Specials, Discounts and Giveaways: Will They Bring People to Your Site More Often?
I like to reward people who are nice to me by being nice to them. A good client gets a discount, a close friend gets free help with their design…
Deadly Downloads: The moral frontier of 3D micro-manufacturing
In their article, “Sci-Fi That Foretold The Future,” Google’s Think Quarterly gives a list of science fiction films that have become, to some degree, a reality. More surprising than the…
Will NFC Communication Make QR Codes Obsolete?
The world is starting to go nuts over QR codes. They are on packaging, posters, web sites, business cards and, well, just about everything. A quick scan using a free…
The Dawning of the Age of Etsy
“I spent the morning reorganizing my board on pinterest. I feel like I really accomplished something.” Those are the words of the social media customer, your next customer. These are…
Micro-Manufacturing: A Revolution Begins
Social manufacturing is upon us, and it has transformed manufacturing from macro-factories to micro-factories. The new Google DRIVE will be a part of it, since only robust and readily accessible…
Geek Ethicist: Moral Shortcuts and Property Rights
“Dear Geek Ethicist, Do apps that promote ethical behavior diminish our ability to make just decisions? Signed- Librarian At Large” Dear LAL, Yes. They do. But no more than any…
Indiegogo or Kickstarter: Crowdfunding Part 2
Indiegogo, Charity, Art, Revenge… “Artevengity?” My first exposure to charitable crowdfunding was Matthew Inman’s (the Oatmeal) campaign to finance his counter attack to a $20,000 lawsuit from FunnyJunk using the…
CrowdFunding Part 1: Due Diligence? Fugetaboutit!
Crowdfunding is where most small businesses and small startups will likely go for funding by mid 2013, and odds are it will be the primary means of funding for small…
Geek Ethicist: Harm and Fortune
“Dear Ethicist: I was asked a couple of years ago if I could help a company who had some profitable apps for a prominent social network. They needed to bill…
Grizzled, bleary-eyed, booze-reeking, day laborers arrive at a parking lot around 8 a.m. for work. If you hire one and want more work, hold off payment as long as possible;…
Geek Ethicist: Apples and Classes
“Dear Ethicist– I have been an enthusiastic Apple customer for over a decade now. I use Apple products in my work and have been very satisfied with their performance, design…
“Dear Ethicist, I have a new business and I need someone to host my website. A close friend just started a web hosting business and wants me to use her…