Mobile Search Packs ‘Em In; Mobile Advertising Keeps ‘Em Coming Back For More
There’s never been more interest in Msearchgroove, and the number of cool companies lining up for briefings, podcasts and general get-to-know-you sessions blows me away. Please keep the pitches coming – and keep in mind that I contribute regularly to a wide variety of sites and pubs in the content space (ranging from New Media Age and Mobile Entertainment in the U.K. to eContent and – most recently – FierceMobileContent in the U.S.). On top of that, I have white papers and reports in the works, so I am always eager to hear from companies in the markets I cover.
I’m leaving today for Singapore, where I will speak about mobile search. More important, I’ll have the opportunity to listen to a stellar line-up of speakers. I’ll recount the highlights here and in some articles I’ve agreed to contribute to Mobile Media, an Informa newsletter. I’m especially excited about the prospect of meeting Gary Marsden, an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Cape Town. Gary spends most of his time “trying to design technology” and the rest of it convincing us we need to abandon the PC paradigm if we intend to build mobile devices and services for the next billion.
His observation sticks with me like a song you can’t get out of your head. It’s dead simple, which makes it all the more valuable. “During my first piece of interaction design research at my new post with the University of Cape Town, a colleague instructed a user to “Click on the button.” “What button?” replied the user. “That button,” said my colleague, pointing to it with her finger. “But, that is not a button,” protested the user, “That is a picture of a button.” Of course he was correct, and my view of the world has never been the same since.”
I’ll circle back with his insights and more when I return from my trip. I’ve been requested by several other organizations – including Mobile Monday, Marcus Evans and the Korea Culture & Content Agency for South Korea – to speak on mobile search and mobile advertising over the next weeks. I’ll keep you posted of the dates and details, and faithfully record the “wow” moments here.
