I am someone who did pretty good in University. During my Bachelor’s in economics, I didn’t have too many problems when it came to solving complex math problems, isolating 5-6 variables in an equation wasn’t that hard for me. Economics seemed to be the right career path for me. But because I was always interested in computers in general, I chose a much different discipline for my Master’s (e-business). It was the right decision to make since I like working with geeks. Except there’s one thing that still bugs me every once in a while; am I a little behind because I don’t know how to code?

I’m pretty handy with computers, I know for instance I should always reset the router before calling my ISP to complain that the internet tubes are stuck. I hold a Gmail address, which according to The Oatmeal I would qualify as someone who knows their way around computers. But when it comes to pure, raw, explicit code, I’m as lost as someone who just landed in Tokyo for the first time. Something like this for me remains a total mystery:

public static void initializeAnalyticsService() {
try {
analyticsService = new AnalyticsService(CLIENT_NAME);
analyticsService.setUserCredentials(CLIENT_USERNAME, CLIENT_PASSWORD);
} catch (AuthenticationException e) {
System.err.println(“Authentication failed : ” + e.getMessage());
}
}

Yes it’s Java thank you. Don’t send me emails explaining to me what this is, that it was taken from a Java example for using the Google Analytics API…ok well it looks like I know more than I’m aware of. Anyways, is it important to know code if you work in the web business?

According to my experience, it isn’t. You can make through the industry without have to write even a single HTML tag ever. However I do admit that at times, things can get pretty frustrating when something new is up and all the engineers are excited and you don’t really know why they are. “It’ll make the critical racing conditions much easier to attain” they’ll say to you “Don’t you see? Don’t you SEE???“. Well…no.

SEM, SEO, Social Media and so on are all trendy disciplines in the current Websphere. You’re looking for such a job? You won’t have to look too far; they’re all over the place. Nowadays, it seems like most businesses can’t go without them. Part of the reason why they’re so attractive is that they are more accessible. It doesn’t mean that they’re easy (managing really large SEM accounts CAN give you serious headaches…or heartaches), it just means that they don’t demand advanced computer science skills and everything that comes with it (the math, the Mountain Dew & the friend who wants you to fix their mouse). If you want to build a software, or hardware, forget about reading SEOMoz or the AdWords help center. You better start reading books and fast.

The point is, it’s true that you don’t have to be a computer wizz to make it in the IT world. Like any industry, you need designers, you need salesmen, accountants and so on. What I do feel though, is that in the coming years those who will really stand out in the Web are those who can deal with multiple disciplines (business with code or design and so on) and deal well. It’s getting tough out there; in time, each and everyone of us will have to find more and more different ways to differentiate ourselves. If you can stick the rational code-lines with the slick marketing speeches together, you’ll truly shine in the vast WWW.

Special thanks to my cousin & his girlfriend who were very kind to show me around and help me navigate in this fascinating far-away land.

The great big bow

Japan is a lot like what I was expecting it to be: full of very kind, incredibly polite & honest people, lights everywhere, funny jingles on the streets and great food. At least that is the image the country projects.

Because Japan is filled with brands we buy and use everyday, you somewhat get a strange sense of familiarity as you travel around; however, there are so many things that are different, you do get that healthy dose of culture shock any traveler gets whenever he/she steps into a new environment.

The obvious difference is the Japanese language & calligraphy. While the Japanese language includes many English words, you’ll miss all of them if you know nothing about Katakana. Not knowing a thing about the national language will have an impact on the way you experience the country. Don’t go thinking navigating around is impossible though; I was kind of surprised to see the number of translated panels especially on public transits. There are even English announcements on some train lines! Like any foreign-tone environment in the world I’ve been to, not knowing the language only gets problematic when you want to get in touch with the people around you or experience more traditional and local events; you can still get around with a bit of English up your sleeve.

Downtown Tokyo, Shinjuku Ward on a rainy day

Then there’s the bowing. To be very honest with you, bowing is something I have enormous respect for in the Japanese culture. It’s just a plain beautiful habit you can’t miss. When you enter a restaurant, cooks will bow to you; when you get off a train maintenance workers will bow to you; if you buy something in a clothing store, the clerk will escort you to the exit and bow to you as you go out; in some cases, they’ll even do it when your back is turned. While bowing might seem a little strange at first, it really makes you feel like someone special, almost like a king. Bowing is one of those things that contain many subtleties and unfortunately I am not an expert on that topic. While I was bowing all the time, I’m 100% sure that 99% of the time I wasn’t doing it right. There are many books and sites that explain how to, but almost all of them warn you that bowing is not as easy as it seems because it deals with social rankings. But I guess trying is always better that not doing anything, especially when it comes to being polite.

