Interactive Media and I

This is my last post in this topic. I have completed the proposal and made changes in response to feedback from the panel and from fellow students. It has been an interesting area to explore for me having limited prior knowledge of technology, business, etc. Could Cheep-Cheap succeed? Possibly with a bit of luck and a lot of money. I found that I was more interested in the ethics than the technology and in reality I would leave that to the experts rather than trying to do everything myself. Having met Anton who is in the process of developing  the One Cherry APP I came to realise how time consuming a process it is especially when being done part time with volunteer workers. I wish him well with his project. 

I was a late adopter of Twitter. I really didn't get it. But that changed in the last 6 months. I have more time now to use technology for fun ( not just emails and word processing) and for my own amusement. Also with POTUS on Twitter means it provides a direct line to his every thought about everything. This means that as an avid follower of  political news I cannot resist it any more. Without disturbing anyone  I can get my news from around the world on  Twitter at 4.00 a.m. I can keep up with my children’s lives without the need for them to self censor or block me and vice versa. I can repost a huge range of ideas and thoughts that I would never have known about before. Yes it is an echo chamber; and  I admit that I don't follow many on the right of the political spectrum but when there is a twitter storm I get to read  all kinds of postings that enhance my awareness and appreciation of the views of others. 

Here are some samples from a Google search for “twitter is”...

Twitter is the friend of the entrepreneur. 

Twitter is democratic. 

Twitter is  a corrosive, hate-filled deluge of filth

Twitter is destroying America

Twitter is for soccer

Twitter is killing its terrible Mac App

Twitter is also developing as an avenue for creativity and art. 

"The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" is maybe a good example. It started as a VLOG . A review reads :  “characters all had Twitter accounts and interacted with other characters and viewers.  It was like hanging out with the characters as they went about their everyday lives. Each piece here fed into a cohesive arc and enriched the experience."https://nerdist.com/a-look-at-transmedia-storytelling/

The tweets are saved in a PDF document here: http://sociallyawkwarddarcy.wixsite.com/home/transmedia My son told me about Check Please http://checkpleasecomic.com This a webcomic with an associated twitter account by the (fictional) main character, but  it hasn't updated recently.https://twitter.com/omgcheckplease

The Trans Media Storytelling site has some interesting and creative ideas about ways to use Twitter: http://www.tstoryteller.com/using-twitter-for-storytelling

It feels like Twitter narratives work best as ephemera in the moment. Unless it is linked to an already well known narrative it will be hard to follow. 

This site has some clear advice to writers around ways of using Twitter to write creatively. Set limits, set up multiple accounts, update regularly. It sounds like a lot of work, but with some innovative and creative thinking it may develop into a specific and valid art form.  http://www.authormedia.com/lead-character-twitter-account/

I keep flip-flopping between idea 1 and idea 2. But I have decided for simplicity to pitch the first idea. I may develop the second one as an extension in the final piece of work. 

I have been investigating sources of funding and inspired by my discussion with  the One Cherry app have been checking out  funding from the perspective of sustainability, innovation and tech development. It looks like there is a wide range of national and international opportunities for new entrepreneurial projects. 

The Enterprise Europe Network is a funding organisation that has a focus on innovation and lowering carbon emissions and wants to “ support companies to achieve their potential, improve performance, create jobs, raise income and help put Scotland on a new, higher growth path.” https://www.enterprise-europe-scotland.com/content/about/

Some organisations could help to market the app e.g. WRAP works to reduce waste and increase sustainability and “deliver practical solutions to improve resource efficiency.” http://www.wrap.org.uk/search/gss/apps

Innovate UK is a UK Government funding and policy agency that offers training and advice. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk

In Scotland there are specific support organisations for entrepreneurs. https://www.entrepreneurialscotland.com/about

At ECCI they provide a range of support for innovative research:  “At the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, we bring low carbon leaders and practitioners from business, finance and the public sector together to turn good ideas into reality.”http://edinburghcentre.org/about-us.html

Climate-kic has a base at ECCI : http://edinburghcentre.org/climate-kic.html “The Climate-KIC Accelerator programme at ECCI offers low carbon start-ups a dedicated programme of support and funding to take their markets by storm.

