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Sean McDonald
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1 year ago
in Homeless voicemail: Only in the Valley on Mathew's comments
is the marketing op really all that good for google out of this? i'm not convinced this is that effective for lasting or impactful publicity.
1 reply
1 year ago
in Homeless voicemail: Only in the Valley on Mathew's comments
I'm that guy that's going to tell you it helps the homeless. You need to move beyond the image of the Toronto homeless that are at wit's end, dealing with substance or psychological issues that you see on the street asking for change - there are the 'near homeless' or those that go back and forth between having housing and not. It is those populations that can use voicemail to get jobs, stay in touch with family, etc...
Sure, google could have an 'eat for a day event' at the Googleplex or invest their money somewhere else (although you do know about their philanthropy) however... why not stick with what they know and provide a service as part of what they already have? Using San Fran as a pilot for giving the homeless access to Grand Central is a novel concept... why not?
My frustration with this piece is that you didn't give it a whole lot of thought - you just said... well... the homeless must be hungry and cold, so... why not just focus on that? There's lot of research around technology and the homeless, see here:
http://scholar.google.ca/scholar?q=homeless+voi...
You might keep your eye on this CHI student design contest that has challenged people to use technology to aid the homeless in some way, I'm sure it will yield some interesting results: http://www.chi2008.org/student_design_competiti... .
Sure, google could have an 'eat for a day event' at the Googleplex or invest their money somewhere else (although you do know about their philanthropy) however... why not stick with what they know and provide a service as part of what they already have? Using San Fran as a pilot for giving the homeless access to Grand Central is a novel concept... why not?
My frustration with this piece is that you didn't give it a whole lot of thought - you just said... well... the homeless must be hungry and cold, so... why not just focus on that? There's lot of research around technology and the homeless, see here:
http://scholar.google.ca/scholar?q=homeless+voi...
You might keep your eye on this CHI student design contest that has challenged people to use technology to aid the homeless in some way, I'm sure it will yield some interesting results: http://www.chi2008.org/student_design_competiti... .
1 reply
mathewi
Thanks, Sean. For a minute or two there, I was afraid no one was
going to come along and make that argument :-)
Contrary to your suggestion though, I did give this some thought. I
know there are gradations of homelessness, and that technology of
various kinds can be useful for some of the "near homeless." I'll
give you that. Heck, there's a homeless guy with a blog. I just
don't think voicemail ranks anywhere near the top of the list of
things most homeless people need.
And while it may be one of the things Google can give, it's also true
that giving it makes for great marketing for Grand Central.
On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:19 AM, Disqus
going to come along and make that argument :-)
Contrary to your suggestion though, I did give this some thought. I
know there are gradations of homelessness, and that technology of
various kinds can be useful for some of the "near homeless." I'll
give you that. Heck, there's a homeless guy with a blog. I just
don't think voicemail ranks anywhere near the top of the list of
things most homeless people need.
And while it may be one of the things Google can give, it's also true
that giving it makes for great marketing for Grand Central.
On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:19 AM, Disqus
1 year ago
in Facebook: Beacon woes are overstated on Mathew's comments
perhaps you're over simplifying just a little bit here? the average user won't understand the implications of beacon... transparency is an issue... amongst others. sure it will blow over, but that doesn't make the reaction uncalled for.
1 reply
mathewi
Maybe I am simplifying, Sean. But what are the implications of
Beacon, when it gets right down to it? That one's friends get
notified when you buy a coffee table or a movie at Blockbuster? Not
exactly the end of civilization as we know it, I would argue. And if
it happens enough and people get upset, then I expect that Facebook
will change the way it works.
Beacon, when it gets right down to it? That one's friends get
notified when you buy a coffee table or a movie at Blockbuster? Not
exactly the end of civilization as we know it, I would argue. And if
it happens enough and people get upset, then I expect that Facebook
will change the way it works.
people to start using Google to search for places to live, used
clothing stores, etc. :-)
On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 8:25 AM, Disqus