Posts

Showing posts from June, 2010

I want a context button

Image
I have been on a search for a context button.  What is it and why do I want one? When writing about my, your, our digital footprints it has become obvious to me that just putting the date and time on a post is a bit of a nonsense.  It is far better to leave the date out as it ages the blog post and if it is old it may get skipped (why read old stuff).  However, when searching I want the date on articles so I can tell if current or relevant. Date ages me but what I do want, however, is a content button.  When someone comes to http://blog.mydigitalfootprint.com I think it would be good to have a button that says CONTEXT on each blog.  The button takes you to a service say from WSJ, Times, Guardian, NEWco etc  and provides key (contextual) stories of the day/ week/ month that are relevant to the blog.  It could be presented as images, text or  video, lists etc, but is a summary of what was happening about the time a blog was posted and hence provides some context.   I would love i

search by knowledge not by Google

Image
  http://www.wolframalpha.com/   Wolfram Alpha is a search engine, but it's not pretending to be Google, and it isn't trying to do "search". It's actually doing something more subtle: it's doing semantic search. It depends on data (trusted) and not keywords (crawl the web and index)   Google uses tweaked versions of its original "lots of people link to this page" algorithm. Wolfram Alpha is  closer to Wikipedia and is looking to distinguish between Ford, the car, and ford, the method of getting across a river as input and therefore deliver results that are of value.   Impact on Digital Footprints - Wolfram Alpha doesn't care as it is looking for facts and how it can be compared.  If this is future search, will privacy go away?   Excellent video from Ted Talks on what they are developing      

definition of digital footprint (again)

Image
  A Digital Footprint is the record of your interactions with the digital world and how the data that is left behind can be exploited.    The interactions and data that create the digital footprint includes:-   -        The content a user leaves about themselves and the content that others leave about the user in the web. The user generated data and content includes blogs, comments left on public sites, photo’s or a profile up-loaded and content a user creates on a social networking site.  The content left by other is the move from a user as a single individual to that user being part of the social group.    -        Explicit data from the interactions a user has with the web. This is where a users activities is captured, the types of details captured include web pages viewed, the frequency of visits along with the intervals between them, clicks,  the time spent on each page, interactions with forms, landing pages, and downloadable content.  In reality every click, mouse move, keystrok

Google allows you to block analytics

Image
  http://analytics.blogspot.com/2010/05/greater-choice-and-transparency-for.html Users can now opt out of being tracked around the web by Google Analytics, the tool I use to track traffic and trends on my websites, just after we discovered SSL secure search. Google Analytics has launched tools that allows users to opt out of having their information (inc IP address), sent to Google.  It is a simple browser plug-in for IE 7 or 8, Google Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox (no Opera or Safari yet) Google will always get user information in aggregate, from all those who use the web, which provides them with a satellite view of web activity.  Google tends to know more about a user’s activities across multiple sites than any individual site knows and can use the analysis of the data to improve services aka My Digital Footprint business model. So is this a preemptive strike before something else, or a tool providing some protection, or have Google run the numbers and predict that the

so you don't want your ISP to know what you are doing

Image
20 th June 2010 Google have a secure/ encrypted search https://www.google.com  - not working for .co.uk or from a mobile (yet) This allows you to search without your ISP knowing or being able in inspect.  Obviously Google does know what you are doing.  Walled garden or neat idea – still thinking

so you don't want your ISP to know what you are doing

Image
20 th June 2010 Google have a secure/ encrypted search https://www.google.com  - not working for .co.uk or from a mobile (yet) This allows you to search without your ISP knowing or being able in inspect.  Obviously Google does know what you are doing.  Walled garden or neat idea – still thinking

so you don't want your ISP to know what you are doing

Image
20 th June 2010 Google have a secure/ encrypted search https://www.google.com  - not working for .co.uk or from a mobile (yet) This allows you to search without your ISP knowing or being able in inspect.  Obviously Google does know what you are doing.  Walled garden or neat idea – still thinking

so you don't want your ISP to know what you are doing

Image
20 th June 2010 Google have a secure/ encrypted search https://www.google.com  - not working for .co.uk or from a mobile (yet) This allows you to search without your ISP knowing or being able in inspect.  Obviously Google does know what you are doing.  Walled garden or neat idea – still thinking

Fading data could improve privacy

Image
- not obvious to all, but the circuit diagram is for a slow fading light – like the one in your car - This is the BBC news story  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/10324209.stm Dutch researcher Dr Harold van Heerde is looking into ways to gradually "degrade" the information that sites gather about visitors.  Slowly swapping details for more general information can help guard against accidental disclosure, he said.  "There are so many weak points in security that you can never be sure that your data is safe," Dr van Heerde is from the Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT) at the University of Twente Something I have been thinking about as well; here is my dilemma. Facebook make me an offer, based on cost economics for themselves, which says after 12 months you need to pay $1 per year for us to keep your data “live” e.g on spinning disks so it is easily accessed.  If you don’t pay we will achieve it.  (See post on GreenPeace http://blog.

