Dell has teamed up with Siobhan Gunning to create an exclusive (PRODUCT)RED design for Dell's Studio 15 laptop line - only for Seventeen Magazine readers.
But here's the cool part. When you purchase a Dell Studio laptop with the (PRODUCT)RED artwork, Dell will contribute $20 to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
Dell has a long history of supporting pro-social initiatives and been one of the leading and most actively engaged (PRODUCT)RED partners.
The Dell-Seventeen Magazine partnership is a great example of how to get those socially conscious Millennial's actively involved in your brand. Dell is one of many companies that have pro-social marketing programs geared towards Gen Y.
Last week at the YPulse Mashup East, Ron Faris, Virgin Mobile's Director of Brand Development and Partnerships talked about several of their own pro-social intiatives.
For example, at the 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival, the Charity Dome featured a gallery of various artists’
visualizations of homeless youth. 20 charities were represented and
over $180K was donated. Their latest pro-social program, Homeless Youth TV, is set to shine a light on the nearly 1 million homeless teens living on the streets across America.
Dell, Seventeen and Virgin Mobile are all proof that a company can do good and still do well. Related Resources
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a program that began 58 years ago and has helped connect UNICEF to literally millions of donors, fundraisers, celebrities and partners. This year, UNICEF is embracing both the social and mobile web to engage even more people in their annual campaign.
"For the first time ever, we’ve launched both a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF MySpace page and Facebook Cause.
If you use either of these sites, just add us as one of your friends.
Then, when you’re writing on someone’s “wall,” or “poking” everyone you
know, invite them to add us too, and help spread the word.
This year—for the first time—you can Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF with
your mobile phone! Just text the word “TOT” to 864233 (UNICEF) to make
a $5 donation* and help UNICEF save kids’ lives."
The Text-or-Treat initiative is a pretty clever program. When you visit the Text-or-Treat page, you can choose one of the virtual trick or treaters and help fill their UNICEF box by sending a text message. Cool!
I sent my text message to support Doogie. Which one will you support?
TechCrunch is reporting that Microsoft (finally!) has seen the light and will begin rolling out the integration of OpenID into their network of cloud services. Sayeth the DasCrunch:
"Login standard OpenID has gotten a huge boost today from Microsoft, as the company has announced
that users will soon be able to login to any OpenID site using their
Windows Live IDs.
With over 400 million Windows Live accounts (many of
which see frequent use on the Live’s Mail and Messenger services), the
announcement is a massive win for OpenID. And Microsoft isn’t just
supporting OpenID - the announcement goes as far as to call it the de facto login standard."
In other news, Yahoo! has announced that next week it will launch their open platform application. According to VentureBeat, the Yahoo! Application Platform (Y!AP) will "make Yahoo! more useful by giving third-party
applications a way to plug into and link Yahoo services and user data."
After spending time with villagers living along the Red Sea, and learning that an estimated 2 billion people worldwide have no affordable access to
light, Mark Bent decided to light the world one flashlight at a time.
Mark is the founder of SunNight Solar, a solar-powered flashlight he developed in conjunction with the Department of Energy and NASA.
These lights help medical teams treat patients in refugee camps, farmers can use money spent on fuel on other necessities, and allow children to learn how to read at night without exposure to kerosene fumes.
Under the SunSolar's Buy-One-Give-One (BOGO) Light program, for every flashlight purchased, Bent donates a second light to non-profits that distribute the lights where they are needed.
Mankind is No Island is a short film created by Jason van Genderenusing his mobile phone. This 3 minute film cost $57 to make, was shot in New York and Sydney, and won first place at the New York Tropfest Film Festival.
While some schools are busy banning them, others are embracing mobile technology and integrating it into their classroom. For Gen Y, the mobile phone is about more than just personal voice-based communication.
This totally-wired generation views the mobile phone as an extension of their identity, status, social capital and view it as the cornerstone of their social life. Instead of banning mobile phones in the classroom, educators need to find creative and engaging ways for students to use them in project-based activities.
A recent article over on The Motely Fool, How to Make Your Child Globally Competitive, makes the case that in order for today's Gen Y students to be competitive in the global workforce, they'll need have to have more than just a college degree and technology skills.
