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Cloud Computing. Almost everything you wanted to know-but were afraid to ask.

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

Cloud computing is THE trending topic of this decade.

Apple just announced iCloud – 
Google is becoming the Cloud – just ask them.

and what is the Chromebook anyway.
How do they compare you ask? Well, see Computerworld
Ok, Ok, so there are a few more companies to watch… so rather than go into each one and confuse both of us… here is a great list of Cloud Companies to watch.

Cloud computing may kill a lot of major companies. Technology is making billions for some and a few years later corporations that were huge are circling the drain.

Will the cloud re-define the need for applications ? and hard drives ? and many other elements that seemed to be infallible?

Who needs a hard drive if you don’t need software. And if technology gets smaller, more portable, will it become part of other elements.
Buy a TV it has the device. Buy a car, it’s part of the dash. Redo your kitchen it’s built into the system.

All of these “Jetson” cartoon ideas have been around, they are real today, but they are all getting a dose of steroids with Cloud computing. The question may be are we ready for it. Is it secure, is it better, faster, smarter, safer?

On to entertainment….

I would venture to say that with that in mind… CLOUD ENTERTAINMENT will be a close second very soon.

A movie use to be in a theater,  a show use to be on a television and a song use to be on the radio. We went through the days of albums, tapes, cds and mp3’s in music, we saw movies being adapted for VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray for home consumption. We are watching TV take on many forms as people watch it on the DVR… or an entire season via iTunes.

But what is next is rather interesting and exciting for some and completely frightening to others.

Rather than tip-toeing around it… have you checked out Bamboom yet? Great article just came out about it at All Things D
This includes the discussion that free entertainment may never be free… but will that change.

If you have a Netflix account and you’re watching a Movie at home in your den with your slippers on, with a bowl of popcorn, with your dog at your feet…. and then the phone rings and you forgot you had to be somewhere…  NO WORRIES…
pause the movie… continue watching it on your iPhone… stop it again…. watch it on your laptop… stop again… watch it while visiting grandma in Minnesota. It doesn’t matter… because Netflix sees you as an account. A user who has paid for creative content and should be able to use, view, consume it whenever and wherever you want.

The tricky part and where the line continues to be redrawn is the notion of the cloud.
If “IT” as in “ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT” is already out there, floating in the air, then if you have the technology (antenna)… to consume it, it is yours.

Not so fast say some… while others say. YES.

[VIDEO] Love em or hate em… Google knows what they’re doing. #UX

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

This is my personal call to STOP MAKING BAD WEB SITES.

With years in design, art direction and creative direction, I am focusing much of my attention on User Experience [Interaction/Interface design]. Utilizing my knowledge of core grid systems, incorporating the user’s needs and motivations and fully realizing the potential of the medium and the platforms we have available to us. Not to mention those to come. I hope we can all agree we can make web sites… but making truer tactile digital experiences, that is the goal.

If you don’t like how Google is doing some things or maybe you think they’re taking over the world, demanding all others to follow their tracks. Well you may be right.  BUT, it must not be forgotten what else they have brought to the globe. And this is a list that is long and growing.

Case in point.

I have been very fortunate to have experienced many countries and traveled to most of our United States. Along these travels, I have often visited art museums, but many don’t have that ability – until now. To see what greatness is found throughout the world. What we beleive to be great, to learn about these works of art and to share them with others.

As a creative professional with a focus on UX and the social media platforms, I look to the future of how we are going to be using digital content to inform and connect. As a parent, I am encouraged when I find sites like the GOGGLE ART PROJECT. My kids and yours, and those across the globe, with access and the click of a mouse or a point of a finger can go to the TATE in London, The Vang Gogh in Amsterdam or the Kampa in Prague.

Would love to chat further, but I am headed to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Do you have a SMART telephone? If you don’t most believe the whole world will soon. #cisco

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

Was on Linked-in navigating through some of the new tools they are rolling out and noticed in the lower right hand corner of the page a survey being conducted by Cisco. Though I generally would not participate… the subject being assessed was quite interesting.

Not sure how long this has been running, but noticed it had over 1200 votes and will be going for another 3 months.

Cisco has long been a player in the tech sector, but they, along with other big hitters are really ramping up while at the same time are forced to constantly assess if they are ramping up in the right direction.

Certainly not an exhaustive, scientific study, but it was rather alarming that smartphone ran away with the first place position. Is it that we can only see a few months behind and in front of us with technology? Smartphones are the craze currently. But with the intro of the new Google Laptop – CHROMEBOOK – is real ‘cloud computing’ going to take it’s place?

What’s next? Flying cars and jet packs?

:?)

Cisco_survey

MOMS: Authentic Cause Marketers in the Purest Form. #mothersday #cause

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

If my mom were a marketing campaign she wouldn’t be selling anything, she would be sharing information.Moms are like that aren’t they? They tend to guide their consumer, don’t they? Helping, caring, providing support, bridging the gap, being there for the need at hand. 

A user of a digital experience, a consumer of a retail store, a customer to a service provided… should these not all be treated the same way? Ideally the best in UX design goes hand-in-hand with honest, cause related marketing. Provide the information for an individual or a group (target demo) to make good decisions. A best choice option for themselves will likely also be better for the world around them and the greater good.

In honor of Mother’s Day and moms around the world.  I thought it would be a nice time to share some of the finest cause marketing sites and campaigns with you.

Don’t shout or oversell. Just simply share emotionally, heart-felt support or solutions to the user experience, to your customer, the consumer in all of us… and you will be moving someone to action. And THAT is the goal. To move someone to feel or do something because of the communications provided to them and it’s a powerful message when it is positive all the way around.

Here are a few great sites to start with:

All things about the “cause”

What is the Halo Award?

Information Junkfood: Are you in a BUBBLE and don’t even know it? A TED talk you should watch.

/ John Ayers / Leave a comment

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Ted Talks.

And, on occasion I will stop by and check out a recent talk. Sometimes I do so because I am on their email list, sometimes I check the most recent video, the highest rated, or even a TALK about a specific topic or issue – say “education”.

In the world of mass media, instant media and information – that you are supposedly in control of, when, where and how you get it… I was intrigued by this discussion.

We all know we are targeted by ads. Right?
But are we being “filtered”… and is this good?

Here is the TED TALK I suggest you watch.