Archive for the ‘video’ Category

Social Media for Accountants – the real thing

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Intro

To recap:

DFK is:

a major international association of independent accounting firms and business advisers that has been meeting the needs of clients with interests in more than one country for 45 years. The association now has over 300 offices across the world.

DFK International creates special value for clients with cross-border interests. DFK member firms enjoy effective cooperation throughout the world resulting in the ability to deliver international services on time and at a competitive cost.

Fascinating to find out that I should be speaking at an event for a far-flung business networking organisation!

The Burns Supper

I thought it might be a good idea to go up the night before – there was a set-piece Burns Supper with haggis. Our table had a great vibe, but not enough grub: maybe we were just being greedy [shurely not! – Ed.]

Speakers

Anyway, we had fine food, and speeches by:

Format

Followed the traditional form of Burns Suppers

Video of Rab Tait

Rab Tait – champion piper was on hand to pipe the haggis into our dining room. Also to give Burns’ “Address to a Haggis” – priceless, as you can see by the rough video below.

All in all, a very enjoyable evening, with good company on our table of Scott from Glasgow, Shane from Dublin, and Paul & Nick from London I believe.

Photos

The Morning

  • Some people were holding their heads in their hands, and I wasn’t sure whether this was because of
    • the content
    • my delivery, or
    • they had had a very enjoyable evening!

Slides

This is the deck I delivered:

Intro to Social Media – for Accounts (the real thing)

Video

I made a recording of my presentation, which is of better quality than the screenshot below. You can be your own judge of how informative it was… n.b. it’s probably 55 minutes, so if you’ve watched it all the way through – I’d love your feedback. Thanks!

Once piece of constructive feedback is that there was probably too much content on the slides. Unfortunately I haven’t reached heights of greatness akin to Tara Hunt or Stowe Boyd. :-(

Anyway, feel free to whack whatever comments you might have below.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike license.

Posted in Business, Social Media, Social Networking, Web 2.0, blogging, business networking, collaboration, customer service, digital nervous system, education, enterprise 2.0, experiment, facebook, groundswell, ideas, marketing, technology, tools, twitter, video, work | Comments

Cloud Computing – YouTube videos

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Context

I’m one of many who sees Cloud Computing as a major industry trend, which could be very disruptive [or then again it could all be hype ;-D].

This is the first of three planned posts to bring together some useful introductory material around Cloud – designed to give a balanced view, and cover the upsides as well as the challenges (e.g. security):

  • This one, Videos (from YouTube)
  • Whitepapers
  • Presentations

Note to self: I also need to dig out my notes from the recent Cloudcamp 2 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Introduction

Sometimes I’m not very good at explaining things – so the plan is to let some other people do it instead! Apparently it was Bernard of Chartres who first talked about “Standing on the shoulders of giants” – and I am doing this here :-D.

What we have:

Cloud computing plain and simple

rPath takes the confusion out of cloud computing with this humorous animation in plain English. Visit rPath.

Cloud Computing Explained

Confused about the term “Cloud Computing”? Want to be “with the times” when you talk about new technology buzzwords? This video boils down a section of Cloud Computing, that of Cloud Infrastructure and Cloud Hosting in a way that everyone can understand!

Industry pundits / luminaries seem to have differing views about Cloud:

  • Some have ‘a great face for radio’ or just work better in print
  • Others seem to have mastered the art of presentation being more important than reality ;-D
  • However, there is definitely some good stuff in here, e.g. Kevin Marks of Google is v. interesting

IBMers on How Cloud Computing Will Make IT Easier

IBMers speak about their clients’ issues and how IBM cloud computing solutions have helped make IT easier for their businesses. Cloud computing offers a dynamic infrastructure that makes web services immediately accessible, allowing companies to grow and to do business more quickly and at lower cost.

30%-50% of *all* servers are dedicated to test, yet they only have 10% utilisation – Marie Wieck

In the software development process, 50% of the effort on average is spent in Test; in tests, 40-50% of the effort is spent in setting up and tearing down test systems – Kristof Kloeckner

A spiel from IBM undoubtedly, but also some real-life case studies & benefits. Other IBM cloud vids on YouTube.