The three-stage, 18-month programme offers early stage entrepreneurs access to up to €60,000 grant funding, business coaching with experienced professionals.”

There is a conference in Edinburgh next week: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/edinburgh-sustainable-innovation-conference-achieving-a-carbon-free-scotland-tickets-39749760604

No doubt it is a highly competitive area but a good idea should be able to shine through.

I made contact with the developers of One Cherry to find out more about the development process and the business aspects of app development. I was really impressed with their dedication, and diligence. We had a great discussion and shared ideas and thoughts. I wish them well in the future. 

Afterwards I slipped into that murky space The Slough of Despond. They were so competent and knowledgeable and they can do their own coding ( something I cannot face at this stage). There is a whole team ( the Slave team) working on this project for equity in any future profits. But then I realised that I had the same idea as them all by myself so I can come up with another one. 

New Idea: 

I decided to move away from the retail charity element and move towards sustainability and localist trends. Cheep-Cheap will be a social enterprise social shopping experience with a small c consumerist philosophy. 

It will provide a Nexus between the trinity of seller-buyer-good cause without the need for retail outlets and the negative associations with smelly shops. This approach will reduce waste and  also prevent donations being sold on to a third party in another country thus undermining local textile industries. The buyer will choose where to make donation and the good causes ( charitable, local projects, arts events etc)  will be vetted by Cheep-Cheap using information provided by good cause UK. to ensure that the cause meets ethical and sustainability standards. 

There might be opportunities for extension through local events and meet-ups. 

Recent disclosures about the abuse of power and positions within aid organisations and charities  reminded me of the quote: “ A week is a long time in politics” ( Harold Wilson). In a very short time a few major charities have fallen from grace, no longer regarded as exemplars of altruism and good works. Rather some have been exposed as a refuge for serial abusers, demonstrating poor safeguarding and unsafe work environment and have lost the confidence and donations of their benefactors. High salaries for executives and poor HR practices for mainstream workers have been highlighted. These events have raised  doubts in my mind about the viability of promoting an idea that is linked to some fairly toxic associations. 

Then I muddied the waters further when I explored the ethics of charitable giving and philanthropy. 

Here are arguments favour of charity http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/charity/duty_1.shtml 

and those against 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/charity/against_1.shtml

My position is that while I hate the need for charity and the negative impact that some forms have on people’s ability to make positive changes, the needs of the poor and underprivileged still exist; I cannot simply take a critical stance, I still need to do something. 

I was working happily on my project when I read this posting on the Digital Media closed group page on Facebook: “One Cherry is a smart phone app that lets shoppers browse items from local charity shops from the comfort of their home, or on the move. By making charity shopping more convenient and accessible to customers, One Cherry hopes to increase sales and help support the work done by the charities. onecherryapp.com"They say that “great minds think alike” but this was ridiculous. I had a look at the website and was impressed by the focus on conservation and sustainability as well as the range and amount of support/funding. They have joined the largest climate entrepreneurship programme in the EU called Climate-KICAccelerator programme at ECCI at High School Yards! they are supported by  LAUNCH.edScottish Institute for Enterprise The University of Edinburgh New Entrepreneurs Foundation Shelter Scotland British Heart Foundation - Scotland Save the Children (Scotland) Swap & Reuse HUB "Shrub" Co-operative O2 O2 UK Think Big The National Youth Agency Big Lottery Fund Big Lottery Fund Scotland. They are hiring people to work on this project. 

Basically I was blown out of the water. 

I decided to get in touch with the project leader, entrepreneur and PhD student at Edinburgh University : Anton Puzorjov. ( Google him to read more about his academic achievements etc.)

I have completed a survey and the pattern of results has not changed. about half the people polled stated that they are interested in using an app that would alert them to specific items in a charity shop.  I plan to do more research into the type of app and website needed to promote and maintain this product. 

