“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday just after 8 AM and 5 PM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of September 28, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Facebook and Work
Facebook
has become such a routine part of many our lives that it may be hard
to remember when you couldn’t keep up to date with friends and
acquaintances all over the world. I am a devoted user. With it I
have been able to re-connect with friends from my early teens, and
finally get to know a cousin who grew up thirty years after I did,
half way across the continent from me. All of that is possible
because of Facebook. Sure, it comes with plenty of downside too. One
of the primary advantages is that you can deny access to anyone if
you so choose. But what happens when we do just that.
has become such a routine part of many our lives that it may be hard
to remember when you couldn’t keep up to date with friends and
acquaintances all over the world. I am a devoted user. With it I
have been able to re-connect with friends from my early teens, and
finally get to know a cousin who grew up thirty years after I did,
half way across the continent from me. All of that is possible
because of Facebook. Sure, it comes with plenty of downside too. One
of the primary advantages is that you can deny access to anyone if
you so choose. But what happens when we do just that.
What
brings all this to mind was a story from Australia that involves
Facebook and an employer. A real estate agent there had been had
been having problems with her boss. More specifically with the
boss’s wife, who was the sales administrator for the agency. Seems
that the agent noticed that she was getting the short end of the
stick. Her properties weren’t given the kind of profile that the
other agents received. She wasn’t getting all the information
printouts they were, and she was being repeatedly scolded. Of
course, that at least meant the boss’s wife was speaking to her.
That same lady refused to say “Good morning” to her.
brings all this to mind was a story from Australia that involves
Facebook and an employer. A real estate agent there had been had
been having problems with her boss. More specifically with the
boss’s wife, who was the sales administrator for the agency. Seems
that the agent noticed that she was getting the short end of the
stick. Her properties weren’t given the kind of profile that the
other agents received. She wasn’t getting all the information
printouts they were, and she was being repeatedly scolded. Of
course, that at least meant the boss’s wife was speaking to her.
That same lady refused to say “Good morning” to her.
Finally,
the agent took it the Australian Fair Work Commission. After filing
her complaint, a staff meeting was called where the boss lady began
to berate the agent in front of the rest of the staff. When the
agent tried to leave the crazy boss person physically blocked the
door. Finally escaping the meeting, the agent went out to her car
and cried.
the agent took it the Australian Fair Work Commission. After filing
her complaint, a staff meeting was called where the boss lady began
to berate the agent in front of the rest of the staff. When the
agent tried to leave the crazy boss person physically blocked the
door. Finally escaping the meeting, the agent went out to her car
and cried.
It’s
at this point that Facebook finally enters the story (you were
wondering, weren’t you?). The agent checked her Facebook app to see
if the boss lady had made a comment, only to discover that she had in
fact unfriended her! This just minutes after the confrontation.
at this point that Facebook finally enters the story (you were
wondering, weren’t you?). The agent checked her Facebook app to see
if the boss lady had made a comment, only to discover that she had in
fact unfriended her! This just minutes after the confrontation.
The
Fair Works Commission eventually handed down a decision in favor of
the agent, calling the boss lady “emotionally immature”.
Fair Works Commission eventually handed down a decision in favor of
the agent, calling the boss lady “emotionally immature”.
It’s
an interesting problem of dealing with our employer, or employees, on
social media. The whole issue of our employers having access to
those forums is one that is bubbling mostly under the surface right
now. But thirty some bills have been introduced in in twenty two
states that would allow employers to require employees to “friend”
them on Facebook or similar social media. While more and more laws
are being passed to protect your password and private communications,
there is a push to require giving access as part of your employment.
Arkansas nearly passed such a law earlier this year.
an interesting problem of dealing with our employer, or employees, on
social media. The whole issue of our employers having access to
those forums is one that is bubbling mostly under the surface right
now. But thirty some bills have been introduced in in twenty two
states that would allow employers to require employees to “friend”
them on Facebook or similar social media. While more and more laws
are being passed to protect your password and private communications,
there is a push to require giving access as part of your employment.
Arkansas nearly passed such a law earlier this year.
Any
good employer/employee relationship comes with clearly defined
boundaries. Where those boundaries are on social media are still
being defined.
good employer/employee relationship comes with clearly defined
boundaries. Where those boundaries are on social media are still
being defined.
