Wholesome Social Media

I just spent a rather odd 15 minutes or so watching Paul Walsh changing trains in live, streaming video.

It’s all done with a mobile phone and Qik.com. Viewers can also text chat straight back to the broadcaster. It’s all a bit like some kind of bizarre reality show - but obviously the potential for stuff like this is huge. Exciting stuff.

If you want to see it in action, Paul seems to be broadcasting quite regularly. Follow him on Twitter and he’ll let you know when he’s next up.

Sorry - very late with this (deadline is on Thursday)!

There’s a fascinating sounding project up for grabs at our local West Midlands screen agency.

The strategy will include clear objectives for Screen WM to:

• Profile the region as a UK centre of digital screen media activity

• Deliver integrated business development support in partnership with Business Link WM and AWM

• Create relevant and integrated skills development programmes linking to national and regional skills development activity

• Promote and support innovation

• Establish new markets.

   

More info in the full tender document

This Kevin Kelly article’s a must read:

Other than aim for a blockbuster hit, what can an artist do to escape the long tail?

One solution is to find 1,000 True Fans.

A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can’t wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.

The only thing I disagree with is the number - I think you can do it with less. Emily Martin who I interviewed in the last New Media 4Cast is a brilliant example.

Just 12 months ago I was still getting really frustrated that everyone still seemed fixated on the idea that mass-market was the only way to survive.

The tide is definitely changing - partly because there are now so many good examples everywhere. Hooray to that!

Check out the best digital educational toy I think I’ve seen yet. This has so much potential it’s ridiculous.

I’d have loved it as a kid.

And of course, it’s open source and social. Do a search for Phun on YouTube to find hundreds of inventions.

I love the internet.

Here’s the government’s new strategy for catching terrorists:

You can just hear the rubbing of image-doctoring hands in glee at seeing this.

Here’s my favourite so far :

by Mr Atrocity

And here are some more courtesy of Boing Boing. Lovely.

Mark McGuinness’ new project is a must for anyone working in the creative sector.

I’ll let him explain:

I’ve just created a new blog, Wishful Linking, to share links that may be useful and/or interesting to you as a creative professional. So if you’d like me to send you links to web pages about creativity, creative careers, managing creativity, intellectual property, creative industries, blogging, marketing, time management etc, then sign up for the RSS feed now.

If you don’t know him, he’s the guru when it comes to stuff like this. Get reading!

Oooh, my first blog meme - thanks Mark!

Here goes:

1. I play the bass and once got asked to do a tour of the UK and Japan with Fuzz Townsend (ex PWEI drummer) but it fell through. Another dream shattered.

2. I’ve done quite a bit of travelling over the years - my favourite trip was probably Moscow to Beijing on the Trans-Siberian railway. Amazing. Strangest point of the trip was ending up crammed into a Yurt with about 50 mongolians, drinking fermented mare’s milk, then being made to sing a song to everyone.

3. I am a reformed mathematician and programmer and have decided that working with people is far more interesting than working with ones and zeroes.

4. I’m a walking melting pot. My Mum’s an Italian Catholic, my Dad’s parents were ethnically Jewish (Russian and Polish) who converted to Quakerism.

5. I grew up hearing music all over the house; blaring Puccini from the kitchen, blaring jazz and world music from my dad’s room. I developed a love for music which remains till this day.

6. As well as being a digital media geek, I’m also fascinated by social enterprise, sustainable capitalism, ethical business and all that jazz. I think it might, just, be the way forward.

7. My first job was working for Maplin Electronics as a Saturday boy. Better than being sent up chimneys I guess.

8. I don’t have a TV, or a car. My life is far better without either.

OK, I tag  Nick, Fritha, Emily, Simon, Will, Thayer, Oli and Bobbie (right back at you!)

This looks interesting..

"What happens when you get a bunch of hackers and social innovators together, give them a set of social problems and only 48 hours to solve them?

In London between 4th-6th April 2008, the Social Innovation Camp will bring together some of the best of the UK and Europe’s web developers and designers with people at the sharp end of social problems.

Our aim is to find ways that easy-to-build web 2.0 tools can be used to develop solutions to social challenges."

I love this sort of rapid development thing. I may try to head down if work permits.

More info on the SIC website.

In April / May we’re hopefully going to be recruiting for some pretty exciting new jobs for 4Pioneers.

We’re getting the word out early so we can hit the ground running when we’re ready to go, so please forward this on to anyone that might be interested.

We’re hopefully going to be looking for the following:

• Lead Developer (Ruby on Rails)
• Community Manager
• Design Lead

You can find the full information on the jobs and the project itself on the Maverick website.

Episode 5: Social Media for Creative People

The final New Media 4Cast is now online. This month we’re looking at how blogging, podcasting and online video can become the core of your marketing strategy as a creative individual or small business.

To listen please visit the New Media 4Casts Homepage.

I’m really interested with this one to find out what further questions people would like answered. As usual, leave a comment or get in touch.

Here are some useful links for this show:

• The Black Apple Blog
• Mark McGuinness (Wishful Thinking)
• Nick Booth (Podnosh)
  
• Hugh McLeod on the Global Microbrand
• The Long Tail
• Copyblogger
• Chris Keenan (Prime Objective)
• Bobbie Gardner
• Wordpress.org
• Wordpress.com
• Blogger.com
• Etsy.com
• Video: My talk at Etsy Labs (Creating a Global Microbrand)
• Davidairey.com
• Clear Blogging (great all round book on the subject)