A typical Google search can easily yield a few hundred million search results. Unfortunately, quantity doesn’t necessarily imply quality, so there’s no guarantee that the ‘good’ stuff will be on the first, second or even the ninth page of results.

With the help of a web tool or two, however, it is possible to uncover those golden nuggets of useful information amidst all the noise. One of our current favourites is MentorMob, which allows users to create playlists on a certain topic. The site functions on a simple premise – everyone has his or her own skills and interests, so why not crowdsource that knowledge to develop a great content database that everyone can benefit from. It’s community curation at its finest and it’s succeeding at uncovering the best content the Internet has to offer. After all, it’s great when you find a fantastic webpage or video… but it’s even better when it doesn’t take you an entire day to do so.

Tags: community curation, Content Strategy, crowdsourced knowledge, Data, education, filtering search results, information, learning playlist, Mentor Mob, online learning, playlist, TMI

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Confession:
From time to time I do find pleasure in “vegging” out and watching TV. As a usability professional, however, I have often found myself wanting more out of my TV time. I sit with my tablet looking for additional content or I talk with friends via the old school social channels of Twitter and Facebook. But those simple social channels don’t seem connected to my TV programing and the communication is fragmented and/or limited.

And, it seems I’m not alone in my search to optimize TV time.

Fact:
A Nielsen study found that 88% of tablet owners use their portable device while watching TV. Smartphone users were not far behind with 86% engaging with their mobile device while watching TV. While some of this is simple multi-tasking, undoubtedly others are searching for a richer social TV browsing experience.

Discovery:
About six months ago, my inner couch potato and my inner usability geek were delighted to discover a few new tools that consolidated many of my TV experience needs. My favourites among the SocialTV 1.0 mobile/tablet apps are IntoNow, GetGlue, Yap.TV, TunedIn, Zeebox and Viggle. These SocialTV tools have extended my experience in six great ways:

1. Sharing +
   In addition to the expected Twitter stream, IntoNow, Yap.TV, TunedIn and Zeebox feature polls and real-time in-app dialogue that seem to make sharing an integrated part of the show (I love the clap meter). You can also easily pull in your Facebook friends and create a somewhat private conversation.
2. Deeper content
   For shows that you love to watch and love to talk about, Yap.TV and IntoNow give you great dinner conversation nuggets. You will often find additional videos, photos and special content about the cast.
3. Discover new programs
   Using your browsing/viewing history and that of your friends, IntoNow, Viggle and Yap.TV are able to recommend programs. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to program your DVR from the app; however, several players including Zeebox are working with the cable companies to integrate tablets and smartphones with cable/DVR boxes.
4. Schedule future programing
   Several of the apps, including Viggle, allow you to add simple push notifications and email alerts for future broadcast times. This feature will be limited at best until cable/DVR box integration is complete.
5. Rewards
   In addition to social rewards via badges, Viggle offers viewers points for viewing ad and program content. The points can be redeemed in the Viggle reward store for free products from major brands, including Starbucks and Papa John’s Pizza. Combine free pizza and coffee with a night of TV and I’m there.
6. Shopping
   As part of SocialTV 1.0, Viggle integrates shopping into the TV viewing experience by linking programs to a set of keywords that feed to Amazon and iTunes. SocialTV 2.0 promises to be much more robust. New tools will offer the ability to purchase merchandise being advertised during commercial breaks as well as the products/props that are within the content of the show.

As a usability/experience marketer, I love the digital potential to build brand engagement via these tools. As a couch potato, I find amazing digital utility that creates a different level of entertainment from my old school TV. I’m really looking forward to the next wave of these apps.

So, I guess I really want my SocialTV 2.0…

Tags: GetGlue, IntoNow, multi-device viewing, Multi-tasking, Smart TV, Social TV, Social TV viewing, TunedIn, Viggle, Yap.TV, Zeebox

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Facebook contests are a great way for brands to generate awareness and increase the size of their fan base. And in some cases it can be a powerful vehicle to help communities bring about change . Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good initiative calls upon Facebook users to vote for the nonprofit organization they think is most deserving of a new set of wheels.

Cast your vote on May 14^th and decide who gets a new car every day.

Tags: Cars for Good, Charity, Facebook, Nonprofits, Philanthropy, Toyota, Win a Car

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The Big Five Inventory test is typically used in psychology to determine a person’s personality type based on how much or little they exemplify each of the five factors: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. The test, however, may soon be replaced by a content analysis of a person’s social media activities.

A team of researchers in Asia discovered that people’s interactions on social media (how often they posted status updates, what pronouns they use, emotional sentiment) are just as indicative of their personality type as Big Five test scores.

This is where things get interesting. To conduct a Big Five Inventory personality test, researchers would have to get people to:

1. Agree to have their personality analyzed
2. Take the test
3. Consent to having the data shared

With our personalities accurately presented front and centre across social networks, however, social scientists, academics and marketers alike could plausibly bypass traditional research protocol and head straight to Twitter and Facebook for their data collection. Of course, this would be highly unethical, but to assume this wouldn’t occur would also be highly naïve.

This discovery is particularly troubling when you consider how entrenched social media is within modern society. Conversations surrounding online privacy will have to extend beyond questions of who can access our web history and where our data is being sent to include whether our personality can be detected.

As consumers it is our responsibility to safeguard ourselves online. Although open profiles and public conversations facilitate the free-flow of information across the Internet, they may soon prove to be detrimental, and even harmful, to our individual privacy. It’s one thing for consumers to be targeted by marketers based on their demographic profiles; it’s quite another for them to be targeted – unknowingly – based on their personality.

Needless to say, now sounds like a pretty good time to take a look at your privacy settings.

Tags: Bioinformatics Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Consumer demographics, Facebook, Five Factor Model, Online persona, Personality, Prizm, Renren, SNS, Social Media, Social Network Sites, Social Networking, Social networking data, The Atlantic, The Big Five, The Big Five Inventory

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When you combine charity and technology, great things are bound to happen. We’re big fans of Instead, a new micro-donation app that makes it incredibly easy to help others. The premise is simple – users are encouraged to make small cutbacks (i.e. order a drip coffee instead of a fancy specialty one) and donate the difference to a charity of their choice. While it may not be feasible for non-profit groups to solicit $2 donations – or for people to be bothered to give such a small amount – Instead streamlines the entire process so that giving becomes second nature.

Tags: App, Apps for charity, Charity, Donate, Fundraising Tool, Instead, Non-Profit

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Tags: Fitness, Fitness Apps, Fitness Technology, Infographic, Weight Loss

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