Web 2.0

In this blog series we will discuss the role of social media and traditional media in shaping Social Movements. Social Movements of the kind witnessed in the recent past such as anti-government protests in the Middle East and North Africa, occupy Wall street protests in the US and Anna Hazare movement in India have all been built upon groundswell support. One common characteristic of these social movements is that they have all leveraged the power of Internet and social media to galvanise their actions for maximum effect. The activists leveraged social media destinations such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook and various blogging platforms for publicizing protests and mobilizing fellow supporters and dissidents. Protesters used these platforms for coordinating across distributed protest groups, scheduling and organizing protests as well as informing the world about these protests. While social movements were gathering momentum across geographies, the role of traditional media such as television and print was not just restricted to reporting the social movements via their conventional channels. Traditional media extensively leveraged the very same social media destinations used by protesters and dissidents, not just to report news, but also to exert their influence on these social movements. This has interesting implications for social movements, online interest group formation, role of social media as well as role of traditional media. Understanding the active role played by traditional media in influencing social movements by leveraging social media would help to establish the extent of influence of various entities on the success or failure of groundswell social movements and marketing campaigns. This blog series is a preview of our forthcoming research paper which attempts to analyze the role of traditional media in leveraging social media particularly during the Anna Hazare movement in India. We analyse the archived Tweet feeds, Google Trends data as well as media coverage of protest movements and explore the reasons as to how and why traditional media amplified the sentiments of protesters by leveraging social media and their role in influencing the pace of social movements. We applied Social Network Analysis techniques to better understand the role of various entities involved in the movement. The results provide interesting insights into the interplay between social movements, social media and traditional media. In this first blog, we list the data sources, methodology and metrics used for the analysis. This will be followed by the next blog where we examine the role of key entities/nodes in the network. This final blog will wrap the discussion with key insights and implications of the analysis for social movements and the parallels we can draw for marketing campaigns and organisational implications.

The Anna Hazare movement was Tweeted with two prominent hashtags #annahazare and #janlokpal. The data used for our Social Network Analysis included Tweets with the hashtag #annahazare. We analysed about 25,000 tweets between Aug 24 2011 and Oct 08 2011. The final data used for analysis had 7365 nodes and 14,666 edges. The network analysis and visualization program Gephi, the open-source graph visualization and manipulation software was used to derive the below network graph. Each node in the graph represents a Twitter id and the edges or the connections represent the interaction pattern across these nodes. In the next blog we will discuss more network statistic and the roles played by various entities in the protest movement.

Posted by Dr. Jai Ganesh at 3:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Proud to share that one of our team member, Krishna Chaitanya, was recently selected as a Most Valuable Professional (Internet Explorer) for the year 2011 by Microsoft. He was selected for his "technical expertise and contributions to the developer community".  This status was awarded to him for his contributions such as presentations and blog articles, and participation in the product group discussions related to web browsers, (JavaScript/jQuery/DOM, AJAX, web standards etc.)

The pride is, essentially, in the fact that he is the only Indian in a list of 14 MVPs from across the world for the year 2011. Krishna recently received a plaque and some memorabilia from Microsoft to announce his inclusion.

Continue reading "A Moment of Pride for a Team Member and the Team (of course)" »

Posted by Dr Ajay Kolhatkar at 8:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Do you need a wrist watch to check time?

Do you click snaps using a high-tech digital Camera?

Do you need a computer to check emails?

Your answer to all these questions is "hmm, not really", right?

Because for doing all these simple but essential tasks you most probably use a single slick device, your cell phone! Don't you?

When the computer revolution began, Computers had been a monopoly of technocrats and businesses. And With advent of IBM personal computer (popularly known as PC), computing technology suddenly entered your drawing room. It essentially spurred a huge demand for word-processing applications, limited mathematical computational abilities and desktop games. As industry was catching up with the newer needs there came internet and World Wide Web. Personal computers those stood alone until then started talking to each other and PC transformed into an excellent communication device. Browsers,  email applications gained popularity and in the twinkling of an eye web and internet emerged as one of the most powerful flattener of the world.

Digitization possibilities of practically anything compounded by resilient wireless infrastructure and swift rise in computing capabilities of cell phones and electronic devices made it possible to access digital information anywhere, anytime and forever. Devices grew smarter and took up functions of each other's. Today radio can be heard using internet, fax can be sent and received using computer, mobiles can be used to browse web. This creative and simultaneously disruptive phenomenon is known as digital convergence. It has essentially commoditized the web and digital information thereof.

Smart mobile devices hold a central position in this interesting revolution. As far as a non-techy individual is consider, her needs and usage of telecommunication and digital technology is limited to

·                     Searching information, googling

·                     Clicking snaps

·                     Sending and receiving e-mails

·                     Social networking (Facebook, twitter etc.)