So what's the real killer 21st Century skill? The ability to speak Chinese. Standard Mandarin, also known as Standard Spoken Chinese to be exact.
"As Thomas Friedman outlined in his seminal work, "The World is
Flat," technology has leveled the international playing field into one
where the weakest fall by the wayside and only the brave, bold, and
adaptable will survive.
Scary, huh? Until U.S. schools get their act together, it will be up
to parents to ensure that their kids obtain the tools necessary to
compete.
Fret not, moms and dads, you don't necessarily need to have
these skills yourselves to help your children obtain them. Fortunately,
we are living in an age where if you can't do something yourself, help
is only a mouse click away.
So what's the first step for children with dreams of conquering the world?"
Why Chinese?
According to Goldman Sachs, by 2050 China is poised to be the leading global economy, passing the U.S., Japan, India and the European Union. Sounds like it's time to get those Gen Y kids speaking Chinese.
I am pleased to announce that the book chapter that I co-authored with Dr. Mercedes Fisher, "Pedagogical Mashup: Gen Y, Social Media, and Digital Learning Styles," has officially been accepted for publication in the Handbook of Research on New Media Literacy at the K-12 Level: Issues and Challenges, to be published by IGI Global
later this year.
Dr. Fisher and I wish to thank the co-editor of the book, Professor Subramaniam at the National Institute of Education at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, for his hard work and direction during the writing and peer-review process.
In addition, we appreciate all the members of the peer-review committee for their feedback, suggestions and collaboration on this chapter. It's been a wonderful experience to work with members of the international education technology/media community.
According to a recent Harris Interactive-CTIA study, "Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged,
a majority (57%) of teens surveyed
reported that they view their cell phone as the key to their social
life. For teens, a mobile phone is more than just an accessory or
communication device, it also "tells the most about a person’s social status or popularity,
outranking jewelry, watches and shoes."
The study was conducted online in July 2008 among a nationally
representative sample of 2,089 teenagers (age 13-19) across the US who
have cell phones.
More than 100 questions were asked on mobile phone
usage, attitudes, behaviors, and teens’ desires and aspirations for the
future of mobile communications, entertainment, and other features.
Other key findings from the Harris Interactive-CTIA study:
Four out of every five teens (17 million) carrying a wireless
device (a 40% increase since 2004), and 42% of surveyed teens said they can text blindfolded;
57% credit mobility for improving their quality of life, if texting was no longer an option, 47 % of teens say their social
life would end or be worsened–especially among females (54% compared
to 40% of males);
52% agree the cell phone has become a new form
of entertainment; one-third of teens currently play games on their phone;
80% say their cell phone provides a sense of security while on the
go, confirming that the cell phone has become their mobile safety net
when needing a ride (79%), getting important information (51%), or just
helping out someone in trouble (35%);
Teens carry cell phones to have access to friends, family and current events;
Though only one in five (18%) teens care to pinpoint the location
of their family and friends via their cell phone, 36% hate the idea of
a cell phone feature that allows others to know their exact location.
One of the most interesting findings from this study is how deeply
integrated texting has become in teen life. In fact, teens admitted
spending nearly an equal amount of
time talking as they do texting each month.
"Teens have created a new form of communication. We call it texting, but
in essence it is a reflection of how teens want to communicate to match their
lifestyles. It is all about multitasking, speed, privacy and control," said
Joseph Porus, Vice President & Chief Architect, Technology Group, Harris
Interactive. "Teens in this study are crying for personalization and
control of exactly what a wireless device or plan can do for them."
Moreover, teens say texting has advantages over talking because it offers more
options, including multitasking, speed, the option to avoid verbal
communication, and because it is fun - in that order, according to the
study.
Looking forward, the survey found that teens "ideal future mobile device would
feature five applications – phone, MP3 player, GPS, laptop computer and video
player." The mobile boom trend is being driven by teens and their seamless adoption of and expectation to have "on-demand" access to friends, family, information and entertainment.
The education community should also take note that 66% of those surveyed said they hoped that mobile devices would "present opportunities to be educated anywhere in the world." This data should serve as a call to educators to start investigating ways to provide students with mobile virtual learning environments (mVLE) to facilitate self-directed learning opportunities.
