Social Objects
November 5th, 2007[ General ]
There was a common thread across a few speakers at The Business of Software. That was the idea of software as a social object or social entity.
Hugh McLeod‘s talk focused on this idea of social objects. He defined a geek as a person who communicates via objects.
“Hey man, check out this new cell phone.”
“You have to see my new table saw.”
Bill Buxton touched on his idea of social entities. In his book he further explains “they are social entities. As with people, they have different properties and capacities when viewed as a collective, with a social, and physical context, then they have when they are viewed in isolation, independent of location or context.”
Jennifer Aaker talked about personifying your product or brand. Ie, if your product was a real person, what are the real conversations they would be having with your customers?
Iphone…”You’re cool, wanna come to my party?”
Vista…”Quit bugging, cripes I wish you didn’t have to be here.”
How would your product fair if it turned up at a party?