Adding Another Thread to the Web

Call it silly but I'm a believer in fulfilling childhood dreams. Unjaded by constraints of the real world, they often offer up a true look at the person we're meant to be and contain a grand narrative which helps inform the person we become as adults. Looking back at my own dreams, a few main themes emerge including technology, communications, storytelling, and helping others. This post explores my love for the web.

My fascination with the internet started in the 90s when my mom got our first computer. The amount of information available and ability to connect with others to exchange ideas resonated with me instantly. Shortly after discovering the web I began collecting Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) photos from sites and dreamed of creating a website to share my collection with friends and fellow DBZ enthusiasts around the world.

Like many things of the 90s, my full-time devotion to DBZ fizzled out in the 00s. After I entered Orting High School, my passions changed. I became interested in new activities like track, cross country, driving fast cars (see part 2 about my Maxima), and choir. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a HUGE DBZ fan; I could talk to you for days about the deep history and mythology of the series but given the year, I decided to reconfigure my dream to fit contemporary interests.

Thinking about my dream of creating a website through the lens of 2013, I decided it would be good to focus on my love for social media, networking, and photography. The site will serve as a central hub for me on the web and be an additional platform to share my thoughts about digital life and the vast world of communication. To accomplish this goal, I enrolled at the School of Visual Concepts (SVC) where I learned about copy writing in 2012. What drew me back to the school was its commitment to practical education and gritty real world vibe which made it feel accessible.

Despite not having touched HTML since I was an 8th grader at Sagahlie Middle School – formally Sagahlie Jr. High School, the language felt oddly familiar and was easy to pick up. After a month of developing the site, I'm excited to hit publish later this week! I'm also looking forward to continuing to learn more about HTML and other coding languages.

I never imagined myself wanting to learn more about computer languages but I'm slowly finding I actually enjoy the challenge of connecting the various pieces of code and appreciate the way it connects people with information. It's not the path I'd envisioned taking but like most things in life, it's sometimes better to take the long way around and enjoy the sights.



[Photo courtesy of Flickr user johnkay ]

SMC Seattle Looks Ahead at Social in 2013

SMC Seattle started off the year with a bang on Tuesday by hosting "What's Hot a Look Into Social and Digital Media in 2013." The event took place at the Social and offered Seattle's social media community a chance to reflect on the past year and discuss what was in store for 2013. To help with the conversation, SMC had a panel featuring representatives from Microsoft, Amazon, REI, the City of Seattle; PwC monitored the event. I've provided a list of the speaker's names and twitter handles at the end of the post.

2012
In a 1,000 Words
Taking a look back at the past year the panelists unanimously agreed that 2012 was the year of image based social media. Over the course of the year we watched the rise of two networks, Pinterest and Instgram. Both were notable for two different reasons. Pinterest came out of nowhere but became widely popular with women and retailers who found the site to be a perfect digital storefront. Instgram began its life as a well kept hipster secret but officially became mainstream after Facebook purchased the service. Image driven social media changed the digital landscape and allowed organizations to effectively deliver messages to audiences through photos. REI mentioned during the event that Pinterest has now become one of its top 10 traffic sources.

2013
An Expanded Tool Box
Social media measurement will continue to be vital for businesses in 2013 as they decide how to allocate  resources. With new social sites like Vine emerging frequently, it's becoming more important for community managers to be able to quickly analyze conversations and determine what's an effective platform for their brand. During the event PwC predicted that 2013 would be the end of "shiny object syndrome," hinting that many companies would be taking a step back to listen and optimize their digital efforts. The City of Seattle brought up a good point during the conversation stating, it's often impossible to be on every network out there. It's becoming increasingly important to understand where your audience is and the most effective means to deliver your message.

Organizations are also becoming less reliant on third party tools. Amazon mentioned its a strong believer in creating in-house social tools to help customers. REI is also a believer in developing tools internally. The outdoor retailer just recently developed its own social network titled REI 1440. The site is focused on user generated content (UGC) and integrates seamlessly with other networks. REI believes that UGC will become increasingly important for companies in the future as they further cultivate relationships with customers.

Creating Connections
People are increasingly interacting with brands online to receive support. This unique touch point is providing brands with the opportunity to market themselves and cultivate relationships with customers. Microsoft mentioned that relationships are important with customers because it increases the level of trust and authenticity. When done correctly, this type of interaction can lead to better services and sales.

As the only government representative on the panel, the City of Seattle offered valuable insight into how its using social to help citizens. An early adopter, the city has seen its efforts evolve from blasting content to fostering dialogue and listening to citizens about their concerns. The city hopes to utilize social to allow for people to engage with government abroad and personalize it.

