Category: english

Africa: mobile phone vs internet

Despite a good penetration of mobile phones, Africa is on pace to miss the benefits of the Internet age. The number of internet subscribers is incredibly low.

Africa remains the least connected region in the world, and the digital gap between it and the developed world is widening rapidly.

“Unless you can offer Internet access that is the same as the rest of the world, Africa can’t be part of the global economy or academic environment. [...] The benefits of the Internet age will bypass the continent.”

Link

We really need to find some speakers from this continent for LIFT08.

Web networkers ‘at risk of fraud’

Credit information group Equifax said members of sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook may be putting too many details about themselves online.

It said fraudsters could use these details to steal someone’s identity and apply for credit and benefits.

Link

Think of all the info your bank or phone operator are asking when you call them. If these are public, you could be in trouble.

Second thoughts about second life?

Four years after Second Life debuted, some marketers are second-guessing the money and time they’ve put into it. [...]

most firms were more interested in the publicity they received from their ties with Second Life than in the digital world itself. “It was a way to brand themselves as being leading-edge,” he said. [...]

Between May and June, the population of active avatars declined 2.5%, and the volume of U.S. money exchanged within the world fell from a high of $7.3 million in March to $6.8 million in June.

Link (via Bruno)

Time for a bit of I-told-you-so maybe ;)

Global Jam Online Communities for Social Innovation

You are invited to the first Global JAM on Online Communities for Social Innovation, July 18-19. A JAM is an online discussion that is time limited, asynchronous, moderated, and subsequently analyzed.

The goal of this event is to collectively identify technology requirements for effective online communities to better support those working in social change and innovation. The intention is to share what we learn quickly and broadly.

Link

Interesting concept. I wonder how these online brainstorms will evolve once we start having one hundred per day.

Nintendo announces Wii fitness center

Nintendo’s ideas to reach new customers for its Wii game console have added another direction today: The company introduced the WiiFit software and the Wii Balance Board which effectively create a virtual workout center in front of your TV.

Link

The Wii is in my opinion still overrated, but it at least creates interesting business model innovation for Nintendo.

Digital Art Week

If you are in Zurich, this looks interesting.

The DIGITAL ART WEEKS program is concerned with the application of digital technology in the arts. Consisting of symposium, workshops and performances, the Digital Art Weeks program offers insight into current research and innovations in art and technology.

Link

As usual we never heard of the event back in Geneva. This country is really divided, which puzzles my French side big time.

Boost sales

Offering more ways to pay seems to boost sales, CyberSource found. The survey indicated that sales went up by an average of 14% when retailers offered three or more payment options.

Link (via John

Retailing is so easy. Put more payment options, work on usability, and become the next Jeff Bezos.