Futuring Thinking in Libraries

I had a great opportunity to meet and talk with the Public Libraries Section of the California Library Association at the Annual meeting. The talk was designed to begin the conversation about libraries and innovation. We had a few questions that we discussed and also looked at a basic foundation model of things you need to have in an organization before you can move forward. There were great ideas and comments. I've even added a piece to the foundation model. Many thanks for the suggestion! :) Here are some resources:

Future Thinking in Libraries PowerPoint Presentation - CLA 2008

Orbiting the Giant Hairball

Change the Way You See Everything through Asset-Based Thinking

• Social Technologies - Foresight Maturity Model
• Exploratree - find more cool tools for future thinking here!
  

New energy saving system in las vegas hotel.

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Semapedia example

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Semipedia

The future is tagging. I mean tagging everything both virtual and real.
Check out Semapedia. It's really cool. The goal of semapedia "is to connect the virtual
and physcial world by bringing the right information from the internet to the relevant place in physical space." So, here's the deal. You can create a type of barcode that when viewed -with the right software - with a click of your phone's camera - links a person to information that is available about something on Wikipedia. For example, I've created a barcode for the California State Library that I can place anywhere. If someone, has the right software and takes a picture of it, their phone will lead them to the Wikipedia entry for the California State Library. Pretty Cool. Someday, you will be able to point your mobile device at almost anything and get info...This is the prime time for libraries to play!!!

Exploratree

Are you looking for some cool future thinking tools?
Check out Exploratree! It was developed by futurelab with
support from Microsoft. There are tons of models and thinking
tools to use and download. Enjoy

Android - open source mobile phone platform

Dan Morrill from Google introduced Android, which is an open source mobile platform that will allow users to build their own applications. There are more than 3 billion phones in the world today. There are 1,000 new mobile phone customers every minute.

With Android, users will be able to define and create the applications that they want to use on their mobile phones - not having to deal with the choices of phone manufacturers or carriers.

Apple opened up the iPhone around the same day in March that Android was discussed.

The key is that more customization is going to be possible. At first the hackers will rule, but
eventually it will not be impossible for us to create the simple apps that we want.

Futuretainment: The Asian Media Revolution

Mike Walsh lives in Hong Kong and watches trends in technology in Asia. His presentation was fascinating. He talked about how the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Indians are using mobile technologies and the potential implications for development and influence on the rest of the globe. For example, in Korea there are two tuners in their mobile phones 1) for digitial TV and 2) for broadband Internet access. Their ability to access data is fast and visual media. Mike is publishing a book called 23 Insights about Media Changing the World. Definitely something to look for and read. Check out more!

A few more things from eTech Conference

So, I've been meaning to share just a few more things from the eTech Conference in San Diego a couple of months ago.

• Steve Cousins from Willow Garage talked about open source platforms for robots and shared some examples. What if we started programs for kids in open source/hacking?
• Kathy Sierra (a really cool passionate user designer) talked about the nature of being an expert. She noted that the difference between world class and average in anything is not about natural talent, but in the ability to put time, focus, concentration, and practice into a particular area. And the notion that our brains are in battle with our minds, which hinders us from succeeding.
• Peter Semmelhack from Buglabs presented their open source hardware that lets you build just about anything with interlocking/legolike parts. THIS IS SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO!

Interesting Studies

I had the great pleasure to hang out with some really cool reference librarians at the Orange County Public Library last week. I mentioned a couple  of studies in my talk that I promised to post. Enjoy!! If you'd like a copy of my slides, please shoot me an email.

Pew/Internet & American Life Project Studies

-Mobile Access to Data and Information

-Video Sharing Websites

-Information searches that solve problems

-Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users

British Library/JISC

-Information Behavior of the Researcher of the Future

Institute of Museum and Library Services

InterConnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use of Libraries, Museums and the Internet

So much to think about

I am processing all of the stuff I heard about yesterday. Now in session on DIY Survival with bre pettis. Should be interesting...More soon...

Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow Virtual World - Clickawhat?

Have you heard of Clickables Technology? Well, get this Disney has this website called Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow where little girls can create their fairy avatar and her living space, make friends, etc... But it doesn't end online. Little girls can get Tink Friendship eBracelets - so that when they are out and see another girl with a bracelet they touch them to create friendships and share special messages and a gift. So the next time they go online, they're friends. It's trend of play that extends beyond the online experience - like Webkinz.

Read more about it.

I'd like a book bracelet - touch and transfer reading lists - favorite reads...Maybe just need a cell phone app that works with some of the social sites...

Open Source Hardware

I love MAKE magazine - and always encourage folks to read. Phillip Torrone from Make mag and Limor Fried - a super smart Open Source developer presented a really cool session on Open Source hardware, which is in it's infancy. The Chumby is one example. Learned a lot. If you are interested, email me. There's so much to tell. I will say that there are all kinds of really cool kits and schematics that let you create really fanastic stuff. Like the Minty Boost - USB charger for your gadgets. After this session, I am sure that I bring the average IQ down here. Brilliant folks!

So, what are we doing in libraries to support this growing culture of making and hacking things? I think there's some good programming and materials that support hobbies out there...what about kits? what about build it labs - where all kinds of information and materials can be accessed...

Botnets

Learn about them. Vicious online beasties that basically find their way on your computer and then allow them to be remotely controlled by strangers. Please use the lastest antiviral/personal firewall software! 

