This week a look at due diligence for SaaS and cloud computing, Salesforce.com releasing Chatter, did Wikipedia already hit its max and Pearltrees: bookmarks with a social twist (see also Capgemini’s review of Pearltrees which was published in April).
- Law may limit boss' access to social media
Employers' use of Facebook, MySpace and other online social networks could be limited under a new antidiscrimination law. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act bans employers from asking employees or job candidates to take genetic tests or disclose the results of genetic tests already completed. It also considers a family's medical history to be protected genetic information. For instance, if a manager who overhears an employee say that her mother is being treated for breast cancer could not use the information against the worker in hiring decisions because they believe the person could require time away from work or have expensive medical costs if she develops the disease. - MindTouch Cloud: The Open Source Alternative to Sharepoint and Salesforce.com?
Sharepoint is the big giant in the enterprise collaboration space. Salesforce.com is now in the market with Salesforce Chatter, a service that embraces Facebook, Twitter and the applications within Force.com. MindTouch has the potential to compete with the large market players. Today they are announcing MindTouch Cloud, an open-source, SaaS service that integrates business data from any number of sources, including Oracle, Sugar CRM and Salesforce.com. - What are Google’s real motivations behind Chrome OS?
Chrome OS is Google’s latest entry into the consumer space. It is designed to be an operating system that runs on customized hardware and provides the user with only a state-of-the art browser running HTML-5 and some plugins. The tech (and mainstream) media has seen no shortage of opinions about its meaning and future impact on the industry. Unfortunately, I think most people have missed some of the key implications of Chrome OS. - The dark side of the internet | Technology
Fourteen years ago, a pasty Irish teenager with a flair for inventions arrived at Edinburgh University to study artificial intelligence and computer science. For his thesis project, Ian Clarke created "a Distributed, Decentralised Information Storage and Retrieval System", or, as a less precise person might put it, a revolutionary new way for people to use the internet without detection. By downloading Clarke's software, which he intended to distribute for free, anyone could chat online, or read or set up a website, or share files, with almost complete anonymity. - The Future Has No Log In Button
It all centers around identity. The idea comes with a technology called Information Cards, and a term called the “Selector”. With these technologies, websites will rely on the client to automatically provide the experience you want without need for you to log in ever again. It relies on OpenID, doesn’t really need oAuth (since all the authorization ought to happen on the client), but the best part is you, the user, don’t ever have to know what those technologies are. It “just works”. - SAP Joins PowerPoint and Twitter – Does This Work?
As we approach 2010, a number of new efforts are underway to make documents more social. One consultant told us how recently a client tried to turn Sharepoint into a Twitter client. That's a monster! But we have to give SAP credit for developing a more innovative way to add social elements to PowerPoint presentations. - SaaS and cloud computing: A look at the due diligence
Cloud computing, software as a service, outsourcing… to me, these are all synonymous terms. While “cloud computing” as a concept has gained tremendous traction and mindshare, the fact remains that this sector of computing is nothing more than today’s de jour term for outsourcing and the decisions around and challenges regarding outsourcing should remain front and center all the way through the process. - The 'social enterprise' comes of age
Salesforce.com’s flamboyant announcement of Chatter has catapulted social computing to the forefront of discussion among enterprise thought leaders. - Meet Pearltrees: Bookmarks with a social twist
A French Web site, called Pearltrees, is developing a Web service that is trying to bring a social networking element to bookmarking – but with the connections based on content instead of people. Think Facebook and Twitter mixed with one Amazon’s recommendation system. - Is Wikipedia maxed out?
Wikipedia may have reached the upper limits of what can be done with crowdsourcing, according to a researcher in Spain. Felipe Ortega, a researcher at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, notes that Wikipedia is at risk because its core editors can’t continue to keep up their current pace. And if Wikipedia doesn’t recruit more volunteers its content could suffer.
Light reading:
