<sydney>cuneyt</sydney>

Given the recent growth in DOM parsing capabilities of modern web applications such as Dapper, it's great to see this UI metaphor entering mainstream content management. We all know UI experts wax and wane over the benefits of certain approaches to building accessible yet efficient interfaces for content, but lets consider the realization that most approaches are variations of the same core scenario or workflow.  For example, there's really only been 2 classes of content entry (perhaps even data entry?) worth mentioning in the last decade of web content management.

1. Entry via forms, or structured authoring
2. WYSIWYG authoring, or unstructured authoring
3. Hybrid models of the former

It sill surprises me that 90% of enterprise vendors do not offer hybrid authoring; that is, the ability to demarcate certain placeholders or elements on a page as "editable" along side other unstructured, free form elements. MOSS 2007 barely does this, IBM WCM doesn't. Blogs? Don't get me started, they come up short.

That aside, I think that the folks at TypeRoom may have stumbled upon an entirely new paradigm not just for content entry. More specifically, I think that whereas it's obvious that this type of DOM-directed content authoring has it's merits, there's clearly areas in which the best practices or even the applicability is not proven, such as:

1. How to handle content creation, not just editing of existing items
2. Controlling security, permission and  workflow upon page elements, not just entire pages
3. How to map the underlying storage / data model underneath robust, reusable templates
   

While it's obvious that TypeRoom is using it's TypeRoom Lite offering as an online demo for the IP they've created in their WYSIWYG editor, it's understanding the final point about reusable templates which is key. Their tool allows authors to make changes without conforming to templates - you can just modify the end result, the DOM, without interrogating or otherwise being coupled to the underlying template from which it was cast. This alone has great uses - portability of the solution, abstraction from a server side language, etc. But ironically enough, I think the most value derived from such a codebase is not from its use as an authoring tool, but as a templating  tool.

CMS experts will agree with me that if TypeRoom can use their DOM inspecting codebase as a mechanism for creating CMS template definitions (the process for turning an HTML design into an author accessible template with editable elements and placeholders) then they stand to become a strong aquisition target for existing ECM providers, or other SaaS-centric vendors looking for a solution to their "templating for non-techies" quagmire. Because after all, it's all about empowering the non-technical business users, and who says that they can't create templates as well as edit pages?

After talking about this same topic last night, Umair from HBS posts about the impending doom of traditional business strategies focused on informational based competitive advantages. I could not agree more. Frankly, if your IP can be digitized, you are stuck out of luck for a business model. From Umair:

Here’s a quick example. Where orthodox strategy advises hiding information and making things less liquid, what does edge strategy advise? Exactly the opposite: release information bottlenecks and make things more liquid.

This just in, a Google Chat from Tomur Ho regarding my FF from 30 seconds ago... And yes, Tomur is just kidding about the client interactions. Hysterical.

Tomur: Have you read the black swan?

 me: no

 Tomur: Touches on some topics that you've noted in your comments.

 me: join FF

 Tomur: : FF?

 me: ill give it a read

thanks for the tip

 Tomur:  Basically covers event prediction, the discernment of information and how the "experts" are largely in it for self preservation.

 me: exactly

professional bodies are simply cartels

 Tomur: That nobody knows and that you're better off going against the grain.

 me: whats interesting from a psych standpoint is that spoken language

, french , english

is potentially a method of self defense

its inherently adversarial

me: so "not speaking" someones language, or chaning your own, is inherently offensive

protectionary, etc.
Tomur: Yeah.  I do it all the time during client interactions

 Sent at 12:47 PM on Friday

Amazing. We'll here's the body of my comments on HBS blog.

My how thoughts ripple across the world, I jsut had this conversation with my flatmate last night, a recruiter for financial advisers.

I completely agree.

The eminent democratization via internet enabled technologies will diminish historic "information advantages" that so called "professionals" have in fields such as real estate, finance, etc. Is an expert (some 25 year old b-school graduate who is trained to type in your details into a packaged, autonomous BPM software tool for income tax accounting, investment portfolio advice or an MLS listing at a F500 firm for generating automated results) truly acting in your best interest by applying their expertise, or simply a job waiting to disappear?