·                     Making and receiving voice calls

·                     Texting

·                     Playing games

·                     Listening to a radio

·                     Listening to music

If you look at any average range mobile phone that is available in market today has all required features and at much cheaper price than price of a desktop or a laptop. Furthermore it has certain additional advantages to offer.

·                     Unlike a computer, a mobile is always with you as an integrated part of you and your lifestyle

·                     Unlike a desktop or a laptop, cell phone is always on

·                     Mobile interface is quite intuitive to learn and levels of literacy do not impact much as far as simple tasks are concerned

·                     Mobile devices are inherently multimodal

·                     Thousands of mobile apps are available to enrich the capabilities of your phone

And all this compels us to shift our focus to mobile web and accessibility of websites using mobile devices.

In my next post I will talk about certain constraints posed by mobile devices while interacting with web.

Shrirang P. Sahasrabudhe

Accessibility Expert

FutureWebResearchLab- Infosys Labs

Posted by Guest at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Call for papers for the AMCIS 2011 MiniTrack titled 'Pervasive Computing'. Potential authors could be academicians and practitioners. Details given below:

Americas Conference on Information Systems
AMCIS 2011
Detroit, Michigan
August 4-8, 2011

Call for Papers for the Mini Track

Pervasive Computing

Keywords: Sensor Networks, Mobility, Social Networks, Cloud Computing, Software as a service, Intelligent Agents, Analytics

Motivation

The term Pervasive Computing was first popularized by Mark Weiser in his seminal 1991 paper The Computer for the 21st Century that described his vision of ubiquitous computing. Mark Weiser's version of Pervasive Computing related to the creation of environments involving computing and communication capability, which seamlessly integrated with the end users. Pervasive Computing has the end user at the focus, with various technologies, devices and networks facilitating seamless computing, communication, collaboration as well as commerce related functionalities to the end users. This is made possible by embedding sensors, controllers, devices and data into the physical spaces of human beings thereby facilitating seamless interactions. Pervasive Computing is revolutionizing the way humans interact with other humans, devices, applications, networks, sensors, infrastructure, machines, services etc. Pervasive Computing have characteristics such as pervasive computing devices including mobile phones, appliances, sensors etc., pervasive networks including wired and wireless networks, pervasive ecosystem entities participating from formal as well as informal social networks whereby entities engage across multiple locations, platforms etc., pervasive data resulting from exponential growth of  data (both structured as well as unstructured) created by social networks, ecosystem entities, sensors etc., pervasive computing and storage power available on the go via cloud computing technologies.

Pervasive computing is one of the major pillars on which tomorrow's enterprise are being built. By turning nearly everything into a computing device, pervasive computing is making it imperative for companies to reach their end-users through a multitude of devices -- both wired and wireless. Users in turn are accessing content and applications through multiple channels as well as social networks, resulting in an exponential growth of data that need to be constantly monitored and analyzed. Social networking platforms are engaging end-customers in an informal manner and the accumulated content and ideas become an aggregation of the collective intelligence of end-users. Intelligent enterprises are drawing inferences as well as key decision points by analyzing data about their customers, competitors, vendors, markets, products as well as services. Enterprises are able to garner localized, specific intelligence using sensor networks, thereby enabling them to develop innovative products and services, which are better aligned to market needs.

Possible topics include:

•      Pervasive computing devices requiring the need to reach end customers across multitude of devices

•      Social Computing and social networks which are engaging end customers across multiple locations, platforms etc.

•      Exponential growth of  data (both structured as well as unstructured), created by end customers, sensors etc. requiring the need to analyse and visualize the data

•      Leveraging easy availability of computing power on the go in the form of cloud computing 

•      Decision making by understanding and analyzing the collective intelligence created across various customer touch points as well as social networks.

•      Effectively connect and engage end customers via formal as well as informal social computing and social networks

•      Better understanding of customer behavior using techniques such as text analytics, natural language processing as well as social network analysis.

•      Enhanced information flow from distributed locations using sensor networks.

•      Improved visibility across the supply chain and real-time data availability.

•      Connect and engage end customers accessing products and services via multitude of devices such as mobile, TV, sensors, appliances as well as via multitude of delivery channels such as wired/wireless internet, bluetooth etc.

•      Better monitoring of production processes to optimize operations, reduce costs, enhance production as well as prevent and/or detect health and safety issues.

