Apr. 16th, 2007 01:14 pm
Howdy from byootiful SF
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textualdevianceYou know you're at a geek conference when you see people around riding Segways. Heh.
My first day of the conference has gone well so far. Some of the stuff they're talking about is over my head, but not by much--although I haven't been to any of the heavy-duty geek seminars.
I kind of miss being at school, though. I'll be missing a cycle and a half of the SPFH, and I feel bad about leaving them in the lurch like that, even though I'd planned for this well in advance. I also have a huge proposal due for my senior project, and I'll need to find some time in the next couple of days to work on that.
One of the coolest things I heard about today was the idea of browsers and desktop apps taking advantage of microformats. For the uninitiated, what this would mean, in theory, is that a bit of code in a page would specify what kind of information is being formatted, and then give the user the option to add that information to his or her app of choice.
For example, if you were looking at an event calendar, and wanted to add a given event to your Outlook calendar, you'd have the option of clicking on something (button, menu item, etc.) in your browser that would then copy that info directly into your calendar without having to type it all in. It would work something like how clicking an RSS link then sends content to your RSS reader of choice.
Obviously, there are security and spam issues to think about--anytime you have online content directly interacting with data storage, that can get scary--but I do like the idea. I especially like it from a reader service perspective wrt media sites. Virtually every news content provider has some sort of calendar of events or lists of contacts or addresses (think of classified ad info or capsule restaurant reviews!) and it would be seriously cool for the reader to just push a button and add all that info to their personal data management apps. From the perspective of advertising keeping news media going, making advertisers happy by offering them more ways to interact with potential customers is a lifesaver.
Perhaps the most fascinating bit, though, was a comment from one presenter about how when mobile devices are truly out there and content is being properly configured for them, print newspapers will finally die.
Scary proclamation, but he's right. The only reason that newsprint is still common (aside from a handful of Luddites) is that it's more mobile. Most people aren't tied to their desktops all day, and therefore don't have news access all day. Even with wifi, laptops still aren't completely portable (are you really going to bring a laptop into the john?) but pocket PCs and the like are. Yes, I've actually read and sent text messages and e-mail on my smartphone while in the bathroom. Sue me. But newsprint, of course, is static, limited-quantity and hard-formatted. You read what comics the editors think you want to read.
This doesn't mean journalism is dead. In fact, the need for people who are trained professionals in information gathering and assembling is greater than ever, now that so much raw information is out there, and there isn't a good way for most people to sort the good stuff from bullshit. The presenters in question acknowledged that, and acknowledged that professional editors are desperately needed to bring some order to the chaos.
Going to spend the rest of the day doing research for my project and otherwise catching up on reading. Big day at the conference tomorrow--lots of sessions I want to hit. And I also want to do at least a bit of touristy gawping, since I haven't been here in a bajillion years.
My first day of the conference has gone well so far. Some of the stuff they're talking about is over my head, but not by much--although I haven't been to any of the heavy-duty geek seminars.
I kind of miss being at school, though. I'll be missing a cycle and a half of the SPFH, and I feel bad about leaving them in the lurch like that, even though I'd planned for this well in advance. I also have a huge proposal due for my senior project, and I'll need to find some time in the next couple of days to work on that.
One of the coolest things I heard about today was the idea of browsers and desktop apps taking advantage of microformats. For the uninitiated, what this would mean, in theory, is that a bit of code in a page would specify what kind of information is being formatted, and then give the user the option to add that information to his or her app of choice.
For example, if you were looking at an event calendar, and wanted to add a given event to your Outlook calendar, you'd have the option of clicking on something (button, menu item, etc.) in your browser that would then copy that info directly into your calendar without having to type it all in. It would work something like how clicking an RSS link then sends content to your RSS reader of choice.
Obviously, there are security and spam issues to think about--anytime you have online content directly interacting with data storage, that can get scary--but I do like the idea. I especially like it from a reader service perspective wrt media sites. Virtually every news content provider has some sort of calendar of events or lists of contacts or addresses (think of classified ad info or capsule restaurant reviews!) and it would be seriously cool for the reader to just push a button and add all that info to their personal data management apps. From the perspective of advertising keeping news media going, making advertisers happy by offering them more ways to interact with potential customers is a lifesaver.
Perhaps the most fascinating bit, though, was a comment from one presenter about how when mobile devices are truly out there and content is being properly configured for them, print newspapers will finally die.
Scary proclamation, but he's right. The only reason that newsprint is still common (aside from a handful of Luddites) is that it's more mobile. Most people aren't tied to their desktops all day, and therefore don't have news access all day. Even with wifi, laptops still aren't completely portable (are you really going to bring a laptop into the john?) but pocket PCs and the like are. Yes, I've actually read and sent text messages and e-mail on my smartphone while in the bathroom. Sue me. But newsprint, of course, is static, limited-quantity and hard-formatted. You read what comics the editors think you want to read.
This doesn't mean journalism is dead. In fact, the need for people who are trained professionals in information gathering and assembling is greater than ever, now that so much raw information is out there, and there isn't a good way for most people to sort the good stuff from bullshit. The presenters in question acknowledged that, and acknowledged that professional editors are desperately needed to bring some order to the chaos.
Going to spend the rest of the day doing research for my project and otherwise catching up on reading. Big day at the conference tomorrow--lots of sessions I want to hit. And I also want to do at least a bit of touristy gawping, since I haven't been here in a bajillion years.
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Well, I can think of one more reason - eyesight. Reading text on a computer screen is much harder on the eyes than reading print on paper. And more and more of us are getting older and older all the time (including the wired younger generations, who will discover the joys of reading glasses just like everyone else). So I think while more people will access news from tech media, newspapers will never completely die. Also, it's like vinyl, really - newspapers/magazines feel and look better than 'puter screens, ya know?!
If you get to the Zoo, please give my regards to the Snow Leopards; and if you get to GG Park, the same to the bison...As for the ocean, well, I miss the ocean most of all....*gets sniffly and takes off for an airport*