Common Language
One
of the unique things about the Internet is how it has turned a varied
media landscape into one continuous spectrum. Not that long ago if
you wanted to read a book or get the news you would have been largely
stuck in print. To see a movie you had to go to a theater or, later
on, you had to have a disc player and a TV. Television shows
required televisions. Now, as long as you can connect you can do any
of that, anywhere, at pretty much any time. We tend not to think
about that. In reality, that is a major shift of the media
landscape.
of the unique things about the Internet is how it has turned a varied
media landscape into one continuous spectrum. Not that long ago if
you wanted to read a book or get the news you would have been largely
stuck in print. To see a movie you had to go to a theater or, later
on, you had to have a disc player and a TV. Television shows
required televisions. Now, as long as you can connect you can do any
of that, anywhere, at pretty much any time. We tend not to think
about that. In reality, that is a major shift of the media
landscape.
That’s
not all the Internet has changed. It’s also a major commercial
media. While Amazon and its competitors seem to have the basic
“store replacement” model down pretty well, the service industry
part of the Internet still has some bumps.
not all the Internet has changed. It’s also a major commercial
media. While Amazon and its competitors seem to have the basic
“store replacement” model down pretty well, the service industry
part of the Internet still has some bumps.
I
say this from personal experience. Recently an organization I work
with needed to update their image. The decision was to replace our
logo. We started discussed hiring a graphic artist but it became
obvious that we didn’t have the budget for it (this is a very small
organization). At that point I suggested using one of the many
marketplaces out there for independent artists of all types. This
isn’t about plugging a service so I’m going to skip naming names.
But it’s well known for it’s low standard fee.
say this from personal experience. Recently an organization I work
with needed to update their image. The decision was to replace our
logo. We started discussed hiring a graphic artist but it became
obvious that we didn’t have the budget for it (this is a very small
organization). At that point I suggested using one of the many
marketplaces out there for independent artists of all types. This
isn’t about plugging a service so I’m going to skip naming names.
But it’s well known for it’s low standard fee.
Since
it was my idea I got to follow up. I went to the site and picked out
the project type, logos. We wanted to look at several concepts, so
we selected three artists. Each got the same project details and,
after paying the artists, we quickly eliminated two of the designs.
The third was almost, but not quite, perfect. The changes were
simple and I thought we’d be done quickly.
it was my idea I got to follow up. I went to the site and picked out
the project type, logos. We wanted to look at several concepts, so
we selected three artists. Each got the same project details and,
after paying the artists, we quickly eliminated two of the designs.
The third was almost, but not quite, perfect. The changes were
simple and I thought we’d be done quickly.
Here’s
where the incredible reach of the Internet creates a problem. My
selected artist was in Sr Lanka. While he spoke English we were
basically on opposite sides of the world. In more ways than one it
turned out. What I thought were clear instructions clearly puzzled
him. He kept trying but with each variation the design got worse
from my point of view. I quickly realized that, to paraphrase George
Bernard Shaw, we were two people separated by a common language.
Much to our mutual frustration a three day “gig” ran to almost
two weeks. In the end we took his work, paid him for it and made the
basic changes ourselves. For just over $25 we got to look at three
concepts and got a design that we liked.
where the incredible reach of the Internet creates a problem. My
selected artist was in Sr Lanka. While he spoke English we were
basically on opposite sides of the world. In more ways than one it
turned out. What I thought were clear instructions clearly puzzled
him. He kept trying but with each variation the design got worse
from my point of view. I quickly realized that, to paraphrase George
Bernard Shaw, we were two people separated by a common language.
Much to our mutual frustration a three day “gig” ran to almost
two weeks. In the end we took his work, paid him for it and made the
basic changes ourselves. For just over $25 we got to look at three
concepts and got a design that we liked.
The
service media portion of the Internet reminds us that a common
language is not always a common understanding. So just imagine how
complicated things can get if you don’t even share that much.
service media portion of the Internet reminds us that a common
language is not always a common understanding. So just imagine how
complicated things can get if you don’t even share that much.
