Bruce Lerner

The following are some observations of the technology thread in the 2/26 episode. The discussion is one that I broached a few calls ago that didn't grow legs but came back with greater focus and a more eloquent opponent to Steve's argument.

Steve denies "ginning up this propellorhead technology" but is suggesting that twitter/facebook/iphone/rss have become critical technologies in developing the mindshare of decisionmakers (around the country, world?). Dennis Howlett had introduced the concept of 'edgelings' (early adopters) and attributes the NewsGangers as members of that community (does that make us NewsGanger-lings?). He additionally communicates that in the enterprise space these tools have not taken hold. Steve counters that somewhere 3-20 layers down (my exaggeration) there was an rss feed in the information flow. Amy(?) provides cogent examples of the (invisible) daily use of rss technology.

My reason for having raised the point was that in my enterprise, I wasn't seeing recognition of these technologies and there has typically been a multi-year delay before the IT infrastructure upgrades. Following the 2/26 discussion, I have flopped over to the "yes we've reached the tipping point" POV because:

1. I'm now separating consumers from producers
   My enterprise may not "allow" producers yet, but can't stop consumers
2. The broader web infrastructure is incorporating these technologies and they are pervasive.
3. The edgelings have greater impact in directing the infrastructure so it takes fewer people to "tip" it
4. End-users don't really care about the technology as long as they can get their tasks completed and these tools enhance the users capabilities and can be integrated invisibly.
5. The tipping point will look to most people like business as usual except more so

A couple of other points:

• As Steve said, these are mp3s and you can keep listening until you get it. Thanks for treading water while I caught up
• As Dennis said concerning twitter:
  sometimes I'm a slow learner (yeah, I know, pun intended).