It is hard for me to look at a “what are you thinking” box in a social network and not write something. A few minutes ago, I got sucked in to google buzz. This is where this post came from and what inspired it. I’m convinced I’m right.
I’m getting social network apathy. How many can I join, watch, etc? I have to guess that I am a few years ahead of the average person in terms of connectivity. What will happen when the thick middle says “enough is enough”? There will be a backlash. There will be/must be business models that will give control back to people. My gut tells me that the solution has to do with preference…and carrying that preference with you. All social networks (which is a very limited term) will have to interact with you based on preferences that you set in ONE PLACE. Basically, a single-point-of-truth for how you require the world to interact with you. I don’t want to set my preferences on myspace, facebook, linkedIN, etc etc. Social networks, airport signs, your car, all should obey your rules. I can see a flood of preference requests coming that I don’t want to answer. Multiply social networks of today by 50, this is what we are in for. Instead of social networks, I’ll group them all together as “intelligent systems”
With this being said, one of my new side projects is defining single-point-of-truth preferences.
Some axioms that I am playing with
“You own and control your preferences.”
“If a intelligent system does not obey your preferences, it gets cut off”
I believe that if I develop axioms first, the rest will be natural. If anyone wants to brainstorm with me on this one, I’m game.