@T: ALWAYS THE TWAIN

Finally today sourcebinder has invited me into their alpha testing group.

I registered on their site many months ago because as readers are aware I’m interested in systems which facilitate linkage and sense-making of what may be seemingly discrete, silo information sources. When I saw this video from them on YouTube, it looked like they’re trying to synaptically connect information sources in a visually and technically innovative way (with Wii, haptics, Papervision3D and AS3 in synch):

Initially, it’s obvious that this alpha group is extremely small. At this initial stage I count 6 participants, including myself, who’ve activated their invites and are exploring the features available.

Over the next few days I’ll explore more and update everyone on functionality and ease of use as I discover it myself. At first glance, the layout is quite neat — although clearly oriented towards people who may be more technically capable than the mass consumer; this UI does not look like a MySpace / Facebook / Twitter. It’s an amalgam between viewzi, onellama (a radio music site a friend of a friend founded) and a music download iPhone app store that I once happened upon. In any case, I’m looking forward to playing around with it and testing what it has to offer.

ALPHAs, BETAs, CONTENT OWNERSHIP + TWAIN

Following what was an unexpectedly awful experience with a SemWeb beta last year (appallingly unprofessional management team, systematic breach of user goodwill and trust on their part, lack of consideration towards user feedback and the decimation of collaborative user content), I’ve made the decision NOT to contribute my content or insights to any site / mgmt team where users are not valued, where users can’t monetize their content within a reasonable timeframe, where users’ time(s) and positive energies are being wasted or where, as a user, I simply feel uncomfortable with my reputation being associated with that particular platform.

I am a quality content contributor — as shown by the fact Google Knol has awarded me “Top Pick Knol” for three different postings — and I will only engage on quality platforms with quality management teams.

Platforms and management teams I do recommend entrusting content with include:

* Google Knol (http://knol.google.com/k/twain/how-to-lol/31fjy9fjsu1x2/25)

* Slideshare (http://www.slideshare.net/twain/web-30-socially-voiced-cocreation-47097)

* dipity (http://www.dipity.com/Twain)

* debategraph (http://debategraph.org/Flash/fv.aspx?r=7714&d=2&i=1)

* Ning (http://www.ning.com)

* LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com)

* Thumbtack (http://thumbtack.livelabs.com/)

A lot of marketing research is currently being conducted on online behaviors and motivations. Here’s an insight into me as an online contributor. I’m not the type of person who creates a socnet account to garner followers or to throw electric sheep around — although I admit I have a facebook and myspace account simply to prevent anyone squatting on my name and then posting items pretending to be me.

For someone who enjoys sharing knowhow, I’ve simply made the choice to exclusively participate on platforms where the return on utility (ROU), the reciprocity of user respect (RUR) and the collaborative  dispersion of sense (CDS) is high. Users’ content, their collaborative capabilities and their time are precious and valuable.

There is absolutely no point giving a platform like that SemWeb play these treasures and gold nuggets for them to exploit when there are a million and one other competing platforms out there which do treat users, their content and their contributions with respect, and where they can monetize their content or organize / promote / own it in a way which suits their needs.

CONTENT IS KING, CONTEXT IS QUEEN AND CONSIDERATION ARE THEIR PROGENY, (C) Twain, 2009

This weekend I’ll expand on this phrase I coined in response to someone’s comment to my Google knol on ‘The Global Brain’ and explain how it relates to a viable monetization model for Web 3.0.

LONDON 2012 — ROYAL MINT DESIGN A 50 PENCE COMPETITION

I’ll also release some images and a video of my submission to this competition. Essentially, the Royal Mint is inviting the public to design the tails side of the 50 pence coin in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics. There are 27 sports themes for designers to choose from and the prize includes seeing their designs appearing on 50 pence coins in circulation as of March 2010.

It’s been a little while since I sketched anything so I found the flow arcs of my wrists not as flexible as they were when I sketched more, but I’m pleased with the design concept I submitted!

That’s all for now except perhaps to say that my Knol entry “How to LOL” is apparently in the lead to win the Google Knol-Dummies contest and that some parties from the Knol Authors Foundation would like me to join them.

Again, because of the bad experience with the SemWeb play I’m reluctant to allocate my time to helping systems and teams improve — unless it’s actually my job or I’m being financially remunerated for my efforts, upfront.

Goodwill which isn’t reciprocated or respected is simply exploitation and that’s……….MORALLY WRONG.