Other things include slurping, never blowing your nose in public, not talking over the phone on the train, host clubs and many many more. Another important cultural trait worth noting is that Japanese are very eager at making sure you have a great time in their country. They want you to love it and they want to see a smile on your face all the time; beware of negative comments, they’ll definitely feel responsible for it. I guess it’s just part of their incredible desire for perfection.

Stranger in a strange land

According to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, Japan’s population was of just over 127 million people in 2009. Like many of the world’s developed countries where quality of life is traded for a life without children, Japan suffers from an aging population. It is estimated that by 2050, its total population will shrink by 20% (source: South China Morning Post). Interesting fact; instead of relying on immigration to maintain its population size and ultimately support its elderly population, Japan may one day rely on robots. Yeah robots, like the cool ones you see in their movies. Honda has Asimo. Toyota has its partner robots. Ken Tomiyama, chief of advanced robotics at Chiba’s Institute of Technology, has a crazy dream: in the future he wants everyone to grow up with a robot. Yep, one day, they’re gonna build them in chain production. Creepy & cool.

This leads me to the topic of foreigners in Japan. Immigration accounts for less than 1.7% of Japan’s population and among them, the majority come from Asian countries. In other words, visible minorities are something of a rarity in the country and you’ll definitely feel it when flying into it; most people will smile at you, some of them will want to practice their English with you, some kids will be fascinated by you. It’s actually kinda cool if you ask me; it just ads a lot to the fun. But it’s very clear that the social tissue feels incredibly different from a place like North America.

A rich cultural cake

Like all multi-millenium old countries, Japan holds a very long & rich cultural background, from its large portfolio of meals to its impressive set of castles & history books. Needless to say, there’s a lot to be seen, smelled, tasted & experienced there.  2 weeks definitely we’re enough to cover it all.

One of my personal favorite locations was Mount Shosha, one of the places where “The Last Samurai” was shot. The mountain is located near the famous Himeji Castle and holds one of the most popular spots for pilgrims. Then there’s Kyoto, famous for both its environmental treaty and its numerous shrines & castles. One of them I visited had floors that made “squeeky” sounds as you walked on them; these were used to alert inhabitants that someone was coming. You can’t help but appreciate the castles’ architecture, it’s just like in the movies!

The Himeji Castle

Visiting Hiroshima was quite possibly the most overwhelming part of my trip. The Peace Memorial Museum if both incredibly interesting and very creepy, as it details the events that occurred on August 6th 1945, when the Enola Gay dropped the first Nuclear Bomb ever to be deployed on earth, killing over 200,000 people. Remains of the attack, wax figures, photos, videos & more can be found at the museum. It truly is worth the detour if you like to learn more about modern history. If you are in the area, be sure to go to Itsukushima Shrine as well.

A few words of advice from a 2-week tourist

First and foremost, like any foreign place you visit, don’t be a jerk. Just because it’s different doesn’t mean you’re better. Japan has its own traditions & cultural habits and it’s your duty to respect those. Before going, you should know key things like not blowing your nose in public, taking off your shoes before entering a house, not talking over the phone on public transit or not leaving your chopsticks in rice.

I would suggest you learn a few key phrases in Japanese. While tremendous efforts are being deployed by the government to help people learn English & other languages, most Japanese speak very little foreign languages. Luckily, you’ll see lots of translated panels on bus stops, trains and subways, so finding your way won’t be that difficult. But if you really want to experience Japan in a more authentic way, you must speak the language which is something I don’t master unfortunately. Ah well, I guess you can’t have everything in life. I was still pretty lucky to hang around with people who know Japanese.

Get a Japan Rail Pass if you plan on going around the country a lot. This will definitely save you lots of money as it gives you access to most of JR’s rail system, which controls over 70% of the country’s railway network. Plus it saves you the trouble of lining up for ticket machines all the time. Just show your pass to the clerk and Voila! You’re good to go.

Don’t get a Japan Rail Pass if you plan on staying in only one city. You’ll end up spending more than what you need.

