The Future of Everything

Saw a keynote address on "The Future of Social Networks". An interesting title since everything here is (in some way) about that subject. It wasn't so much predicting the next Facebook, Flickr or Twitter as it was suggesting how the vast numbers of social networks that already exist are going to begin working together. There's a "social networking fatigue" that's set in. In response, social networks are starting to behave like air molecules. Increasingly, the networks are exhibiting a willingness to leave the sanctity of their own websites to go where users and consumers need them. A few examples:

Facebook Connect/OpenID/OAuth: What these services do is allow a user to manage all of their login user data in one place. No remember 25 different login names and 7 different passwords. Now you can have one user name and one password for everything. These services also provide easy, push-button architecture so you don't have to have a bazillion windows open at once. The generic, tech-nerd descriptor of this movement is "open stack."

Linked-In/Lotus Notes: They've now combined so your business connections can now flow seamlessly into e-mail world.

Ustream.tv/Integra 5 Media Friends: A way of combining live TV with chat. The days of television being a one-way medium are dwindling. Episodic TV will still be watched asynchronously. But live stuff (Presidential debates, sports, shitty "American Idol" type shows) are likely to be enjoyed with a group of friends watching in real time, chatting within the group and voting and responding to the network or show itself. 

Amazon/Retail: Retail sites are combining user relevant nodes on the social graph for product recommends. Essentially what this means is that you won't be taking product advice from some guy living on cans of Del Monte niblets and saving his own urine in pickle jars. But rather, from friends imported from your networks or people close to your mind map. The implication is a better product recommend. Something that works for you better. Though some of my friends have pretty questionable tastes on some subjects. So I might take my chances with the pickle jar dude on occasion.

Google Voice: (Formerly "Grand Central") this app connects all terrestrial phone numbers (Cell, VOIP, land lines whatever) under one phone number of the user's choice.

It's hard to talk about all of these things without also talking about privacy and a user's motivation. Why put yourself more on the grid? Why share all your login info with an open stack app? Why interact with a brand voluntarily? 

First of all, because information about users is already out there anyway. In a lot of cases, you're opting to give out information about yourself that, while not public, is only being asked for as a formality. Harvard University admissions does a stock Google search on every considered applicant. Though, by my estimation, that's more of a risk to somebody named "Mark Koelfgen" then somebody named "Ted Smith".

The second reason is structured rewards. Socialvibe.com allows users to trade a soft endorsement (badge) for an existing brand toward money that can be donated to user chosen charitable causes. So it's a straight line between endorsement and social consciousness.

Third is the ability to op-in and opt-out at will. The Open Stack technology doesn't really memorize your login info per se. And that info can be removed from an OpenID. So the information sharing is not irrevocable.

Fourth is built trust. Users trust Google. Google doesn't' fuck people over. That means something.