Favourite blogs for KramBlog

Social Networking and the demise of myspace??

Writing about web page http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/06/20/rumors-of-the-decline-of-myspace-are-exaggerated/

I don’t really get myspace, its too gimmicky, full of content that I cant really view at work and don’t want to see at home.

However as a business model myspace works, their traffic is admirable, their user base phenomenal especially considering the number of with click throughs to paid sites they get.

Different social networking websites fit different age groups and demographics. Bebo the young, myspace teens to twenties, facebook university to mid thirties (although this is moving quickly to older age groups with the risk of making it uncool to their original young user base) and LinkedIn / Ecademy post-university professionals wanting to do business.

There is a need to continue to be a space for different social networking sites to meet the requirements of demographics as there is no individual model that currently fits across all segments.

According the FT, Rupert Murdock (the owner of myspace) is concerned that he is loosing much of the growth in social networking websites to facebook. This simply the late adopters (the over 24’s) coming on board the social network bandwagon after the yoof (early adopters, under 24’s) came to myspace in their droves…

Mark Swift : 20 Jun 2007 12:50 |  Tags: Facebook Myspace Networking Social Wmccm |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Another month, where have i been?

Well, no where “new” but here is where i have been already, doesn’t look much does it? 42 countries apparently and long way to go until I reach the magic 100.

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Mark Swift : 08 May 2007 14:47 |  Tags: Blogging Travel Wmccm |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Off to Tmbuktu

Writing about web page http://www.theindependentandgloriousrepublicofnowillistan.co.uk/

Last day of term today, just a bit of tidying up to do and the department panto!

In less than a week the T4 challenge will be fully under way heading the 5000 or so miles to Timbuktu. After the Merc debacle and the Volvo has not sprung into action (more like limped).

We will be using the space to update everyone of our progress over the next weeks… A very kind HP will be publishing any SMS texts received when we are away. Thanks HP!!!

Our route for the nine teams is:

Mark Swift : 21 Dec 2006 09:32 |  Tags: Desert Sahara Timbuktu Travel Wmccm |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Timbuktu Travels

I am off to Timbuktu in next month of a new adventurous expedition (yes really) with 20 others. We depart on December 27th 2006, leaving the British winter behind, heading (driving) south to the vast expanse of Africa, and Timbuktu, back home toward the end of Jan 07’.

New year will be in Sidi Ifni, a very remote old fishing town half way down Morocco, should be bliss…

The Spanish atmosphere and the Art Deco architecture (..in Sidi Ifni) are two reasons to visit this coastal town. It was not too long ago, 1969, that Spain relinquished its enclave. It sits on a cliff top and is full of fantastic architecture and ironwork.

This is the forth such adventure I have embarked upon, see the Bangers and Travels gallery for previous trip photos.

We will drive are entirely inappropriate age-ravaged cars on a journey of over 4,500 miles, crossing inhospitable terrain and hoping to surpass any difficulties that we may face.

We aim to raise lots of cash for the Stroke Association.

More to follow!

Mark Swift : 29 Nov 2006 17:32 |  Tags: Desert Sahara Travel Wmccm |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The use and application of mobile bogging (moblogs) within business

Writing about web page http://www.wmccm.co.uk

First blog…

Earlier this week I took on two new MSc students for my new project on the application of mobile blogging. Mobloggs have been used extensively in the journalism field for sometime. The challenge for this project is to look for applications in other fields and in particular engineering.

Heres a bit from the project brief:

Project Background

This project will addresses the question whether tools used for contributing to moblogs (i.e. mobile web blogs) can be used professionally within the engineering and/or the business environment. The project will include interviews and case studies and evaluating existing moblogging technology and practices.

About one third of the UK population already owns a mobile device with image capturing capabilities. There is also moblogging software available, while still more than a bit quirky, giving image capture and annotating capabilities. Therefore, the possibilities for incorporating a moblog within engineering businesses as a tool to monitor and control resources or status is to the greatest part limited by the organisation’s own resources and interest.

With Mobile phone penetration in the UK has remained steady at around 70 percent in a population of approximately 60 million people, the user-base is already there – and waiting for things to happen.

Main Activities:

• Definition of requirements
• Literature review
• Study of existing moblog practices
• Study of existing moblog technology
• Analysis of current Google business practice and influence on Business, e.g. AdWords
• Development of a best practice approach / model for moblogs adoption within engineering business

Mark Swift : 01 Nov 2006 12:11 |  Tags: Mobloggs Wmccm |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem