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Tuesday, October 30, 2007 |
Here's an interesting post for all you marketers. I seldom use Google, because they track everything you do within their site. But I'm not a typical consumer, either. When I want something, I research it. I almost never click and buy right away (except occasionally for books--my one weakness). I look and remember relevant ads for future research. Otherwise, I research my purchases--in other words, I search on my own time, not on a whim. Also, I have few wants. Just ask my wife about the times I make observations about her buying habits as in "is it a need, or a want?" Now, I make my living from advertising, but just like I like to be sold by professional sales people, I want to see ethical marketing--not intrusive, gaudy overbearing stuff when I want to see content, but something truthful and explanatory.
Do not track list is the First Shot in the Behavioral Targeting Wars. Advertising Age reports that several big privacy groups, including the EFF, tomorrow will rally to get the "Do Not Track" list off the ground. As proposed, it's similar to the Do Not Call list. The bigger story, however, is that this is probably the opening salvo in what is a brewing war over behavioral targeting.
The targeting of web ads based on the deep data mining of online behaviors is the fascination du jour of many online marketers these days - particularly as they focus on ROI. While it's not new, what is different now is that a) people are sharing more information about themselves online so there's more information to use and b) marketers are increasing their spend on digital marketing as TV wanes in effectiveness.
Behavioral targeting is perhaps most top of mind within companies that have been able to successfully integrate the more cerebral CRM discipline into creative, brand marketing side of the house. That's one reason why marketing inside soc nets is so attractive - data.
Right now, the marketers can really dabble a lot and perhaps even blur the line with what's ethical. I am not saying they are nor am I condoning it. However, since this level of behavioral targeting is relatively new, the unwritten ethics rules - in theory - could be bent since a lot of consumers aren't paying a lot of attention - yet. Plus, of course, they benefit from more relevant ads.
That's all about to change. It's clear the FTC is concerned about user privacy. That's why they're hosting hearings next week.
Regardless of where the Feds decide to weigh in, the noise around mining behavioral data and patterns and the potential privacy implications is only going to get louder in the coming months. All of this is going to make consumers even more aware of just how much is being tracked. Some will begin to ask serious questions. It will be particularly interesting to see how Gen Yers react since at times they seem to not care much about their privacy. Other times, they do.
All of this will spur lots of debate in the coming months and will impact the so-called social graph and other innovations in Web 2.0. Get yer popcorn. It's going to be fun to watch.  [Micro Persuasion]
9:48:01 PM 
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I've been getting more and more press releases and calls from companies that offer Software as a Service or SaaS. This model, typified by salesforce.com, usually hosts the application on a remote server and the customer's employees access the service over the Internet. Another service is gaining popularity from Amazon.com, and no, it has nothing to do with books. Amazon.com is offering huge amounts of data storage as a service over the Internet.
Gartner Inc. has identified 14 alternative delivery models that will completely transform the information technology (IT) market in the next five years according to its analysts in a new report, "Alternative Delivery Models: A Sea of New Opportunities and Threats." According to the report, IT leaders must examine these new models, or it warns that business units may implement them on their own.
These models are approaches to ways to acquire, package and deliver IT. Traditionally, the IT department develops or acquires technology, then deploys, supports and retires it. New platforms with Web-based delivery such as software as a service or other IT utility services will offer viable alternatives.
This is the first list of models that Gartner considers to be alternative in nature. The list will be modified as markets, technologies, processes and customer change. Gartner analysts said more-aggressive customers may already be using a given model for an extended period of time, and as such, may view that model as traditional. For the most part, these "outliers of adoption" are not mainstream, thereby warranting inclusion on the list.
The 14 alternative delivery models include: business process utilities (BPUs); infrastructure utilities (IUs); storage as a service; grid computing; communications as a service (CaaS); utility computing; capacity on demand; remote management services; SaaS; Web platforms; community source; software streaming; software-based "appliances" (SBAs); and user-owned devices.
I've been getting more and more press releases and calls from companies that offer Software as a Service or SaaS. This model, typified by salesforce.com, usually hosts the application on a remote server and the customer's employees access the service over the Internet. Another service is gaining popularity from Amazon.com, and no, it has nothing to do with books. Amazon.com is offering huge amounts of data storage as a service over the Internet.
Gartner Inc. has identified 14 alternative delivery models that will completely transform the information technology (IT) market in the next five years according to its analysts in a new report, "Alternative Delivery Models: A Sea of New Opportunities and Threats." According to the report, IT leaders must examine these new models, or it warns that business units may implement them on their own.
These models are approaches to ways to acquire, package and deliver IT. Traditionally, the IT department develops or acquires technology, then deploys, supports and retires it. New platforms with Web-based delivery such as software as a service or other IT utility services will offer viable alternatives.
This is the first list of models that Gartner considers to be alternative in nature. The list will be modified as markets, technologies, processes and customer change. Gartner analysts said more-aggressive customers may already be using a given model for an extended period of time, and as such, may view that model as traditional. For the most part, these "outliers of adoption" are not mainstream, thereby warranting inclusion on the list.
