Future-proof Your Students (v1) [Presentation Thursdays]

A couple of weeks ago, Diwa organized another ICT for Basic Education Forum and asked me to give the opening remarks. I couldn't help myself and decided to develop a short presentation discussing some of the things we spend a lot of time thinking about at the company.

"Future-proof your students" has become Diwa's tagline for its products, and I wanted to articulate the importance for teachers and schools to adopt this mindset in terms of the educational materials and media of instruction they choose to employ. To me, given my own interest for where education and technology intersect, this is more like an advocacy than anything else. But aside from making a presentation that would open the eyes of the more "traditional" educators attending the forum, I was hoping to use the opportunity to prepare materials that better communicate the rationale behind the "future-proof" tagline within our organization too.

The result was the following slide deck:

View this presentation on Slideshare.

Suffice it to say I'm very happy with how this deck turned out, both in terms of aesthetic and content. I'm also pleased the presentation comes out well whether I deliver it personally or whether the slides are viewed on their own.

Given the chance, I'd like to develop this into a full-blown exposition of the theme. At any rate, I foresee these slides being put to good use in their present iteration.

We Don't Know What Happened Either [The Internet is Down]

It would seem that the House of Mouse Ideas had the foresight to prepare a somewhat amusing error page, which gives it a leg up on at least DC, Image and Dark Horse (I checked).

Props to whoever thought of naming this "The Mighty Marvel 404 Error Page". If that's Beast, the X-men's resident genius (I can no longer tell because I'm slowly becoming a lapsed comics nerd), then there's a bit of an inside joke for the comics faithful here, too.

[Confused about The Internet is Down? Then check out the whale.]

Empowered

Josh Bernoff and Ted Schadler offer plenty of interesting viewpoints on how companies leverage technology and social media to better service customers in Empowered: Unleash Your Employees, Energize Your Customers and Transform Your Business.

The book is more than a compendium of bullet-listed tips and tricks and lessons. It stands out, first, because it's data-driven and draws from Forrester Research's Technographics surveys on technology usage (the authors are from Forrester), and, second, because of concise case studies provided about successful employee and customer empowerment. Two noteworthy chapters provide a statistical overview of customer word-of-mouth through social media channels (Chapter 3) and elaborate upon safety and security principles for corporate social media adoption (Chapter 12).

It isn't easy to find material on business and social media with less of the rah-rah-rah enthusiasm for enthusiasm's sake and more to offer in terms of sober and helpful analysis. Empowered falls squarely among the latter.

Review: Kindle 3

As promised, here are my impressions of the Kindle, nearly two weeks and three books later.

What is it?

The Kindle is an e-reader developed by Amazon.com. Originally released on November 19, 2007, the Kindle is already on its third generation as a hardware device, with each generation making use of e-ink technology. The latest Kindle hardware has built-in connectivity, either through Wifi only (retail price: US$139) or through Wifi and 3G (retail price: US$189), and comes in either graphite- or white-colored casing. The one I purchased is the 6-inch graphite US version with both Wifi and 3G. (Note: the US version comes with a two-prong power adapter and USB charge cable.)

What are the alternatives?

There are several e-readers on the market already. The closest look-alike to the Kindle is Barnes and Noble's Nook, which also employs e-ink. The Apple iPad is a more sophisticated device that can also be used as an e-reader whether through its proprietary iBookstore or through Kindle and Nook apps that allow content purchased for either device to be displayed on an iPad. While other manufacturers (such as Sony) also have commercially available e-readers, prior to my purchase I only gave the Kindle, Nook and iPad serious consideration as these had well established channels for direct purchase of content.

Why the Kindle and not another e-reader?

I was looking for a dedicated e-reader that more closely approximated the experience of reading an actual book. For this reason, e-ink seemed the way to go. Further, because it was priced outside of my budget, buying an iPad was immediately out of the question.

