http://www.acxiom.com/About-Acxiom/Privacy/How-Cookies-Work/
Desktop, tablet, phone, app – whats the difference?
Not every website is built equal. Believe it or not a good looking website may look completely different between a desk top and a mobile device. The code use to build the back end of the website may differ from device to device (desktop to tablet), platform to platform (android to IOS) and each software version may have it’s own features.
This is way a website looks different between a desktop and mobile. A desktop has slider bars to be used with your mouse. On your phone you use your finger to scroll through the site. These both need to be programed for the different viewing devices. There are tools to allow you publish templates that auto format for multiple combinations of devices + platforms + software.
And then there are apps (or applications), there have features and functions completely different from the website. This is depended on the code use to create the tool. which platform it is released on, and software versions.
Mom if you are listening – your Fitbit app and the Fitbit website have different capabilities. Not everything is equal in both places.
Coding can be come complicated the more advanced you are in the features. So when something new is launched, it may not be available across all interactions for that brand. I know it sucks – for the younger people out there – there is a whole industry around customer experiences, journey map (what needs to happen where) and design (making it easy/natural/seamless).
What is Big Data?
I’ve been working with customer data for over 20 years now. I’ve seen good data, bad data, black data, red data, big data and bigger data.
Big data is not lots and lots of data; well actually it sort of is, but that not all it is.
Big data has 3 components. These three components must provide value and insight to the user.
Let me explain…
A group of data programming geeks were consulting on site for a large airplane manufacture. They were creating a large data warehouse to store all sorts of details about a planes engine, parts and maintenance details. Each part was to be tracked and available for complex queries. It is big data but it is not Big Data, yet.
A lot of information is collected regarding an aircraft. Mandatory maintenance schedules and updates are recorded. All maintenance (scheduled or unscheduled) must be recorded, commercial and private. This is not a requirement for cars/trucks; cars don’t fall from the sky, yet.
Side Note: Should autonomous cars have mandatory maintenance schedule to be used? Like an aircraft? For example a check point for the vehicle may be required to be road worthy a scheduled intervals.
With tons of data being entered into storage, where to you begin? This is new data to the user, there needs to be exploration to find new patterns that provide insight to decision making. Add lots of information together, so that it is accessible to ask ‘what if’, ‘when if’, ‘why if’… and answering that question is BIG DATA
The geeks, analysts, programmers had already defined that an unscheduled repair is 1000x more costly than a scheduled repair. A well known statistic in transportation. What what can you do about it? How do you find new scheduled repairs that prevent costly unscheduled repairs? Using the data to define benefit or advantage is BIG DATA.
BTW – you don’ t need lots of data to have Big Data. Just Big Value.
Weather forecasts are a user of Big Data. The weather data points have been recorded for centuries. We have applied analytics to this data to create weather forecasts (aka predictive analytics). Weather forecast are a result of Big Data – using history to find patterns to forecast the weather.
Big Data can come from all sorts of sources.
You can see from the chart below ‘every minute of the day’, we as individuals create tons of social data every time we use social apps.
Data is not just created by website searches; is also also created every-time we take a digital picture, a doctor scans a patient on digital film, or a Fitbit collecting steps. This is new data that didn’t exist so long ago.
Side Note: There were pedometers when I was a child. They measured your steps the same way, by movement. Today ‘Fitbits’ are a rebirth of an old tool. The ability to report and share your metrics changed the industry.
If you are digital health geek, you create your own Big Data. Tracking your vitals, exercise, food intake and sleep patterns, gives you insight into goals.
What is the Invisible Net, Deep Web or Deep Net?
Today’s search engines, like Google are made for regular, everyday answer seekers. If you want to know about boats, whether big or small, they work well.
The Invisible Net (Deep Web or Deep Net) refers to content that is stored in databases accessible on the internet but not through search engines. For one reason or another it cannot be indexed by conventional search engines. The only way to access the information is to search the databases and web services themselves.
Before you try to access information on the Invisible Net, you may want to do a practice run. Various sites collect databases on the Invisible Net. For instance, as a card-carrying library user, I can my online library to access at least a dozen databases that I wouldn’t be able to get without it. I bet your library has much the same. I’ve told you before I ♥ my library.