Cloud Computing – the benefits, from Salesforce.com

“They would say this, wouldn’t they” – see for yourself. [What about the downsides? – Ed.]

Steve Ballmer on Cloud Computing

A thankfully brief and concise take on Cloud from the Boss of Microsoft.

Forrester

Introduction & scepticism combined! YouTube intro blurb [29 September 2008]:

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — While cloud computing is bringing enormous power to large and small organizations, the hype around the trend is “over blown,” says Forrester VP and Principal Analyst Frank Gillett. I interviewed him on Wednesday afternoon on the MIT campus.

He told me that the whole movement has lead to “cloud envy” with companies branding existing services by “cloud washing” — using “cloud spray,” he says.

Earlier this month he published a report on the subject.

Seems like Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is one of big skeptics over the cloud gazing, as Dan Farber over at CNET News.com writes tonight. Dan moderated a panel on cloud computing earlier this week at Technology Review EmTech conference.

Larry Dignan at ZDNet wrote earlier this month that cloud computing as a term has become meaningless.

– Andy Plesser, Executive Producer

Gartner

Frank Kenney, Research Director, Thomas Bittman, Distinguished Analyst, and Daryl Plummer, Managing VP and Gartner Fellow, discuss the risks and rewards of Cloud Computing.

I’ve got to say there aren’t enough sceptical voices that could bring more balance in this debate. However, Larry does a cracking job of making up for everyone else!

Larry Ellison calls out Cloud Computing

This is more of a podcast, but is actually rather an apposite rant about fads / bandwagons in the IT Industry.

Worthwhile listening to if you don’t believe all the hype! ;-)

Ok, we’ve seen lot of people saying great things about Cloud Computing. However, Gartner believe that Cloud Computing is at the top of their Hype Cycle – so beware!

Also, watch this vid from Gartner (with 80’s throwback graphics) about how the Hype Cycle works.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike license.

Posted in Business, Cloud computing, Web 2.0, innovation, microsoft, research, technology, tools, video, work | Comments

Microsoft’s push into Web 2.0 via SharePoint

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Ok, so I should admit that I have previous with Microsoft and SharePoint. An NT MCSE of 1999, I have been involved in a number of bids and delivery projects (e.g. here and here) involving SharePoint.

The latest version, ‘Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007’ has a number of Social Media tools, but my experience has been that both business users and technical implementers don’t really know what Wikis and Blogs *are*, let along know how to exploit them.

Happily, the penny seems to have dropped at SharePoint Towers. Not only have they compiled a couple of best practice guides about exploiting social media functionality, they have put together a dedicated Social Computing microsite.

To get a sense of their plans, check out the video below [will probably require Windows Media Player to be installed] or otherwise it’s embedded on this page, which unfortunately doesn’t provide an embed code so hopefully this WLW widget will work for you :-).

Download this Media File – (Right Click)

I have embedded the following documents on this post, via Scribd:

I’m assuming that Microsoft don’t mind me reproducing it’s own brochureware on Scribd; click on the button at top-right of the Scribd widget to make it Full Screen – often the easiest way to see the detail.

You might also want to check out:

Community Kit for SharePoint

The Community Kit for SharePoint is a set of best practices, templates, Web Parts, tools, and source code that enables practically anyone to create a community website based on SharePoint technology for practically any group of people with a common interest.

Files and source code for the CKS are available for download from CodePlex at http://www.codeplex.com/cks.

Podcasting Kit for SharePoint

Same idea, but this time for Podcasts:

Here is a great article on the new announcement of Open Sourcing Podcasting Software. The web link can be found below:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Apps/Microsoft-Open-Sources-Podcasting-Software/

Here is also the website where you can find more information and download the Podcasting Kit from codeplex:

http://www.codeplex.com/pks

A glossy intro for Business readers, which sets out four business benefits for Social Media, and places SharePoint in the context of the wider Microsoft product set.

