Innovating in Uncertain Times

Elizabeth Goldstein — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:34:28 +0000

When: Wednesday, July 23rd, 5:30-7:00 pm

Where: 15 West 26th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10010

Who: Learning Worlds, an innovation and communication group, and Accept, makers of innovation software solutions, are bringing together a small group of innovation specialists.

Why: To talk about how to accelerate the pace of innovation in a tight economic climate. We're hoping to have a lively discussion and free exchange of ideas in a friendly atmosphere.

Communications Lab

no help for Fast Company users?

Elizabeth Goldstein — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:10:28 +0000

I have posted many requests for help of any kind on this group, and I have sent email to Fast Company, and I have never received any response. I am shocked at the complete lack of any support for what is supposed to be an electronic community. If anyone sees this at all, please respond, so I can at least know there are people, if not staff, on this site and I'm not just writing in a vacuum.

Site Advisors & Testers

Innovation Round Table

Elizabeth Goldstein — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:50:37 +0000

We've just scheduled a new event on July 16 in New York, Innovating in Uncertain Times. This discussion is the second in a series focused on how the economic downturn can affect the innovation process, and ways to break through the barriers. See the individual event listings for particulars and rsvp information.

Communications Lab

Fast Talk Response -

Elizabeth Goldstein — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:03:58 +0000

Of course some users will be alienated -- they always are -- but I think this redesign will be a good thing. As a habitual Facebook user myself, I already know how to streamline my profile page and get rid of the clutter... but when old friends become newbies on Facebook, they often find the whole thing confusing, and can't figure out where to post a message. I think the changes, particularly if the tab option is implemented, will smooth out the learning curve for new users.

Share your ideas with us

Elizabeth Goldstein — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:55:33 +0000

If you're interested in localization issues, we'd love to hear your ideas at our Media Localization Round Table event in Seattle on June 4. And if you're thinking about how the economic downturn will affect the innovation process, we want you for our Innovating in Uncertain Times event in New York, also on June 4. See the individual event listings for particulars and rsvp information.

Communications Lab

Comment on Node ant

Elizabeth Goldstein — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:39:11 +0000

I agree in general... but it all depends on who your audience is. Some slang is really jargon; according to Merriam-Webster, jargon is "the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group." Or, in meaning #1, "confused unintelligible language" -- depending on who is listening to it. If you work with a group of software developers and can't speak the jargon they're using, you will not fit in or be promoted; you'll be seen as clueless. And every profession has its own jargon.

Comment on Node ant

Elizabeth Goldstein — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:14:30 +0000

Randy -- I like your take on it; the event only appears to be improvisational to those who didn't know it would happen. You're right about it being scripted, but I do think there was still an element of improvisation in it. The performers were given the required outline of what to do, but the details of how they looked, what position they froze in, what props they carried, were all left up to them. I think it's these details that make the overall event seem more real and personal.

The Power of Narrative

Elizabeth Goldstein — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:08:01 +0000

ONCE UPON A TIME there was a pomegranate farmer who couldn't get anyone to buy his fruit, because it was so leathery-skinned and strange-looking, and so difficult to get the tiny seeds out. The farmer knew that pomegranates are even healthier than green tea or red wine, and delicious as well, but when he told his customers they just laughed, and still wouldn't buy the ugly fruit.

Communications Lab

cannot post to personal blog

Elizabeth Goldstein — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:31:44 +0000

I am unable to post anything at all to my personal blog (though I successfully created a group, a blog for that group, and posting to that blog). Whatever I type, today when I submit I get this message:

! blog : This post can't be referenced.

On previous days I got the message that I was suspected of being spam, but when I typed in the "captcha" and clicked submit, I got the above message. Today it just skips that step. Can anyone help?

Site Advisors & Testers

Viral Narrative

Elizabeth Goldstein — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:26:24 +0000

Earlier this year, prankster group Improv Everywhere staged
an event called "Frozen Grand Central," in which the participants
synchronized their watches, and at a prearranged moment they all froze in place
in the middle of Grand Central's Main Concourse, mystifying observers. Exactly
five minutes later, everyone resumed normal motion. In an April 30 sweeps-week episode,
the television show Law & Order: SVU made Robin Williams the leader of a
similar public action group, and restaged the event for use in their own murder

Communications Lab