Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

Noah Brier — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 05:44:43 GMT

My point was not that everyone doesn't need ways to better spend their attention, rather it was that there's not the same self-awareness to how attention is spent. Sure everyone can use a way to better focus their time, but unless you realize that you're not spending your time as effectively as possible are you apt to give it a shot?

Most anyone would be interested if you told them you could give them a tool that would automatically point them to things they might find interesting. Turning that interest into action, however, I expect might be a little more difficult.

Just my thoughts. I do think there's a place for this attention data, I'm just trying to work through to find the real opportunity like the rest of us.

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

anonymous — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 06:40:15 GMT

It is only a problem for people who need problems so they have something to talk about and focus their time on.

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

alexbarn — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 07:04:05 GMT

'anon' - the troll hole is two doors down the corridor and first left. Go down the stairs, turn second right and there will be a big neon light flashing with a big red arrow pointing downwards. The sign reads: "Brave". Go under it and stay there.

Publishing 2.0 » Bubble 2.0 Is a Bubble in Media

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re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

Paul Dundon — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:01:04 GMT

I think there are two different "attention management" problems which merge in the geekosphere - managing attention as a psychological resource and managing attention as an asset in exchange for content. There's a bit more at http://paulstechnicalities.blogspot.com/2006/01/alex-barnett-blog-attention-engines.html

http://bokardo.com/archives/on-attention-problems/

TrackBack — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 23:17:04 GMT

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

TechTrader — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 23:38:11 GMT

Why does this conversation assume a "one-size-fits-all" solution? The answer to this discussion is that you're discussing different demographics which will require their own solutions. Of course the blogger geeks need RSS feed readers. Will the masses this year? Nope. Next year? Probably not. But you can use the same principles packaged in different ways: put "RSS functionality" on TiVo so that users can watch Internet videos based upon keywords that they designate. I could see that getting serious traction in the larger market. Or this idea: Have the NYT create its front page based upon user requests/needs/interests/clickstream. You know, a nice MyYahoo. They could make a printable version each morning for people to take on the train with them. (Do people even take trains anymore? Does Amtrak even exist? Kidding. Sort of.)
Or even better, create an overlay for bloglines or tech.memeorandum.com or del.icio.us that formats the results like NYTimes.com. That will make it more accessible beyond the techies.
So, as I ramble on, I realize that the answer to this issue is probably within the domain of "mass customization". True, the general public isn't very introspective and may not explicitly realize their needs. But a profitable business that leverages the new technologies to "mass customize" the media (which is what blog aggregators do, if you think about it), will likely find willing buyers in the mass market. Just a tip tho: I wouldn't call it RSS - it'll scare'em. I'd market it as the world's first customizable newspaper/magazine (news from your local, pick your front-age sports, pick the industry and stocks you want in the business section and op-eds from left, right or botswana) and we'll make it look like the newspaper format you've always known and loved.

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

David Swedlow — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 01:53:57 GMT

I think you're onto something mentioning TIVO, but not just for watching net videos. Think back three years, if you asked anyone if they would want a DVR, they would have asked what the benefit was over a VCR. "So, I can record stuff and watch it later, big deal." It never occured to the user base just how much a device would change their viewing habits until someone actually gave them an interface that allowed them to take control.

Give people just a wee taste of real control over their data-flow, and then, my friend, step back from the tracks, 'cause that train is coming into the station!

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

Danny — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 12:46:56 GMT

I reckon you're generally right here.

Sure, the geeks may be the first to hit the attention problem. But next there are "knowledge workers", and after them, everyone everyone else. Ploughing through irrelevant information is a waste of time, what's more it's no fun. What is relevant to a particular individual will vary widely (how a company is doing on the market, favourite cartoons). Put this way *everyone* is an edge case. Getting at that in a huge data source like the web (with media extensions) requires person-oriented technology, and that means attention. (The TIVO example is good, yep).

Attention info is a valuable asset to the individual, and as it's machine-codable, potentially of value to any data/content provider. I expect the first commercial applications will be oriented towards advertising and market research, but that's just the thin end of the wedge. After all, money is just another datatype in the information economy ;-)

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

Chris - Touchstone Gadget — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:44:40 GMT

Alex you know I love your posts - here is a manual trackback because I just had to post about this one on our little blog!

http://www.touchstonegadget.com/blog/2006/02/why-do-we-bother-to-maintain-blog.html

Keep up the great work!

re: Attention engines not just for the geekosphere

Matt Baldwin — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 08:00:14 GMT

Alex, I pitched the same concept to my wife and she liked the idea of an attention search engine, but she also brought up that there are times where she strays away from what her attention is historically focused on and would like a method to peer beyond her attention. Alas, she finds the celeb news intriguing as well. ;)

-matt

Attention Podcast with Steve Gillmor

alexbarnett.net blog — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:36:48 GMT

When Joshua Porter and I started our non-formal podcasting efforts a while ago, we made list of the people

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