Unintended consequence 1. Negative news story about Oxfam and other charities might have a negative impact and deter potential investors. 

Unintended Consequence 2. Research this week into data mining and tracking has made me feel uneasy about the ethics of this project. I need to ensure that people will give informed consent and data will not be shared without permission. 

Unintended Consequence 3.  Also while I was thinking about who will use this type of app I realised that it might privilege those who already have money and can afford not to buy in charity shops. There is a vanity element too. I am ashamed to admit that as someone who donates stuff,  I sometimes want it to get a good price or go to someone who appreciates it. Am I overthinking this?

DoNotTrack took me on a long deep  learning journey into the world of data mining.

Stage 1. I have nothing to hide, what’s the problem?

Stage 2. O.K. it’s not about me it’s about others who might need protection. 

Stage 3. GAFA mines and takes our data, uses algorithms  to compare us with others, to sell us stuff and ideas, to keep us happy by reflecting  our own views back to us, to influence us, and to become rich by generating advertising and monetising our data. 

Stage 4. Managing my data. I used Unlike to change a few things from my Facebook profile. It seems that mostly I like music, art books and films. I used "Apply the Magic Sauce to analyse my data on Facebook and twitter." Based on my Facebook posts they can't work out my gender or age and on Twitter I am a mid thirties male. I was quite pleased but I can imagine that some people wold be upset if they were not feminine or masculine enough to conform with an algorithm based on psychometrics. Using Jungian categories and based on the Big5 personality traits they also found that on face book I am INTP and on Twitter INTJ. The latter set of traits have been stable since I first completed the Myers Briggs 30 years ago. Am I me or am I the Social Network that I use?

Stage 5. Big Brother is my phone in my pocket and I am allowing it to send constant information about my behaviour and location to companies who wish to make money form my habits. I have possibly agreed to sell my soul in exchange for an app that tells when the bus is coming. Seems reasonable...

Stage 6. Understanding the Accelloremeter. Rand Hindi, CEO SNIPS “We can predict your  attention” by your behaviour (and by the way you have given us access to your calendar). Privacy vs Security is a real dilemma.

Stage 7.  What if the algorithms are wrong? EdgeRank sends me stuff I should like that will reinforce my view of the world. This is not a neutral act of engineering but a kind of self-editing to keep me happy inside my bubble. 

Stage 8. Language creates the truth.  In my youth I lived in a place where there was extreme violence and armed conflict. People used to go out to protest. Depending on which side they represented and who was reporting,  a group of protesters could be described as a “mob’ or a “crowd” in the media. There was constant monitoring of the population that was intrusive and soul destroying. Today  I carry my security device with me and I select the news I want to read . 

Periscope and Medium reflect two extremes of what is available . 

I had a glimpse through the keyhole at Babel via Periscope https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.periscope.android&hl=en_GB. There was a constant stream of opinions, views, facts likes and abuse. It was an exhilarating but emotionally and cognitively draining window into the world as it is happening. It looks democratic and accessible by anyone. It is probably a good thing. 

Following last week’s presentation and my review of the recommended online materials I decided to use the Wisdom of the Crowd to conduct a short survey to get feedback and gather more information for my project.

I used Survey 🐵 to ask Facebook friends and Twitter followers about their use of Charity shops and to find out if my app 💡 might appeal. It's supposed to be anonymous unless you chose to leave your contact details for follow up. But it being Facebook my lovely friends left little messages and encouraging comments .  Here is a brief over view of my findings.

Cheep-Cheap: An app for Charity Retail Stores to promote and sell products to customers using a digital marketing strategy.

This idea came to me when I was travelling to class on the bus and noticed the high amount of charity shops in Edinburgh. I like the thrill of finding something special, unique and cheap in a charity shop but I don’t have the time to endlessly rummage through other people’s cast offs. 