Web sites like www.redfin.com, online tax software,etc. obviously know the answer. No one will ever care as much about your interests, than yourself. Cut out the middleman, and only seek the advice of higher level experts when necessary - who themselves actually provide true value.

Who knows, perhaps the same could be said of the cartels of medical practitioners, lawyers, etc. Ever wonder why they use obtuse language the lay cannot commonly understand? How else would they persist their "information advantage" if anyone off the street could speak their language?

Finally, as we see the information advantage in investing erode thanks to increasingly ubiquitous access to information by the masses, one can only begin to realise that, along these lines of thinking, that the only way to significantly beat the market is to have information you are not "allowed" to have, as per insider trading.

It's interesting to see what other advantages have been eroded by the internet, such as the existing patterns based on time-shifting, digital distribution vs. physical (Music industry), etc.

Great post.

Not only am I enamored with FriendFeed (which I twitter'ed as the next Google acquisition) I was pleased to find that Barack Obama was already knee deep in the application... before me! I would love to talk with the "Social Networking" guru in his campaign team. (Read: the tech savvy intern in his camp ). Not to diminish Barack's  technical chops, as  regardless, he deserves credit for being so  open minded when it comes to delegating / trusting their staff compaired to other candidates. Reminds me of Mr. Diamond's book Guns, Germs and Steel and his research on how "resistance or the embrace" of change is deeply rooted in a society, or individuals, culture. Hence the term "dinosaur" and the notion of predetermined extinction. Sigh. Maybe it's safe to move back to the United States after all.

You have to love the internet, despite the fact that it isn't a perfect sample base - but then again, what is? Check out these indicators of internet popularity.

(Thanks Joe.)

My, these are strange times for the high flying giant. Perhaps the altitude has gotten to it's head?

Over the course of several articles this week, it's become resoundingly clearer that Google is, well, maturing into a classical enterprise. Lack of innovation in certain spaces has lead Google to parry with defensive, protectionary measure's aimed at stalling the expansion of rivals. In particular, Google is a laggard in the social networking space, which comes to no surprise to startups and followers in the realm.

It's all about the Graph baby, and Google don't got it, yet

Google knows they missed out on social networking while hunting for the Office 2.0 prize. Arguably, this is a more ambitious goal and has a much clearer, and quantifiable revenue base and model. Just copy and paste MSFT's Office revenue from their annual report. However, in order to play catch up, Google has recently created a Social Graph API. Bravo, you say? Nope. This is simply an attempt to slowdown the progress of other social networks by commodotizing their functions. How useful is the shell, if everyone can hold one up to speak? Google knows this tactic is aimed at leveling the playing field at the expense of established social networks. A commenter at TechCrunch nailed this on the head:

1. Bob
   

   February 1st, 2008 at 12:27 pm

   This API will stay up. Remember: Google wants openness from YOU not from them.

   Remember they used to have a free search API you could use (but wouldn’t even let you use on your own site) because that would cost Google money. OTOH, when they lost with Orkut, now they’re pushing SN openness so they can get all the SN data from MySpace, Facebook, etc.

   Pretty simple: when it involves Google helping the net, they’re against open APIs. When it involves everyone else helping Google, they’re all for open APIs.

Google doesn't want you to have the next killer application, yet

Next up on the stonewalling of innovation path is Google's take on social search.

VB: Does influencing existing Google results with third-party social networks make sense?

MM: It would be a surprise if one day users opened up their browsers, began using Google, and friendships they had formed on MySpace began to rerank their results or in some way influence the page. It would be non-intuitive to them. As a result, we don’t think it would be a great product decision or a great user experience.