I recently read two interesting articles that delve into the complex and nuanced world of Middle Eastern youth culture. One of the key thoughts was that Western companies that want to move into this specialized niche need to ditch both their traditional marketing models and preconceived regional notions.
"Examination of the discourses surrounding video clips likewise demonstrates the importance of avoiding simplistic stereotypes when it comes to youth culture and consumption.
While many local
observers condemn the clips as corrupting, and Western observers often view them as sticking it to the man (through depictions of liberated sexuality), Armbrust shows that the reality is much more complicated.
The video flow includes not only the celebrated (and maligned) gyrations of sexpots Haifa Wehbe and Elissa, but also the “family values” clips of ‘Ali Gawhar and clips of the massively popular Sami Yusuf, which use “pop” conventions to articulate messages of Islamic piety and devotion [Middle East Report]."
Here's a snapshot of youth living in the Middle East:
Figures from the World Bank cite that 30 % of the Middle East population are between the ages of 15 and 19;
In Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy, the under-30 figure is more than 50%;
Record-high oil prices mean the region is flush with funds and teens, especially in affluent Gulf countries, are ready to participate in the consumer culture;
A 2005 study found that in Iran, 25% of the population was between 14 & 25;
Young people under 25 prefer brands that talk to them in a conversational or interactive way, rather than bombard them with messages;
In Turkey, for instance, today’s youth are regarded as shallow, individualistic, driven by crass desires for consumption, apolitical and insufficiently nationalist;
Like their U.S. peers, Middle Eastern youth are voracious consumers of online video;
As the region becomes more affluent, Middle Eastern youth are in the process of moving (much like U.S. youth did during the post WWII era) from being perceived as "youth as trouble" to "youth as fun."
As the Middle East continues to experience prosperity, political stability and easier access with the "flat world", teens will be more and more compelled to both push the boundaries of tradition, explore new forms of creative expression and want to participate in consumer culture.
This trend will provide marketers with both great opportunities and potential pitfalls. Strategies that work for Western t/weens, won't necessarily resonate with t/weens in the Middle East. The key is to understand the underlying current and unique culture of any Gulf state where you wish to do business.
What works in Dubai, won't necessarily work in Lebanon.
The Seven Steps to a Flat Classroom workshop was created by Vicki Davis, recognized Web
2.0 expert and creator of the Cool Cat Teacher blog, for Atomic Learning.
In the Seven Steps to a Flat Classroom workshop, Davis herself utilizes Atomic Learning’s short, show-and-tell video tutorials to guide users through flattening their classroom by expanding it to include global communities and collaboration tools.
CNET News' Ina Fried traveled to Campinas, Brazil, to explore the Bradesco Foundation school, home to one of Latin America's largest one-to-one computing projects.
In this interview Dave Stewart, one of the creative forces behind the The Eurythmics, talks about how web-based technology has allowed him to unleash his creativity, collaborate with colleagues around the world and how this technology is going to level the playing field in the music industry. Related Resources
I'm pleased to welcome Samantha Murphy, founder of The Highway Girl, as the first guest post here on Barking Robot. If you have an idea for a guest post, send me an email.
My show, The Highway Girl, is a traveling music show that's been running for over three years. Past guests have included Cary Brothers, Elvis Perkins, Inara George of Bird & the Bee, Mike Schmid, Teitur and Harvey
Danger.
The Highway Girl has over a million subscribers. The show explores the convergence of music and technology, as well as the life of the artist. Samples of the show may be found at http://www.smtvmusic.com/or directly on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/ytkdac
Students, Digital Downloads & Copyright
In the digital age, we're both hopeful and uncertain about how we will transform the music industry. How can we evolve as artists and become more open with what we create? I believe we can do that as we begin to trust that it's you, the people, who will support us not the industry.
It is the people, like your students, who buy our albums (and downloads) that keep us going. It is you, the person who has taken the time to find this great music, who matters most. You are the one who will keep great music alive by deciding who you will support. You have an opportunity to use your voice when you find music you love enough to pay for it.
As an artist who has spent a lot of time speaking at universities and conferences, it's clear to me that students need to be informed on the critical issues facing artists in today's ever changing climate. They also need a trusted source where they can discover great artists and music they will gladly support.