EU Parliament would like more privacy and security in relation to the internet of things

Image
Close to dark side thinking I believe and it starts from the wrong point. They question again is why regulate storage of data.  All data should be thrown away. Regulate collection and maybe what can be done with analysis.  My view is that the existing framework is broken and is not suitable for adaptation. However, I expect it will all happen and have passed by the time the regulator catches up. Parliament would like more privacy and security in relation to the internet of things The European Parliament welcomes the development of the internet of things (IoT) but asks the Commission to set up a clear legal framework on the security, safety, privacy and protection of personal data in relation to the IoT. It also points out concerns on other issues not directly related to the IoT, including on the legal uncertainty surrounding cloud computing. The resolution adopted on June 15, 2010 also proposes that the Commission should carry out a detailed assessment of a number of issues lin

another digital footprint -I am liking the style

Image
I like this http://darcymoore.net/2010/06/18/digital-footprint/

another digital footprint -I am liking the style

Image
I like this http://darcymoore.net/2010/06/18/digital-footprint/

another digital footprint -I am liking the style

Image
I like this http://darcymoore.net/2010/06/18/digital-footprint/

What women want - digital footprints that follow them

Image
Sorry, but could not resist this one for a Friday. Honest there is a link to digital footprints.  Given the previous blog about PeekYou – you are left asking how difficult the connection becomes and what happens if you want to break it. Here is the article http://ilovewhatwomenwant.blogspot.com/2010/06/married-women-should-say-i-dont-to.html When we all think of the giant step of marriage, the last thing that comes to mind is the name change- but little do most of us know that it's probably the most important issue that could either make or break your career status.  Studies show that women who choose to take their partner's name are regarded as more caring but less competent, less intelligent, and less ambitious - They are also less likely to be hired for a job and will earn much less than those who choose to keep their own name. For example: "Jo-Anne Stayner, co-founder of I’m a Mrs, a Vancouver-based name-change service company, said a growing number of Canadian w

What women want - digital footprints that follow them

Image
Sorry, but could not resist this one for a Friday. Honest there is a link to digital footprints.  Given the previous blog about PeekYou – you are left asking how difficult the connection becomes and what happens if you want to break it. Here is the article http://ilovewhatwomenwant.blogspot.com/2010/06/married-women-should-say-i-dont-to.html When we all think of the giant step of marriage, the last thing that comes to mind is the name change- but little do most of us know that it's probably the most important issue that could either make or break your career status.  Studies show that women who choose to take their partner's name are regarded as more caring but less competent, less intelligent, and less ambitious - They are also less likely to be hired for a job and will earn much less than those who choose to keep their own name. For example: "Jo-Anne Stayner, co-founder of I’m a Mrs, a Vancouver-based name-change service company, said a growing number of Canadian w

What women want - digital footprints that follow them

Image
Sorry, but could not resist this one for a Friday. Honest there is a link to digital footprints.  Given the previous blog about PeekYou – you are left asking how difficult the connection becomes and what happens if you want to break it. Here is the article http://ilovewhatwomenwant.blogspot.com/2010/06/married-women-should-say-i-dont-to.html When we all think of the giant step of marriage, the last thing that comes to mind is the name change- but little do most of us know that it's probably the most important issue that could either make or break your career status.  Studies show that women who choose to take their partner's name are regarded as more caring but less competent, less intelligent, and less ambitious - They are also less likely to be hired for a job and will earn much less than those who choose to keep their own name. For example: "Jo-Anne Stayner, co-founder of I’m a Mrs, a Vancouver-based name-change service company, said a growing number of Canadian w

Digital Footprint Ranking System for Individuals; PeekScore Gauges One's Relevance and Reach on the Web

Image
Another people search engine that sizes everyone's digital footprint. The PeekScore is a rank from 1 to 10, assigned to every person. Alas I don’t feature at all, neither does the more famous Tony Fish from Mad Men http://www.peekyou.com/tony_fish  but I am comforted that Martha Lane Fox and Brent Hoberman (lastminute founders) gets a 0 and 1 out of 10 respectively. The higher someone's score, the "more important" they are on the web. PeekYou calculates PeekScore for every person and updates it often, taking into account the person's known presence and activity on the Internet, including but not limited to their blogging, participation in social networks, number of friends, followers, or readers, the amount of web content they create, and their prominence in the news and blogs. "PeekScore has long been in development and we're excited to unveil the first release to the public," said Michael Hussey, Founder and CEO of PeekYou.

