http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/technology/08class.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&ref=technology
The above is to a link which discusses social networking applications and the enourmous potential that they have. The article focuses a class at Stanford University in 2007 where groups of students would make Facebook applications. The applications were often very simple and recieved a lot of traffic via Facebook. Once ads were included in the applications, large revenues were coming in. An important theme of the succesfull groups was the simplicity of the applications. In one instance, the code for a group's application was mistakingly deleted three days before launch. The group's forced rudimentary version turned out to be the most successfull group.
Another important note about the article is how recent technology has made it significantly easier for start ups. For example, open source software and cloud technologies allowed the groups to make these applications for very little startup costs. Without these technologies, the initial costs would be too great for a small group of college students.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Data Privacy
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/business/01stream.html?ref=technology
The above link is to an article which discusses data privacy. In particular, data privacy regarding doctor patient relations. There has been controversy regarding whether pharmacies can sell prescription records for marketing purposes. In Vermont, a law was passed which allowed doctors to decide whether or not they wanted pharmacies to sell the information. However, there have been talks of extending the decision to the patients as well. Not everyone is supportive of the more privacy conscious legislation. pharmacueticals argue that since patients records are encrypted before they are sold, they are not able to be linked to the prescriptions that they recieve.
I chose this article because I think that data security and privacy is an increasingly relevent topic. As we share more information via the internet, there will be more opporunities for data to be mined and privacy to potentially be intruded upon. In this particular case, I do believe that the right of whether doctor patient prescription should be sold be extended to the patient as well. In the end, i believe that privacy situations like this are very delicate because threats to privacy via the internet are only going to increase.
The above link is to an article which discusses data privacy. In particular, data privacy regarding doctor patient relations. There has been controversy regarding whether pharmacies can sell prescription records for marketing purposes. In Vermont, a law was passed which allowed doctors to decide whether or not they wanted pharmacies to sell the information. However, there have been talks of extending the decision to the patients as well. Not everyone is supportive of the more privacy conscious legislation. pharmacueticals argue that since patients records are encrypted before they are sold, they are not able to be linked to the prescriptions that they recieve.
I chose this article because I think that data security and privacy is an increasingly relevent topic. As we share more information via the internet, there will be more opporunities for data to be mined and privacy to potentially be intruded upon. In this particular case, I do believe that the right of whether doctor patient prescription should be sold be extended to the patient as well. In the end, i believe that privacy situations like this are very delicate because threats to privacy via the internet are only going to increase.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Amazon cloud problems
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/23/technology/23cloud.html?ref=technology
The above link is to an article that discusses Amazon and problems in its cloud computing services the past week. Amazon has been an industry leader in the cloud computing services, having over 1000 different companies, many of them start ups, relying on its services to supply the computing power for their operations. The cloud model makes sense for many small businesses interested in rapid growth who do not want to pay for large, up front hardware and software costs. However, Amazon's cloud has experianced problems this past week, resulting in many companies being forced to halt their operations. This has further increased the discussions surrounding the cloud model; is it worth allowing a third party controlling a company's data, beyond its control? By tapping into the cloud, companies forgoe large startup costs. However, is the cloud model less costly when taking into account the added risk of a thrid party managing such a large portion of your resources? This is a question that companies must ask themselves when deciding to use the cloud model.
The above link is to an article that discusses Amazon and problems in its cloud computing services the past week. Amazon has been an industry leader in the cloud computing services, having over 1000 different companies, many of them start ups, relying on its services to supply the computing power for their operations. The cloud model makes sense for many small businesses interested in rapid growth who do not want to pay for large, up front hardware and software costs. However, Amazon's cloud has experianced problems this past week, resulting in many companies being forced to halt their operations. This has further increased the discussions surrounding the cloud model; is it worth allowing a third party controlling a company's data, beyond its control? By tapping into the cloud, companies forgoe large startup costs. However, is the cloud model less costly when taking into account the added risk of a thrid party managing such a large portion of your resources? This is a question that companies must ask themselves when deciding to use the cloud model.
Monday, April 18, 2011
New Tech Bubble
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_17/b4225060960537_page_5.htm
The above link is to a businessweek.com article that argues the current technology bubble we are in may not be such a great thing. The current tech bubble focuses on social media websites and better ways to market ads to consumers of these sites. Therefore, the emphasis in this bubble is not on new technology, but instead based on the underpinnings of older technology. The author then asserts that a significant portion of this generation's brightest minds will be wasted trying to develop advertising models for websites when they could be developing new technology for a greater purpose. The article then shifts to discussing companies which have applied the data analysis tools used in the Silicon Valley realm to solve real-life tangible problems, such as cancer. The company Claudera, started by a former Facebook employee, is trying to build an operating system for analysing enourmous amounts of data for answering questions regarding cancer.
