“Learn More” on the Web Causes Brain Damage
Most Web users continuously encounter the phrase “learn more” on Google or other websites. It’s intended to entice readers to click for more information about a topic. For example, “Gmail lets you archive all your conversations so you can search for them at a later date…’learn more.’” A recent Google search for “learn more” reveals the phrase appears 584 MILLION times. (Search = “learn more” + company name). Prominent websites with high use of "learn more" include: USPS = 11 million (USPS … [Read more...]
Technology Gadgets Outsell Furniture and Apparel
Hot off the press. U.S. consumers, during our economic doldrums, are buying technology gadgets rather than washers, apparel and furniture that last a few years. Apparently the lure of a smartphone or blu-ray DVD player is more appealing than the five-year old toaster that...well, makes toast. One 28 year-old guy was quoted: "Who cares about a toaster?. If it still works, let it be." Somehow I can't imagine techies saying the same thing about their $3,000 LCD TV hanging on the wall. If you pay … [Read more...]
Smart Meters Invade Northern California
Over the past two years, so-called wireless "smart meters" to measure electricity have been installed in millions of Northern California homes by PG&E, our utility company. The company claims with great fervor that smart meters are accurate to a nano-kilowatt; home owners beg to differ, saying their electric bills have risen 20%-30% or more since installation with no change in their California lifestyles. At first I thought the complaints were of no consequence since the early ones … [Read more...]
Passionate People Colliding with Passionate People
It's very energizing to meet people who share similar interests. It's like an auto collision without the damage. For me, this week has been a series of "people collisions" as I've met mobile professionals in San Francisco at the annual Smaato advertising events. Wednesday night, I was part of a roundtable discussion with app developers, media reps, one venture capitalist and Harald Neidhardt, the co-founder and CMO at Smaato, a large mobile advertising company. We discussed mobile … [Read more...]
Turning Off Technology Distractions in Our Lives
Tonight I was excited about writing a blog post for one of my other blogs. As I wrote, getting more and more enthusiastic about the thoughts flowing from my brain, I kept getting interrupted by technology distractions (email messages from FaceBook friends and my buzzing BlackBerry). Finally, I turned off email, flipped the BlackBerry upside down outside its case and returned to my blog post. I have a strong feeling that when we claim we don't have time in life to do things, it's not because … [Read more...]