Does Your Mother Know What You Just Said?

Yesterday (2/24/11), I watched the Space Shuttle Discovery launch on its final mission. For me, it was a bit personal as I had the pleasure of interviewing Discovery crew member Nicole Stott during her previous mission to the International Space Station in 2009; a very cool experience.

As I watched the launch, I was also following the stream of tweets flowing in on Twitter as those of us in the Twitter-sphere shared the experience together. During ascent to orbit, I saw a piece of debris strike Discovery’s delicate heat shield (a similar strike is what doomed the space shuttle Columbia in 2003). Stunned by what I saw, I immediately tweeted about it on my personal Twitter Account to see if anyone else had witnessed the event (scroll to the bottom of this post to see the video. The strike occurs at approximately 5:20).

Even after eight years, the loss of Columbia is a painful memory among space flight enthusiasts, not to mention those at NASA. We don’t like the inevitable jokes about NASA’s failures, especially when brave people lose their lives. From my perspective, I was asking a serious question about something that I felt was important. Unfortunately, someone misinterpreted what I said.

Chris Kernaghan (@BoobBoo on Twitter) was reading his Twitter feed at the time of the launch. He saw my tweet, thought I was joking, and wasted no time letting me know what he thought of me (see highlighted tweet in screenshot).

Herein lies the lesson; while I can control what I say, I cannot control how others interpret what I say, and it’s that interpretation that often gets people in trouble as they use social media. The ironic thing was that I had this in mind when I wrote my tweet. I even tried to qualify my question by adding that I “saw it on the ET camera” in the expectation that people would understand I was being serious. As you can see from the screenshot, most people did, but not everyone.

After convincing Chris that I was serious, he apologized (unnecessary, but appreciated) and was even gracious enough to allow me to use him as an example in this post (thanks, Chris!). However, this situation begs broader questions, such as…

• How far should I go to make sure people clearly understand what my intent is?
• How carefully should I choose my words online?
• Do I have a right to challenge someone who misinterprets what I say?
• Should I challenge someone who misinterprets what I say (as in, am I drawing attention to the issue)?
• Where do I draw the line when participating in public conversations (as in, how paranoid should I be)?

Certainly, these questions could go on Ad infinitum. Perhaps it’s enough that I am cautious when I participate in online conversations. Perhaps it’s not. Perhaps we need a new set of tools to let people know when what we’re saying actually has other meanings (such as the recommendation to add a symbol for sarcasm to the keyboard).

When online, I follow the rule to never say anything that I wouldn’t want my mother to read. What do you think? Please leave a comment and let us know.

The strike occurs at about 5:50.

11 Things iPad 2 needs for 2011

Sometimes it seems that the only thing the Internet loves more than a good rumor is rumors about rumors. This is something that Apple products almost seem to be made for these days. Indeed, as rumors swirl about what Apple’s iPad 2 will and won’t have, when the release date will or won’t be and even that there may soon be both an iPad 2.5 and iPad 3, I thought it would be more fun to take a look at some key features that the iPad 2 needs for 2011.

1. A Kickstand

Propping up an iPad to get just the right angle is a real pain. While many iPad cases offer some mechanism to support the device, you’re usually forced to keep it in a case for it to work; not something that people who like to show off the iPad want to do. Rumors that Apple has submitted a patent for a kickstand recently surfaced, but there’s no conclusive proof that one is being developed.

2. Built-in Stylus

Let’s be honest, the iPad is an amazingly useful tool, but it stinks for precision work. Fingers are just too blunt and the stylus’ on the market (I’ve tried several of them) all suffer from the same limitations; they’re designed to press buttons, not glide smoothly across the screen. Even the HTC Capacitive Stylus, which is otherwise very good, requires the user to hold it at a specific angle and the tip is ridiculously fragile. Rumor has it that Apple designers are working on a stylus, but it better include a storage slot on the iPad so I don’t lose it.

3. Built-in, Dockable Bluetooth Earbuds

The iPad simply rocks as a media device, but those earbud cords constantly get snagged and tangled. The iPad already lets you use a Bluetooth keyboard, so why not extend the favor and offer Bluetooth earbuds? And while you’re at it, make the earbuds dockable so I have someplace to both put them and recharge them at the same time.