What's Next?
With new networks and expanded services already on the horizon, 2013 is shaping up to be an interesting year. Issues that I'm currently keeping my eye on are social search, video sharing, and influencer measurement tools For other great recaps, be sure to check out posts from Beth Evans and Kelsey Kaufman.

What are your thoughts for social in 2013 and what are you excited to see?

Panelist Info:
Sabra Schneider: Director of Electronic Communications, City of Seattle
@sabrak

Lulu Gephart: Manager of digital engagement, REI
@lux2

Lourdes Orive: Director of Community and Online Support, Microsoft
 @lorive

Moderator Info:
Dustin Johnson: Managing Director in PwC’s evolving Digital Change and Social Business practice
 @dustinjo


[Photo courtesy of Flickr user Emily Marsden]

Obama II: Moving Forward

Movies by nature are designed to entertain but on a deeper level they carry subtle messages and themes, which explain the dreams, ambitions, and fears of the cultures that create them. I recently stumbled across an article in the New York Times titled, "Movies in the Age of Obama" The piece was placed in the entertainment section but provides a fascinating cultural analysis of American film under the Obama administration. In the past four years American film has painted a picture of a country struggling to redefine itself following economic turmoil and a decade of war.

During President Obama's first term the American public's perceptions on controversial issues changed drastically. These ideas were reflected in some of the big movies in the past four years. Topics top of mind included race relations, war, Black men, and climate change. Many factors contributed to the American public's new perceptions but most notably the Great Recession and the election of the country's first Black president played crucial roles in shifting ideology.

The most notable shift can be seen in the American public's view of Black men. Always a hot topic, Black men have evolved in film from savages in "Birth of a Nation" to become heroes and even sex symbols in modern day movies. America's complex relationship with Blackness reached a turning point in the election of Barack Obama and was the culmination of the civil rights movement and carefully crafted images displayed on silver screens.

A similar transformation is taking place for the LGBT community. Gay characters in film have begun to become more complex and are no longer limited to stereotypical representations. Given the country's rapidly changing perception on Gay rights and Obama's vocal support of LGBT issues, it wouldn't surprise me if queer ideas make a big splash on the silver screen in the next four years. Only time will tell but if history is any indicator, the cultural war surrounding LGBT issues is coming to a close. Similar to other cultural issues such as interracial marriage, race, and gender equality; media is helping reshape our values and creating dialogue about once difficult topics.

As a whole Obama's first term had the makings of a blockbuster movie itself. From the big bailouts in the beginning to the shooting in Newtown at the end, Obama like many characters in film changed significantly from when he first entered office. Now starting his second term, it should be interesting to see what his presidency brings the American people in terms of policy and film.

[Photo courtesy of Digital Traveler]

Sitting in on The Last Lecture

Life doesn’t come with a manual but if you look carefully there are plenty of easy to follow lessons left by people who figured out how to do it well. I recently came across such a lesson in my family’s book collection titled, “The Last Lecture.” This real life story focuses on Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon professor diagnosed with cancer who’s determined to leave an enduring legacy for his loved ones. He does this by giving a last lecture – an exercise where professors reflect on what’s important to them and share their last words as if they were dying tomorrow.

Randy uses the first few chapters to outline his life to date and the rationale behind giving a last lecture. At first it seems as if the story will just be a paper copy of his live performance. A few chapters in however the book jumps from its straightforward narrative and shifts focus to important life moments for Randy. Each mini story reveals a lesson the professor learned when encountering life challenges. At this point Randy begins to reveal smaller thoughts regarding daily life that are focused on a grand narrative. Like life the book is filled with many lessons that when combined come together to showcase a complete story.

Ultimately there are many lessons to take away from this book. Below are a few I found meaningful:

• Make opportunity – “…If you can find an opening, you can probably find a way to float through it.”
• Never give-up – “…Don’t believe in the no win scenario.”
• Default to positive – “The park is open until 8 PM.”
• Brick walls aren’t dead ends – “Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”
• Function is greater than perfection – “Not everything in life needs to be fixed.”
• Create to-do lists – “You can always change your plans, but only if you have one.”
• Learn from failure – “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted… Be the first penguin.”

“The Last Lecture” is a quick read with lots to teach. The title is deceptive in the fact that while it’s focused on Professor Pausch’s last lecture, it’s easily a whole quarter worth of knowledge crammed into 200 pages. It’s not required reading but the story is perfect for those looking to get a new perspective on life and its daily challenges.