The Nook initially appealed to me particularly because it is an Android device. Hypothetically, this would mean one could hack into the firmware and install Android apps on it. In addition, it can be argued that the Nook is a more versatile e-reader in that it supports the ePub format (which the Kindle does not) and allows one to share titles with other Nook owners. However, in view of recent news that Barnes and Noble has already put itself up for sale, it did not seem a prudent to invest in a Nook.

This left me with the Kindle by process of elimination. Of course, the prospect of having a direct line to Amazon's library of titles is itself a huge selling point that more than makes up for being locked into Amazon's proprietary .azw e-book format. What sealed the deal, though, was the fact that the Kindle's 3G works globally at no additional charge. Given its "experimental" web browser, the Kindle thus potentially provides anytime and anywhere access to the Internet.

Does it live up to expectations?

The short answer is yes (and not just because of the "personalized" message from Jeff Bezos). Bear with me as I ramble:

Let's start with the e-ink display: it's damned impressive. While it is limited in the sense that it can't display color, it's very easy on the eyes while one reads, unlike a backlit display that can potentially cause eye strain. The ability to read in sunlight is a huge plus. Additionally, because it is exceedingly light the Kindle is very conducive to reading for prolonged periods.

Direct access to Amazon's storefront is not just convenient but amazing. When I demonstrated to the wife exactly how easy it was to buy a book, which appeared on my device seconds later, her immediate reaction was bemused "Now that's dangerous!" The device has 4GB of onboard memory (up to 3,500 books, they say) and no expansion slot. Should your space run out (is that even possible?) you can always clear space on the device as Amazon keeps a copy of all your purchases available for re-download later on.

I anticipated that shifting to reading on an electronic device would entail some adjustment.  Indeed, it took some getting used to all the added features that reading on this format allows. For instance, one can change the font size of a document on the fly, which necessarily alters the onscreen format of what one is reading. In view of this, to allow some uniformity and points of reference, "pages" are replaced by the concept of "locations" so one can easily keep one's place in a book. This has both its pros and cons: for me, reading also involves visual memory, and a lot of the time I remember what I read in a book because I can recall that I read it in a particular part of a page (e.g. "I know I saw it on the upper right hand corner somewhere"). This becomes completely meaningless on a Kindle, where one can actually search for specific keywords instead.

One concern that struck me was that shifting to an e-reader like this meant it would be near impossible to share what I was reading with others. While I momentarily toyed with the idea of checking whether it would be possible to photocopy the Kindle's screen (I chickened out), I did learn that the Kindle allows one to take screenshots if needed (the images displayed in this post, such as the excerpt above from Clay Shirky's Cognitive Surplus, are such screencaptures). It's a relatively cumbersome process, but at least it affords the flexibility of still being able to share short excerpts with others, albeit with some difficulty. (Hint to Kindle users: Shift + Alt + G is the shortcut for screenshots.)

A feature I particularly appreciated is the ability to highlight and annotate with ease. Such annotations and highlights are automatically saved in a separate .txt file called "My Clippings" that I've started storing as my own notes to the books I read. Beyond this, the Kindle also allows you to see what passages in any given book are commonly highlighted by those reading it (i.e. with connectivity turned on). Much as I can see the merit of turning reading into a "social" experience in this way, I choose to turn this feature off as I find it unnecessarily distracting and prefer to discover a book on my own. In addition, some Kindle books also come with a text-to-speech feature (reasonably decent robotic voice included) so the book can be read to you.  This is a neat feature, to be sure, but not something I intend to use.

Personal document format (PDF) files are supported on the Kindle, but can be a chore to read if not properly formatted. By default, PDF's are viewed whole pages at a time, and thus when the original document's font is small (or its margins large) one will have to "click to enlarge" in order to read. Fortunately, it's possible to switch the Kindle's screen orientation from portrait to landscape for some added flexibility, or to send documents to Amazon for proper formatting (a fee is involved, so I haven't tried this). But it's a decent enough portable PDF reader, for sure, more so since PDF's can also be highlighted and annotated as well.