Starbucks adopts "My Digital Footprint" business model

Image
Coffee giant Starbucks will begin offering free wireless Internet service at its 6,700 US stores next month and free digital content through a partnership with Yahoo!  Starbucks said the free Wi-Fi service would be available from July 1 through US telecom giant AT&T. Starbucks currently offers two hours of free Wi-Fi to customers who have a Starbucks card.  The coffee chain said it also plans to offer free digital content to customers, including free access to websites such as that of The Wall Street Journal, which currently charges online readers for full access to WSJ.com. The "Starbucks Digital Network" will launch this fall and will offer "free unrestricted access to various paid sites and services," Starbucks said in a statement.   It said launch content providers will include Apple's iTunes, The New York Times, Patch, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! and Zagat. So what and where is the model?  Each customer will log in with a unique ide

Starbucks adopts "My Digital Footprint" business model

Image
Coffee giant Starbucks will begin offering free wireless Internet service at its 6,700 US stores next month and free digital content through a partnership with Yahoo!  Starbucks said the free Wi-Fi service would be available from July 1 through US telecom giant AT&T. Starbucks currently offers two hours of free Wi-Fi to customers who have a Starbucks card.  The coffee chain said it also plans to offer free digital content to customers, including free access to websites such as that of The Wall Street Journal, which currently charges online readers for full access to WSJ.com. The "Starbucks Digital Network" will launch this fall and will offer "free unrestricted access to various paid sites and services," Starbucks said in a statement.   It said launch content providers will include Apple's iTunes, The New York Times, Patch, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! and Zagat. So what and where is the model?  Each customer will log in with a unique ide

(who's) Got Your ID ?

Image
  Many quotes in this months mag about “My Digital Footprint” in an article “Got your ID” by Alun Lewis   http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/255213a7#/255213a7/20  

Common interpretations of the phrase "Digital Footprint" #mdfp

Image
interpretation :sign language There are four common interpretations of the phrase "digital footprint" and they all share two common characteristics which are that digital footprints are about an individual's interaction with a digital world and that the data created from the interaction can be exploited. The differences depend on how deep, or prepared, you want to look. The most common definition of a digital footprint is the content you leave about yourself in the web. This is content you create for a blog, comments you leave, photo's you up load or your profile and content you create on a social networking site. There is little difference between your professional profile and your personal profile. This is used as a definition in education circles to help children understand that what they say provides a representation of them what is "Your Digital Footprint?" This definition introduces the ideas of reputation. The second definition is created by addin

As parents seek control, kids will find somewhere new to hide

Image
http://ycorpblog.com/2010/06/10/internet-safety/ Yahoo! Gives Parents a B+ During Internet Safety Month posted 10 June 2010 - Parents take action We are encouraged to learn that parents are taking action to actively monitor their kids’ online activity. * 70% of parents talk to their children about online safety at least 2-3 times a year; 45% talk to their children least once a month. * 74% of parents are connected to their children’s profiles on social networking sites. * 71% of parents have taken at least one action to manage their children’s use of the Internet or cell phones.  Parents are checking to see where children are searching online, setting time limits, setting parental controls on video sites, and using filters to limit where their children go on the Web. MDFP Comment – what worries me is that Parents (and I am one) think that they can stay ahead of the kids (and I was one).  Orange conducted some research that asked “why do kids love technology” and concluded “it

As parents seek control, kids will find somewhere new to hide

Image
http://ycorpblog.com/2010/06/10/internet-safety/ Yahoo! Gives Parents a B+ During Internet Safety Month posted 10 June 2010 - Parents take action We are encouraged to learn that parents are taking action to actively monitor their kids’ online activity. * 70% of parents talk to their children about online safety at least 2-3 times a year; 45% talk to their children least once a month. * 74% of parents are connected to their children’s profiles on social networking sites. * 71% of parents have taken at least one action to manage their children’s use of the Internet or cell phones.  Parents are checking to see where children are searching online, setting time limits, setting parental controls on video sites, and using filters to limit where their children go on the Web. MDFP Comment – what worries me is that Parents (and I am one) think that they can stay ahead of the kids (and I was one).  Orange conducted some research that asked “why do kids love technology” and concluded “it

As parents seek control, kids will find somewhere new to hide

Image
http://ycorpblog.com/2010/06/10/internet-safety/ Yahoo! Gives Parents a B+ During Internet Safety Month posted 10 June 2010 - Parents take action We are encouraged to learn that parents are taking action to actively monitor their kids’ online activity. * 70% of parents talk to their children about online safety at least 2-3 times a year; 45% talk to their children least once a month. * 74% of parents are connected to their children’s profiles on social networking sites. * 71% of parents have taken at least one action to manage their children’s use of the Internet or cell phones.  Parents are checking to see where children are searching online, setting time limits, setting parental controls on video sites, and using filters to limit where their children go on the Web. MDFP Comment – what worries me is that Parents (and I am one) think that they can stay ahead of the kids (and I was one).  Orange conducted some research that asked “why do kids love technology” and concluded “it

