I’ve spent a bit of time lately trying to wrap my mind around this concept of “attention”. I still probably couldn’t explain it to strangers all that well, but it goes much deeper than a “big brother” notion of things. Steve Gillmor helps me understand it when he talks about the future being about “information finding people” rather than “people finding information”. There’s also a conscious understanding of being unobstrusive and of the user being able to own his/her own data.

Will it be misused? Yep. Will corporations want it? Yep. Take some time to understand what these folks are talking about though.

Here’s a discussion hosted by Steve Gillmor. Combing through IT Converations will probably bring some more information.

I’m a Google junkie with all the accessories (home page, g.reader, search history, etc.). I know it’s not really free; they’re following me around the web and tracking my attention. I don’t like that but for now, I trust them. It would be nice if they were more transparent with their plans for world domination, but I think (maybe naievely), that their intentions are good and that they want to be a positive social force.

One possible scenario is for sites to give you more features based on how much attention you want to pay. You pay a lot, you get really targeted ads or info based on your web travels and interactions — or no tracking at all. You want it free, you share almost all of your attention. (But even if I pay a lot not to be bugged, they are still tracking and gathering my attention and could do something sneaky or relenquish it to a subpoena. Yeah, it’s still pretty scary.)

am i afraid of being given access to the information i want in exchange for seeing products all around me that tall megalomaniacal long-haired guys are interested in instead of what short eskimo girls do? not in the slightest.

they’re not mutually exclusive. except for the clowns.

How about some education applications? If a person has a specific activity/attention pattern, mine that to provide better or more interesting educational resources. Or direct them to some communities of practice that they may not be aware of.

How about some social applications? Even just creating a better matchmaking app like LavaLife that is base on mining activity/attention of individuals, rather than disclosed profiles.

I’m sure there are a bajillion other opportunities to use the data and patterns – I’m not being particularly creative here. But, if the sole purpose of it is to positively influence a CPM rate, I’m not interested.

But, clowns? yeah. love clowns. Except for the evil ones. they scare me.

thats a major issue with people today. fear. i believe Michael Moore explains this the best with this short video clip from Bowling For Columbine. (http://a1834.g.akamai.net/7/1834/6694/v0001/mgm2.download.akamai.com/6694/Theatrical/cartoon1021SM.mov)

People are affraid of everything. Affraid that the media is going to somehow take over our descision making abilities and “force” us to buy things, or “force” us to do things we dont want to do. Nothing can control free will. that is what is great about being human! I think people just need to relax and enjoy life a little bit. Quit being worried about little things. Unless, the movie I-Robot becomes a reality!

http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html