I believe that students want to support the artists and music they love. In the digital age, how do students find those artists when there are no trusted filters in place yet? The logical answer is to sample an artist's
music before you dive in. The Highway Girl not only welcomes, but encourages students to sample the music of the artists we feature, while supporting their work in a variety of other ways.
The Highway Girl: 2009 College Tour
In an effort to help educate students, The Highway Girl is organizing a special college tour this spring and would love to include your college or university on our tour. We envision scheduling a 60-90 minute session for music, media and technology students.
The sessions will encompass a one on one artist interview between myself and a local singer songwriter, a short acoustic performance followed by a Q & A on digital music and copyright with the students. We're aiming to have an audience of 150-200 students in university auditoriums.
The Highway Girl Tour is supported by organizations like Digital Freedom, Creative Commons and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. To include your university on our itinerary, send us an email at sm (at) thehighwaygirl (dot) com and we will gladly respond with further information.
The BBC New blog, dot. life, Rory Cellan-Jones has written a fascinating post investigating "how children used – and abused - mobile phones and they were knowledgeable, articulate and very demanding of the technology."
Among the findings:
4 out of 5 students had mobile devices with video, camera and music capabilities;
Students also said that the Internet, multimedia, music and
Bluetooth were all features they expect to have on their mobile device;
Out of the 480 students who responded to the poll, only 3 didn't own a mobile phone.
I feel that this BBC story is a good representation of how tweens and
teens are rapidly moving away from the PC-based Internet and rapidly adopting the mobile web. This trend will have huge implications throughout society and most especially in the education space.
Last summer, as part of my work on the Yahoo! Youth and Education Initiative, I conducted teacher workshops across the country. During the workshops I heard many teachers share both concern and misgivings about students using their mobile phones in the classroom.
Many of the teachers in our workshops where surprised to learn that you could, in fact, access the web via a mobile device. Other teachers shared stories of how students simply by-passed content
blocked on school computers, instead opting to use their mobile phones
to connect to the web and get the content they wanted on-demand.
The debate on whether students should or shouldn't have mobile phones in the classroom is becoming a moot point. The phones are already in the classroom, and as Cellen-Jones points out:
"The children of the mobile internet generation are getting used to
being connected – to their music, their videos, their social networking
sites – wherever they go. And that means we are all going to have to
think hard about how we rewrite the rules."
The use of mobile technologies is growing, especially among the younger generations, and represents the next frontier in learning.
Increasingly we will continue to see academic and corporate organizations research
invest, design and launch new mobile applications, many of which can be
used in a learning context.
While educators and parents might be a bit nervous to embrace this trend, the reality is that Gen Yhave already embraced the mobile web and now it's up to us to figure out how to use this technology in an educational setting to keep them interested and engaged in the learning process.
Ever wonder exactly what all those wired teens are doing online?
A new study conducted by Norton Online Living Report found that kids spend nearly 20 hours a week online. This might come as a shock to parents who guessed that their kids spend about 2 hours a week online.
The Norton Online Living Report survey was conducted online within
eight countries (US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Brazil, China, and
Japan) by Symantec.
So what are teens doing online? Here are some other interesting facts from the Norton Study:
Making friends. About a third (35 percent) of US
online children age 8-17 have made friends online. That percentage
increases as kids get older: 50 percent of US teens age 13-17 report
making online friends. Some 33 percent of kids 8-17 report that they
prefer to spend at least as much time with their online friends as
their offline friends.
Social-networking. More than three fourths (76
percent) of US teens age 13-17 "constantly," "frequently" or
"sometimes" visit social-networking sites. Worldwide, about half of
boys (51 percent) and girls (48 percent) do so.
Shopping. About one in three US children (35
percent) report being "very confident" or "confident" in shopping
online. That number is 69 percent among children in China.
Fielding requests for personal information. About four in 10 (42 percent) US teens age 13-17 say they have received an online request for personal information.
Being approached by strangers. Though US adults
estimate that 6 percent of their children have been approached online
by a stranger, 16 percent of US children report being approached.
One of the most surprising bits of research from this study was that 41% of U.S. teens ages 13-17 years old stated that their parent have no idea what they are doing online. Clearly, when it comes to social computing, there is a generational disconnect between parents and teens.
And while the dangers of social networks and digital life may be overstated, there is still a need for parents to be actively engaged and aware of what their children are doing online.
