A meandering mish mash of musings
It’s not like I don’t have enough to do at the moment, but this course looks really interedting. I’ve long admired the work that Tech Change do and reckon it could provide useful learning for my thesis next year.
I somehow missed this UNDP report “Mobile Technologies and Empowerment: Enhancing human development through participation and innovation”. It’s important to note the mobile specific aspect of current and future technologies being addressed in detail as for all the media talk of Twitter and Facebook revolutions pretty much everything I’ve heard those in the know say is that it has been mobiles that have provided much of the newfound empowerment whether that be in recording video or co-ordinating an escape from approaching government forces.
I’m not sure when I’m gonna find time to read the report but from my days of running a fact-checking organisation there’s a few howlers in the executive summary that beg further investigation. e.g.:
“Given that entire villages in poor and/or rural communities will often share one or two cell phones, it is also estimated that 80 to 90 percent of people in some poor countries have at least minimal access to a cell phone (Zuckerman 2009).”
Now that’s an, at best, opaque or, at worst, entirely useless statistic if ever I saw one. What sections of the population are included in this? Adults or the entire “people”. Which poor countries? What defines a poor country? And what on earth is meant by “minimal access”? Arguably my definition of minimal cell phone access would differ markedly from one given by 79-year-old grandma who lives in Grenada.
Anyway the main point I wanted to make is that the front cover of the report features a group of women, possibly protesters, holding mobile phones which drew my mind back to two great posts by Melissa Albricht at MobileActive.org (shared via Panos) which address the positive aspects as well as the challenges for ensuring that the penetration of mobile technologies reflects and addresses the needs of women and girls too.
Can you fall in love with an organisation? I think I’m smitten by the CDAC network. I can’t quite remember how I stumbled across them but I became aware of their work just days before they put on the Media and Tech Fair at Google’s London HQ last week.
For those who couldn’t make it to the event the proceedings were streamed live online. Honestly it was amazing to be able to tune in to such relevant, insightful and thought-provoking discussions.
Pretty much all of the panellist were conversing on exactly the issues that I’ve been musing over in the course of my studies –
1) ways to make aid genuinely more accountable to the people it is supposed to serve
2) why humanitarianism needs to take on some of the values more commonly associated with development
3) how to make use of the diaspora in emergencies
4) where to strike the most efficient balance in the use of technology in responding to crises
5) how to ensure that online data is enabling yet challenge people’s right to privacy or worse still fall into the wrong hands…
I only managed to catch a couple of hours on the first day but I’m waiting in eager anticipation for them to upload the rest of the material from the sessions that took place over two days. For anyone interested in positive, innovative approaches to humanitarianism this is must-watch information and a must-follow organisation.
Just recieved the following information from YouTube:
We have beta launched a section of full-length content with partners such as Lionsgate, Sony, and our own EMEA partners BBC Worldwide & Entertainment Rights.
While most of the content is geo-blocked to the US-only you can see the landing page at http://youtube.com/shows and http://youtube.com/movies.
Please note that full-length content also has new ad formats for us – pre-roll, post-roll, and interstitials.
If you have content that you’d be interested in contributing for the US or UK please let me know and we can discuss further.
It’ll be interesting to see just how popular longer form videos prove to be online, both in terms of viewing figures and monetisation
Just going through the nominees for this year’s Webby awards and just had to share dazzled and inspired I am. There really is genius stuff going on out there. The shortlist is astounding not just for the innovative design on show, the creativity is mind blowing (well actually maybe that’s an overstatement but for someone who’s working in broadcast news the fare is pretty amazing).
My favourite without a doubt is the C’N’C CoSTUME NATIoNAL site (and not just because I’m a huge fan of the label – shoes in particular). When I first moved to Milan I had the pleasure of having dinner the general manager of Costume National, Antonio Padula who is also big into his music and, if I remember correctly, DJs from time to time.
From the moment you see the amp-wire flickering across the homepage the site does nothing but ooze edgy chic, reflecting both the concept of the label and the feel of the A/W collection. I love it love it love it. It’s the internet at its best. Anyone who thinks the internet can’t be cool and sexy should take a good look at this site. If you’re convinced, add your vote!
Twitter’s influence on the fashion industry is set to last long after the buzz around the international fashion weeks has died down.
Back in 2004 when I was slaving away in Milan for a high-end Italian fashion boutique I would have killed for hourly updates on breaking industry news and trends.
Thankfully my days as a fashion-obsessive are long gone but as Consuming PR blogged last month, Twitter, a micro-blogging tool, speeds up the emergence of fashion trends.
No self-respecting fashionista is going to wait until next season’s collections to see what’s what.
So I’ve collated a list of the 30 twitter feeds that are essential reading. It’s a mixture of bloggers, magazines, brands and stylists rated for their original content, speed and regular updates. Give me a shout if I’ve missed any.
– http://twitter.com/highsnobiety
Daily Online Street Fashion Magazine
– http://twitter.com/HilaryAlexander
Hilary Alexander tweets fashion and style news for telegraph.co.uk
– http://twitter.com/themoment
Where Style Meets Culture (usually first/club class on in the front row)
– http://twitter.com/Modelinia
Because models don’t get enough attention. Whoever said models weren’t smart? These feed proves that argument wrong. Very hot.
Trends and brands for boys
– http://twitter.com/SHOWstudio
Online fashion broadcasting company committed to pioneering live fashion media, (directed by the legend Nick Knight.)