The Kindle's connectivity, particularly its 3G connectivity, works exactly as promised (i.e. free). However, the Kindle's experimental web browser can best be described as functional. Since one has to use this browser using the Kindle's five-way directional buttons and can only input using the built-in keyboard (which feels clunky, like the first versions of the Palm Treo that ever came out), I can't imagine using this browser for heavy Web surfing. No doubt, this feature is one that's nice to have on the go, but one that I will use only if other means to access the Internet are unavailable.

There's also something to be said for the Kindle's overall interface. (Aside: the shortcut Shift + Alt + M is an easter egg that will allow you to play Minesweeper or Gomoku.) For sure, the built-in physical keyboard at its base is clunky, but the buttons on either side of the device to advance or go back a page are great. Notwithstanding my apprehension for moving parts in mobile devices, the layout of these buttons mean that the Kindle is friendly to right- and left-handed users alike (personally, while I am right-handed I tend to read the Kindle holding it only in my left-hand). Interestingly, a lot of people I show it to assume that the Kindle has a touchscreen. I'm fine with the fact it doesn't, but it amuses me to know how pervasive such technology has become.

Final Thoughts

The Kindle 3 packs a lot of punch for its size. It's much sturdier than it looks but with a sleek form factor. Considering the unprecedented access it provides to Amazon's storefront, the polish and features of e-ink books, the ability to read PDF's on the go, and built-in connectivity right out of the box (when you get your Kindle, it's already customized with your Amazon.com account set up and ready to go), it's a great value for the price.

Overall, I don't see the Kindle replacing all my traditional book purchases; just most of them. I know, for instance, that I will continue to buy print books that are either graphics-heavy or have some interwoven design aesthetic. But to the extent that most other books are available cheaper on the Kindle, that's where I'll buy them.

In the end, you can't really beat having your personal library in the palm of your hand and taking it with you wherever you go. Suffice it to say, I am one happy reader.

The 1% Windfall

The 1% Windfall wasn't at all what I expected from a book on pricing.

Like Priceless, Rafi Mohammed's book was something I learned about by reading Todd Sattersten's Fixed to Flexible. Yet while I found Priceless a pleasant surprise precisely because it was much more than a book about its titular subject, The 1% Windfall disappoints for exactly the opposite reason: it doesn't delve deep enough into the subject of price and value.

The book derives its title from a simple point: that if a company were to increase a product's selling price by only one percent, holding demand constant the said price increase translates to a one percent windfall that goes directly to the bottom line. Of course, companies cannot rely solely on price increases to generate revenues and profits, which Mohammed readily acknowledges. Nonetheless, the straightforward math makes a compelling case for why companies should give more importance to price as a crucial component of business strategy.

Thus, The 1% Windfall positions itself as an aid for corporate decision-makers to develop better pricing strategies; at least, such is my impression. In this regard, much of the book is dedicated to outlining a variety of pricing strategies -- namely, pick-a-plan, versioning, and differential pricing -- and examining actual companies that have implemented these successfully. But its main draw is in its third act, where Mohammed outlines how all of these figure in what he calls a "pricing blossom strategy" that can be used profitably by any company whether in good times or bad.

However, I would argue that there is nothing particularly new or compelling that The 1% Windfall has to offer that readers may not already know. The pricing strategies that are surveyed throughout are easily familiar to the average consumer and certainly old hat to professionals who make pricing (particularly promotional pricing) decisions for their businesses. Because the examples cited throughout the book are brief by design, they convey the "what" of some companies' pricing strategies, but lack the detail necessary to delve deeper into the more important "how" or "why". As for the book's much touted "pricing blossom strategy", I couldn't help but feel it simply amounted to "some combination of all the above-mentioned pricing strategies" and was thereby neither particularly illuminating nor helpful.

This is not to say that Mohammed doesn't know what he's talking about. As a respected consultant on pricing, he certainly has the qualifications to speak cogently on the subject. Rather, I would surmise that The 1% Windfall represents the end product of much thinking about price strategy, when in fact it is the process of such analysis that anyone interested in the topic is after. As a consequence, The 1% Windfall falls short of being a blueprint for "How Successful Companies Use Price to Profit and Grow" (as its subtitle suggests). Indeed, I would say the book would fit quite well if it were supplementary material for an undergraduate business course; but it's a far cry from must-read material for high-powered executives.

