Scott Berry

Intel/Yahoo Joint Venture: Widgets and Idjits

That word above should read "modalities".

And I'd add that the more transparent this is made to users, the wider the adoption will be. People don't want to have to figure this stuff out. Widgets is a good step, 'bots would ultimately be better. But getting that right is VERY tough.

Intel/Yahoo Joint Venture: Widgets and Idjits

@tillman, thanks for your comments.

The key word, I think, is niche. Frankly, I'd use the Widget Channel myself (at least if watching alone), but then I'm also an early adopter and so perhaps not typical.

Of course, there are some who would really like a thin client for the kitchen, a picturephone, or even a touchscreen PC on the refrigerator.

If I had to guess, there will be many such small niche initiatives/chips/moda... that employ the internet to simplify lives, most of which won't appeal to many people, though in total they'll amount to something. I don't see a "big win" yet, however.

Intel/Yahoo Joint Venture: Widgets and Idjits

I assume we're hearing from Intel's marketing department, here?

I'm not confusing Widget TV with a browser, nor am I underestimating the value of much of the functionality. I'm simply questioning whether most consumers really want to do this type of stuff while they're watching TV.

Intel/Yahoo Joint Venture: Widgets and Idjits

So do I, at least when I don't feel like a (couch) potato.

Internet Content in Crisis: Are We Becoming Mental Grasshoppers?

Couldn't resist here. Individual people don't "evolve" to cope with anything, at least not in a Darwinian sense. But the misconception that we do is exactly the kind of thing an absence of deep thinking and rigorous evaluation can lead to.

I disagree with much of the "google..stupid" article. If people are losing their ability to concentrate and focus because of information snacking, then go read a few books instead. It'll come back, just as exercise and diet will overcome a habit of poor nutritional snacking.

It's clearly a change in the way (much) of the world operates. The key is to understand the new environment, and adapt to how *other* people are changing.

Is Microsoft Screening Its Search Results?

Hmm. If you switched to FIOS TV, and somebody pointed out to you that there were channels and programs that weren't being delivered--perhaps even a major network--how long do you think it would be before you changed provider to satellite or cable?

If in fact MSFT is filtering, they're shooting themselves in the foot for sure. By default they are not returning the best search results, and after all people us a search engine to get results, not ads.