Yikes. There's so many flawed points in that argument, I don't know where to begin. Google has simultaneously admitted that social search is the future, yet, have also shrugged off making use of external social networks in the name of UXM. Hmmm... I believe if we translated this paragraph from corporate-babble into underlying intentions, it would read:

Absolutely, leveraging an existing graph to enhance your results would be the most cost effective and seamless transition to social search, and sure, we know how to overcome the user experience issues of porting online identities... hell, we can import your Outlook and Hotmail contacts into GMail, no problem. As far as user experiences go, adding the ratings, recommendations and tagging of other users to search results? Why, I think someone has already proven this concept to be acceptable to the masses... what are they called again, oh, that's right... Amazon!

No, the real issue is that for Google to profit from the value-add of the social network, we need to OWN the graph. We need to OWN the data. Otherwise, there's no consumer lock in, and we're at the mercy of the graph owners. Our users could ditch us for the next provider, and our shareholders wouldn't like the sound of that. We're simply haven't got the graph yet, so until then, why don't you consider building it for us with our Graph API?

And I'm sorry Marissa, don't put words in the consumers mouth. I'm certain if I ran a poll today, the vast majority of web users would absolutely clamor for exactly what you mentioned. We know it, you know it. Google just isn't there yet to deliver. Imagine deli.cio.us enhanced tag clouds, reviews and digg style ratings of search results. All of these mechanisms can enrich the quality of the results, but Google doesn't yet have a handle on social networking. I frankly don't think the existing brain trust has the experience or skill set in house to tackle this just yet, which could help explain their lag.

Propaganda is the tool of tyrants
 
Instead of doing what Google did best, innovating, Google is using it's might to slowdown progress at a pace it can  the cost of the industry. Can you believe the gall that Google has to claim that Microsoft should be reviewed for antitrust complications in its takeover bid? I'm not going to harp on this piece of low hanging fruit, everyone already has. 

Man, as if this little wonder app known as drop.io isn't simply good enough as a 1 for 1 replacement of long time classic "I have to send you a 50mb proposal but your email no likey big file" fixer, YouSendIt, drop.io has upped the ante with yet another federated communication point.

(Yes friends, I'm still bitter about not getting funding backin 2006 to start Feddle and accordingly, being bought by Google. Damn you GrandCentral... mwaaahh!)

Check this new feature on the drop.io radar:

A bit on calling a drop:

Each drop has a phone number and custom extension (just like each has an email address). Dial the number, wait for the prompt, enter your extension and start talking. Whatever you say we will convert to an MP3 and put on your drop in a matter of a few seconds…for you to listen to, download, share, use however you want.

Now naturally, being a proponent for federated communication principals, this gets my collaborative, Voice XML juices flowing pouring, but we should practice some constraint here. I think the main draw, and marketing message that I hear from drop.io, is that it is an efficient, and streamlined method for sharing large files online. Period. I love it because drop.io adheres to the KISS principles that have shaped the nature of our best friends when it comes to administration: terse yet straightforward command line operations in UNIX. Do one thing, and do it uncompromisingly well.

As long as the feature enhancements are provided in an unobtrusive and non-obfuscating fashion, which I entirely believe drop.io has and will continue to do, I believe drop.io will be one of the better acquisition targets for 2008 for any Office 2.0 vendor.

Without even reading the drop.io blog, I'm certain that the next step is to widgetize drop.io to enable ad-hoc, file-centric collaboration to other applications. The applications are various, we'll all agree. Monetization could follow from the typical banner placements, enhanced by personalising the ads based on the text of notes, the voice recognition of saved telephone calls, and contents of documents uploaded. It will be interesting to see if drop.io can create a new business model around monetizing collaboration in the cloud, something perhaps around the number of participants in a drop, and their activity therein. Ultimately, this product will serve a few main markets:

1. day to day users looking to share the occasional ripped CD
   
2. the highly technical looking to enrich their applications
3. corporate entities who have adopted cloud computing and look to plug in drop.io as their service provider

I'd like to see how drop.io weaves in monetization to each of these segments.

Finally, my next concerns for longevity is that with recent trends in development establishing the fact that its fairly trivial to rip-off an application, so the copy-cat game could be a threat to drop.io. Differentiators like voice to MP3 is a good first step to building barriers to competition, but drop.io has yet to develop some form of IP, whether it manifests itself in storage hardware or patented algorithm, that can seal off potential combatants from the arena.  