Internet-research challenged? Many libraries and community colleges have free or inexpensive classes on how to use the Internet. You’ll find one offered by ed2go called “Research for Writers.” It’s excellent.
Home devices and your digital data.
NOTE – there is no way I can list every device that collects data in your home. But I’ll list the ones I use. You can add or delete to your list.
A digital device is one that has memory, via hardware/software. The memory can be local/internal or connect to external services via wi-fi, blue tooth, etc.
Data stored can be all sorts of information. From how often it is on to what settings. Something simple would be your home thermostat. If it may have connected to a website or mobile app.
- My iPhone. Any smart phone.
- My iPad. Any tablets, game consoles, laptops.
- AT&T Digital life – aka my alarm system. Depending on the various components connected to your system, it knows when you are home, how often you leave the house. Commonly used doors and windows.
- Don’t let your guard. The alarm system is for my physical wellbeing. Which has a digital component, a website and app. So I only have cameras on the outside of the house. I also keep a sticker over my cameras on my MAC, laptop and tablets.
- At&T internet and cable TV, And all streaming entertainment (Hulu, Netflix, YouTube). They know when you are watching, how long you are watching, what time you are watching, type of device you are using.
- There are some viewing devices that use voice commands and motion sensor, and would be able to determine when the room is occupied and the activities.
- My Buick and OnStar. Besides the GPS information, where you go, how often and when, your vehicle’s diagnostics system collects; tire pressures and other engine conditions.
- Alexa (aka Echo). This devices is always on and listening. FYI – all request you make to Alexa are captured in history within the Echo app (accessed online). Echo is an Amazon product, marring online shopping and at home activity into an individual’s profile.
- GoPro and other digital cameras/videos. Time and location are stored in the memory with the photos. A camera that uses 35 mm film may have some memory within the camera software itself.
- Printers. Did you know that trapped deep in the printer memory is a copy of everything that has been scanned and printed. There is a tiny memory chip that compresses the files to achieve. This chip allows the system to recall the last X copies and other fun features.
- FitBit and other health monitors.
- Craftsman Garage Opener. Wireless keypad and accessible via mobile app.
- Roku
- Wii and other gaming consoles.
That is a good list, considering I claim to be low tech (maybe I’m medium tech). I’m not an early adopter, but I am curious. It takes me time to commit to purchasing new tech gadget, but I do have a collection of digital devices.
You may have a baby monitor, automatic vacuum, anything that connects to a mobile app, website or router.
The power behind Amazon
Amazon.com is an example of a business whose primary assets are its databases. Amazon has advertised itself as Earth’s largest bookstore, based on the millions of books they list in their database. Amazon also sells a variety of other products from music CDs to lawnmowers. The database keeps track of source inventory levels and processes sales transactions.
Another Amazon distinctive is the amount of information it keeps on its customers. In addition to the usual name and address information, Amazon keeps track of what products customers have bought in the past, and even of what they have shown an interest in but not bought. With this information, they automatically construct a profile of each customer.
Whenever a repeat customer visits the Amazon site, a personalized screen appears that advertises products they are most likely to buy, based on the preferences indicated by their profile. This profile is stored in a database, which is updated every time a customer returns to the site. Each return to the Amazon Web site, offers new recommendations specifically targeted to the customer.
Now add al that information to the 1 million Echo households in the U.S. And how that data becomes a valuable assets for any company.
The battle between E-MAIL & ACCOUNT ID & USER NAME
What’s the difference? Are they the same? How do I know which to use when?
As my mom signs up for Echo apps, she is constantly getting tangled in the web of when to an email and when to use (any numerous) account ids.Sorry mom there is no simple answer.
E-MAIL – for this blog post we are going to assume an email belongs to only one person.
- E-mail addresses are unique – like a phone number or physical address there is only one destination per address.
- E-mail address are NOT case sensitive (PASSWORDS are CASE sensitive.)
- E-mails always have 3 parts; username, domain (followed by an actual dot) and the extension. There are more rules to what can be included in a e-mail address and what the computer will not except. Usually your e-mail host provider will send you an email back to your inbox if your e-mail could not be delivered due to technological error. example using a bad character in your email address like a space.
- Some e-mails are anonymous. The person who created the email did not have to prove they were JOHN smith to use the email address johnsmith@domain.com. Nor did they have to prove they were ablueclown@surprise.com.
- You could have lots of e-mail addresses and use only one e-mail program to read all your new e-mails.
- There is no magic look up find all email addresses’ belonging to the same person. Even if the personalization (front part of the @ symbol) is the exact same. In the same manner, there is no validation or look up to connect or join email with mobile numbers.
ACCOUNT/USER + ID/NAME (or any combination)
- An Account ID, is an unique id for a webpage, business, app. You may use the same account/user name across multiple applications or logins. But each business probably doesn’t know that. As companies merged rules around how a customer can access their digital information gets tricky for the customer experience and development teams.
- Or account id, may or may not be tied to an email. Usually when creating a new account with a new business, they will ask for contact details, address, email, phone – they would prefer someway to contact you if need be.
- If your account id is your email address – they will usually note it on the login screen.
- Every website/company creates their own rules for what makes an valid account id. Some allow spaces, some allow numbers. It is all how the site was programmed and there are no set standards for how this should be developed.
- Usually account ids are not case sensitive. Off-hand I can’t think of one site that uses a case sensitive account id.
- Some businesses will only let you sign up one account to one email. The account id is how you login into their site and the email is how they will contact you.
- When you change email addresses, your accounts will need to be updated. Now this is a tricky bit. If a business uses an email account as the login name, if the email address changes, can the individual update their personal details or is the original email locked-in?
When a developer is creating a new system that requires the user to maintain personal and contact details on file, there are multiple facets to consider. Does it require a password? Will it require the user to have an email or phone number to contact them in the future and for what reasonsCan we collect permissions from the user via Terms and Conditions to use cookies and contacts to gather detailed user information?
I’ve come across many website that validate you are you, by sending a text with a code to your phone, to be entered onto the website This provides a double validation/security point for you the user, and provides both your email and phone contact information back to the business.
Think of your EMAIL ADDRESS as physical delivery address for just you for all your incoming e-mails.
Think of you ACCOUNT ID as your unique nickname used by a business.
Not all big companies have it together. I use AT&T in my house; this includes mobile phone, cable, internet and home security. But I have 3 separate accounts with AT&T today. One email address, one physical address, one phone number and 3 account numbers and 3 user names. I have to log into each account site separately to see any billings, account statements, etc. Even with my knowledge of logins and how they work across large systems, I still had no idea what was going on with my accounts, when one was saying ‘everything is fine’ online and the TV keep splashing a ‘time to pay your bill message’. I (thought) I had set up the auto pay (I noticed during the set up conversations that the security system is separated from all the mobile and cable logins) for 2 accounts. But much to my dismay the cable/tv can not be combined with the mobile account, and I have 2 logins for the website to manage 2 accounts both in my name.
NOTE: AT&T and Comcast both assign you an e-mail address within their own domain. example: yourname@att.com. I’m not sure why they do this, it made it complicated on my end, one more e-mail address to manage. And it appears that now that I’m no longer a Comcast customer, I can not access that e-mail account.
ALSO NOTE: The set up of certain apps on Echo has proved to be difficult. Both my mom and myself are using iPad and iPhone with the Amazon Echo (which is integrated with google). So the conversation of email and ids has been a struggle during setup. There are no standards with in the digital world for the user to understand. Only standards for the developers to keep in mind due to back end processes.
Autonomous vehicles
When you think about an autonomous car what do you picture in your mind? Something like the Jetsons or KITT form Knight Rider. When we talk to our friends and co-workers about autonomous cars – the conversation gets heated. Some against it, are for it, some think they will never see it happen. What does autonomous really mean? Automated? Self-driving? Handsfree? Does it pick up your Starbucks before you?
Well we know autonomous cars are vehicles that are capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. And I believe the number one selling point for an autonomous car is the safety factors. But I’m still not sold that in my near life time (2020/2025) there will be 100% autonomous communities. We have different ideas of what to expect out of autonomous and transportation. My vision is more like the Jetsons. Flies through the air and is quick.
Are you thinking about how an autonomous car would affect your life?