I have also been house hunting this year and use various websites and apps: RightMove, Zoopla and ESPC. Each has its own unique design but all share the idea of targeting the customer based on self identified criteria: location, size, price and creates alerts to new stock and prices changes. The estate agent and charity retail shop share common features: Their stock is unpredictable and dependent on what the seller/donator brings to them and potential customers could live anywhere. Charity shop customers have to go to the individual charity shop or specific online charity store to access their goods. The estate agent provides these services but also has access to a much greater potential market via the intermediary services provided by the online portals. 

Cheep-Cheap would be the Charity Shop version of Right Move et al. The customers will be able to refine their purchasing choices by various criteria: the charity they wish to support, location, gender, age, size  budget etc. The shops will be able to upload items they want to sell and these will be accessed via alerts on the app. 

Buying options could include reservation of the item for a small fee, immediate purchase, or bidding in an auction. Ideally the person could reserve the item and purchase it within a short period or lose it.

The shops will be able to get the best price for their stock, move stock quickly, and reduce costs through online retail.

People who donate items could track what they have given and get feedback on the value of their donations, prompting them to greater charity in future.

The customer will have the pleasure of getting what they want or finding a treasure through an online hunt without wasting time and energy.

The Cheap-Cheep app would be available through iOS and Android phones only. The idea of portability and immediacy are key to the unique character of this app.  I would like to explore how to connect with other forms of smart objects, e.g some charities have digital windows on their shop fronts for smart giving where customers can donate money using their phones.

Cheap-Cheep would be developed as a non-profit social enterprise app. Income to fund and maintain the app would be generated via subscription from the Charities who would pay a percentage in proportion to the volume of items sold. 

Customers would be able to earn points with specific charities that they could spend once they reached certain thresholds. They would receive positive feedback and points for every item recorded as purchased. Customers could photograph, review and upload purchases and ask for ratings from others on a Cheep-Cheap scale. Customers will gain purchase points for positive feedback from friends and for recruiting friends. 

Cheep-Cheap will be marketed via the websites of participating charities and organisations and through Twitter feed. 

Financing:  The start up and maintenance costs are likely to be high as this app will require support from a server  and frequent updating. Based on my immediate review of this area the costs will be over £10,000.

Crowd sourcing could be used to develop the design and logo ( a Magpie image is my current choice) for the app as well as app design and development but I will need to ensure that confidentiality is maintained and gain  the copyright of any work completed for me. Outsourcing is an option for app development that I will explore. As use of the app develops I would  hope that customers can engage with the content online and contribute to the information shared by the app. e.g post a photo to a shared interest group  if they see something they don’t need/want but looks interesting e.g midcentury china from Finland 

Crowd funding could be a way to get support but this might lead to others taking the idea and developing other versions of it. It would take a lot of time to raise the necessary funds.  Another  funding strategy to try would be to approach some umbrella organisations in the charity retail sector or charities directly to sound out the possibility of getting them to fund the develoment of this app. The big charities have their own websites and online shops, some use eBay to sell products. Smaller charities might be more interested in collaborating with this project. 

The name of the app Cheep-Cheap is designed to reflect the obvious association of charity shops and cheap goods, and also to create a subconscious connection with Twitter ( tweet/Cheep). I want to use an image of a bird like a Magpie or a Blackbird to emphasise the cheep factor, and because of their reputation as collectors of shiny things as well as the bird association with Twitter. 

Cheep-Cheap is easy to remember and has the potential to become a meme via Twitter or Instagram etc. I haven’t explored it yet but I want to find out if Cheep-Cheap will translate well into other languages and cultures. 

“May you rise as an avenger from my bones.”

http://exoriare.com

I tried to play the game and predictably fell short. The use of white type on a black screen looked interesting; reminded me of X Files. I love a mystery and I was intrigued by the set up. The beautifully illustrated graphic novel introduction provided a comprehensive introduction to the  story and created a range of differentiated characters. I was ready to be drawn into this world of puzzles and codes.

I managed to decode this: When people assume the powers of God, mankind requires the truth. Aliens are among men, deriving powers from Governments long established. They alter history and direct the establishment of an absolute tyranny over this world.

