Monthly Archives: February 2006

A Virtual Shift, Duck and Cover

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For those of you interested in videogames, virtual worlds, content distribution and prognostications, check out Raph Koster’s recent entry, “Is the shift to online a fad?” (Link), – an excellent follow-up to some other follow-ups to a talk he gave recently.

If you’ve missed all the commotion (there’s been plenty) and want to get caught up, read his initial post (Link), then read his offshoot of that (Link) and then visit the above link. *whew*

(In)Elegant Electric

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gothlolitribeJapan

After seeing little about which to post regarding either New York Fashion Week or the Seamless show at MIT earlier this month, I did find something interesting over on WMMNA (Link). It’s an intriquing entry concerning niche fashion in Japan and influence on/reflection of the traditional mainstream culture. At the end of the entry a simple question is posed: will wearable electronics be adopted by one of the mentioned urban “tribes” as part of some fashion statement and will any of them go so far as to adopt implants? There’s also, I believe, an implied question about how those developments reflect the changing values in their society.

All interesting stuff, but it appears as if the A-boys have to catch up to a couple of working guys in Ohio who have already gone the implant route (Link). I’m guessing they’re wearing plain old polyester.

{Image source: Hanamaru Cafe – Gothic and Lolita video}

A Clue and A Prayer

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It’s just plain funny (in a sad way) reading entries by professionals just now getting a clue as to what’s happening in the world. Take for example Randall Rothenberg’s article on Ad Age, “Marketing Lessions From Digital Lifestyle Day – Creativity Has Never Been More Important” (Link – again, Ad Age requires free registration). In the article, Rothenberg claims to walk away with six … count ’em six … conclusions. Here is the CliffsNotes version:

  • 1. “Because the native costs of crafting and distributing creative product are trending toward zero, anyone can be a creative. … blogs are merely the most visible manifestation of an explosion in creativity.” {No duh. Now let me introduce you to the RepRap crowd – Link}
  • 2. “Individuals control their media.” {Gee, finally deduced that, huh? Maybe you should read my recent post on how one savvy individual decided to wrestle their content back – Link}
  • 3. “Market mechanisms — basically, the engagement of peoples’ attention and their encouragement to subsequent action — will determine winners and losers.” {Why do you think Reputation is so critical??? You really should be reading my blog, Randall.}
  • 4. “Mobile social networking is the next big thing. … mobile networking to facilitate large-scale, real-world multiplayer games, and for Plazes.com, which uses GPS and Wi-Fi triangulation to enable the pasting of virtual “sticky notes” on physical places.” (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5, Link 6, Link 7, Link 8, Link 9, …}
  • 5. “The ‘long tail’ is making vast new forms of business possible.” {What a concept. Oh. Wait. Some of us have been blogging all about that: “Imagine now that I’m in the Long Tail, with a home fabrication unit and an eBay store.“}
  • 6. “Mainstream media still count, even to the digi crowd.” {HUH? I guess Ad Age writers have to wonder where they fit in this brave new world. No doubt this item puts all the Ad Age clients at ease.}

    • I can only imagine what he walked in there with. It’s a good thing Ad Age doesn’t allow comments… for their sake.

    Gains In Spain Mainly Out Of Plane

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    JMayer-parkinSpain

    Nice article over on the Washington Post, “Gains in Spain: Once-Staid Architecture Soars Ahead of the Curve” (Link – free registration may be required). I’m actually not surprised by what’s going on in the region. Not because I’m reading architectural digests, I’ve just noticed all the images being posted online. By the way, here’s a thought: ailing Kodak, in partnership with some of these architects, should be sponsoring photo competitions.

    Anyway, if you read the article check out the slideshow. I culled the above image specifically because there was a rapid-prototyping sensibility in that lattice design. Growing that thing would be like… I have to say this… icing on the cake. To understand what I mean, check out a previous entry (Link).

    (*I’m going to have a hard time getting the lyrics “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” out of my head – Damn you, Higgins*)

    via Core77

    {Image Copyright © Jurgen Mayer H.}

    Open Valve On Episodic Content

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    There’s something about the news over on Gamespot (Link) of game developer Valve making their blockbuster title Half-Life 2 episodic that’s got ideas concerning convergence and distribution bouncing around in my head. As noted in the article, the concept isn’t new, it’s just taken on much greater significance. And so has their Steam online distribution system. I was going to post my first thought last night inversely relating this to recent ongoing changes in the film industry’s distribution system, but for some reason I’m thinking this is more important. Unfortunately, sleeping on it hasn’t helped, so I’ll just have to tuck it back away for now. I have a feeling this is going to wake up on its own.

    via Wonderland