Alternate Reality Games

Attended a really cool session with Elan Lee - dude who has done some of the most published work in Alternate Reality Games (also called augmented reality or immersive gaming). He worked on this really cool project with Nine Inch Nails to create a soundtrack for an interactive experience for their last CD. They created secret websites (see Open Source Resistance), used phone numbers, dropped unrecorded tracks on thumb drives at concerts. Those who followed were really engaged and followed the game - got to experience a secret underground concert - with exploding walls and everything. Read more about it at Wired. It's really neato keen. 

Basically, you create a game that merges multiple technologies, places, and experiences. Going to talk about at PLA in a program called Dangerous Ideas with my buds from libraryland. Hint: imagine cultivating the inner info geek in our communities through games that excite and ignite passion?

Quote for the day: 

Information is Contagious - Sneeze - Open Source Resistance Poster

Day Zwei - ETech08 - some interesting stuff

This morning started off with cellphone gaming fun. The crowd of participants used their cell phones to play a game projected on the screen. The company Megaphone is creating all kinds of cell phone games -their goal is to make digital signage interactive.

Saul Griffith - the Howtoons guy I mentioned yesterday talked about Energy Literacy. He's an Energy Guy - and he believes we should all understand the amount of Watts each of our lives takes every year - and how that relates to the bigger global demands for energy. He showed a really interesting audit of his wattage usage, and what he needs to do in his life to minimize the amount of energy he is using. He also suggested it would be good for us to understand the amount of energy required to make all of the products we use -- kind of like nutritional labels.

Is anyone out there doing carbon footprint programming in their library?

IGNITE

So, the night ended with IGNITE - which was an opportunity for participants to make 5 minute presentations with no more than 20 slides that move at their own pace. There were 12 total. Some were really interesting. Liked Howtoons by Saul Griffith. They are cartoons designed to teach kids how to be builders and grow interest in science. Maybe even be future hackers. Do you have these in your library? Also like Deborah Schultz's 5 minutes on Stop Yelling - Start Weaving. Focused on the whole notion that we need to think of our new social networks not as silos of relationships, but the weaving of relationships - that we will never know exactly how they will develop or form. Technology changes humans don't.

This process would be fun to do in Libraryland!

Tim O'Reilly's Opening

So, what's on Tim O'Reilly's Radar? Why Does He Love Hackers?

Hackers are the folks who are pushing the limits with passion and riding the fringes. They are creating the future. It's why we should watch them. What's Mr. O'Reilly watching?

• OpenSource Hardware
• Sensors and ambient computing (see facial recognition cig machine in japan)
• Gaming - building the future of interfaces
• Web 2.0="Bionic Software"
• Hacking our minds and bodies
• Robots
• Collective Intelligence

O'Reilly finished with a great Poem called The Man Watching by Rainer Maria Rilke. I'd recommend reading it.

AppNite @ ETECH 08

So, all these really cool folks presented cool apps.  If you use Facebook, you might want to check  out:

• Who has the Biggest Brain? Which of your friends has the largest brain?
  
• Just 3 Words - write a story with your friends - 3 words at a time
• Dipity - organize your life on the web using time

Also, has anyone tried Living Social? They have a whole app called readingsocial - where

folks share what they are reading, ask questions, etc...I'd recommend trying it! It works across multiple social platforms like Facebook too.

One of the coolest what ChirpScreen

It's a screensaver that pulls in your favorite friends photos and messages from friends from flickr, facebook, and twitter. No longer do you need to seek them out. It's really neato. What if we used something similar for library stuff? Your screensaver would feed you book reviews, cool library programs, tips for finding something using one of our many databases, weird local trivia...

Folks waiting 2 try liquid nitrogend celery root

Okay, so now I am attending this really fun session on Food Hacking with Marc Powell. He and his chef/cooking buds get together and imagine and try new mixtures of foods and technology. Check them out! The picture above is a line of folks waiting to try a celery root that has been blasted with liquid nitrogen. I asked the guy next to me what it tasted like. He said it was like celery with a NASA space ice cream texture. I did try the Powered avocado oil and fabulous vegan licorice/fennel soup. Yummy! What about food hacking library programs with packaged goods to go - great cook books etc...Who knew food chemistry could be so much fun!

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Chumby for real

I've actually been able to see a Chumby in the real, but look at the sign at the top. NO TOUCHING! That's not fun. ETech08 has a neat tower of them connecting to all kinds of information.

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First Hour of ETech

Attending a session called Live, Vast and Deep: Web-Native Info Visualization with Tom Carden from Stamen Design. What's interesting about this session is the discussion of taking data and finding ways to make visual. Check out Ben Fry's Zipdecode and Oakland Crime for some examples. So, the thought on my mind is - Librarians as data collectors and visual format creators. It's one thing for us to find information, but what if we could add value by building important visual displays of info - that would help people better understand information and make decisions. New skill sets needed....hmmm....

So, my friend Rush introduced me to Utterz as a way to add voice, text, and photos to blogs from your phone. This is my test. It's a photo of a new Internet appliance (thank you Rivkah for sending!) that is more than an alarm clock - it connects through your wireless network to all kinds of Internet fun. Check it out! or see the latest Wired Review.

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Traveling to Emerging Technology Conference

So, I am traveling to the O'Reilly's ETech Conference from March 3-6, 2008. The theme this year is Question Perspective. "How does technology help you perceive things that you never noticed before? How does it help you be found, or draw attention to issues, objects, ideas, and projects that are important, no matter their size or location?"

I'll be searching for opportunities for libraries to fit into this new and emerging world. If you're interested in my Idea Blah Blah, please stop by. I'll be posting each day.

Quote for the day:
A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices. - William James