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FYI: How to Increase Your Wi-Fi Signal With A Salad Bowl and Tin Foil

Mark Erickson, host of "Infinite Solutions" shares tips and tricks with viewers on how to get the most out of technology. But his real talent is being able to tell the most outrageous lies with a perfectly straight face. His spoof videos have convinced unwary viewers to engage in such futile and masochistic behavior as continually logging in and out of their Gmail accounts, over and over, in the misguided belief that it will eventually enable them to access a secret Google TV beta. Here's a comment on the Techcrunch website from one poor soul caught in Erickson's web:

"Yeah, I had logged out and then in over 628 times before realizing that I had forgotten to archive the message first. Boy did I feel silly. I'm back up to 593 times but need sleep before continuing. Wish me luck."

If you want a laugh, watch these very clever videos---just don't believe a word he says. Via Techcrunch.

He also does an "emergency update" confirming the 'accuracy' of his instructions and denying that the video is a hoax. Talented guy---or someone with way too much time on their hands? Ah, the magic of Web 2.0.

Trends: HiddenMarket.com Turbocharges Networking

Good friend and fellow blogger Scott Burkett has just launched an open beta of what he calls the "first-of-its-kind social business intelligence network." "HiddenMarket.com" is designed to provide members with a smorgasbord of business intel, gossip, industry information, sales leads, career opportunities, news, etc., based on exchanges of information within groups of people that share similar values, interests and objectives. You've probably heard the oft-quoted statistic that 70-80% of job openings are never posted. HiddenMarket's mission is to open up that 'hidden market' of business opportunities by creating an environment where members can network and exchange resources, support and knowledge.

People become members of HiddenMarket (which is free to join, BTW) according to groups to which they already belong. HiddenMarket simulates real-world networking by establishing a group framework to facilitate interactions between individuals of like interests, values and objectives. Individuals can join HiddenMarket but they will get the most benefit from HiddenMarket by joining a group or forming one.

I still cannot program my DVR or set the clock in my car. Fortunately, HiddenMarket is easy to use and it has already become part of my morning routine. It also has a rich feature set that enables you to customize your online experience, and Scott tells me there's lots more to come. He believes HiddenMarket will transform the way business people communicate and I agree. Check it out! 

Trends: Blogs of 'Common' People Form Bridges Across The World

Blogs have opened a world of conversation between 'common' people---not journalists, not politicians, not celebrities; just everyday people who have discovered that a blog is an extraordinary opportunity to converse directly with people around the world about the issues that are important to them, not filtered, edited, spun or shaped into neat :05 soundbites. One recent example: the Israeli and Lebanese bloggers who reached out to each other during the recent war, some in anger, but most trying to find ways to come together and make sense of the death and destruction irrevocably changing their lives.

GlobalVoicesOnline.org has been established by The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School with the purpose of linking together "'bridge bloggers,', those people who, according to The Futurist, "...amplify, curate, and aggregate the global conversation online--with a focus on countries and communities outside the U.S. and Western Europe." Each day the site's team of editors find and aggregate the 5-10 most interesting posts for that day, with the aim of shedding light on what blogging communities in their countries have been talking about recently. They specifically focus on those issues not discussed by the mainstream English language media, but which are, nonetheless, very important to large numbers of the world's citizens, says The Futurist. "Subjects may range from foods to feuds. Recent topics include Brazil's electoral scandal, rap music in Africa, and Turkey's reactions to the Pope's comments on Islam."

A virtual anthropological exploration and tremendous resource for anyone who wants to dig below the headlines.

Controversy: What Effect Will The Internet Have On Our Lives In 2020?

The Pew Internet & American Life Project has just released "The Future of the Internet II," on the potential effect of the internet on social, political and economic life in the year 2020. The 742 respondents included internet leaders, activists, analysts, builders and commentators who expressed their views on topics from the tradeoffs between loss of privacy versus the benefits, tech "refuseniks" and the pluses and minuses of virtual reality.

While most respondents believe humans will still control technology by 2020, 42% fear that technological progress will lead to the creation of machines and processes that move beyond human control.

Um, wasn't it a computer, the "Hal 9000," that went insane in "2001: A Space Odyssey," and started killing people? And "EDI" was a computer in the movie "Stealth" that could fly a U.S. Navy fighter jet all by itself; it developed a nasty attitude after being struck by lightening and started blowing up people and airships and other fighter jets. (Maybe it was po'd because the plot was so bad.) Anyway, based on these two movies alone I think we should take those 42% of respondents seriously.

Other survey respondents voiced concerns that the leaders who control the technology may utilize their power inappropriately. Nah, that would never happen, right? Anyway, here are some other predictions from the Pew study:

• A low-cost global network will be thriving and creating new opportunities in a "flattening" world.
• Virtual reality will be compelling enough to enhance worker productivity and also spawn new addiction problems
• Tech "refuseniks" will emerge as a cultural group characterized by their choice to live off the network. Some will do this as a benighn way to limit information overload, while others will commit acts of violence and terror against technology-inspired change.
• People will wittingly and unwittingly disclose more about themselves, gainsing some benefits in the process even as they lose some privacy.

