LinkedIn as a research tool and source of insight Much has been written about the value of Twitter, Facebook and review platforms (e.g., Trip Advisor) as sources of insight (for instance, about customers and their habits). Yet, LinkedIn is not usually thought of in the same pool of useful research tools. LinkedIn can be … Continue reading [Miscellany] LinkedIn as a research tool, tips for writing non-fiction, and reading at the dinner table
Category: Personal
[Miscellany] Customer reviews, GDPR fines and musings on graduation
Stick the film, then post a photo I have recently ordered some black out film for a window that lets in too much light during the night. There are 12 steps in the instructions, starting with cleaning the window, all the way down to… taking a photo and posting it with a review, online. … Continue reading [Miscellany] Customer reviews, GDPR fines and musings on graduation
Life update: bad days make good stories
Child 2, who is turning out to be a musicophile, showed me this tune about someone who is grateful for the sour grapes in their life. The lyrics include the following verses: We had to work a bit more hard Only just to get a little bit less far We could laugh about it all … Continue reading Life update: bad days make good stories
[Miscellany] Science communication, writing as craft, and why new stuff makes us (un)happy
Science communication I love this quote, that I read in the book “Communicating your research with social media” (page 40), recently: 2. Writing: Genius vs craft Sometimes, it is easy to feel disheartened about this “business” of writing. It seems to come so easily to others. So… effortlessly. Take famous writers, like Jane Austen, … Continue reading [Miscellany] Science communication, writing as craft, and why new stuff makes us (un)happy
[Miscellany] Fear sells, Facial recognition banned in San Francisco, and RIP Grumpy Cat
Fear sells What would be really, really useful, if you lived in a dangerous area, and wanted to keep an eye on your house when you are not there? A doorbell with a camera, perhaps?! Maybe, a doorbell with a camera powered by a facial recognition system?! Or even a doorbell with a camera … Continue reading [Miscellany] Fear sells, Facial recognition banned in San Francisco, and RIP Grumpy Cat
[Miscellany] Poorly placed advert, Guardian on Google Home, and reads
Poorly placed advert I spotted this advert on an in-flight magazine, aboard a plane. It was from Turkey's tourist board: Sounds like a great use of old and new technology: the company grabs the customer’s attention with a high impact photo on glossy paper; then, the customer uses their phone to scan the QR … Continue reading [Miscellany] Poorly placed advert, Guardian on Google Home, and reads
Monday Miscellany 6 May 19
The not-so-smart speaker Artificial intelligence is as biased as the data used to train it, and the coders programming it. Last week, I came across a simple exam of the latter: It turns out that, if you are in England and ask Google Home to “play the national anthem”, you get the US version. If … Continue reading Monday Miscellany 6 May 19