Mini track chair

Dr. Jai Ganesh
Principal Research Scientist
Infosys Technologies Limited
Bangalore, 560 100
India

Posted by Dr. Jai Ganesh at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Call for papers for the AMCIS 2011 MiniTrack titled 'Web 2.0 and collaborative value creation'. Potential authors could be academicians and practitioners. Details given below:

Americas Conference on Information Systems
AMCIS 2011
Detroit, Michigan
August 4-8, 2011

Call for Papers for the Mini Track

Web 2.0 and collaborative value creation

Keywords: Web 2.0, Rich user experiences, Peer-to-peer networks, Network effects, Collective Intelligence, Modularity

Motivation

Web 2.0 refers to the adoption of open technologies and architectural frameworks to facilitate participative computing. Web 2.0 is about harnessing the potential of the Internet in a more collaborative and peer-to-peer manner with emphasis on social interaction. It has less to do with technology and more to do with a metamorphosis aimed at facilitating collaborative participation and leveraging the collective intelligence of peers.

Customer and partner facing processes using Web 2.0 have the potential to not only radically transform peer-to-peer collaboration, but also inter-entity collaborations and commerce by enabling various types and combinations of business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), Consumer-to-consumer (C2C), business-to-government etc. collaboration and commerce. Indeed, Web 2.0 has the potential to enable collaborative value creation across business partners. These could, for example, include scenarios such as Rich Internet Applications (RIA) based delivery tracking system leveraging Web 2.0 standards for desktop-like rich functionality on client side within a web page. There are opportunities such as providing rich information on all the convergent services subscribed to by a consumer (including third party services) leveraging Web 2.0 standards which could be achieved through the use of Mashups based on content from multiple sources (exposed using APIS, Web Feeds, Web Services etc.) to create new services. These could even be multi-channel mashups or RSS feeds. In particular, the interplay between the emerging Web 2.0 paradigm and the already popular paradigm of SOA seems to be of special interest owing to the complementarities of the two schools of thought. While Web 2.0 can offer an intelligent, rich, customizable, and interactive service consumer base for a service provider, SOA can offer the standardized conduit for the enterprise information and data to be consumed by Web 2.0 applications.

Possible topics include:

• Innovative collaborative business models based on Web 2.0
• Flexible peer-to-peer interaction based on Web 2.0
• Web 2.0 enabled value creation strategies
• Enterprise 2.0
• Learning 2.0
• Web 2.0 based business value Webs
• Interorganizational business processes using Web services
• Mashups based interorganisational collaborative services
• Web 2.0 based business architectures
• Impact of Web 2.0 on organizational strategies
• Web 2.0 based intuitive and rich user experiences facilitating enhanced social interactions and knowledge sharing
• Peer-to peer network facilitating collaboration and sharing
• Leveraging network effects right at the design stage
• Folksonomy and its role in enterprise information management
• Role of Web 2.0 enabling technologies such as AJAX, REST Web services, RSS, Flash etc.
• Facility for extension mechanisms enabling network participants to contribute
• Value appropriation of Web 2.0 through micro payments
• Information Quality issues in Web 2.0

 

Mini track chairs

Dr. Jai Ganesh
Principal Research Scientist
Infosys Technologies Limited
Bangalore, 560 100
India

Rahul Singh, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Information Systems and Operations Management
Bryan School of Business and Economics
The University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Posted by Dr. Jai Ganesh at 3:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's a new era. Brought on by a technology that blurs the line between what's real and what's virtual. Introducing, SONAR (Social Networking and Augmented Reality based Retail) - a platform that combines three worlds: the physical, virtual and social. For success in the age of digital marketing, SONAR should be on your radar.

SONAR is a patent pending software platform, which is a combination of three worlds: physical world, virtual world and the social world. We built SONAR as an innovation demonstrator for retail enterprises who want to provide immersive customer experiences. As part of this, we conducted detailed exercises based on design thinking principles including storyboarding, user studies, design, prototype, beta testing and iteratively building the system. Augmented Reality (AR) intersperses vision with computer generated information, superimposed on the user's view. AR combines the physical world and an interactive, three-dimensional virtual world. Augmented reality adds graphics and sounds to the natural world as it exists. It is a technology which blurs the line between what's real and what's computer-generated by enhancing what we see, hear, and feel. Augmented Reality has the potential to enable natural interactions and immersive user experiences by blending physical and virtual worlds. This provides users with experiences not possible in just the real or virtual worlds.

SONAR is an effort to build future ICT systems which offer immersive user experiences for retail customers. Retailers are seeking answers to issues such as differentiating user experience on their points of interaction, increasing reach to the consumer, improving conversion rates on the website, sustaining consumer loyalty, etc. In several such areas, emerging interaction technologies such as AR can make a significant difference. New interaction technologies such as AR can help retailers find answers to some of these pressing needs. Given below is a screenshot of the system. Feel free to share your feedback and write to us if you need more information on SONAR.

