Refined by Fire

Extreme social collaboration. This is real stuff. Real biz model. Real work being done here.

If you’re at the TED conference in SF a few weeks ago, you might have heard of them. They put their product to the test and had some of the most brilliant minds in technology develop a product using their platform.

Basically, in about 72 hours, through Kluster’s Collaboration platform, an entire product replete with marketing campaign and logistics.

Now, I want to be clear about thier “platform,” This is not like OpenSocial or Facebook; that is, a framework for coders on which to program. Their framework is comprised of real people creating real products…. with, get this, are you ready, their imagination!

Kluster has their own currency called “watts.” Watts do translate into real dollars when projects are complete.

To be honest, I didn’t get all the details, but I did speak with, Ben Kaufman after his presentation, and the implications of this project hits hard to what the new economy is about: earning by doing. Which segue’s nicely to the final presenter.

More to come…

Check out Kluster.com

Check out the other reviews from NextWeb’s NYC Web 2.0 March 31st Meetup:

• Part 1
• Part 3

So, I finally made it out to one of these meetups. Organized primarily by Brett Petersel, the event was way cool. Just as I expected really. There was probably around 350 people, free drinks, awesome tech talk, and enough IQ to put the MENSA to shame.

Surprisingly, most of the people with whom I spoke were also first-timers. I thought I was going to be the only one.

I intentionally did not bring biz cards as I’m trying to promote some “green-ness.” I tried taking photographs with my phone in the hopes I’d just be able to tag and archive, but need a macro lense. In fact, I’ll probably write about it later.

NextWeb is not like the other meetups. It was more like a concert – I know Webster Hall, duh.

Mostly, the stage was run by folks who we already know, but I want to give some props to a few lesser-knowns: Eyebees and Angelwish.org.

Angelwish.org

This is a non-profit who has a heart for children infected with HIV. They events

The presentation was really short. So, not much to say about what they talked about, but that it was heart-touching. I’m glad to see there’s more to the tech scene than trying create the next great thing.

(angelwish.org to learn more)

Eyebees

Essentially, Eyebees project let’s you see every live being on your site at any given time. Which given the real-time stats market, this is nothing new, but they give it a new spin. In the spirit of Web 2.0, these stats are transparent to others using the site as well – with a splash of serendipity.

So, as a participant, you’re able to connect with others who are “buzzing” about a site that you’re on and talk with them about the content they’re looking at.

For instance, say you’re reading an article about a politician, and you see other visitors buzzing about the article and you see them move to another article. You could follow them if it’s to a topic in which you’re interested.

Frankly, I thought it was a little too-cutesy for my clients’ purposes, but I can see some usefulness. I’m going to give a whirl in a day or so and see what it’s all about.

(Eyebees.com for their beta)

• Part 1
• Part 3

So, I went out for a noonhat lunch today. It was pretty cool. I got to meet some interesting characters poised to do some awesome things in this Tech/New Media sector of NYC biz, Silicon Alley.

The captain of conversation for the duration of the meal was Sanford Dickert. Sanford is an animated and infectious visionary who is Continue reading Noonhat Experience Turns Out to be an Ear-Opener to Silicon Alley 2.0 Buzz

Hey! Silicon Valley, Pipe it Down Already Will Ya? We’re working over here!

Thanks to our noisy friends in “The Valley,” we here in “The Alley,” need to crank it up a few decibels in the blogosphere. This is one of my contributions.

Continue reading List of Silicon Alley Start-Ups

The creative energy that perfunctorily comes from Madison Ave is positively mindboggling. The abundance and flow of the characters I’ve been coming across this past year has me enamored at times.

The lifestyles of these folks, however, are not the choices I would encourage someone to make: Many smoke and drink, and revel in their drunkenness. Many of the men glorify porn. Most use sex to sell in some capacity. And often they tempt the unfortunate to purchase that which they cannot afford. And the list goes on…

Now, I don’t dispute religious issues because having a relationship with God is not something to argue about, but this week, I almost got into a bit a theological debate with a colleague and it got me thinking…. and convicted.

My point is that even in these dark cultures, Continue reading A Christian on Madison Ave.