Yi-Tan Tech Call 288: Blink Click Nudge Sway Drive Switch (summary)

We’ve seen a spate of recent books with one-word titles that are about perception and persuasion, including:

• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell
• Click: The Magic of Instant Connections, by Ori and Rom Brafman
• Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
• Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior, by Ori and Rom Brafman (again!)
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Dan Pink (watch this sketchcast!)
• Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, by Dan and Chip Heath

Ori and the Heath Brothers have been on Yi-Tan before. These authors are all drawing on recent research in sociology, psychology, anthropology, neuroimaging (fMRIs), plus the disciplines of behavioral economics, neuroeconomics, influence, positive psychology and several soon-to-be-named fields.

Together, let’s discuss:

• What do these books collectively tell us about human nature? about systems design?
• What does this work mean for our future as customers? as citizens?
• Can we weave a coherent narrative through these books? Do they build on one another or not?

Here’s the podcast: Blink Click Nudge Sway Drive Switch

You can also download the podcast:  here.

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Yi-Tan Call 287: The Total Surveillance Society (summary)

Does your mobile have a cool GPS feature? Do you shop with credit or debit cards? Would you like to be able to pay for things with your mobile instead? How convenient, no?

This is just one of many trends that leave behind breadcrumbs that are superfood for analytic people like Jeff Jonas, one of the world’s premier data puzzle masters.

For a taste of where we’re headed, read these two posts of his:

• Six Ticks Till Midnight
• Your Movements Speak for Themselves

With Jeff, let’s discuss:

• What privacy invasions are already possible that we considered impossible?
• Is there any scenario in which this surveillance society doesn’t happen? Can we step out?
• How will life be different? Is there a book or movie that captures it well?

Here’s the podcast:  The Total Surveillance Society

You can also download the podcast:  here.

Yi-Tan Call 286: Holy Water and More (summary)

After a career as an ad executive, James Othmer recently published his third book, a comic novel titled Holy Water (a review).

In it, he skewers the worlds of globalization, marketing and more, drawing many insights from the discrepancies between how things seem and how they all-too-often really are.

With James, let’s discuss:

• What inspired this novel?
• Is any company really “marketing with meaning” yet? How does that work?
• How is life in the book industry, compared to the ad world? (Watch his awesome Adland video.)

Oh, and my apologies if you hoped this call would be about Catholic sacraments and such….

Here’s the podcast: Holy Water and More

You can also download the podcast: here.

Yi-Tan Call 285: Facebook, Privacy and “Like” (summary)

Facebook keeps pushing the envelope. Love ’em or hate ’em, you have to admire their chutzpah, agility and strategic brains.

The company’s privacy adventures are already the stuff of legend and infographic, with some framing Facebook itself as the most ambitious phishing scheme ever and others starting a “leave Facebook movement” that hasn’t really caught fire. Ah, the excitement.

Between opening up everyone’s data (the Open Graph) and crafty features such as the “Like” button, Facebook is trying to make itself a permanent part of the tech infrastructure. Maybe we should watch the movie or read the book.

With our awesome colleague Al Chang, let’s discuss:

• What is Facebook’s strategy? What is the end game they seek?
• Why don’t people seem to care so much about their privacy?
• What’s the genius behind Facebook’s Like feature? What’s the Open Graph?

Here’s the podcast: Facebook, Privacy and “Like”

You can also download the podcast: here.

Yi-Tan Call 284: The Quantified Self (summary)

We’ve talked about Participatory Medicine and DIY in various ways, but we’ve only scratched the surface of what people are starting to do by collecting and sharing their health-related information.

If you read Gary Wolf‘s recent New York Times Magazine cover article, The Data-Driven Life, you’ll enjoy this call. He and Kevin Kelly recently started the multiparty blog The Quantified Self, where they (and Alexandra Carmichael, who just joined the fray) are describing the many facets of QS.

With Gary, let’s discuss:

• What is QS? Your favorite examples? Will everyone call it QS?
• Why is it taking off now? What sectors will it affect most?
• What dangers lurk in QS?
• What’s the best thing that QS enthusiasts might do to advance the discussion?

Here’s the podcast: The Quantified Self

You can also download the podcast:  here.

Yi-Tan Call 283: Speed Round 2010 (summary)

We haven’t done a Speed Round call in a long time, so let’s have a quick, broad conversation on a series of topics that are top of mind these days, such as the effects of the Gulf oil spill, Facebook’s privacy (mis)adventures, the iPad’s repercussions, a flurry of Android phones (and more!) and Venter’s artificial critter (ok, not quite a critter yet).

Have strong opinions on any of these? Jump in!

Together, let’s discuss:

• Where might the oil spill saga go next? nuke it?!?
• How do you feel about your privacy online? Have you acted on it?
• Has the iPad eclipsed other e-readers, or is there hope?

Here’s the podcast: Speed Round 2010

You can also download the podcast:  here.

Yi-Tan Call 282: The Future of Movies

There is no sumary for the Yi-Tan Call 282.