What is it about? I don’t know. I didnt get anywhere with it. After a while the flashing lghts and  weird sound effects gave me a headache. The game should have a warning for people with seizure disorders who cannot tolerate this type of visual stimulation.

While I was stuck in the “field” I thought that more committed gamers than me could offer some insight. So I read some reviews online: “Solid gameplay, an absorbing atmosphere, and accompanying media all lead to a game that is likely to become an instant classic.” Jays Games , 2009 https://jayisgames.com/review/exoriare.php

Hmm, That wasn’t much help.  

Following the implicit message  to do whatever was required to survive an alien attack,   I googled “Exoriare cheats.” and found this site : http://www.wonderweasels.org/exoriare/guide.html. There was lots of advice that might work for others but I wasnt able to use it properly.

Then I used the  “call a friend option” and asked an expert game player  for an opinion:  He responded “I feel like I've read it before...In the game you just type things. Look at whatever, go east, etc.The site is really old though, and a bunch of things on it related to the larger Alternate Reality Game just don't work. I don't think any of the comics actually came out.”

In the late 1990s I used to tell my students that they would probably have jobs that weren't invented yet. It feels like that time has arrived.  Yesterday my dental hygienist told me about the Oral B connected toothbrush the can give feedback to the user and connect to the dental office: http://connectedtoothbrush.com

This got me thinking about other bodily functions that could be monitored and measured as a way of tracking health and development: e.g. Input and output of food, frequency and quality of sexual experiences, length and quality of sleep,  quality and frequency of daily social interactions, situational stress tracking. I can’t wait to learn more about the internet of things.

I pitched an an idea about an interactive Clarice Cliff experience that grew into a great big Art Deco flapper monster floating above Stoke on Trent in my imagination. I got feedback about vintage films from a prof. at Staffordshire University but I am not sure if I have the time or skill level to do the research needed at this stage.

Proposal: 

During our group Skype chat on Tuesday a baby was crying in the background and we all reacted to it in different ways. That reminded me of an earlier idea I had about a Parenting app. Most Parenting apps that I have found are about managing pregnancy and help after the birth. There are a few Tamagotchi type simulation games that use parenting as the basis for winning or moving up levels. I have not found a real time, app that replicates the daily experience of looking after a baby or young child.

A Game I Really Like.

I have discovered a lot about myself and other people over the past week through the experience of playing Words With Friends.  Like most addictions it was fun to start with, I had a few wins and felt good. My cousin was online and he warned me that “it can be addictive” but I didn’t listen.  Then he beat me playing a slow game that lasted hours. People were not playing fast enough. I needed more hits and started playing with random strangers. I took risks and got some high scores that felt really good. Then  it began to be less fun, winning wasnt so easy as I competed with more experienced players who had tricks up their sleeves. I had to resort to scrabbling around , playing 2 letter words made of vowels. I started using speed competions to get a hit between plays.  I stopped eating and sleeping. I lost interest in my partner and wanted to stay in my room playing the game. My life was spiraling downwards. I had to stop! 

I took back control. It felt good as I resigned from all my games, even those I could win. I was free. I deleted the app from my phone. I went for a walk. I was back in the real world. But I have to be vigilant. Some people can have a few light games and that is enough for them, not me.

I had a look at some guides for group processes that help all voices to be heard and enable creativity. This reflects my need to be explicit and transparent with others.

I found these ideas in a book called “Sticky Wisdom” . They are simple and might work. 

Use SUN and RAIN as acronyms to remind us to listen with openness and to monitor our own reactions to others.

1.SUN S- Suspend judgement, pause and listen to others suggestions U-Understand, ask open questions to clarify and get a better idea N-Nurture the idea to make it stronger, make it better, build it, look at all the angles

2. RAIN ( to be avoided) R- react too quickly with an idea of your own A- Assume , reflect own ideas, only listen to others critically IN-Insist on one way, on one’s own ideas etc.