surching4me | My life's not ALL about technology! |
I would probably not be employed if I didn't learn to interact and maneuver around the politics and personalities at all levels, in getting anything done in IT. So to say there is a back-lash or that I am a weenie for possessing soft-skills is somewhat an oversight as to how Technology needs to function in the modern business environment regardless of industry.
Taking a page from the likes of Facebook and others, WebMD looks to tap into not just the scientific elements of medicine, but also the experiential elements based on its estimated 60 million monthly users providing valuable information based on real-world ailments first hand.
Bringing Facebook into the location game is bad news for every location-heavy startup in the market right now. With Google and Facebook both moving into the location space with Buzz, Latitude, and the forthcoming Facebook release, startups like Foursquare and Gowalla are going to find increasing difficulty in convincing users to adopt their products over the offerings of the giants.
I wasn't about to go and look around for software for kids that focuses on what color is what, or what shape is what; she is already beyond that. In the back of my mind I thought she wouldn't be that into how difficult the software would be and would either stop drawing altogether or move back to crayons & paper. This was to be an experiment into the flexibility of a child's ability to adapt to something new, despite how challenging it is.
Social Networking
Life Logging (Events)
Location Only
Entertainment/Gaming
Local Points of Interest
There are some minor cross over points between each of them but in general, the utilization of the GPS function to tag a location or check-in at a location and share with your friends combined with connectivity to "Hub" services like Twitter and Facebook are pretty much the norm.
Of all of the above services I have played around with on the iPhone (most have some availability to Android, Blackberry etc., in some form or another), I initially dropped Rummblr, Latitude, BrightKite, DailyPlaces and Gypsii for various reasons, some technical and some based on how they managed their communities (i.e., users).
So at this very point in time, I am realizing that although it is cool to catalog the various places I visit, unless there is something that I find of value to it, there really isn't a need to hang around on it. I have figured out that where I spend the majority of my time is with those apps that tie in some sort of entertainment or gaming element to them. That is leaving me with the following core apps that I am sticking with for now.
Gowalla - I blogged about itFoursquare - similar to Gowalla but different type of "Badge Collecting." They just opened up to the world after being primarily focused on major city locations.
MyTown - The newest player on my phone. Reminds me of a web app I made $250 on called WebLo through buying & selling virtual "Real World" properties. For example I now own a Starbucks, Whole Foods near my house as well as the building in which I work. I collect virtual rent on these properties and can buy and sell them in a virtual market place.
I will also still use Whrrl and thisMoment for sort of "Life Logging" events and Yelp! for local info. What I am dropping as of today is Loopt. There is no value in simply seeing where others are checked in at unless we all happen to live in the same general area and are out hooking up for coffee or whatever at various locations. That is not my life. So..... Bye, Bye.
It should also be said that the monsters like FaceBook and Google, where the bulk of my digital life resides, have yet to implement any sort of combined Social/Geo-Location function. Satellite applications like Mobcast have emerged to fill that void, as is the case with FaceBook.
So there you have it. Another one bites the dust. R.I.P. Loopt, it's not personal, just bidnezz. Things are only going to become increasingly more complex in 2010 as additional services are born into the fight for the smart phone market.
Engaging activities like Scavenger Hunts and Rewards based programs which leverage GPS will probably begin to arrive fast and furious as there is a potential for revenue to be generated in the real-world. Some with Augmented Reality apps (which we are starting to see more of) are arriving as well.
For those early services, rumor mills are full steam as the competition heats up. Gowalla, I have heard, is working on native applications for ALL smart phones as well as introducing more social features into their gaming experience and Foursquare has begun to take advantage of the "real world" through Brick and Mortar sponsorship offering discounts to individuals for checking in at certain locations (bars, restaurants, etc.). If MyTown can figure out how to do it, there may be some real world cash involved in their virtual real estate market place, similar to what WebLo had.
In short, fasten your seat belts sports fans, its going to be an interesting ride!
Introduced on April 12, 2007, the Cold Ware Medal Act of 2007 directs the Secretary of Defense to issue Cold War service medals to military personnel who served honorably during the Cold War era (September 2, 1945, through December 26, 1991). During this period there were only 2 "Officially" recognized combat events the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Everything else during this period were simply considered "Armed Conflicts." Granada for one and the other, more personal one, occurring slightly prior to my assignment to Charlie Battery, First Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. That was the horrific engagement in Beirut. Although I was not directly deployed in that conflict, Charlie Battery was, and I recall the open squadbay stories and visuals of the mentally defeated individuals who were victims of a conflict that they were not permitted to engage in, other than to sit as targets for those they were sent to protect. Lets also not forget the 247 Marines and Sailors who lost their lives in the Barracks in Beirut at that time.
There were however, two events during my Enlistment as a United States Marine (September 12, 1985,
The second prior to the first Gulf War, which ends the Cold Ware Medal Act period, was Panama. At the time, I had transferred out of Artillery and into becoming a Combat Correspondent assigned to the Camp Lejeune Joint Public Affairs Office. Now it was 1988, the beginning of the Marine Corps mission in that country which was to last for two years. The mission fell again to the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). As a HQ assigned Combat Correspondent, I was in the position to be put on loan to the MEU to cover the various combat actions taking place, video tape and report back to the Department of the Navy via the normal avenues.
Having covered a few of these Units rotating back through Cherry Point, North Carolina, it became clear that it was not a simple "protect and serve" mission. Marines were being shot at, sniped and stalked at night. It wasn't pretty and not a clear cut assignment. Again I was facing combat, again the mental preparation had begun. I was going to be in harms way and I had to accept that. I had to put the worry out of my mind and prepare to do my job and focus only on that.
As with the first even, fate threw another twist in my path. After toting all of my gear over to the MEU with another Marine who was the Print Journalist assigned, we hopped in a Staff car and were wheeled to Charleston, South Carolina to hop on the first Air Force transport to Panama. When we arrived, we were surprised to find that our "Ship had set sail." That's right, their flight plan was modified and they left early. We missed the flight. After calling back to the MEU, they decided that we should just head back and our orders were cancelled.
Although my experience is unique, and maybe even mixed with a bit of divine intervention in keeping me out of harms way throughout my 8 years in the Marine Corps, what is definite is that I still think of these moments. The transition from fear to numbness, to excitement only to be followed by a serious drop in morale. You had to always carry with you a tension that the next call could mean you are off to do something that no one really knows about. It usually wasn't main stream media stuff. Just look at Somalia.... yet another "Armed Conflict."
I believe, it is fair that individuals who served the United States of America be recognized for their service during this period, it was the Umbrella under which many covert and not so covert battles were fought. Where Service Members lost their lives doing what they were asked of them. If you or a loved one were members of the Armed Forces during this period you too should reach out to your Representatives in Washington and ask that they support S.1097 in support of the Cold War Medal Act of 2007.
For more information on the on-going Drama behind this Bill, please visit the Cold War Veterans Association website.
A man in most cases, a myth in others, a legend in his own mind. My 'Other' Creations:
surching4me
ITSM Uncovered
theDongle
