Vote for the Webbys
Called the “Oscars of the Internet,” The Webby Awards is an international prize honoring excellence on the Internet. Established in 1996 during the web’s infancy, the Webbys are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-member body of web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities. The 11th Annual Webby Awards received over 8,000 entries from over 60 countries.
The Webby Awards presents two honors in every category — The Webby Award and The People’s Voice Award — in each of its four entry types: Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile. Members of The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences select the nominees for both awards in each category, as well as the winners of the Webby Awards. However, the online community determines the winners of The People’s Voice by voting for the nominated work that individuals around the globe believe to be the best in each category.
Last year, nearly half a million votes were cast and even more comments were posted, to mark the biggest turnout in Webby history. This year, with the addition of 25 new categories, even more spirited participation is expected. So while the experts who judge The Webby Awards may have their insider opinions, The People’s Voice Awards give the public a chance to honor what they think is best. Let your voice be heard! Fans have until May 1st to vote in The Webby People’s Voice Awards at http://pv.webbyawards.com. Winners will be announced on May 6 and honored in New York City on June 10.
Study Help at Crunch Time
The academic year is coming to a close and there are loads of tests to take and projects to finish. Students shouldn’t hesitate to use modern technologies to make getting all that work done a little easier. Some educational institutions use online resources such as Blackboard.com or WebCT. If your high school or university has such resources, check and see if notes and presentations are archived there and use them as study aids.
If not, it’s time to bring a digital camera or even a cell phone with a camera into the classroom. Instead of scrambling to write down all the notes from the blackboard or all the information from a presentation, just take a digital photo. If you go to a school where students aren’t allowed to bring cameras or camera phones, discuss the situation with you instructor. Perhaps the teacher could take the photos — that way the students can stop writing and listen to the lecture instead — and the digital images can be shared after class.
Mobile camera phones can be really useful for students, taking shots of notes, a complicated formula or even group work on a whiteboard. Once the image is inside the phone, it can easily be turned into a highly legible, ink-on-white PDF, so there’s a digital copy to save, share or print. This is a free service from www.qipit.com.
Also, don’t worry about spelling or writing in complete sentences when taking notes. Use SMS shorthand symbols such as &, u and B4 whenever possible — put your text messaging skills to use — so you can concentrate on capturing key ideas and facts. Try these websites to streamline your note taking:
*Bone up on SMS language abbreviations at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language.
*Master the most popular note-taking systems at www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.html.
Share notes and study resources by starting a virtual study group. Include links to online resources, PowerPoints and even images of important notes. Start a private study group with the web tool Drop.io, which lets you create and share exactly what you want with who you want to invite. This free service has no e-mail sign up and no “accounts.” Collaborate on word documents or spreadsheets online with Google Docs, or use metanotes.com to post sticky notes to share.
Last but not least, if you’re looking for English literature study guides or help writing essays in English try www.bookrags.com, www.pinkmonkey.com or www.gradesaver.com.
Do You Participate in Surveys?
Many people, including professional marketing researchers, don’t understand what motivates individuals the world over to participate in surveys — whether online or real world. A recent study conducted by Survey Sampling International (SSI) designed to analyze the motivating psychological factors behind survey participation examines a new psychological premise called self-determination theory (SDT).
In a white paper exploring the parameters of SDT, Pete Cape, global knowledge director, SSI, notes that SDT offers a broader approach than the behavioral axioms that have ruled marketing research for decades, such as behaviorism, cognitive dissonance and free choice paradigm.
“SDT assumes that people are active organisms with innate tendencies toward psychological growth and development who strive to master ongoing challenges and integrate their experiences into a coherent sense of self,” explained Cape. “In this way, SDT distinguishes between intrinsic motivation — doing something because it is inherently interesting or enjoyable, and extrinsic motivation — doing something to satisfy an external demand. Tasks completed as a result of intrinsic motivation are characterized by high quality, creativity and enjoyment on the part of the respondent.”
According to Cape, under the SDT model, people elect to serve as respondents — particularly in online sampling — because the experience is personally fulfilling.
“Of particular significance is the finding that rewards, such as cash or cash proxies, points to be redeemed for cash or gifts, can actually undermine intrinsic motivation because rewards undermine the feeling of autonomy associated with this type of behavior,” wrote Cape.
To download a copy of the full research paper, “Understanding Respondent Motivation,” go to http://www.surveysampling.com/quality_white.php.
Contest for Title Track Remix
ACIDplanet.com has launched a contest to develop a new version of theme song for the classic 1987 film, “The Princess Bride,” timed with a new downloadable video game. Contestants can download the components from the Sony Creative Software ACIDplanet.com website and remix their own title track from The Princess Bride Game (www.princessbridegame.com) created by Worldwide Biggies and debuting in June 2008. Contestants must submit their remix entry by midnight May 22, 2008. ACIDplanet remix contestants may use Sony Creative Software ACID XPress loop-based music production software that users can download for free, or they may use their software of choice.
