The Digital Footprint: Lessons from Kris Krug (1 of 3)
Kris Krug is a technology, idea and thought leader with a strong presence in the digital world. He is also described as ‘a tech-artist, quasi-sage, cyberpunk anti-hero from the future’. The more you get to know him the more that description rings true. I like to imagine him as a cyber surfer on the front of the wave enabling arts and culture in the internet age. If you've never heard of Kris check out his Wikipedia page here. Kris describes himself on kriskrug.com as, “a photographer, web strategist and author based in Vancouver.” Kris speaks all over the world on the topics of technology and the arts. I was inspired by his presentation at Pecha Kucha in Vancouver titled, “Open Everything”. In the presentation Kris talks about the move away from traditional blogging towards a digital footprint.To Kris the 'digital footprint' is represented by his photos on flickr, his videos on YouTube, his blog posts, links he shares, comments he leaves, interactions he has and comments others make about him. See a digital footprint by googling his name or mine. I am writing with many links embedded in the hopes that if you are interested you will explore and try these tools for yourself. Powerful computing tools are increasingly moving online and Kris knows his stuff. So join me as I go into the mind of a current thought leader for a lesson or two.
When did you realize that technology was part of your vocation?
I really started working with web technology while I was at University. In early 1996 I was introduced to Netscape(?) and I started creating web pages. It was when my Communications professors approached me to build web pages for them that I knew things were really changing. It was an upheaval of the traditional power structure. Normally students want help from professors, suddenly these same professors were coming to me for help with their work. I went onto to create web pages for my professors, to promote and sell books, and the university.
In 1998 I created Spark-online.com, an online magazine exploring electronic consciousness and digital philosophy. It grew pretty big and we were using content management systems before blogging which required us to build new HTML pages every month. 11 years later my life is a continuation of those explorations and the addition of more. I am publishing online and speaking live exploring how we are changing and how the medium is changing.On Blogging...
When blogging first started it was for everything [pictures, videos, discussions]. Now each of these media has their own tools outside the blog [flickr, YouTube, Twitter/Facebook]. People are no longer blogging every day; comments on blogs aren’t the place for discussions they once were. One great new tool [Disqus] aggregates tweets about a particular post and then includes a link or embeds those tweets into the blog in the comments section.
Now, instead of writing a blog post after an event I can tweet from the event, post photos and video directly to the web in real time and the day after the event I can do a blog post. I can use tweets from others about the event, embed some of the photos or videos I posted the day before into the post. I feel like we are moving from a web of pages to a web of streams. These streams allow us to aggregate our presence into one central place.On the Olympics... [from a video of a recent Olympic roundtable w/Kris]
I currently represent "The True North Media House" and we are working to build an independent, alternative media center for the 2010 games. There will be a period of time in the future where the stories we are sharing 20 years after the games will be things that happened online. This is the first Olympics sitting on that brink and I hope to help tip the scales in that way through the organization of this 2010 media house.
[Also see this post from co-founder Dave Olson]
In order to prevent readers from having to read to much at once I have broken this piece up into 3 posts. Each post is chalked full of great tools, ideas and links from Kris Krug. Read Part 2 now!
Google launches Chrome OS at Microsoft Windows. Office 2010 tries to crush Google Docs
Google has decided it is time to battle with its nemesis Microsoft on all fronts, first on the web with the Chrome browser and now on your computer with it's operating system: Chrome OS. Microsoft, not to be outdone, launched Bing, their new search engine which with tons of advertising is quickly gaining market share. David Pogue of the New York Times wrote this great article, Bing VS Google, at the launch of Bing comparing it to that old dog, Google.
Last week Google announced its new Chrome OS (Operating System) based on its Chrome browser and the blogosphere became engrossed once again in the Microsoft VS Google battle. Chrome is mainly targeted at netbooks and web browsing devices. It will not replace Andriod, Google's underdeveloped mobile platform. Acer already has plans to use the new Chrome OS in it's new netbooks. The difference here is cost to computer manufacturers who traditionally paid Microsoft about $20/computer for Windows. These manufacturers can now choose to use Google's Chrome OS for FREE as it is open source software.