Taste every new thing you can. If you’re not allergic to anything, be sure to get as much Japanese food you can, it’ll totally be worth it. I haven’t tried a typical Japanese breakfasts and I kinda regret it.

Have a plan. My cousin was pretty much responsible for that and I must say he did a great job. But having a plan makes your trip simpler and more efficient.

That’s about it for now. There’s nothing more I want to add here other than I will go back for sure. Japan is too interesting, too rich and too fascinating to be visited only once.

Some of my thoughts on social media. I’ve split personal and professional point of views because I think it should be this way.

The Cream part 1: on a personal basis

The whole point of using social media is quite simple: share information. Whether you own this information or not, connecting with your friends and sharing your thoughts and feelings on events or products has never been easier through social networks. I myself enjoy this quite a lot on Facebook as I get to see videos, images and jokes I hadn’t heard of before. I am absolutely crazy about Youtube, therefore I am crazy about sharing Flash videos online with my friends and I thank FB for allowing to do so without having to send group mails.

The Cream part 2: on a professional basis

Every once in a while, someone will give a hint, tip, link to an article or something that can make your work easier and better. Social Media is great for that. Plus if you track what your customers are saying online, you might be able to exact pretty juicy insights on your company or even competitors.

The Sour Milk part 1: on a personal basis

It’s unbelievable the amount of useless information things like Twitter generate. You could be saying this about my blog too and I would be perfectly fine with it, but think of how many messages are being written every second. It’s not like we have something brilliant to say every time. In fact, most of the time I don’t care what others think about this and that or what they are doing this instant. You know what? If you think what I have to say isn’t going to be useful for you, leave it. That’s the whole point of education: being able to judge for yourself what is necessary and what is not. I firmly believe that spending too much time on social networks can alter your judgment.

Don’t forget about privacy issues; I won’t talk about those now, I think they’ve been covered too much.

The Sour Milk part 2: on a professional basis

Then there are the companies who hear about social media and attempt to jump the bandwagon. These companies are often  hauled by the experts into the ‘Social Media is hard and you’re not trying hard enough‘ bottomless pit and forget a few important ‘system weaknesses’ that need to be remembered before starting a social media campaign:

1. Marketing points of differentiation are low: that’s right. You’ve got a fan page, your competitor has his and so does your neighbor’s dog. Creating a fan page is as simple as opening a Gmail account. Anyone can do it so forget about being original by simply being on the platform. Grasp your customer’s attention by having a rock-solid eye-popping piece of candy at the end of it.
2. Publishing information is too cheap: if Twitter charged $1 every time someone wanted to write something, I can guarantee you that people would think twice before writing about their frequent trips to the bathroom. But that’s not the case. Again simply being on a social media platform is not enough.
3. Not all products are prone to social media stardom: as written by Fenn & Raskino in ‘Mastering the Hype Cycle‘, before considering a such a modern media strategy, ask yourself whether or not this is truly right for your business’s context. Never forget the classic who what where and how questions. If you think you know your audience pretty well and find ridiculous using social media to join them, you’re probably right.
4. Complaining is easier than complimenting: when you’re dissatisfied about a product you’ve just bought, or the crappy customer’s service you’ve received after holding the line for 46 minutes, the first thing that comes to your mind is revenge. Never has it been easier to tell the world how truly mad you are. I’ve once heard that a person is 10 times more likely to talk about your company if unsatisfied…social networks can become a breeding place for hatred against your company.

The verdict

Social media is fun, trendy & controversial. It’s all up to you: if you feel like using it to keep in touch with your friends and family, you’re at the right spot. If you think social media is going to help your business grow and/or improve it, go ahead. Just keep in mind social media is kind of like a mirror: you may or may not like what you’re about to see. If people don’t like you or your product, it’s not going to look prettier on social networks. The key is knowing how you’re going to take care of all of this.

I think PPD is an interesting economic model for the web; it’s quite possible the only place where it actually works well. Think about it, would grocery store owners rely on the goodwill of their clients and let them pay whatever price they would like to pay for food? It’s only natural to assume he would not. No, it’s only natural to assume it’s just crazy. Just like any business, he’s got tons of things he needs to pay & tons of things he needs to buy.

Web businesses on the other hand, do have employees, computers and such, but costs are most of the time less of a burden than those of a traditional brick & mortar company. I’m talking about the typical high-value software company where supplies cannot go sour or break (unless people are throwing computers around the office) and profit margins are usually higher. In this case, PPD may sound a lot less scary as you do not have numerous suppliers waiting for you to pay your bills. You rely on the goodwill of people because you somewhat can do that.