The Internet of Things
If
you haven’t yet heard of the Internet of Things, sometimes shortened
to “IoT”, you will be hearing more soon. The idea is that
everyday items can be built with Internet connectivity built into
them so that they can send and receive data. It’s not a new concept
either. The first internet connected toaster debuted in 1989.
you haven’t yet heard of the Internet of Things, sometimes shortened
to “IoT”, you will be hearing more soon. The idea is that
everyday items can be built with Internet connectivity built into
them so that they can send and receive data. It’s not a new concept
either. The first internet connected toaster debuted in 1989.
What
might that really look like? That’s a topic of some discussion at
the moment. In simplest terms it could mean this – your alarm
clock and coffee maker become part of the IoT. They are connected to
your calendar online and can see that while on Monday you have an
eight AM meeting, on Wednesday you are on vacation and don’t need to
have an alarm set. The devices can then make the appropriate
adjustments so that you wake up to freshly made coffee precisely when
you want to do so. Your refrigerator could keep track of how much
milk you have and whether it’s past it’s use by date. The thermostat
in your house could check on the GPS location of your families phones
to determine when everyone is out of the house to turn the heat down.
Or begin to turn it up as those locations get within a set distance
from the house at a set time.
might that really look like? That’s a topic of some discussion at
the moment. In simplest terms it could mean this – your alarm
clock and coffee maker become part of the IoT. They are connected to
your calendar online and can see that while on Monday you have an
eight AM meeting, on Wednesday you are on vacation and don’t need to
have an alarm set. The devices can then make the appropriate
adjustments so that you wake up to freshly made coffee precisely when
you want to do so. Your refrigerator could keep track of how much
milk you have and whether it’s past it’s use by date. The thermostat
in your house could check on the GPS location of your families phones
to determine when everyone is out of the house to turn the heat down.
Or begin to turn it up as those locations get within a set distance
from the house at a set time.
As
with everything it has an upside and a downside. It also creates a
potential gold mine of data for business. For all the convenience
of having your world adapt to your specific needs, you will also have
to live with an ever growing sense that “Big Brother” is watching
everything you do.
with everything it has an upside and a downside. It also creates a
potential gold mine of data for business. For all the convenience
of having your world adapt to your specific needs, you will also have
to live with an ever growing sense that “Big Brother” is watching
everything you do.
With
all of that said, I am amused by this story. Before I begin let me
say that I have never tried, and am not endorsing the use of this
product. But I am both fascinated and a little puzzled by the fact
that the folks at Johnny Walker Blue Label Scotch have decided to
make their bottles part of the Internet of Things.
all of that said, I am amused by this story. Before I begin let me
say that I have never tried, and am not endorsing the use of this
product. But I am both fascinated and a little puzzled by the fact
that the folks at Johnny Walker Blue Label Scotch have decided to
make their bottles part of the Internet of Things.
Once
you buy your bottle, you scan it with your smartphone. Now the
bottle is connected to you and can begin a “conversation”. Yes,
that’s the term being used. The social media folks with the Blue
Label brand can talk to you via Twitter about recipes for using the
product, new campaigns like their hashtag I’m Not Drinking one or any
new promotional ideas they may be offering. Given that the Blue
Label product is fairly high end (close to $200 per bottle), I will
assume that they will work very hard not to annoy you. I’m just not
certain I’m comfortable with the idea of chatting with my scotch
bottle.
you buy your bottle, you scan it with your smartphone. Now the
bottle is connected to you and can begin a “conversation”. Yes,
that’s the term being used. The social media folks with the Blue
Label brand can talk to you via Twitter about recipes for using the
product, new campaigns like their hashtag I’m Not Drinking one or any
new promotional ideas they may be offering. Given that the Blue
Label product is fairly high end (close to $200 per bottle), I will
assume that they will work very hard not to annoy you. I’m just not
certain I’m comfortable with the idea of chatting with my scotch
bottle.
Now
here’s a concept that might be even more disturbing. The Internet of
Things is only the first step. The first step to the Internet of
Everything. Let that soak in for a minute.
here’s a concept that might be even more disturbing. The Internet of
Things is only the first step. The first step to the Internet of
Everything. Let that soak in for a minute.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Stories Are My Life 
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