I Think, Therefore I am Connected
Descartes proclaimed that since we can think, it was proof that we existed. Well today, we exist in a connected world and while wearables seem to be all the rage - at least according to me - soon those hot items might be kicked to the curb with the next hottest thing: Thinkables. You heard, or rather read that right. Thinkable. Just what is a thinkable? Well, it is a wearable (on your head) but it tracks brain activity. Muse is the first consumer-focused headband that reads brain activity and helps you to stop thinking so much. That's right, ahhhh...ummmm...errrr...what was that again? Oh yeah, stop thinking. It is a Bluetooth connected headset that helps you meditate. It also comes with an app called Muse Calm which tracks your Zen like state. It turns meditation into a game and you only need to play it 3 minutes a day. Meditation can help people with anxiety, heart problems, headaches and other ails. Every morning on my walk/run I meditate and chant. Sometimes it is a Buddhist phrase or a Hawaiian chant over and over and over mixed with whatever song is in my head. It certainly does help me clear my brain but also prepare for the day. Without getting all religious or philosophical, but I am able to connect with whatever energy is stirring in the universe. Over the years, many personal roadblocks were suddenly cleared since that 'ah ha!' moment instantly appeared. 'Why didn't I think of that earlier?' I wonder to myself. It came to me since my brain was uncluttered. Einstein said that he didn't want to remember his own phone number since he could look it up (reference it) and he didn't want to clutter his brain with useless information. Have you ever noticed that some of the best ideas come when your brain is wandering or not really focusing on a single task? But back to the Muse. After installing on your head, it'll calibrate with your brain (and the app) and then will tell you to think of a few things. This is to get your brain away from what it is currently doing and light up your frontal lobes. Based on the initial brain readings, it'll then take you through a meditation session. When you brain is starting to slow down and your calm(er) self is focusing on breathing, you'll hear a breeze. The weather you hear reflects the state of your brain and if your mind wanders, the weather will change. If you go deeper into relaxation, then the birds start chirping. The more birds that are singing, the more Zen like you are. The app will also report how much of the time your brain spent in three categories: Active, Neutral and Calm. As far as the game aspect, you earn points for each session and can unlock additional functionality all while understanding the patterns of your brain activity. This, I am sure, is just the initial rush of many brain readers that'll be competing for our attention - or non-attention in the case of Muse. Oh, and a plastic hanger does NOT work as a Thinkable - in case you were thinking that. ps Related: Forget Wearables — Here's the First Real 'Thinkable' Psychic video games Oh, Is That The Internet You're Wearing? The Breach of Things Is IoT Hype For Real? Epoc headset Technorati Tags: iot,things,wearables,thinkables,thinking,meditation,humans,silva,f5 Connect with Peter: Connect with F5:Privacy for a Price
A few weeks ago, I went to my usual haircut place and after the trim at the register I presented my loyalty card. You know the heavy paper ones that either get stamped or hole-punched for each purchase. After a certain number of paid visits, you receive a free haircut. I presented the card, still in the early stages of completion, for validation and the manager said I could convert the partially filled card to their new system. I just had to enter my email address (and some other info) in the little kiosk thingy. I declined saying, 'Ah, no thanks, enough people have my email already and don't need yet another daily digest.' He continued, 'well, we are doing away with the cards and moving all electronic so...' 'That's ok,' I replied, 'I'll pay for that extra/free haircut to keep my name off a mailing list.' This event, of course, got me thinking about human nature and how we will often give up some privacy for either convenience or something free. Imagine a stranger walking up to you and asking for your name, address, email, birthday, income level, favorite color and shopping habits. Most of us would tell them to 'fill in the blank'-off. Yet, when a Brand asks for the same info but includes something in return - free birthday dinner, discounted tickets, coupons, personalized service - we typically spill the beans. Infosys recently conducted a survey which showed that consumers worldwide will certainly share personal information to get better service from their doctors, bank and retailers; yet, they are very sensitive about how they share. Today’s digital consumers