The above link is to a businessweek.com article that argues the current technology bubble we are in may not be such a great thing. The current tech bubble focuses on social media websites and better ways to market ads to consumers of these sites. Therefore, the emphasis in this bubble is not on new technology, but instead based on the underpinnings of older technology. The author then asserts that a significant portion of this generation's brightest minds will be wasted trying to develop advertising models for websites when they could be developing new technology for a greater purpose. The article then shifts to discussing companies which have applied the data analysis tools used in the Silicon Valley realm to solve real-life tangible problems, such as cancer. The company Claudera, started by a former Facebook employee, is trying to build an operating system for analysing enourmous amounts of data for answering questions regarding cancer.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
iPad effects on market
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_16/b4224031138429.htm
The above link is to a businessweek.com article which discusses the iPad and how it has had a detrimental effects to other companies in the PC market. The article discusses Acer and Asustek, two PC manufacturers who were very successful in selling inexpensive netbooks the past few years due to the economic downturn. However, Apple's iPad has allowed customers to purchase a product more appealing at the same cost. This has caused sales growth in companies like Acer and Asustek to decline dramatically. In response these companies are planning to launch their own line of tablets. A major problem for these companies though is to find a capable operating system for the tablets. Currently companies like Microsoft and Google have focused their time on operating systems for smart phones and have not geared toward tablets. This poses a major problem for companies looking to get into the tablets market as they are already far behind Apple. The author then suggests a strategy for Acer and Asustek to take back their market share would be to undercut Apple with price cuts. However, Apple already set its iPad price so aggresively low that it is very difficult to do this.
The above link is to a businessweek.com article which discusses the iPad and how it has had a detrimental effects to other companies in the PC market. The article discusses Acer and Asustek, two PC manufacturers who were very successful in selling inexpensive netbooks the past few years due to the economic downturn. However, Apple's iPad has allowed customers to purchase a product more appealing at the same cost. This has caused sales growth in companies like Acer and Asustek to decline dramatically. In response these companies are planning to launch their own line of tablets. A major problem for these companies though is to find a capable operating system for the tablets. Currently companies like Microsoft and Google have focused their time on operating systems for smart phones and have not geared toward tablets. This poses a major problem for companies looking to get into the tablets market as they are already far behind Apple. The author then suggests a strategy for Acer and Asustek to take back their market share would be to undercut Apple with price cuts. However, Apple already set its iPad price so aggresively low that it is very difficult to do this.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Google and Social Networking
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/technology/31ftc.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=technology
The above link is to a new york times article which analyzes a recent Google move into the social networking spectrum. The article discussed a new tool, called +1, which allows users to "like" certain web pages/advertisements and share this information with friends. According to the article, the tool is very similiar to Facebook's "like" tool. The author discusses how the new tool is a response to Facebook's increasing threat to Google. Users are more likely to trust reviews from friends, family, etc. Thus, Facebook is cutting into time users would normally spend on Google, lowering revenue recieved from advertisers. +1 is a response to this threat by allowing Google users to see what their friends and contacts have to say, making the search engine service more user friendly. The article also discussed potential privacy complications with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its new tool. There is debate over whether the information displayed via +1 is truly public and thus whether or not is violates Google's privacy policy. Either way, i think this is a step in the right direction for Google to further compete with Facebook.
The above link is to a new york times article which analyzes a recent Google move into the social networking spectrum. The article discussed a new tool, called +1, which allows users to "like" certain web pages/advertisements and share this information with friends. According to the article, the tool is very similiar to Facebook's "like" tool. The author discusses how the new tool is a response to Facebook's increasing threat to Google. Users are more likely to trust reviews from friends, family, etc. Thus, Facebook is cutting into time users would normally spend on Google, lowering revenue recieved from advertisers. +1 is a response to this threat by allowing Google users to see what their friends and contacts have to say, making the search engine service more user friendly. The article also discussed potential privacy complications with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its new tool. There is debate over whether the information displayed via +1 is truly public and thus whether or not is violates Google's privacy policy. Either way, i think this is a step in the right direction for Google to further compete with Facebook.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sentiment Analysis Technology
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2011/tc20110228_366762.htm
The link above is to an article from Businessweek.com which discusses new data mining that technology that could have an enormous impact on market research in the future. The article focused on car manufacturer KIA and how they "will use a tool that can swiftly analyze large numbers of opinions on the Web, including blogs, the microblogging site Twitter, and social networking service Facebook." The technology is called Mass Opinion Business Intelligence (MOBI). While the idea is innovative, many have been skeptical as to how reliable the mined information actually is.
I thought that this new approach to market research was extremely innovative. MOBI is a definetly more efficient data mining tool than surveys, and other data mining techniques. However, there are a few potentially complications that I can foresee with this new technology. First, the reliability of the mined data is questionable. There may be posts via Twitter or Facebook that are sarcastic in tone that the computer may read in a wrong way. Second, MOBI poses potential privacy issues. People may not be comfortable with a computer mining their information and using it to better market to them.
The link above is to an article from Businessweek.com which discusses new data mining that technology that could have an enormous impact on market research in the future. The article focused on car manufacturer KIA and how they "will use a tool that can swiftly analyze large numbers of opinions on the Web, including blogs, the microblogging site Twitter, and social networking service Facebook." The technology is called Mass Opinion Business Intelligence (MOBI). While the idea is innovative, many have been skeptical as to how reliable the mined information actually is.
I thought that this new approach to market research was extremely innovative. MOBI is a definetly more efficient data mining tool than surveys, and other data mining techniques. However, there are a few potentially complications that I can foresee with this new technology. First, the reliability of the mined data is questionable. There may be posts via Twitter or Facebook that are sarcastic in tone that the computer may read in a wrong way. Second, MOBI poses potential privacy issues. People may not be comfortable with a computer mining their information and using it to better market to them.
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