In the Web Squared article, O’Reilly and Battelle discuss a lot of ideas that any modern company should give serious consideration. Since my current professional goals are extremely nebulous, I would like to focus on the idea that I think would have the greatest import for businesses in general. This is the idea of the “Rise of Real Time”, which suggests that businesses need to be able to react to current trends and feedback in order to be competitive. While the section focuses largely on Twitter, it also shows how the near instantaneous feedback the internet has made possible can have a dramatic effect on businesses in general. The quote regarding the shoe sales underscores that the effective utilization of real time feedback can affect success. The ability to react quickly feedback also ties into the Web 2.0 idea of the “perpetual beta”, where rather than large widely spaced updates, a website undergoes constant incremental changes to better meet the consumer’s needs. With real time feedback, rather than having to rely on annual or semi-annual reports a company can react to current trends in order to maximize sales, and minimize resource waste.
The most exiting application that I’ve seen lately is more phone app than internet app. Nevertheless, I think that it’s really impressive and will be really useful. This app is the Word Lens app currently available for the iPhone. This app lets you use your phone’s camera to translate any text from one of the available languages into another instantly. So if you’re trying to figure out what a menu or a sign written in a foreign language says you can just point your phone at it. From what the comments say there’s a few problems with this app but if these can be worked out it would be indispensable to a traveler. Also there’s just something awfully cool about being able to carry around an instant don’t-have-to-fiddle-with-typing-stuff-in translator in your pocket. Click here for an article with some pictures and a neat video.
Businesses really do need to embrace this real time and new technology in general. I've noticed a trend with certain businesses that instead of adapting to changes the Web brings, they attempt to ban it or shy away from it (music industry and online stores). Businesses almost need to be in 'perpetual beta' to keep up with changes in users. In regards to the Phone App, I personally don't use phone apps since I don't own a phone that is capable of using them. But it is interesting to see how these apps are making phones the new computers that can do more and are portable.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the real time feedback is definitely very important. I haven't been using twitter for that long, but I find it so incredibly useful to find information about an event happening right at that moment such as a sports game, or crime, whatever it may be. When I'm not by a TV or computer I can just go on twitter with my phone and get constant updates from anyone I want. Businesses should all be using twitter on the daily.
ReplyDeleteBeing a traveler, and not a smart phone owner... yet. I also find the translator app very exciting. I think that it will help make travel to other countries more accessible to those who are not bi-lingual. However I am also aware of how manny Americans only speak one language, and I wonder if an application like this will further lessen the likelihood of people learning other language because they know their phone can translate for them.
ReplyDeleteThat word lens application is especially freaky for me, falling into the over-30 group (let's face it, halfway to 40 group)... Being a kid in the 1980s, that sort of instant image-alteration and translation wasn't even the stuff of sci-fi - nobody'd even thought of it yet.
ReplyDeleteEven the movies expected that you'd have to hear a language to automagically translate it.
Real Time is here and isn't going anywhere. While some business are failing to adapt (hilariously too, although I suppose we shouldn't make light of people failing to compete) I am always excited by the ways some business are staying abreast and still providing excellent customer service. From twitter notifications of product recalls, online support (chat, email reply times that are very quick, and even computer technicians able to remotely access your computer), to restaurants offering menus or newspapers on Ipads, we live in the age of awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of companies being in constant beta and using twitter is what interested me the most in the article; it's becoming incredibly important now that customers are getting used to having instant responses to their questions and complaints.
ReplyDeleteThe translation app is definitely something I would have if I a phone compatible with all of that. Although, like Emily said, I have to wonder if it would make people less prone to learning new languages.
You're totally right that this notion is doing some serious transformations to business: "With real time feedback, rather than having to rely on annual or semi-annual reports a company can react to current trends in order to maximize sales, and minimize resource waste." It's now just a matter of people knowing what to do with this real-time data, how to best utilize it (and get it in the first place). Also, I agree, the translator app is totally sci-fi and amazing. Nice post (and great comments)
ReplyDeleteHey Angela,
ReplyDeleteIt sure is interesting that the web is "ending the software release cycle" and consistently, frequently updating services, I disagree with you that it is crucial for businesses to follow. The web has given us a lot of instant access and focused us on getting things instantly, sure, but does that necessarily mean that business need to go through small incremental changes regularly? What about business that have been around for a hundred or more years that do everything they need to perfectly fine already? What about successful businesses that don't need this model? I disagree that it will "dramatically affect" businesses as you state.
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the internet encouraging a sort of instant satisfaction mindset (probably with a multitude of negative consequences). I would also say that perhaps there are some businesses that do just fine without "real time" responses to information.
However I think that most businesses would do well to consider the possible advantages, because their competitors probably already are.