As parents seek control, kids will find somewhere new to hide

Image
http://ycorpblog.com/2010/06/10/internet-safety/ Yahoo! Gives Parents a B+ During Internet Safety Month posted 10 June 2010 - Parents take action We are encouraged to learn that parents are taking action to actively monitor their kids’ online activity. * 70% of parents talk to their children about online safety at least 2-3 times a year; 45% talk to their children least once a month. * 74% of parents are connected to their children’s profiles on social networking sites. * 71% of parents have taken at least one action to manage their children’s use of the Internet or cell phones.  Parents are checking to see where children are searching online, setting time limits, setting parental controls on video sites, and using filters to limit where their children go on the Web. MDFP Comment – what worries me is that Parents (and I am one) think that they can stay ahead of the kids (and I was one).  Orange conducted some research that asked “why do kids love technology” and concluded “it

hot news from one of my companies

Image
7 th June 2010 WORLDLINK LAUNCHES THE UK’S FIRST FREE REAL-TIME FINANCIAL INFORMATION SERVICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC Worldlink, the owner of the UK and US patent for the transmission of profiled real-time data to mobile devices, is making its imobilemarkets financial service product available FREE from today. That means that anyone interested in monitoring their investments will have the same information available to them as a City trader. This will allow them to make informed investment decisions, whether they are on the move or sitting at their desk. To take advantage of this FREE service, which is automatically uploaded to both a customer’s mobile and desktop, subscribers have to provide their name and create a password. The whole process is concluded in seconds and information such as a person’s address is not required.  In this time of increasing financial volatility, even retail investors, want to keep up to speed with what is happening in the financial markets and until n

hot news from one of my companies

Image
7 th June 2010 WORLDLINK LAUNCHES THE UK’S FIRST FREE REAL-TIME FINANCIAL INFORMATION SERVICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC Worldlink, the owner of the UK and US patent for the transmission of profiled real-time data to mobile devices, is making its imobilemarkets financial service product available FREE from today. That means that anyone interested in monitoring their investments will have the same information available to them as a City trader. This will allow them to make informed investment decisions, whether they are on the move or sitting at their desk. To take advantage of this FREE service, which is automatically uploaded to both a customer’s mobile and desktop, subscribers have to provide their name and create a password. The whole process is concluded in seconds and information such as a person’s address is not required.  In this time of increasing financial volatility, even retail investors, want to keep up to speed with what is happening in the financial markets and until n

PEW report

Image
The younger US Net generation is getting smarter about online presence but not because they’re concerned about online reputations. The new Pew/Internet’s report, “ Reputation Management & Social Media ,” “Young adults, far from being indifferent about their digital footprints, are the most active online reputation managers in several dimensions. For example, more than two-thirds (71%) of social networking users aged 18-29 have changed the privacy settings on their profile to limit what they share with others online” and are more likely to do so than older users (55% of SN users aged 50-64 have changed their settings). Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden says that users are learning personal info management;  “as they go – changing privacy settings on profiles, customizing who can see certain updates, and deleting unwanted information about them that appears online.” Those privacy features, along with search engines to check what peers see when they search for you, “now pla

PEW report

Image
The younger US Net generation is getting smarter about online presence but not because they’re concerned about online reputations. The new Pew/Internet’s report, “ Reputation Management & Social Media ,” “Young adults, far from being indifferent about their digital footprints, are the most active online reputation managers in several dimensions. For example, more than two-thirds (71%) of social networking users aged 18-29 have changed the privacy settings on their profile to limit what they share with others online” and are more likely to do so than older users (55% of SN users aged 50-64 have changed their settings). Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden says that users are learning personal info management;  “as they go – changing privacy settings on profiles, customizing who can see certain updates, and deleting unwanted information about them that appears online.” Those privacy features, along with search engines to check what peers see when they search for you, “now pla

PEW report

Image
The younger US Net generation is getting smarter about online presence but not because they’re concerned about online reputations. The new Pew/Internet’s report, “ Reputation Management & Social Media ,” “Young adults, far from being indifferent about their digital footprints, are the most active online reputation managers in several dimensions. For example, more than two-thirds (71%) of social networking users aged 18-29 have changed the privacy settings on their profile to limit what they share with others online” and are more likely to do so than older users (55% of SN users aged 50-64 have changed their settings). Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden says that users are learning personal info management;  “as they go – changing privacy settings on profiles, customizing who can see certain updates, and deleting unwanted information about them that appears online.” Those privacy features, along with search engines to check what peers see when they search for you, “now pla