This year I’ve been scrambling between sessions that start and end with no break in between. Many of the videos are missing the first few minutes; the whole of the sessions are here. I’ll be uploading these over the next couple of days as my net access is severely constrained. One might reasonably think that the Computer History Museum–in the heart of Silicon Valley–would have good wireless connectivity, but I’ve seen too many jokes about their connecting a 300 baud modem to the wireless router. After all, it is history.
This picture, and the accompanying post The Personal Data Ecosystem, describes a flow of data from and about us. (Click on the picture for a larger, more readable version on Flickr.)
This rather detailed article talks about the need for a Personal Data Store, a database of a sort, in which you could “source, gather, manage, enhance and selectively disclose data” that supports your needs. More importantly, this data store is something that YOU would control. This is significant because it inverts the power structure for data (right now everything is in the hands of the collector organizations), and makes your personal data more valuable by being more accurate, targeted to your needs, and freely exchanged for a specific purpose. The authors point out the desirability of this new paradigm: “if a new source emerges that is richer, deeper, more accurate, less toxic – and all at lower cost than existing sources; then organisations will use this source.” Note that the organizations will no longer need to maintain and update their databases at the same level that they do now.
Coaching moment: Many people don’t think twice about giving their name, address, phone number, and email address, to strangers if it means they might win a prize or gain some free advantage. Getting something for nothing has a strong pull. Their data has no inherent value to them. We’ve been trained well by the advertising and other industries that we are lacking, or that we are nothing without their products or services. On some level, we believe this.
It’s a lie.
Our value is in our uniqueness. We see and experience things in ways that are different from everyone else. Our perspectives on life, our needs to interact with others, our personal wishes and desires are part of who we are. The essence of what we think of as “good,” “moral,” or “right” is what we might contribute to making the world a better place.
Yes, we have things in common: the need to be loved, to eat and have shelter. Look beyond our necessities. If you could find others in the world that lifted you up and made you feel special, and you did the same for them, wouldn’t you want this? Can you think of any likely path that might happen with the current state of data ownership?
The whole idea of trying to negotiate a new price with stores and companies is pretty messy. Companies are used to setting the terms and conditions of a sale. They’re not going to understand why they might want to change their stance. Even as customers are more empowered to make offers, and payment systems more flexible as to what works to transfer or exchange value (usually money), we will friction before we see acceptance.
Coaching moment: As a general rule, your negotiating position is stronger at the beginning of the transaction, as shown by the man offering to buy the CD or DVD, and the woman requesting highlights with her trim. The couple at the restaurant have already accepted (and presumably eaten) the food without expressing any hesitation or wish to negotiate price later. That’s not as strong a position for changing significant terms such as price of your meal.
I’m sure that there is at least one company that you wish you could negotiate a different price with. What would your terms be like?
You’re welcome to download these files. They are all in Quicktime .mov format, and are generally an hour long. They’re Creative Commons licensed, attribution required (Judi Clark, DigitalIDCoach.com).
Coaching moment: Being curious is great because it generally leads to learning new things. Learning can sometimes be overwhelming. If we stick with our curiosity and ask questions, we learn more. Learning, thinking, and processing new ideas are valuable life skills, and will be extremely useful as our technology-enriched world develops and affects our social, political, and economic lives.
This conference, the 8th one, was a meeting of coders and technologists, facilitators and educators, newbies and experts. If you’re checking this blog and these videos out for the first time, there may well be ideas that you may not have heard of before. Consider yourself ahead of the curve for visiting and wanting to learn more.
Yesterday and today I’m attending a VRM gathering in northern California. This is where conversations are happening–some technical, some organizational, and some theoretical–about putting people in charge of their relationships with the world. One important part of the world is the marketplace, which includes all of the stores and people that we do business with.
The notion of VRM is about enhancing the personal control that we have over our data, our money, and our lives. The people here, many of them developers and marketing people, are discussing structures, formats, and methodologies on how to do things with technology that is all about your needs.
Today, for example, the discussion I’m sitting in is about how to make a personal request for something (like a request for proposal, or RFP). A couple of examples of a personal RFP:
I need new shoes, of a specified size, color and style, in the city that I’m now in, at the best price available today
I am looking to buy a car within the next two months, and only want to know about used cars listed in my neighborhood as they get published, or new cars from specific dealers or people.
I need a ride downtown tomorrow sometime between 8-9am. Is anyone going that way that I could catch a ride with?
Some of my friends are talking about something new. It sounds interesting and useful, and I need to learn about that. I’m new to this subject area.
Some of the questions raised here: is this request shareable or tweetable? is it going to lead to a purchase or is the request just information-based? how do vendors or stores find your request? do (specialized?) search engines fit into this picture? Do you need help building specifications for your goods or services (which somehow implies that you are a qualified and ready buyer)?
Coaching moment: This post isn’t about answers. It’s about thinking about how we recognize ways that we need or ask for things, how we learn, and how technology can help. If you have thoughts on how YOU would like to process this very complex area, please add your thoughts to this post.
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