Web Credibility

I like BJ Fogg. I like what he does. It just makes sense. He is doing research in Web Credibility over at Stanford. His goal is to understand what leads people to believe what they find on the Web.

As part of this ongoing project he is:

- Performing quantitative research on Web credibility.
- Collecting all public information on Web credibility.
- Acting as a clearinghouse for this information.
- Facilitating research and discussion about Web credibility.
- And finally, helping designers create credible Web sites.

I have been involved in this business for 12 years now and all I can say is, 'It's about time someone started to take this seriously!'

The healthcare industry doesn't take this seriously and, if anyone should take this serious, they should. Health information can save lives but to these guys, it's all about the website - check off the project, job well done, bonus.

As Gerry McGovern says, 'It's all about the content.' Gerry's insight into quality web content has become a standard by which we will be building our next generation web presence. Believe it. I do.

Gerry and BJ are a new breed of researchers that see the web as an information channel. One that differs from the other traditional channels. One that can integrate offline and online to impact individuals all along their decision making pathway. In the end, what are we trying to do? What do we want our readers to do? Modify behavior, right? Impacting individuals to positively change their behavior. Right? Let me know.

JDG

Technology? Cute ... but wrong! Adoption is what it's all about

Technology, technology, technology ... everyone is talking about technology but not many are discussing the effects of technology. That's where the power is. It's called innovation and as Michael Schrage stated in his last column for Technology Review, "...innovation isn’t what innovators do; it’s what customers, clients, and people adopt."

Innovation isn’t about crafting brilliant ideas that change minds; it’s about the distribution of usable artifacts that change behavior. Innovators—their optimistic arrogance notwithstanding—don’t change the world; the users of their innovations do. That’s not a subtle distinction.

The Big Lie of the Information Age is that “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” What nonsense. In reality, nothing in this world is more powerful than an innovation that has diffused to the point where it enjoys both global reach and global impact. Ready access to ideas promotes awareness, but ready access to innovation promotes empowerment and opportunity.

The accelerating spread of innovation ultimately amounts to the greatest revolution in choice the world has ever known. The diffusion of innovation is about the diffusion of choice—both good and bad. The more choices you have, the more your values matter.

Where is the Archive?

Yea, yea, yea .... Unfortunately, while changing blog services, I have temporarily misplaced the posts from June 2004 to April 2005. They will be published soon ... I hope ....

But this is another example of how the lack of standards just don't make sense. Medicine, electric plugs, email address books, RSS feeds ... C'mon! I am a believer in the economic model that allows freedom of choice and perceived differentiation but some things just don't make sense.