are complicated and sometimes suspicious about how institutions use their data, according to the global study of 5,000 digitally savvy consumers. They also created an infographic based on their findings. Overall they found: 82 percent want data mining for fraud protection, will even switch banks for more security; 78 percent more likely to buy from retailers with targeted ads, while only 16 percent will share social profile; 56 percent will share personal and family medical history with doctors ...and specific to retail: To know me is to sell to me: Three quarters of consumers worldwide believe retailers currently miss the mark in targeting them with ads on mobile apps, and 72 percent do not feel that online promotions or emails they receive resonate with their personal interests and needs To really know me is to sell me even more: A wide majority of consumers (78 percent) agree that they would be more likely to purchase from a retailer again if they provided offers targeted to their interests, wants or needs, and 71 percent feel similarly if offered incentives based on location Catch-22 for retailers? While in principle shoppers say they want to receive ads or promotions targeted to their interests, just 16 percent will share social media profile information. Lacking these details could make it difficult for retailers to deliver tailored digital offers Your data is valuable and comes with a price. While many data miners are looking to capitalize on our unique info, you can always decline. Yes, it is still probably already gathered up somewhere else; Yes, you will probably miss out on some free or discounted something; Yes, you will probably see annoying pop-up ads on that free mobile app/game and; Yes, you might feel out of the loop. But, it was still fun to be in some control over my own info leaks. ps Related: Path pledges to be ad-free: Will consumers pay for their privacy? What Would You Pay for Privacy? Paying for privacy: Why it’s time for us to become customers again Consumers Worldwide Will Allow Access To Personal Data For Clear Benefits, Says Infosys Study Engaging with digital consumers: Insights from Infosys survey [Infographic] Parking Ticket Privacy Invasion of Privacy - Mobile App Infographic Style 'Radio Killed the Privacy Star' Music Video? Technorati Tags: privacy,data,big data,mobile,loyalty,consumer,human,information,personal,silva,security,retail,financial Connect with Peter: Connect with F5:Bring Your Own A-Z
The #BYO craze has taken the world by storm and now infiltrates every sector of out lives. Here is a partial list, in alpha-order, of various bring your owns. BYO Apple: For the teacher in your life, the princess you'd like to put to sleep or to keep the doctor away for a day. BYO Beer: The original classic, college style. And BYO Booze for when you're out of college and got a little cash. BYO Candy: With Halloween approaching this could see a surge over the next 30 days. BYO Device: Or danger, destruction, demolition, detonator or any other dastardly 'D' word to represent risk. BYO Everything: When Internet of Things takes over our lives. Chocolate Chips have a whole new meaning. BYO Food: The newest Potluck Parties. BYO Game: Actually sitting at a table playing the physical versions of Monopoly, Life, Candy Land, Scrabble, or any other favorite. BYO Hacker: Bodyguards in the 21st Century. BYO Intelligence: Actually using your brain to figure out something...or when AI robots take over the world. BYO Jump Drive: A whistleblower's favorite. BYO Kittens: For making that irresistible, can't-stop-watching, almost viral video. BYO Litigation: The new term for Small Claims Court. BYO Money: What Cash with be called 10 years from now. BYO N: BYO's maximum amount. As far as BYOingly possible. BYO OMG: The Surprise Party. BYO Presents: What you take to the BYO OMG. BYO Quarrel: The updated version of an older brother's favorite 'Stop Hitting Yourself.' BYO Raven: Quoth he. BYO Sushi: The new 'Gone Fishing' Bumper sticker. BYO Time: It's all relative anyway. BYO Utopia: Happiness comes from within. BYO Vacation: The latest Griswold adventure this time with a Hybrid LTD Country Squire. BYO Warnings: Wouldn't be cool if everyone had to announce the hazards of interacting with them? BYO X: Half of a Tic-Tac-Toe game or how Hawaiians greet each other. BYO Yawn: What you did right now when you read this entry. BYO Zombie: Pretty much anyone walking around fully engaged with their BYOD. Well that was fun. C'mon play along - it's easy and works with almost any word! ps Related: How Terms Have Changed over Time BYOD Injuries BYOD–The Hottest Trend or Just the Hottest Term Is BYO Already D? Will BYOL Cripple BYOD? Freedom vs. Control The Prosecution Calls Your Smartphone to the Stand Technorati Tags: byod,mobile,smartphone,lists,humor,fun,byo,silva,human,society,mam,mdm Connect with Peter: Connect with F5:
