Technology

Hands Off The Passwords

by

Well here’s a refreshing breath of rationality: Two representatives, Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced a bill to make it illegal for employers and educational facilities to ask for passwords to social networks.

I don’t know how widespread the practice is, as we have isolated reports, but this seems to be a relatively sane thing to make a law out of.  I’m glad to see something that looks savvy like this being done, though I’m sure there’s at least some bandwagon-jumping here.

The good news is that some respect for privacy in America’s IT laws bodes well for the other fights, like CISPA.  Yeah, I know we didn’t touch on that like we did SOPA, I’ll try to rectify it.

– Steven Savage

Holograms, Personalities, And New Awareness?

by

So the Tupac Hologram is getting plenty of attention as well as some menage. This is causing people to notice Hatsune Miku, Japan’s Holo-pop princess who’s being doing this so long she’s old by hologram standards. Also, she does not feel Obi-Wan Kenobi IS her only hope.

Some time ago I wrote a series of columns on the viability of virtual stars. I stand by this fact and the article above notes the phenomena and some advantages.

Most telling is the comment in the above Daily Beast article about virtual stars that they don’t age, get old, have scandals, etc. They’re pure entertainment mixed with a strange kind of purity overall. Hatsune Miku will not die, or OD, or get into a scandal, or even age. There’s something people will doubtlessly find refreshing.

The use of Tupac in a hologram, a man who died an unpleasant death, further reinforces that divide. Though I’m sure his many fans were thrilled to see him “resurrected”, this technical incarnation also reinforces the gap between real stars and entirely virtual ones. Also, I think some people may find the “resurrection” a bit creepy.

However, Tupac’s holographic return is bringing new attention to Virtual Stars, and I’d like to add some additional analysis.

  • This is getting increased attention for Japanese virtual stars, so I’d pay attention and see if increases interest further.
  • In addition, the resurrection of such a popular singer may increase interest in other “holoncarnations” of stars or the creation of “native” holo-singers.
  • The technology certainly remains viable to create virtual stars, and social media’s increasing relevance means its easier to create fast viral marketing and recognition. Attempts to make new stars can take off quickly (as witnessed by the Tupac hologram).
  • The fact they can be created quickly could appeal in this world of ever-increasing short-term thinking and desire for quick results.

Tupac is back? He may well be just the start.

– Steven Savage

Ikea To Sell Electronics?

by

It starts in Europe, but you know it’ll expand.

So it appears that Ikea is starting with a specialty-manufactured TV in China, and Magnus Bodesson, the guy in charge of living rooms (and who’s name may be as cool as Baldur Bjarnson and Richard Baldovin) notes the advantages Ikea has in pricing.

Ikea selling electronics actually makes sense:

  • They have the floorspace and warehouse space.
  • They do a lot of home elements that aren’t furniture despite their image as a furniture company.
  • They already promote their furniture with mockups of TVs, etc. in their stores anyway – and as they sell “complete sets,” electronics plays into it.
  • They have insanely huge reach.

So I’m pretty sure they’ll prototype this, it’ll work or break even, and they’ll go and try more.  You know who gets in trouble?

Best Buy.

Ikea could, with relative ease, throw in a lot of basic electronics and home goods.  They could do their own brands/rebrands, but it might also be easier to use local/popular brands.  They have a supply chain that works.  They have money.  People are already in a shopping mood when they come in.

So if they start moving TV’s and other home devices, Best Buy is the one that takes the big hit in my opinion.  Admittedly it’d probably take Ikea awhile to ramp this up (1-3 years), so there’s a chance for Best Buy to implode on its own.  But if they’re still playing in the home electronics space, this could be a finishing blow.

I never saw Ikea getting into this space.  Makes me wonder what else I’m missing . . .

– Steven Savage