Google's business plan is to ensure that you spend more time online. Google makes money when people are online as Ben Parr of Mashable points out so well in his recent post. Google is ubiquitous in the online advertising game and owns most advertising means online. Google's idea is that anytime you spend with a desktop game or application is time Google is not getting your eyeballs on its ads. Expect to see more and more applications and games to replace the desktop experience from Google in the future.
Microsoft yesterday announced its newest release of Microsoft Office in the shadow of Google's OS announcement from Thursday. An intended outcome of the timing of Google's announcement. The new version of Office will be called 2010 and is expected to hit shelves in North America a year from now. The new release upgrades the long used program in a few minor ways. The major changes, web integration and collaboration tools, came as a direct attack on Google's successful web-based office suite, Google Docs.
A little iPhone Photography of Vancouver to end this post.
11 Reasons the iPhone 3G S is the best product. The Mobile Revolution is here
1. It's a Computer: This is where everything changes and yeah sure they are arguements to be made about other smartphones as computers but nothing does it quite like the Apple iPhone. This device is like an Apple computer. It is fast, easy-to-use and above all user driven. The speed and abilities of the device combined with the reputation of Apple service and product reliability deliver a mobile computing experience that even 10 years ago would have made heads spin.
2. It's a Tablet: tablet PCs were supposed to take the world by storm when they first crept onto the market about 10 years ago. Unfortunately they never fulfilled their promise of usability, battery life and portability. The iPhone is what those tablet makers intended to make but really couldn't wrap their heads around.
3. Rapid charging and good battery life: the speed at which the device recharges is awesome. I am using a 3G S but the older devices also have superior charging speeds and long battery life. Sure if you are playing game like and listening to music while connected to a Wi-Fi network downloading a feature length movie the battery may suffer, but when used for normal phone operations the battery lasts a long time compared to previous devices with similar capabilities.
4. Usability: by doing away with conventional interfaces and using a full touch screen Apple creates an intuitive and natural experience for users and an open and versatile environment for programmers. It takes a little time to get used to but improves the experience in all applications and makes takes mobile gaming to a new level.
5. Apps: Allowing others to create programs for the system opens the progression of the device to programs. But more importantly to users. As voting consumers, paying for and supporting software, users will proliferate democratically selected apps creating a truly user defined environment.
6. iTunes: Napster evolved and Apple knew what needed to be done. Now music is on demand and Lars Ulrick and James Hatfield can relax, get paid and get back to making music as vain as they are. iTunes makes it easy, quick and convenient like never before to acquire media. The record industry has Apple iTunes and iPod to thank for saving their bacon.7. Connectivity: With high speed 3G network access, processor speed increases, constant Wi-Fi and large low cost data plans the iPhone completes these features and makes using the internet, email and most online sites on the go easy and intuitive. The extent of how this can be used is growing and will continue to in the future.
9. Free Apps: Although I mentioned apps before it is extra special to receive so many great apps for free whether you are using a iTouch or an iPhone this device changes everything.
10. Affordable Computing Power: I recently spoke with Kris Krug (@kk) about this and his great insight was that now a whole new segement of the global population can afford to own a computer (iPhone or iPod touch). He believes that this is the most important aspect of the product globally and I couldn't agree with him more.
11. Photography: The iPhone 3GS with it's 3.2 MP camera brings the device nearly all the way to where it needs to be, 5MP would have been better. The apps to edit photography are incredible. One only needs to look at my flickr page to see what is possible. It the possibilities only grow from there.
The iPhone has its limitations. It cannot run multiple apps, but I think this may improve the overall experience by keeping programs running well. Programmers of the OS could also change this in the future. The keyboard takes some getting used to. Editing text with big figers while trying to avoid buttons on the top or bottom bands that send you back and erase your project can be tiring. I wonder what I need to press to move the cursor back a single space or do I just have to use my finger?
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