Two 2009 focus areas: 'Crowd' and 'Cloud'

In turbulant times sometimes it's hard to focus. I've set my mind for 2009 on two phenomena: The 'crowd' and the 'cloud'. Different as they seem, the closely related they are.

Let me start with 'crowd': People have talents that want to be heard. Up until now those talents had difficulties in reaching the public. TV, radio, books and other traditional media were both an opportunity and a barrier. Opportunity for 'reaching an audience' and 'barriers' in the sense that lots of management, rules and control stand in the way. That's history. People don't need traditional media anymore to be heard. Blogs, Youtube, Twitter and other social media make it possible to reach tens of thousands of people. The crowd will judge. If its a good idea you'll be followed. If it's not, you're unfollowed. The bare essence of talent is valued by the public itself and no single managementlayer or control is in between. The crowds will tear down traditional institutional models. The power of the crowd and it's potential is unimagineable.

Second is the 'cloud'. This phenomena is changing the way we implement and use IT dramatically. Every single information system will eventually move to the cloud for two reasons. First it is ridiculous to pay and take care of systems on a small scale like an 'organization'. There is simply not enough money and not enough resources. Second, ideas need to be spread to be succesfull. People need to connect with other people, inside AND outside the (traditional) organization. Talent needs to find other talent quickly and without any restriction. 'Owning' systems on an organizational level will seem ridiculous in a decade from now. The 'cloud' will take care of most of the functionality in the near future. Ict-companies have to (re)-position themselves in the cloud, or otherwise ....

The unlocking of the crowds' potential is one of the first cloud-achievements. Not only polar-ice is melting, institutions are melting as well. Organizations will turn into organisms that do what needs to be done. Reputation will outstrip the importance of money. Motivation will beat control. Inspiration will be the new powersource and trust the new currency. I'm glad to be part of that revolution.

Found this on january 7th: Demise of Library House shows database are heading to the cloud/crowd

What books will I read for Christmas?

Last week I've received a few new books to read. The one I really like to read first is 'Here comes everybody' from Clay Shirky.
Clay Shirky at PICNIC08: Here Comes Everybody from PICNICCrossmediaweek on Vimeo. Clay has inspired me a lot these last couple of months. His view on what is going on is so clear and so well described. 'Grown up digital' from Don Tapscott will be the next for sure. His interviews with thousands of people in different generations are a must read. We really need to understand the generational differences and forces that drives us and the newer generations. Two older books will follow: 'Wikinomics', also from Tapscott and 'The World is Flat' from Thomas Friedman.  I have not had the time yet to read those classics. A colleague also gave me 'The wisdom of crowds' from James Surowiecki to study. I hope the weather is going to be very bad ;).

I will shut down my e-mail in 2009

I never thought that my e-mail would turn into a graveyard so quickly. I've used Twitter for a few months now and when I wake up I start my Twitter first and meet my twitterfriends there.  I follow 237 people all over the world. They all publish, link, advice, feed, discuss and have fun in the field of my interests. 147 people follow me at this moment. By the time it's lunch I startup my e-mail. Simply because I forgot to turn it on.  Following 237 lifestreams in Twitter is full of life. There is not an ounce of life in e-mail. Some people suggested that turning off e-mail is a viable option. I think I'll turn on my auto-reply with: "Your in a dead street follow me at www.twitter.com/arthurkruisman " My life has changed forever. What about yours?