The 14 alternative delivery models include: business process utilities (BPUs); infrastructure utilities (IUs); storage as a service; grid computing; communications as a service (CaaS); utility computing; capacity on demand; remote management services; SaaS; Web platforms; community source; software streaming; software-based "appliances" (SBAs); and user-owned devices.
8:29:45 PM
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I've been getting more and more press releases and calls from companies that offer Software as a Service or SaaS. This model, typified by salesforce.com, usually hosts the application on a remote server and the customer's employees access the service over the Internet. Another service is gaining popularity from Amazon.com, and no, it has nothing to do with books. Amazon.com is offering huge amounts of data storage as a service over the Internet.
Gartner Inc. has identified 14 alternative delivery models that will completely transform the information technology (IT) market in the next five years according to its analysts in a new report, "Alternative Delivery Models: A Sea of New Opportunities and Threats." According to the report, IT leaders must examine these new models, or it warns that business units may implement them on their own.
These models are approaches to ways to acquire, package and deliver IT. Traditionally, the IT department develops or acquires technology, then deploys, supports and retires it. New platforms with Web-based delivery such as software as a service or other IT utility services will offer viable alternatives.
This is the first list of models that Gartner considers to be alternative in nature. The list will be modified as markets, technologies, processes and customer change. Gartner analysts said more-aggressive customers may already be using a given model for an extended period of time, and as such, may view that model as traditional. For the most part, these "outliers of adoption" are not mainstream, thereby warranting inclusion on the list.
The 14 alternative delivery models include: business process utilities (BPUs); infrastructure utilities (IUs); storage as a service; grid computing; communications as a service (CaaS); utility computing; capacity on demand; remote management services; SaaS; Web platforms; community source; software streaming; software-based "appliances" (SBAs); and user-owned devices.
8:29:21 PM
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Well, "HA!" to all those who told me to get my eyes checked this soccer season. I had my annual and the prescription still hasn't changed.
We noticed this year on the notifications for regional and state tournament assignments that the state athletic association didn't tell us to keep the assignment confidential (for the first time since I've had games at that level). Heard a piece on NPR this morning that started with the referee scandal in the NBA (changing a few calls to benefit gamblers). Then they talked about the secrecy for NCAA referees -- even whisking them into the arena under a shroud of secrecy. Obviously, there's a lot of gambler money riding on the Final Four games, too. I sincerely hope there's no money riding on a high school soccer game. The game of soccer is so fluid (not like American football or baseball), that referees do control much of the play. Enough like basketball that Europe has had a couple of referee scandals, too, in soccer. The comment I most appreciate after a match is "you were fair, even if I didn't agree with all your calls." I don't expect players and coaches to agree with me, but I hope that I can earn their respect. Same way with life.
8:05:39 PM
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I just saw Carl Henning's latest posts over at the ProfiBlog, and once again he was "ranting" on FUD marketing. Quite frankly, I don't understand why people from Rockwell feel they must do fieldbus comparisons and then misunderstand or misrepresent the competition. Several of my writers at Automation World have quoted a Rockwell executive saying "we don't corrupt the stack" as others do. I have no idea what that means, since I've been unable to find anyone who "corrupts the stack." There are a few differences among EtherNet/IP, Profinet, EtherCat and Ethernet PowerLink. The latter two require custom silicon for implementation--something many engineers feel is essential especially for high speed motion control. EtherNet/IP uses no custom silicon in its implementation, while Profinet does not require custom chips but does offer them for certain applications such as high speed motion control. (My usual impression is that this custom asic issue is the crux of contention--as the usual ODVA phrase is "standard, unmodified Ethernet" meaning it uses only commercial asics.) Packets from all the protocols coexist with other Ethernet traffic and will go through standard switches. I feel that Rockwell and ODVA should be much more confident of their solution and not resort to any inaccurate comparisons. I've talked with many integrators and distributor specialists, both on and off the record, and they love Ethernet/IP. I've seen motion control applications that work just fine. Just tout those.
By the way, the reason I quote Carl is that he's earned my trust. I've sat in "back room" marketing sessions and any time he does a comparison (which is rare) he takes information directly from either a competitor's brochure or its Web site. I can check these for myself (which I've done). At one time in my life, I was quite the Profinet skeptic as the folks at PTO know. I'd love to see a "Carl" at ODVA who could blog the "real truth" about EtherNet/IP straight up just as Carl does for all things Profi. It would be a great service to the user community. (and give me more to report on, too)
Oh, yes, and there are several companies that have Ethernet solutions that are purely commercial, without even using the CIP protocol from ODVA. I've talked with integrators and users of these systems, too. And yes, they work, too. That's the great thing about engineers, they solve problems and get things to work.
4:33:27 PM
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© Copyright 2007 Gary Mintchell.
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