Google Watch: Click-to-Call, Google News Archive Search, Google Book Search

Google & eBay Partner on Click-to-Call
Google and eBay have signed a deal to show Google text ads, including click-to-call, on eBay properties outside the U.S. The agreement is expected to boost awareness and adoption of click-to-call advertising, which is still in its early phases. The deal also mirrors an agreement Yahoo signed with eBay in May to show text ads exclusively on eBay's U.S. properties. Ingenio and Microsoft also offer click-to-call. Via clickz.com

Google News Archive Search
Google has announced the debut of Google News Archive Search. What's neat about this new service, which is an addition to Google News, is that users will be able to search 200 years of news stories. According to the Google News website, the new service "provides an easy way to search and explore historical archives."

One of the great features of this service is that "articles related to a single story within a given time period are grouped are grouped together to allow users to see a broad perspective on the events, and "discover a variety of viewpoints across time." Google says their goal with News Archive Search is to "make it possible for users to read about historical events as they happened...Enabling users to read about history as it unfolded allows them to explore and understand the past for themselves."  Cool! Via BizReport

Download the Classics
Have a hankering to read Aesop's Fables, Dante's Inferno, or Hamlet? Google Book Search beta enables you to download full copies of out-of-copyright books. According to the Google Blog, you can "choose from a diverse collection of public domain titles -- from well-known classics to obscure gems." What will they think of next?

Trends: Ménage à Trois - Laptops & PDAs Invade the Marriage Bed

So does technology help or hurt a couple's relationship? The answer depends on who you ask. In some cases, the couple that blogs in bed together on their respective laptops, stays together. In some cases it provides couples a way of being physically nearer to each other, even if one person is working away. Others confess that they see their spouse's electronic device as an intruding on the intimacy of their relationship. The New York Times.

Trends: Attack of the Avatars Part I - Human Brains in Jars

Someday when we're all just brains subsisting in big glass jars of saline, electrical impulses from our brains powering the virtual worlds through which we interact, we'll remember how innocently it all started.

The word 'avatar' is derived from the Sanskrit word, avatara, which means "descent." The concept of avatars has its roots in Hinduism which views avatars as human or animal manifestations of higher beings.

In the online world, avatars are animated human or non-human characters that range from simple characters, sometimes referred to as buddy icons, used to add personalization to instant messages, mobile phones and blogs, to the sophisticated characters that inhabit video games and virtual worlds like Second Life, World of Warcraft, etc.

Websites, such as Yahoo, enable users to personalize online interactions by creating their own avatar. Users can select from a range of customizable options for skin, eyes, hair and facial expression, to body build (slender or plus size), clothing, jewelery and accessories.

Brands hoping to connect with consumers offer additional opportunities for customization. Verizon Wireless will outfit your avatar with a pink Motorola RAZR phone, JABRA headset or LG VX8100 with music. Get a red Dodge Charger RT from Chrysler's Dr. Z, or snack on french fries from Carl's Jr./Hardees. Dress your avatar in Wal-Mart clothing and parade it on the catwalk for a chance to win a $100 Wal-Mart gift certificate.

In complex virtual worlds your avatar can build a complete life for him or herself, which includes starting a business, purchasing land, building a home, skydiving, dancing or shopping, and having intimate relationships (!)

One avatar prompted his human counterpart to file a real-life lawsuit; he had discovered a glitch in the Second Life auction system and bought up plots of virtual land at bargain rates, only to be shut down by Second Life and have his virtual property reclaimed. His real-life counterpart claims to have lost $8,000 in real USD and is suing to get his money back.

Brains in jars? Don't say I didn't warn you.

Trends: Bloggers - Storytellers or Journalists?

Storytelling, the ability to express themselves creatively and share personal experiences is the primary reason most people keep a blog, according to a recent survey by the Pew Internet & American Life project. Just 1/3 of bloggers see blogging as a form of journalism, although many check facts and cite original sources. Not surprisingly, bloggers are "avid consumers and creators of online content. They are also heavy users of the internet in general." Just 11% of bloggers say they focus mainly on government or politics. More than half (54%) of bloggers are under the age of 30. 16% of bloggers are over the age of 50.

The blogging population is fairly evenly split male (54%) and female (46%,) with blacks and Hispanics indexing slightly higher when comparing bloggers vs. the internet user population.

FYI: What Gaming Can Teach Brands About Engaging Customers

One of the fun aspects of marketing is that you can derive creative inspiration from so many sources. Take this article on the application insights from the gaming world from a creative director at Shufflebrain. Key is understanding that games "trigger the most primal response patterns, and, depending on schedules of reinforcement, will produce varied results -- a phenomenon that holds true for rats, pigeons, and humans." She follows up with five tips to leverage common game frameworks. Tip #1: Institute items that users can collect: "The human drive to show off collections is what drives addiction and convincing experiences."

Trends: For Teens, Email May as Well Be Snail Mail

U.S. teen email usage is dropping in favor of more instant alternatives that are faster and/or more convenient such as text messaging and cell phone calling. Statistics contained in a Mercury News article from comScore MediaMetrix show April, 2006 use of 11.8 million users was down 8 percent from 12.8 million users in April, 2005. This is in spite of an increase in general email usage. Instant messaging among teens slowed by 1%. What's taking their place? Some experts believe its Myspace which facilitates social contacts and helps teens achieve a key objective of staying connected with friends.