TEDtalk Tuesday, Marketing and Google Glass: Ways of introducing new tech

Guess what? It's TUESDAY. And I'm here. Granted, it has taken me twenty days since my last post, and I'm about to go to volleyball, but I have managed to make time for this, and all of you.


So, I watched a couple TEDtalks in my quest to find one to bring to you today. One was "Why Google Glass?" by Sergey Brin. He's a Google co-founder, and now the leader of their Special Projects. The other was "How do you get your ideas to spread?" by Seth Godin.

Personally, I don't think Sergey's talk was all that spectacular--not really something I would originally consider as "worthy" of the TEDtalk title. Many other people agreed with me that his talk was somewhat lacking...It was really just a commercial that introduced Google Glass, which then launched an interesting philosophical discussion in the comments.


I wasn't originally going to post this as my blog topic, but then I found myself asking all sorts of questions...about marketing on different platforms and whatnot:

Is TED turning into a product release platform? Is this a good thing, or are they taking advantage of the platform? Is TED really the appropriate place to premier this technology without addressing the philosophical issues behind it? Was this talk supposed to be the beginning of the conversation? Did Sergey choose this platform because he wants to encourage other speakers to step up and talk about his product?



In a conscientious world, I think that may have been his goal--to introduce a controversial product to an audience comprised of the most intelligent and accomplished people on the planet. However, the TED audience is also comprised of people making a fair amount of money. They're also in the niche market that Google Glass is going to be sold to first: those tech-loving, early-adopters who are more excited to try new tech than worry about how much it's going to cost.

Ifound this graph after watching Seth Godin's Talk

on "How do you get your ideas to spread?"

Seth Godin, the entrepreneur who made this image big back in 2003, claims that TV advertising is not as successful as it used to be. People only pay attention to those things that are reMARKable. That is, is it worth making a remark about? (I believe Seth Godin wanted there to be some kind of connection between that word and "marketing"). So companies like Google have to turn to less traditional platforms to promote their products. That means tech conferences like E3, CES, EmMeCon, Social Media Week, Internet Week, TechWeek, ComicCon, VidCon, and PAX. These are all "exclusive" marketing platforms. And people pay to go to them.


But, to put a different lens on these conferences, they're also places of discovery. They're hubs where the innovators, the early adopters, and even Skeptics can gather, view, and discuss the latest technological advancements of the human race. So even if Sergey did choose TED as the first stage on which to premier his newest invention, I think he did a fine job choosing the platform. He put it up there for the smartest people in the world to see, adopt, and critique to their hearts' content. And Sergey isn't the first person to use TED as a marketing platform. That's why they keep the product premiers pretty short. But I think the best part is how opensource the TED platform is. While you have to pay to go to many of these other conferences, TED records them and releases them for people like me--too poor to make it. The internet enables us to participate in the conversation, AND we can also opt to NOT watch this particular commercial and spend our time watching other TEDtalks. =)


But enough about the controversy this "commercial" caused... what do you guys think of Google Glass?
(and do check out that link...Glass can do so much more than the commercial shows).

I mean, arguably, Google glass does force us to look up and connect with the world, and that's great, but what are the downsides?  What about privacy? What kinds of new laws are going to need to exist to ensure the people who don't want to be recorded, can't? I mean, there are still people in the world who put tape over their built-in laptop cams so they don't spontaneously record them and send that data to the government (Here's looking at you, Dad =P).


Have we come to that point yet where so many of us have crossed the technological line that we force everyone else to jump with us? (I mean, look at all the things Facebook has made "normal" in the past few years concerning privacy. Remember all the ruckus about that? And then compare that to how few people have really gotten rid of their Fb accounts.)


What about how advertising is going to change for this new medium (anyone think of Feed)? How much are people going to pay for that kind of adspace. Will Google sell us out? I mean, their main source of income is still from internet ads. They can come across as an innovating company, but really what they're revolutionizing is the way they collect data and then market to consumers using the internet.  Now, they'll collect data and market to us based on how we use our surroundings. That could get pretty invasive and annoying...Scary.

What about the medical ramifications of having glasses be able to use Google Glass? (yes? I see this ad with augmented glasses here...)
our eyes constantly trained on a small square in our peripheral vision? Will people who need bifocals be able to use these glasses? Will people with


What about the social ramifications about a product like Google Glass. Now, applications for obtaining the first round of Google Glass are closed now, but I'm sure it'll be a big thing in the future. But even now I get enough flack from people about "needing" a new phone because I don't have a smart phone. Imagine what I'll hear when I don't jump on the Google Glass bandwagon. Do you think it'll be one of those things you can't leave the house without?  (Keys? check. Wallet? check. Google Glass? check.)

What about Glass being the new technology that our kids will think of as normal? Are we going to raise them like this??


What about software that's in production, like SeaDragon, a Microsoft product that allows the public to browse photo and video from all across the world? How can the data collected by Google Glass combine with software that powerful? And then...what will people use it for?  Surveillance? Patterns? Systematic terrorism? yikes, dude.




Let me know what you think down in the comments. I'm still debating whether or not Glass is something I want to be excited about...because 1) It's gonna be SUPER expensive to start out with.  and 2) I don't know if I want to be as wired in as all of that. It brings "augmented reality" to a whole new level...and things will only get more immersive from there. also 3) I could use my money on other tech gadgets...like potentially, the new Xbox One that was premiered today.

The new xbox One...which was a great name in terms of marketing since

it means to "bring all your entertainment together into one machine"

...but....we all know it's going to get a better nickname in no time. ;)

Or this:

Google Glass is so awesome that it's branded itself already

...no extraneous nicknames needed.

Also, please note the sleek and fashionable design.

The branding for this is phenomenal, just check out the design of their website.

Again, let me know what your thoughts are on this breakthrough technology. I'd love to hear it.