An interesting experiment/experience for you to try in this TED Talk by James Howard Kunstler. Every time he uses the phrase "Public Space", imagine swapping it with "Information Space". He's a bit belligerent and forceful at times, but don't let that distract you...
About this talk
In James Howard Kunstler's view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about.
"Liquid Life" is a term borrowed from the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman. He used it to describe the kind of life experience by individuals in our age and place in time. In effect, as our lives become more fragmented, we are required to be more flexible, adaptable, and nimble. Sound familiar? We live in an age where the only thing that feels permanent is the state of transition. And in a state of constant transition and fluidity between ourselves, or lives, and the lives and culture around us, the kinds of relationships we have and develop have been (and are) transformed.
If Dr. Bauman's description of our culture at large is as the very least apropos, then it seems a fair attempt to use it as a description of what's occurring at the intersection of Culture and Internet Technology. There is a cause and effect at this intersection which can be observed, measured, and described. Liquid Life it is then - surfs up! (Yes, pun intended.)
"How then does internet technology contribute to or interrupt the capability of an individual to form relationships outside his or herself?"
"What kind of pressure and tension is created for the individual living a Liquid Life in the age of the Internet?"
"If established 'meaningful' relationships are no longer static but instead dynamic (fluid), what kind of fragmentation, isolation, and even subjective imprisonment might result?"
Creatives Have Control of Remote Client Presentations
February 3, 2010
Portland, Ore. – Black Tonic, an online software service for creative professionals, is now available. The tool allows users to create and manage presentations that are delivered online through a secure URL. Using a proprietary HTML broadcasting technology, Black Tonic presenters can modify the presentation material on-the-fly and choose in real-time what the audience sees on the presentation web page.
I reached an inevitable milestone (unplanned) that sneaks in toward the end of a project. "Wow, I can' believe we've done all that work and ended up with this. It's...it's...so obvious. It seems way to easy. Too simple." This normally lasts about 10 minutes. But now I know what it means. We've understood the problem and solved it correctly.
We're excited to announce Black Tonic has been invited to join Portland, Oregon based StarveUps - a membership organization with the goal to take each member company to the exit or existence strategy as defined by their management team, board of directors and investors and to make success the only business strategy. StarveUps has been in existence for 10 years.
This week myself and Philippe Blanc were interviewed for Blog Talk Radio by Scott Hoffman of Cliqology.
We're excited to announce Black Tonic is included in ReadWriteWeb's latest report, "The Real-Time Web and its Future".
Our friend and photographer Jeremy Cowart created the Help Portrait project in order to organize photographers worldwide to come together on December 12th and give portraits to anyone in need. It's simply a movement. There's no profit being made anywhere. Already there are people in over 50 countries and 35 states planning events: http://community.help-portrait.com/groups
Official Website
http://www.help-portrait.com/
What does Help-Portrait look like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A
Help-Portrait Promo Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3BFwgf1f2I
Official Press Release:
http://public.jeremycowart.com/help_portrait/help_portraitPR.pdf
Black Tonic made it into the local paper this last weekend. Rather exciting I dare say!
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/startup_vital_signs...
Phillippe and I just returned from the RTWS hosted by Readwriteweb.com. All said and done it was a great experience and a fine example of an un-conference.
We're taking a trip down to Mountain View, CA for the Real-Time Web Summit organized and hosted by ReadWriteWeb. The one day conference will offer context for conversation about topics from technology to business to philosophy to definition. As demonstrated by the list of attendees, the topic clearly generates breadth of interest across the industry.
Black Tonic is on the verge of being publicly available, which is an exciting milestone for the team that's been so hard at work on the project.
Recently we published a few articles that discuss the underlying kind of technology that powers Black Tonic. Also, we posed a few thoughts about the future of the web and user experience based on the effects this technology will have. It's decent reading, and we'd enjoy you contributing to and advancing the conversation with us.
See you soon.
Experience Sharing (XS): Where the Web is Headed Next
DOMcasting Technology 101: Introducing FLOW
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Oh, almost forgot to mention. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter (footer of every site page) if you want to know when Black Tonic launches!
Here it is. The illustrious first blog entry for blacktonic.com. You've probably come here to see when the project launched. Or to get some sense of 'how things have changed'. ("Are these guys legit?") Only this time Entry 1 isn't going to be for you, Mr. Site Visitor, it's for the Team at Black Tonic.
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