Changes to our neighborhoods:
- What happens to our garage attached to our house? Parking structures and handicap parking spaces?
- Are they fuel efficient & environmentally friendly?
- Do they just appear and dis-appear as needed?
- Does it eliminate Valet parking?
- Are they self charging?
- Truck drivers?
Vehicle Ownership
- Does everyone car-share?
- Can an average individual afford their own autonomous vehicle?
- Will there be as much as an emphases on customization of vehicles?
- Will it create value in the collector cars – ie ’66 vet?
Respondents to an independent survey were found to be most concerned about software hacking/misuse, and were also concerned about legal issues and safety.
Sensors and data will play a part in the infrastructure designed for autonomous cars. 2012, Computer scientists at the University of Texas in Austin began developing smart intersections designed for autonomous cars. The intersections will have no traffic lights and no stop signs, instead using computer programs that will communicate directly with each car on the road.
But even after all the technology is built, we have rules that conflicts with innovation. The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic This international treaty, designed to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety, was agreed upon at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Conference on Road Traffic in 1968 and came into force on May 21, 1977 (http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/ crt1968e.pdf). The convention states that “Every driver shall at all times be able to control his vehicle,” which conflicts somewhat with the automatic control concept. Systems such as antilock braking systems or electronic stability programs are acceptable because they do not take full control of the vehicle but rather help the driver to follow a desired path, possibly in situations where control of the vehicle has already been lost. Wider use of technological advances, however, will require amendment of the convention.
Happy Summer 2016. I’ve been spending it at the library.
Sorry I haven’t been around for a while. I promise it is for the best. I’ve enrolled in a bunch of classes on building websites, blogging and databases.
Even after years of customer data and marketing technology projects, I’m still confused on some of the basics of website development and social media. The classes I’ve been participating in are all geared to help me move forward with particular skill sets. Bring you a better user experience on my site.
A lesson learned this summer: I rediscovered my library. It took me years to convert to digital books, around 2013. My eyes didn’t adjust easily. But for the last 3 years I’ve been reading 90% digital. Now with Alexa/Echo and Audibles I began exploring what my digital library has to offer me again. They have access to a variety of digital content – college level classes, books on audible. And my library has converted a lot of the space once storing heavy hard covered books into work spaces and offices supporting 2 to 200 people, equipped with projectors and white boards. I even took a Texas holdem poker class at the library a couple of weekends ago, it was fun.
I’ve been considering hosting a class at the library myself, for some of the question I get asked by friends ‘my parent’s age’. They are on their second iPhone, have grandkids, and still don’t know how to use FaceTime. My mom who still can’t create an email by starting from new email (only because my 8 year old nephew hasn’t had a need), loves FaceTime, but still doesn’t know why it only works with certain people. My parents just got an Echo. My 8 year nephew my have something to do with that, he thinks of my Echo as a friend. Here you have 72 year old grandparents learning personal technology from an 8 year old. It may provide some interesting ideas for future posts.
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Digital, on-demand, real-time not your typical newspaper.
If you are my age or older, there was a time you used the newspaper as a source of information. You saved clippings. Read the funnies. A weeks worth of unread papers had it’s own special place in your home. You may have even had a paper route as a teenager – I did.
If you don’t know what a paper route is, it was a job most teenagers could handle. You got paid for each paper you delivered. The more papers you delivered they more you earned. It was a direct income job. You managed subscriptions, collected payment and managed your supply chain. You owned a route, usually in your own neighborhood. The first paper route I had was a daily newspaper. 7 days a week, everyday of the year including all holidays and bad weather. The second route I had was the Observer, which was only published twice a week. And if you don’t know what a newspaper is you are young.
My 8 year old nephew was recently grounded from the TV and other electronic devices. He is very passionate about his sport scores, stats and updates. Not just who won the game but his is interested in the details. It was killing him not to know how the game when last night. So we purchased a newspaper and an ice cream cone and we read the paper together. This was the first time he had seen the sports section of a national daily printed newspaper. He was surprised to see the stats and scores laid out on this huge piece of paper in black and white. He didn’t’ really know what a newspaper was or what information was available. My nephew’s generation has not yet been named but it will be a generation without the printed press. He is growing up in a culture of always digital, on-demand and real-time.