It's been an interesting ride the last couple of days. Back in December when my colleagues' financial advisers were selling of shares left and right, I took heed and dumped about 20% of my assets in money market accounts. Suppose I should have gone all the way, but that's a bit steep IMHO as I've ridden out all the prior technical corrections since I started investing in 2002 like a good armchair investor.

Looking back, however, those rules change when you're in a legitimate recession, as opposed to a technical correction or cyclical trend. I never rode out the 2001 recession, so I never had the emotional experience of getting seriously shellacked. Looking at the telltale recessions signs, this one was actually quite easy to call, after the fact. Plenty of information out there from the investment houses, and even I caught the drift. I simply didn't realize the scope of the snowfall. I was, in fact, a bit overly steadfast.

I'm calling a bottom once we stay below 11,000 for more than 3 days. Then I'm going back, all in.

After much ado, the podcast is now available here. Be sure to subscribe as I'm about to post the 8 or so mixes I've made over the years, going back as far as 2001. Enjoy the inspiration.

From a Facebook post to Joe:

300m/10k/3k, it's a baby triathlon. Here's the split and positions out of a pack of 120.

#51    Uysal    Cuneyt    Male    25-29 yrs        0:11:03    85    0:23:01    67    0:15:35    55    0:49:39    76 .

Keep in mind I overheated during the swim, and got bumped off my bike; managing to pop my chain off as well! I'm not whining, I had the time of my life... but it's also good to know that the second time around, I'd hit 40mins :)

40 minutes would put me at 'bout 30 / 120 off the pack. Big difference. Granted its a pack of first time triathletes for the most part, there was no shortage of career athletes. 3 IronMen were in attendance, no doubt taking their last sprint-level workout before Kona in 2 weeks time. So don't let the numbers dissuade you, there was a big spread out there. The top dawg finished in 32 minutes. But I don't kid myself, each minute in your time is exponentially more difficult to knock off than the last. So the difference between a 40 and 32 is astounding. In other words, that IronMan veteran is not 30% faster, but literally 2 to 3 times as fit as myself. Amazing.

 

I embrace my errors. They are my teachers and I'm forever indebted. Despite paling in comparison to a true triathlon or marathon, this is the first endurance even that I can say really pushed my bounds. I was hopeless in the water, having only swam with my swim-friendly mates a handful of times. Adrenaline-flush and green, I sprinted the first 100m with the pack and then proceed to lose my shit directly afterwards. I realized at that very moment that I had never once swam a leg of more than 50m, a single pool's length, without pause. Now, I had done twice that amount, and had to repeat this twice more. I was beside myself. Well in all fairness, I had to be, because everyone else had long since passed me, the novice. I dragged my carcass out of the water and hobbled to the transition for the bike, barely making sense of the process. I's affectionately liken it to playing Operation after after an inebriated road collision - not that I can speak from experience, of course.

Yet, after the race, I was so enthralled and invigorated that I contemplated taking a practice swim to immediately work on my technique. That's how motivating the sport of triathlon is. I've run longer  races, cranked out longer bike rides, but nothing has created that primal sense of urgency, of survival that is generated from this humbling sport. In a hopelessly romanticized sense, it's the closest thing to battle I've ever experienced; proof that even in sane, domesticated desk jockeys lurk dormant neural pathways, essences, that are waiting to be rewarded for their patience when called upon.

I love this sport.

I finish with a passage I stumbled upon from the good people at TriFuel, perhaps the only ones who could make sense of such a brutal yet zen-like endeavor that is Triathlon.

Wow. I actually closed a deprecated savings account via a simple, secure mail message I sent a week ago. I notified them in the email I didn't need any confirmation at all. 2 days later, the account was closed. God bless the fact that customer support is finally embracing the internet. Just think how long that would have taken 3 years ago... I would have had to come back to the branch in person; not an easy task when you live 3000 miles away. Amen. Two thumbs up.