Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

Data is a powerful thing when combined with innovative, altruistic minds. The Triangle Gives Back project launched “How the Triangle Gives Back: A Report to the Region” on Thursday morning at a breakfast attended by more than 400 influencers.
 
The report provides insight on what the Triangle gives, how it gives, where it gives and how it compares to peer markets. You can find the report on the soft launch site Capstrat created, trianglegivesback.org.
 
I’ve worked as a member of the TGB Steering Committee for the past year, and what began as a desire to gauge the state of giving in the Triangle evolved as we realized the power of the data being assembled. A void would remain if we didn’t empower our citizens, both corporate and individual, and our non-profits to act on the data.
 
A new, larger vision was realized – philanthropy needed to be re-defined for modern times. Starting with the term itself, we re-defined philanthropy as the giving of time, talent and treasure. But bringing a new form of philanthropy to life would require more.
 
Facebook, meet Match.com.
The next phase of the TGB initiative is building out the social network on the site. For non-profits, corporations, individuals, religious organizations and social organizations, the site will be a marketplace where profiles are created, friends are found, news and events are reported, and matches are made between those offering time, talent and treasure and those in need.
 
This is slated for launch in early 2009 (go to the site now and submit your email so you’ll be notified when it goes live). The real work begins thereafter. Driving adoption and connections within our community will work to make it stronger. But as always, we’ll need everyone’s help to make it a success.

When we ask clients if design for PDAs is a concern, the common answer is no. Stateside most users don't even know you can access the internet via mobile phone and mostly use it to just call home.

However, with each new iPhone and gadget that comes out the need is increasing and the limitations are endless. Imagine a phone that is your credit card, public transportation tickets, photo editing software and live TV? This isn't happening in other galaxies, but just a hop skip and a jump across either pond. Thinking outside the box when it comes to phone technology has been happening in Europe and Asia for the last 10 - 15 years.

Thanks to a head start on broadband mobile wireless, dependency on cell phone internet use and unified system networks, users demand their providers innovate...and their Web designs too. In the states providers are working with multiple networks, lots of laptops and poor network quality, the need isn't there.

However, in just a few years I could use my phone to: take me to work, watch a live TV show where I see an actor wearing a t-shirt that I can click on and go to the designers site, then find their local sellers, get directions from my final metro stop and then pay for it...without ever setting down the phone. Oh and find out what the restaurant across the shop is having for lunch just with a point of the phone and click. Who needs a laptop when you have a phone?

I am guessing that might change our clients and our answer on designing for PDAs. When your primary tool for accessing the internet has a screen smaller than a deck of cards it changes the playing field. Our designs will have to get smarter and development will have to evolve as well.