Social Computing in the Enterprise

Written by one of the Authors of the document above, this June 2008 paper fleshes out more of vision for ‘social computing’ with SharePoint.

Get the Most Value From Social Computing for Business

Positions SharePoint in the wider Web 2.0 zeitgeist – from December 2006.

2007 Office System and Web 2.0

Does pretty much what it says on the tin / title: introductory paper from July 2006 about these tools.

Blogs and Wikis in Business

UPDATE 1/9/09: I’ve put a widget into this page which will hopefully show the MOSS video in its glory. However, will require Windows Media Player to be installed on your machine – but have given link to page so you can check it out on the MOSS site [maybe you need Silverlight?!] :-D
Technorati Tags: ,,,,,,,,

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike license.

Posted in Business, Social Media, Social Networking, Web 2.0, blog, collaboration, digital nervous system, enterprise 2.0, ideas, microsoft, technology, tools, video | Comments

SCL & Thinking Digital (including Live Blogging info) #TDC

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Thinking Digital Conference 09

I thought I should post before the conference about what I’ve been up to in connection with Thinking Digital (TDC), and how you can follow proceedings through the SCL website.

Consultancy role

  • I have been advising TDC on Social Media strategy
    • Working with the conference producer, and PR chief to explain the possibilities of Web 2.0 and its role in the conference
    • Bring experience of using Web 2.0 in a full-scale conference environment (i.e. SXSW) to bear on TDC planning, including panellists
    • Mentoring Herb Kim and Lewis Harrison
    • Validation of existing setup, e.g. YouTube, and Flickr and creating awareness of other possibilities.
  • Misc, e.g. advice on the use of
    • A Twitter hashtag
    • Use of a tool like Roomatic to monitor Twitter posts with #TDC hashtag
    • Discussion of potential feedback, networking & crowdsourcing tools

Testimonial

Lewis Harrison of Codeworks, organisers of Thinking Digital, said:

"Justin has been tremendous in helping us to get to grips with the range of social media tools out there – and how to use them in the right way. He’s knowledgeable, friendly and conscientious, regularly considering and making us aware of issues the conference might face well ahead of time.

"He’s also proven more than adept beyond the virtual world – building relationships with several people at SXSW who definitely fell into the ‘hard to reach’ category!"

South by South West

  • I was lucky enough to attend South by South West (SXSW) as TDC Ambassador
    • Travelled to Texas and brought back contacts for future Thinking Digital and GameHorizon conferences
  • You might well have seen my earlier posts about this, so I don’t need to say much more! ;-)

Live Blogging

You can follow proceedings by visiting the blog posts I will create for the sessions I attend

  • These should go live at the beginning of each session.
btw I may be lurking around with my video camera, so watch out… ;-D

Posted in Business, Social Media, blogging, customer service, digital mission, ideas, north east england, sxsw, technology, thinking digital, twitter, video | Comments

Social Media at CONNECT North East

Monday, May 11th, 2009

 

This post sets out the work I have been doing with CONNECT North East which, in its own words, is:

  •  ”the newest branch of the highly successful CONNECT network, which brokers introductions between young technology companies and investors.
  • CONNECT North East’s role is to strengthen the links between the region’s young technology businesses and the people and organisations they need to know if they are going to attract investment and grow.
  • CONNECT North East facilitates introductions to encourage partnership working, joint ventures, knowledge transfer and financial investment.”

I have been working with John Sargent of The Ideas Mine, and Caroline Theobald of Bridge Club Limited to help them use Social Media to market the recent CONNECT North East Investing in a Secure Future conference, and better connect with their target market – i.e. early stage technology companies and start-ups.

Testimonial

Caroline Theobald of Bridge Club Limited said:

“We engaged Justin because we knew that some of the innovative companies that national government departments are interested in were more likely to respond to the conference’s networking opportunities if we made them accessible through their preferred media channels: ie blogs and tweets. 

