August 31, 2009 • 8:45 am
Since top universities like MIT and Berkeley have integrated Open Source into their learning programs, even making some courses available for free, the debate continues as to the necessity, value and effectiveness of open source software on non-commercial applications.
But just like Linux revolutionizing the OS market, open source software can bring about a transformative impact on the way knowledge is shared, developed and nurtured in any academic setting. The benefits the new technology can bring ranges from reduction of school’s administrative costs to enhanced electronic interaction between teacher and students.
Full article
Filed under: Information, Innovation, Networks , Academic Innovation, Knowledge Sharing, MIT, Open Source
Crispin Porter + Bogusky’s always rattling the ad-industry’s cage–whether through disturbing ads for Burger King, or roundly lambasted ads for Microsoft. But recently, they just lost the Volkswagen account–one of their marquees–while Burger King franchisees are blaming Crispin for flagging sales. And their latest experiment may have overstepped the line with designers, who usually pay them a grudging respect.
To create a logo for the electric motorcycle start-up Brammo, they’re crowdsourcing the design, for a reward of $1000. The winner will be announced in six days, and over 700 people have submitted work. But no matter: To many professional designers, so-called “spec” assignments–that is, exploratory work, done for free–is taboo. Many designers think it undercuts them, and denigrates the profession. Designis.ms was among the aggrieved, and they’ve started a Twitter campaign (#nospec) against Crispin.
Full article
Filed under: Crowdsourcing, Innovation, Marketing , Advertising, Clients, Crowdsourcing, Design, Marketing
August 29, 2009 • 8:45 am
A recent study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on more than 50 years of research with 162 studies containing 3,558 comparisons of food items nutritional value reveals that the difference, in terms of which is healthier, between organic and non-organic foods are negligible.
Marion Nestle, who blogs at Food Politics says that the American public does not believe in the claims made by the benefits of organic food. If that’s the case, we wonder where all the long lines at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s come from?
Filed under: Information, Science , Food Politics, Food Research, Health and Nutrition, Non-organic Food, Nutrition, Organic Food
August 28, 2009 • 8:45 am
The latest released Electric Power Monthly Report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that the net amount of electricity generated in the US that was derived from renewable resources, which includes biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro and win power, reached an all time high of 40,395,000 Megawatt hours (Mwh) last May 2009.
The total amount comprises more than 10% of the total electricity generated for the month. May 2009’s total electrical generation was 7.7% more than from the same month last year. It is the highest figure ever reported
by the EIA.
Most of the what was generated from renewable resources came from hydropower.
Full article
Filed under: Sustainability , Electric Power Monthly Report, Electrical Generation, Energy Conservation, Energy Consumption, Hydroelectric Power, Renewable energy, Renewable Resources, US Electricity, US Energy Consumption
August 27, 2009 • 8:45 am
Tweeting all day as a marketing activity continues to require the development of great metrics. Although measuring social media marketing activities does not yet have ’solid’ rules compared to traditional marketing strategies, Jennifer points out a couple of ways you should measure the impact and reach of your Twitter activities.
Full article
Filed under: Market Research, Marketing, Social Media , Brand Engagement, Marketing Metrics, ROI measurement, Social Media, Twitter
August 26, 2009 • 8:45 am
The crisis was merciless to some of the most ambitious projects in real estate development and construction. Dubai has suffered a devastating downturn because of the recession and the tangible residues of a fallen Dubai is evident in this photo essay by Lauren Greenfield.
Filed under: Architecture, Information , Construction, Dubai, Gulf States, Middle East Economy, Overexpansion, Recession
August 25, 2009 • 8:45 am
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon, MIT and the networking company Akamai suggests companies that run large data centers can potentially save millions by utilizing an Internet-routing algorithm that moves data where electricity costs are lowest at a particular time. Based on their findings, when considering the cost of rerouting information is compared from possible savings from lower energy costs, experts found that companies can cut 40% of their energy consumption.
There are still concerns in the actual reduced energy consumption and emission that energy-routing systems can bring. According to Jonathan Koomey, a Lawrence Berkeley National Scientist, “”The trick is to be able to control these systems well enough and to create controls that are cheap enough to be able to take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity available from differential electricity prices, without affecting reliability or latency”.
Full article
Filed under: Innovation, Networks , Data Centers, Energy Reduction, Internet Technology
August 23, 2009 • 8:45 am
Like tweeting, blogging and social networking, crowdsourcing is another offshoot of all the user-generated phenomenon evolving on the web. It is combining the power of crowds to accomplish a specific objective. A good example of this is Digg, a website where the crowd (users) vote as to which content they want to be featured.
Applying this concept to market research, IdeaScale provides businesses and enterprising organizations a platform to turn their customers into advocates. The site allows companies to build communities which are based on crowdsourcing models. Ideas are posted onto the IdeaScale portal, where fellow user can vote and make comments. This creates an environment where ideas are both expanded and measured by the community.
The service allows effective brand engagement, immediate feedback and a very client focused approach to understanding your market.
Check out their website
Filed under: Crowdsourcing, Customer Service, Market Research , Brand Engagement, Customer Feedback, Online Focus Groups
