get this, no putting me against nyberg.

Dynamic Relevance or Designing Experiences for the Moment

Semantic, real time, social, mobile and contextual are so last year. Let’s talk about what happens when you mash them all together. I’d like to share my idea of where this is all heading. Not the end of the line but the next stops along the way.

Topic: Lay-offs help you make decisions you probably should have already made.

My topic idea is reflected in some of the others coined here. I’ll be there to add to the discussion.

Dynamic Relevance or Designing Experiences for the Moment

Mobile, semantic, real time, contextual and social are so last year. Imagine what happens when you mash them all together. That’s what’s next. I’d like to share my thoughts and have a conversation about how combining the trends of today can create the trends of tomorrow.

PJBFCP – I gotcher mobile + realtime + social right here! We’ll explore those concepts (and realities) at Unsummit.
– Lisa
follow me @footenotes

another idea i’ve been mulling over:

the “telephone” — what it is, how people are using it, which celebrities have adopted it, which news outlets are killing airtime by talking about it and what it means for your business (and the consultancy you’ll hire to talk you through the big changes ahead)

are you ready to eschew any and all real conversations about strategy and just start “calling” people at random?

come along for the ride as we “pick up” the “telephone” and “listen” to our future through the “earpiece”

i’m quite serious about this…

Topic: Co-working, Collaboration, Social Entrepreneurial Biz Incubation

I’m interested in connecting with those of you working on/interested in these ideas. If you’re already immersed in the topic, feel free to facilitate. I’m delighted to join in a conversation about how we can create a more collaborative entrepreneurial environment here in the Twin Cities.

Topic: Co-working, Collaboration, Social Entrepreneurial Biz Incubation

I'm interested in connecting with those of you working on/interested in these ideas. If you're akready immersed in the topic, feel free to facilitate. I'm delighted to join in a conv3rsation about how we can create a more collaborative entrepreneurial environment here in the Twin Cities.;

Topic: Rock-and-Roll in the Digital Age

Summary: My band is currently working on our second indie rock release produced in the Internet age. In this session, I will talk about how online social media and the Internet have changed and shaped the way that me and my band create music, and how Apple’s GarageBand has made it possible for anybody to create amazing music.

Time permitting, we will discuss how the online social media and the Internet have altered the way that music is marketed.

What do you think? Are any of y’all interested in this topic?

To build a bit on what Jake mentioned in his telling better stories suggestion — way too often “doing something cool online” or “going viral” is the objective of a program. Too many companies want to jump in the fray and yell “me too!” without thinking about who they’re trying to reach and what they want those people to do. I think it’d be rather interesting to sit down and talk about how to frame up these campaigns we keep discussing in a way that serves everyone better, and delivers something more effective than wow factor.

toby — love it. i bet greg swan would love to sit on that panel…

rich — yeah, that’s a huge part of it… “we’re going viral” is not a strategy at all. it’s a failure of imagination… especially when said viral attempt ends up neutered by all sorts of (often valid) concerns and sensibilities within a brand…

I’d be happy to sit on a mobile panel with Lisa Foote and/or the Cheap Tools session. I view net neutrality a little differently (not censorship or walled gardens) from a mobile perspective. I’d be happy to contribute there as well. Wherever you want to plug a strong mobile business person.

pretty upset that nobody has seconded my panel on the “telephone” yet…

if you aren’t ready to hear about “phones” — and how a growing number of people (other than you) are using them to “call” thousands of different “numbers” — then i just feel sorry for you.

and i fear for your business.

@Amy Bryant – Jeff Pesek and I are working on a revamp of the super awesome CentralStandardTech.com. The mission of the site is to help Minnesotans connect and learn about each other. Perhaps we can talk about how we can support your discussion/presentation.

Topic: The role of social media/the interactive space and human rights

This is a discussion about the two sides that social media is currently playing in the international relations space. On one hand it is helping human rights through giving people a voice and connecting practitioners. On the other, criminal/terrorist organizations are using it to violate human rights and connect on an unprecedented international scale.

How about a retrospective on the Cluetrain Manifesto? It’s the 10 year anniversary.

“Ten years after its original publication, their message remains more relevant than ever.”

Interesting idea re: agency model. Started my company b/c thought agency model broken. Several years in I partner with agencies and hit against same walls. Nothing seems to have changed – ok – evolved. Look forward to this one.

I think the mobile idea + jake’s telephone idea could be combined in a free-for-all of brilliant discussion and heated debate. How’s that for pretentious commentary? But still. Think the two might pair nicely.

A final thought & then I reach my 3 drink-er-comment limit… how about in the agency discussion a bit on why, despite every possible indoctrination, inspiration, and revelation known to humankind being pushed, infused, and diffused into our culture, PR still kinda sucks in its model? I am seriously dismayed every time I hire a firm and the first thing they do is pull a list. And then pitch from that in a very old school way. One way ticket to suckville, IMO. Happy to moderate/facilitate – will wear knife proof vest.

I agree with Nyberg – telepohones suck. Or they’re awesome.

Basically I’d like to argue the opposite of the point he’s making. So whatever he says, I say “no.” Actually, it’s the opposite…

Co-facilitate net neutrality.

I’d like to pull together a session called “What will the media marketplace look like in 5 years?” I feel like we’re heading for a massive crack-up of traditional advertising and even marketing as we know it. So what’s next? Paul Isakson has a great presentation he’s been pulling on the next 60 years of advertising. I can think of five other people to drag in to help facilitate this discussion. The goal would be to leave with several “suppositions” on the board developed by the group. These could be predictions of facts (”Newspaper advertising will be weekly only”) or entire thesis (”PR Agencies will merge with creative resources to become the AOR for most companies.”)

I really like Jake Nyberg’s idea of telling better stories, I work in education and we are all about authenticity, well, I am, some people aren’t.

I also really dig Kim Opitz’s idea of “fake it til you make it.” I was hired to do a job I knew nothing about, and 3 years late I’m still there, and run my own area, talk about faking it until you make it!

Social Media Reality Check. It’s been over a years since we looked at what real people knew of this thing called Social Media. Flashy graphs and a Keynote presentation is secondary to your comments and discussion.

Rohn Jay, want to merge topics? I had proposed: What should today’s agency model look like? Your comment seems to be hitting on the same theme.

UPDATE 9/30/09: Sign up period is over. Turning off comments on this post. Thanks for all the submissions, folks! We’re working on the schedule now. We’ll contact facilitators soon to confirm your sessions.