New media is something that I know very little about – just appreciate it effectiveness – and so we invested in the services of an expert.  An experience that exceeded our expectations in terms of profile and user-group engagement.”*

In sum, I set up their blog, taught them how to use Twitter, and live-blogged at the Conference itself.

Blog

  • Set up on Wordpress
  • Configuration of users and various widgets etc.
  • Creation of kick-off post
  • RSS / Syndication via Feedburner

Twitter

  • Set up of CONNECT North East account
  • Installation of Twitter clients – e.g. Tweetdeck
  • Twitter widget on blog
  • Training about what Twitter is, how it can be used, and ‘encouragement’[!] for the new users ;-)

Conference

  • Live-blogging from the conference using Cover It Live
  • Video capture & interviewing of key conference stakeholders
  • Upload of presenters’ slides to Slideshare
  • Video editing & upload to YouTube

Social Media strategy

  • Advice on which platforms to use, e.g.:
  • Ongoing mentoring & (lightweight) technical support
  • Ambassador role, writing posts like this to indirectly highlight CONNECT North East activities
  • Guest blogging

Possible future activities

  • Set up of CONNECT North East-branded social network
  • Further advice, tweeting & blogging
  • Exploration of further tools for feedback & stakeholder engagement

If this is the sort of thing that you could benefit from, please use the Contact Form and get in touch!

*Disclosure: Caroline and I have lived together for nearly 8 years. But she’s totally objective, honest.

Posted in Business, Social Media, Web 2.0, blogging, customer service, enterprise 2.0, innovation, media, north east england, technology, twitter, video, wordpress | Comments

Series of Web 2.0 articles in bdaily

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Web 2.0 by Daniel F. Pigatto.

Photo credit to Daniel F. Pigatto

If you follow my Twitterstream, you’ll have seen I’m putting together a series of articles on Web 2.0.

Today, the first one is published, via bdaily’s e-mail and web channels.

I will be re-publishing the articles on this blog, and putting a summary page on the top-right so that you can find the articles more easily.

They are my personal take on the whole shooting match, and are designed to aid and inform, so please don’t flame me!

That said, I’d love to get your constructive feedback, so please fire it over to me via a comment below, or the contact form.

web 2.0 is web 0.0 future

Photo credit to Will Lion

Posted in Business, Cloud computing, Social Media, Social Networking, Web 2.0, blogging, collaboration, customer service, digital nervous system, enterprise 2.0, facebook, groundswell, ideas, innovation, mashup, north east england, second life, serious games, sociology, technology, tools, twitter, video, wordpress, work | Comments

Embedding video on this blog – experiment

Monday, December 8th, 2008

Morning all! Rather than ask everyone what they think the best video site is, I thought I’d have a play myself. :-)

I took the clip below with my Blackberry a couple of weeks back – just over 60 seconds of rough footage. The test has a number of different aspects:

  • Will the sites accept 3gp files? [All 5 did]
  • What is the experience uploading and adding a title, tags etc. like (i.e. the usability of the site)?
  • How easy is it to embed the video in a blog post?
  • What do the clip look like when posted to the different sites?

I’ve used the following sites (the links go directly to the video online), with initial impressions as the sub-bullet point:

  • Blip.tv
    • Probably the best for showing off video as art – a certain clinical feel to it (both good & bad)
  • Flickr
    • Not as good as the competition
  • Viddler
    • Can’t understand why I signed up for this, it looks pretty ordinary
  • Vimeo (favourite of Joi Ito)
    • My favourite as a business tool – overall experience seems best
  • YouTube
    • Tainted by mainstream status, not really keen on look and feel

btw, apologies if you’re not on broadband – you probably won’t be able to pick up all the embedded content below… :-s

*Anyway, please let me know what you think – preferably in the comments below.

Blip TV

Flickr

Viddler

Vimeo


Icelandic choir at the (old) Gateshead Town Hall from Justin Souter on Vimeo.

YouTube

Posted in Web 2.0, experiment, ideas, interesting, media, newbie, video | Comments