Of course there is a downside to that and you’ve probably guessed it already: no cookies for Santa. That’s right, having nobody paying can mean that you’re going to have to lock those doors and say goodbye to the company you’ve been wanting to build so badly. Like Santa, you’ve been working hard to provide something that is amazing, but no one is willing to give something back.

Like I mentioned so many times in my blog, part of the problem comes that divulging information is so cheap on the web. Protecting that information can somehow prevent free riders from getting away with the prize, but there is always a way to get this information for free legally or not.

Relying on the people who understand that businesses & organizations cannot survive without a little financial help is a great way to keep things going. If you use Wikipedia a lot, show some support. I think it’s one of the greatest inventions of the Web.

I have to admit, it scared me, still does and probably will forever. While I did get the flu shot, now people are telling me it might become obsolete because of its so-called ability to mutate, therefore making my trip to the infirmary pretty much useless. Now I’m reading about people getting super sick 2 weeks after having received the shot; the next day I read about people dying from the shot…Argh! Enough is enough!

As they say…ignorance is bliss.

Curtesy of TechCrunch (000,000 of $)

Let’s look back at online advertising a few years ago, say 10 years ago.  I remember reading an old paper (from 1997) on ad servers technology last week (link here), it mentionned that online advertising was predicted to grow up to 2 billion dollars in 1998. Wow, 2 billion dollars.  Google can do that under a month now.  So while online advertising has slowed down to a little under 7,9 billion dollars for the first quarter this year, it’s still massively bigger than the numbers we were witnessing during the end of the last millennium.

Everyone knows the slowdown in online advertising we are witnessingis obviously a side effect of the current business cycle.  It’s too bad the vast majority of publisher’s revenues still rely on advertising, it leaves them at the mercy of their marketing budgets. You cannot blame them for that, publishers are in a near perfect competition market: low entry costs, homogeneous products (after all, content remains content), many players and perfect information.  Making users pay for their content is like a bar that has a Guy’s night, where women pay to get in and men don’t…you are bound to fail.

I ignore what the exact number of Ad networks, Ad servers, Ad exchanges worldwide is (I estimate is close to 450), but I know there are enough to indicate it’s a growing industry that’s obviously profitable (see GOOG in NASDAQ) and a lot of players are trying to get a share.  In the coming years, I doubt we’re going to go back; the Internet is more popular, cooler, funner and faster than ever. Advertisers are bound to keep knocking on the doors of publishers who grab the attention of visitors.  The truth is, online advertising is real and here to stay.  The markets are going back up, Obama is kicking butt and summer is right around the corner.  Pretty soon we’ll all have forgotten about the recession (well…let’s hope so…).

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You’re right!  It’s the famous Cobb-Douglas function.  Quite possibly one of the most common and basic functions in ‘no-so’ modern economics (it is almost 82 years old to this day…).  For those who have a more techy background, this function is an aggregate decomposition of a country total production Y, given the quantity of capital K and labor L.  The Beta value is the estimated return value attributed to capital.  In other words, for every dollar produced in Y, a certain percentage of this production is due to the fact we own machines.  The ‘A’ factor measures how efficiently capital and labor are used together to produce Y.  It is said that Beta’s value in America is about 0.3, so 30% of the country’s production is caused by machines.

Now here’s my question: in the world of the IT industry, what would the value of Beta actually be?  Programmers do most of the work to produce electronic goods (software and applications), but the actual hardware used is necessary for him to work.  Not to mention ad networks who let their servers distribute advertisements to their publishers!  So who’s working harder in the IT business?  The machines themselves or the humans behind them?

If some day, the world truly is regulated by virtual reality like some would acclaim (I’ll get the sources back I promise), my first guess would be that the value of Beta would get closer to 1 right?  My second guess would come back to my team at work who have been building a software for more than year now, and it’s a lot of work.  While once the technology itself will bring in some revenues and we will just have to sit down and watch them come in (boy would that be nice!), we’ll still need to think about all the hard and long hours the whole team put into building it.  Let’s not forget all the maintenance and other supporting costs.  So in the end, if all IT companies have to go through all this hard work, the actual value of Beta might be going down below 0.3 as we become more and more digital!