It wouldn't surprise me if Mohammed's earlier book, The Art of Pricing, did in fact provide more of the specifics I felt was missing from The 1% Windfall. But I'm afraid that after reading the latter I'm not yet prepared to pay the price of admission just to find out.

Good Enough

True, that.

Kindle 3 Unboxed

After giving it much thought, I decided to cast my lot with the Kindle 3 from Amazon. The device was back-ordered when I made the purchase, but it did make its way to me a few days before the estimated delivery date (which was much appreciated). I went with the graphite model, US version, with both wifi and 3G.

Unboxing photos are below. The packaging was, as advertised, "frustration-free". The device came with a USB charge cable and adapter as well as a quick start guide. At first glance, I thought the diagram seen on the Kindle was printed on the plastic film it was wrapped in; it turned out to be the actual e-ink displayed on the screen, which was impressive.

Some comparison shots of the Kindle: against a button (it seemed like a good idea at the time), my iPhone and PSP. Versus the latter two, the Kindle was noticeably thinner.

Impressions to follow, maybe after a scheduled post or two. But if anyone out there is already interested in getting one, I've provided an affiliate link below to Amazon where you can place your order.

[Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" Display, Graphite, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation (Amazon Affiliate Link)]

Public Accountability [Presentation Thursdays]

View this presentations on Slideshare.

Lecture slide deck on public accountability, from when I was teaching circa 2003-2005.

Slides reference provisions from the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

[Confused about Presentation Thursdays? Then read the first in the series].

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Race.

Religious belief.

Educational attainment.

Socio-economic status.

Experience.

Age.

Sexual orientation.

Turf.

Pedigree.

Credit.

With so many problems in this world, isn't it time we saw past things that don't really matter, so we can focus on the things that do?

Prince of Persia

It was inevitable that Prince of Persia would make it to the current generation of consoles. But it's unfortunate that its 2008 outing on the PS3 and Xbox360 will more than likely be glossed over.

Surely, it's not fantastic, but it does have all the trappings of a great game. It's extremely easy on the eyes, what with brilliant cel-shaded graphics that breathe new life into what would otherwise be a desolate desert wasteland. Its straightforward story is enhanced by some well executed dialogue (and voice acting) between the Prince and the newly-introduced Elika. There's enough acrobatics to make one wonder how things might have been had any Spider-man title been designed this way. But the best part? The game is sufficiently short (can be played through in under ten hours) and engaging that it won't entail an inordinate investment of time to enjoy.

True, if you look hard enough you'll find things not to like about Prince of Persia. For one thing, its underlying mechanic of "heal the land to imprison the demon lord" feels derivative of Okami, which on balance was probably a more compelling game. The control scheme occasionally feels clunky, requiring a little too much precision for a game where acrobatics is the main draw. Unusual design choices also abound, the most egregious of which is Ubisoft's decision to have the final battle take place from the perspective of the computer boss rather than the Prince's. But most damning of all is the fact that this game isn't even complete as its "real" ending is only available to those willing to pay for its downloadable epilogue.

Then again, it's hard for any game to live up to the scrutiny of "if you look hard enough", and it's really much too easy to simply surrender to what Prince of Persia has to offer.

The bigger problem with the game, however, has less to do with its merits and more to do with its timing (or lack thereof): this purported reboot of the franchise has the misfortune of preceding the big budget movie produced by Disney. Now, regardless of what the game gets right or doesn't, it will necessarily be overshadowed by the film. Hence, inasmuch as Prince of Persia (the game) may have been a promising (if flawed) start to a rebooted series, it will likely go nowhere as the intellectual property heads off in the directions charted by its big screen success.

More's the pity, because for all its flaws, this Prince of Persia is actually a decent enough game that was probably just punching above its weight class -- and even then it performs admirably.