–http://twitter.com/facehunter
eye-candy for the style hungry. Delightful
–http://twitter.com/melaniecrete
This Parisienne in London’s tweets are the epitome of hip. Musings on all facets of style
– http://twitter.com/Coutorture
Self promoting online fashion community comprised of over 240 fashion, beauty, street wear and fragrance blogs. An abundance of tips on great content
– http://twitter.com/#!/NETAPORTER
Self-promoting official Twitter of NET-A-PORTER.COM – the online luxury fashion retailer. (not much news but a must have if you’re an online fashion shopaholic)
The world according to ‘Karl Largerfeld’. Funny
Fashion news from ShoppingBlog.com. Good mix of content from their site and general fashion news.
– http://twitter.com/Stylerumor
News feed from Style Rumour. Good gossip.
– http://twitter.com/refinery29
The latest fashion trends and happenings as spotted by this NY based online mag
– http://twitter.com/juneAmbrose
The inside scoop from the celebrity fashion stylist and author
– http://twitter.com/MyFashionLife
Fashion blog updated daily. Hot off the mark
– http://twitter.com/stylebubble
Regular updates and insights from a fashion forward blogger
– http://twitter.com/real_rachel_zoe
Size zero fashion svengali. Rachel Z. Rosenzweig. Looks like she tweets as often as she eats.
– http://twitter.com/fashionpolice
“Fighting crimes of fashion”. Well somebody had to!
– http://twitter.com/InsideDVF
All things DVF…all the time! Average.
Gossipy scoop from inside the self-declared “most awesome magazine in the world”
– http://twitter.com/selectism
Daily Men’s Fashion, Footwear, Lifestyle, and Design Culture Magazine. Good for boys
– http://twitter.com/FashionBrand
Editor of FashionBrand.co.uk- sourcing the best deals and reporting from the world of Internet fashion retail. Magically manages to make online retail hip and cool.
The fashion website and magazine. This British fashion institution covers all aspects of the fashion trade
– http://twitter.com/TimesFashion
The Times and Sunday Times do fashion. Insightful
– http://twitter.com/womensweardaily
The Official Women’s Wear Daily Twitter. Pretty much everything you’ll want to know from the world of fashion
New York magazine’s fashion blog
– http://twitter.com/ClosetCouture
Connecting and informing stylishly minded people
– http://twitter.com/catwalkqueen
UK based fashion news
– http://twitter.com/Sartorialist
Street trends as spotted by this influential photographer
UPDATE – 1/12
This article continues to gather a crazy following. I’ll do an full update at some point but just had to let you know about this great article about fashion designers on Twitter on Candada.com. No links but gives you a good insight into which fashion heads have got the Twitter bug. Thanks for reading!
Apparently all the kids are increasingly using interweb sites like Facebook and MySpace as a method of communication and interaction.
The solution proposed to the dangers lurking on such sites? “an internet equivalent of a driving test for children.”
**
Facebook is a “security nightmare” and children using it and other sites should undergo the internet equivalent of a driving test, the British government has been told.
Labour’s Lord Mitchell said the popular social networking site needed improved security measures as weaknesses allowed an “open season for the bad guys”.
It was now being used by university admissions departments and potential employers to find out information about applicants.
Lord Mitchell also told the Lords that computer manufacturers had a “duty” to inform children about the dangers posed by the internet and said youngsters needed more guidance and protection.
He said: “There has been a explosion in social networking, most particularly Facebook.
“It is ubiquitous, the word Facebook has now joined Googled amongst the young vocabulary.
“But Facebook is a security nightmare. It is easy to access sites and it is open season for the bad guys.
“I am told university admission departments in this country access Facebook to check out new students and recruiters trawl thorough these sites in an attempt to find out more about potential job applicants.
“Facebook needs to do more to protect its customers. Government needs to be more aware of the dangers.”
Peers were debating a report on personal internet security by the Lords Science and Technology Committee
It called for “comprehensive and reliable data” about the scale of the problem of electronic crime, saying it was “fundamental” to promoting public confidence in the internet.
Lord Mitchell said: “Now more than ever I believe computer manufacturers have a duty to inform the public and the children of the dangers of inappropriate internet use.
“Children should be able to access tuition programmes on their computers which tell them about internet etiquette, usage and dangers.
“I believe there should be an internet equivalent of a driving test for children.”
Well today I’ve stumbled across a genius show that I simply adore. It’s ok to be retarded about boys and stuff even if you’re not so far away from 30!
Julia Allison’s TMI Weekly programme launched earlier this month. I’ve only got round to seeing the two latest episodes but I love it. It’s kind a like My So Called Life meets Sex in the City online.
The show, which also features bloggers Meghan Asha and Mary Rambin covers
Style, tech (yes the iPhone pouring beer app did rock my world too) and relationships – three fundamental interests of my life. I have never, ever met any girls who would state that triumvirate of interests.
TMI Weekly is so wrong yet so right; I want everyone to love it.
And Julia Allison? I get that she’s not the post popular person on the blogosphere but, hell she made Wire fly of the shelves when she graced the magazine’s front cover.
She gorgeous, fabulously well dressed, beautiful and a genius at milking the publicity machine but she also has a kick-ass taste in music too. I mean Hot Chip, Junior Boys? Sorry guys but I’m pro-Julia.
LISTEN : MC FRONTALOT
So square it’s hip. Today’s Wire post has brought to my attention geeksta rapper MC Frontalot. Apparently he’s an OG in nerdcore, a musical genre that combines hip-hop tunes with geek-friendly lyrics (but of course).
Love to say I’ve spotted a trend here but the truth the ‘art form’ has been around for so long that tech-loving filmmakers have even made movies about it.
Anyway as an aspiring geek I’m more than happy to jump on the bandwagon.
The Hip + The Square 