My Antennae Are Up

In the past 7-8 days, I have somehow become more aware of different examples of peer-collaboration, prosumerism and other models disussed in both Wikinomics and in my class on Emerging Technologies.

It's not unlike what happens when you purchase a new car. You suddenly become aware of all the other Corrollas or Ford F-110 pickups that are out there. You had never noticed them before, but suddenly here they all are.

Its called top of mind awareness among those of us in the advertising industry.

But seriously folks, here are some of the things that caught my eye.

On August 29th, an article in the Metro section of the Des Moines Register, that was actually syndicated through the San Jose Mercury News.
The subject of the story is how Google "stays in touch with the world's curiosity". Highlighted in the story was Ben Gomes who's department is responsible for what you see when you perform a google search query. Those auto-suggestions you see as you type in a search are all the result what Google now calls User Interface.

A week ago, on August 30th, an article from the Associated Press appeared in the Des Moines Register that suggested that the Oxford English Dictionary, which weighs 130 lbs.) may go eventually stop publishing hard cover editions. The idea that people will pay an on-line subscription fee for it's use however may be a poor strategy. I can look up the meaning of any word on google or find any similar word at thesauris.com for free. Wikipedia put Encylcopedia Britannica out of business, dictionary.com can do the same for the Oxford English Dictionary.

Other items of interest include mention research by the Pew Research Group. It notes that just two years ago, Americans rated the television just below automobiles and land-line phones as a necessity in their lives. According to Pew, 64% of Americans rated the Television as a necessity where 42% feel the same way this year. "Only 29% of Americans 18-29 consider the TV set a necessity".

Finally I say an advertisement for a local grocer promoting a contest in which customers invent their own healthy snacks and submit the recipes with video on-line for a chance to win up to $5000 in free groceries. Prosumerism at the grocery level...I like it!