4. Flash

For better or worse, Flash is just too ubiquitous across the Internet to be so blatantly dismissed by Apple. With the majority of the websites I visit on a daily basis using Flash, it’s become a major consideration for me to NOT get an iPad 2. And why should I when so many competitor’s tablets can use Flash. Steve Jobs’ arguments against Flash just don’t hold up. Get over it, Steve. You’ll add a $100 Billion to your market cap and drive another stake in the heart of the competition.

5. Mute Button

Apple stoked some controversy when they recently changed the functionality of the Screen Rotation Lock switch on the iPad and made it a Mute Switch. I guess most people didn’t realize that double-clicking the volume control would effectively mute the sound, but now I have two controls right next to each other that do the same thing. How about giving me the option to switch between the two functions instead of burying the rotation lock 3 separate gestures deep (Double-click Home button to reveal the multitask bar. Swipe the multitask bar. Tap the rotation lock icon.)? Rumor has it that Apple will be giving users the option to toggle between the two settings in the upcoming iOS 4.3 release, but we’ll have to wait and see.

6. Wireless Sync and Easier Media Transfer

I don’t know about you, but iTunes has never worked well for me. After installing it on five PCs over the years it’s simply proven itself as one of the most unreliable applications I’ve ever used. Syncing is simply torture and I’ve all but given up on transferring video files. The fact that I’m tied to iTunes to manage both my iPhone and iPad is unacceptable, but I have no real options. What would help is if I could transfer my media via an SD Chip. Of course, I should also be able to sync wirelessly, especially between my iPhone and iPad, but who knows if that will ever happen.

7. Dockable Mouse

As the iPad continues its evolution it’s quickly going to merge, then replace, the notebook computer. However, for that to happen, the iPad is going to need a mouse. Constantly reaching for and touching the screen just isn’t efficient. Add to that the fact that a billion or so people have been using mice for decades and the idea that Apple is trying to change their habits is a little presumptuous; the mouse is just too useful to abandon. Of course, it should also be dockable with the case for storage and recharging, which leads us to…

8. Hard Case with Standard Keyboard

If the iPad is going to be a truly useful productivity and  business tool it needs not just a keyboard, but one built into a sturdy and protective case. One of the first things I wanted when I got my iPad was to get just such a case, but after an exhaustive search I had to settle on the Kensington Keyfolio. While the Keyfolio has a great keyboard, the case itself is ugly, bulky, soft, constantly loses its Bluetooth connection with the iPad, is showing signs of wear and the leather smells. To be sure, there are other options such as Zagg’s Zaggmate, but that product has a critical design flaw (the frame wraps around the keyboard where I want to rest my hands making it painful to use). The closest thing I’ve seen to a “perfect case” is actually Lenovo’s iPad competitor, the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid. Of course, if we’re going to have a case, why not make all of the above mentioned accessories dockable and rechargeable from an internal battery? Oh, and that includes my iPhone. Perhaps I can use it as a track pad.

9. Improved App Switching

I love the ability to switch between apps. However, it’s a cumbersome process requiring users to double-click the Home button to reveal the multitask bar, then swiping to find the app you want to switch to. You would think the process would be easier (perhaps using the mute switch?). I also want to run more apps in the background, but that definitely requires a more robust processor which, rumor has it, is on the way.

10. Camera

OK, a camera is all but a given at this point, but until actually see one on an iPad, it doesn’t exist. Still, imagine what Facetime or video conferencing on the iPad would be like – awesome!

11. Customizable Interface

The current iOS interface is the model of ingenuity. It’s clean and amazingly easy to use, but it’s also starting to show its limitations. For example, search has integrated itself into both our web and general computing experience. Sure, the iPad has search, but you have to press the Home button from the home screen to get there. Apple has already set the precedent for persistent screen features in the form of the springboard which displays apps by default (Mail, Phone, Safari, iPod, etc.). Why not place a Search box permanently below the springboard so it’s always available?

And why stop there? I’d love to have direct access to my bookmarks and change the size of icons so I can fit more apps on my screen. People have been customizing PC interfaces for decades now and while I could jailbreak my iPad to install apps that would allow me to customize the interface, I shouldn’t have to resort to such measures. In all honestly, the more I use my iPad, the more I feel like I’m looking at Windows 3.1.

What do you think about these proposed features? Please let us know in your comments.

Neal Wiser is Vice President of Digital Strategy and Operations at ODM where he leads our teams in the creation and execution of strategic and tactical digital marketing plans. You can follow Neal on Twitter (his handle is @NealWiser) or connect with him on Linkedin.