Posted by Dr. Jai Ganesh at 2:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

JetBlue is in news again, and this time also not for good reasons. Few weeks back a lawsuit was filed against JetBlue airways for inadequate accessibility of check-in kiosks at the airport in addition to the inaccessibility of their website. This time the reason for the legal action is violation of rules protecting air travelers with disabilities and for failing to disclose when flights sold by the carrier were being operated under a code-sharing arrangement. The airline is being penalized $600,000 for the mistake.

The Department of Transportation ruled that $350,000 of the amount would have to be paid by the carrier, while $250,000 could be used to establish a task force to audit the carrier's handling of passengers with disabilities create a disability customer care center and enhance the carrier's website to improve its information for travelers with disabilities.

This post may appear to be off-topic, but it is not. Though it is not about accessibility it is about violation of rights of disables. My intention to write this post is only to reiterate the need for powerful disability laws and to encourage formation of inclusive society.

If we learn to empathize with our diverse audience, it is not really difficult to realize an inclusive planet.

Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe

Accessibility Specialist- SETLabs

Shrirang_s@infosys.com

 

 

Posted by Guest at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

First British Standard to promote web accessibility and to facilitate digital Inclusion is a reality now. BSI (British Standards) has developed BS 8878 to facilitate inclusion of everyone in the web innovations. 

BS 8878, the Web Accessibility Code of Practice is based upon the earlier guidance published in 2006. The standard enables both public and private organizations to embrace accessibility of their websites and softwares.

The standard clearly demonstrates how organizational policies and production processes should be designed so that the digital divides can be effectively identified and bridged. The standard promotes active involvement of the target user groups to ensure successful implementation of standards.

 

Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe

Accessibility Specialist- SETLabs

Shrirang_s@infosys.com

 

Posted by Guest at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is good to know that, the Australian Government has taken a step forward in realizing better accessible and inclusive web within Australia. It has now endorsed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 for all government websites. Earlier mandate was compliance with WCAG 1.0.

Early this year the Government Released National Transition Strategy (NTS) that clearly sets out a timetable and implementation plan for achieving compliance wit new guidelines. All government websites which fall within the scope defined by NTS must be upgraded to achieve WCAG 2.0 conformance.

The timelines for the same are:

• Level A (Single A) by 31 December 2012
• Level AA (Double A) by 31 December 2014

Websites must fulfill all five WCAG 2.0 conformance requirements In order to be compliant under new guidelines.

The strategy advocates careful and design level planning for accessibility implementation so that different needs of various user groups can be met. Use of standards-based web technologies and best practice content management processes has also been advised to mitigate any potential accessibility challenges. Principle of progressive enhancement has been promoted to ensure smooth transition from WCAG1.0 compliance to WCAG2.0 compliance.

All the best and hope to see more inclusive web in Australia.

Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe

Accessibility Specialist- SETLabs

Shrirang_s@infosys.com

 

 

Posted by Guest at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 

Today Canadian Federal Court gave an important ruling on an accessibility complaint. A blind woman from Canada had filed a suit against  government of Canada. she claimed that the government "violated her rights under section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982.

the applicant provided five examples of accessibility barriers faced by her. the evidence of barriers was sufficient to prove that the applicant was discriminated against due to the need to access information and apply for employment via these websites. The Court is allowing the government 15 months to achieve compliance.

Here is the detailed ruling.

 

 

 

 

Here are some insights those I could assimilate from the lawsuit.

• Do not build for today, build for tomorrow

In today's fast changing world obsolescence is guaranteed and accessibility standards are no exception. One salient element of the ruling is that the court found that the Canadian accessibility standards VIZ Common Look and Feel standard ( CLF ) is utilizing WCAG1.0 ( which is pretty outdated now) and government should update the CLF standard to utilize WCAG 2.0. web designers and developers must keep this in mind while building solutions. And should always aspire for addressing needs in future. I entirely agree that if the standard refers to WCAG1.0 , it is but obvious that we follow that, but wee must keep our knowledge up to date. So that we can go an extra mile to achieve real accessibility and not just the compliance to outdated standards.

• One size does not fit all

whenever you test for accessibility, make it a point to include multiple assistive technologies. It is practically impossible to test the site with all possible assistive technologies, but assuming that all users having a particular disability utilize a single assistive technology product is incorrect. Use top two most predominant assistive products to ensure better results.

 

• Design accessible, retrofitting is expensive

This is a well established fact that addressing accessibility during design is  the most cost effective way  to realize accessible website. Accessibility is not atoll a rocket science. Using progressive enhancement approach accessibility can be woven into the website without compromising timelines as well as aesthetics.

Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe

Accessibility Specialist- SETLabs

Shrirang_s@infosys.com

 

Posted by Guest at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)