Google’s long history of acquisition, innovation, experimentation, successes and failures is dotted with household names (YouTube) and forgotten brands (Jaiku anyone?).

The following Infographic from Mashable puts Google’s Social Media history into the contect of a timeline. I for one, refuse to get excited by the prospect of Google launching it’s Facebook competitor Google Me particularly as I’ve often thrown the full weight of my enthusiasm behind the likes of Orkut, GoogleWave, SideWiki and Aardvark only to be bitterly disappointed.

Anyhooooo….

The Real Life  Social Networks is a presentation that I discovered via Twitter (thanks @nero) and I’ve decide it to share it all with you as it is one of the best slide shows that I have come across which attempts to debate the usefulness of the ‘friend’ culture currently being fuelled by platforms like Facebook.

The deck is the work of Paul Adams (@padday), Senior User Experience Researcher at Google. As the research lead for sociability, Paul works with teams building products and features for the social web.  His studies into how we all define our friend networks led to producing this impressive presentation which covers no less than 216 slides. Don’t let that put you off – because with every click you’ll find yourself nodding frantically at the conclusions that are drawn by Paul and his team at Google.

If you’re looking to map influencers, do not even attempt to do anything until you’ve taken a look at this slideshow:

Anyone who has seen my handiwork knows that I’m no designer… but I sure can empathise with this dude…

Thanks to my mate Nicola Rowan for sending this through to me!

That’s what I call a real life LOLCAT!

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks Shan.
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone… possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out “Shannon, where are you?”
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
I never said I don’t like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham ‘Choose Life’ t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a foul stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.
Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
It’s a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don’t come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.
I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,
I don’t have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend’s cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn’t have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.
I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says “I haven’t seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?” you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.

Every day, 6.7 billion people view the world through their own unique lens. Imagine if there was a way to collect all of these perspectives, to aggregate and mould them into the cohesive story of a single day on earth.

That’s what YouTube wants to do as it launches “Life in a Day,” an ambitious but incredibly compelling project which sets to out to document one day, as seen through the eyes of people around the world.

On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a snapshot of your life on camera. You can film the ordinary – a sunrise, the commute to work, a neighbourhood footie match, or the extraordinary – a baby’s first steps, your reaction to the passing of a loved one, or even a marriage.

(if you cannot view the embedded clip above, click here to go directly to YouTube)

Kevin Macdonald, the Oscar-winning director of films such as The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void and One Day in September, will then edit the most compelling footage into a feature documentary film, to be executive produced by Ridley Scott, the director behind films like Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Thelma & Louise, Blade Runner and Robin Hood.  LG Electronics is supporting “Life in a Day” as a key part of its long-standing Life’s Good campaign and to support the creation of quality online content that can be shared and enjoyed by all.

The film will premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and if your footage makes it into the final cut, you’ll be credited as a co-director and may be one of 20 contributors selected to attend the premiere.

Want to take part? Here’s what to do:

1. Visit the “Life in a Day” channel and learn more about the project. Be sure to read through the steps you need to take to participate and the guidelines for creating your video(s). Also check out some of the sample videos for inspirational ideas.

2. On July 24, capture your day on camera.

3. Upload your footage to the “Life in a Day” channel any time before July 31.

Regardless of whether your footage makes it into the final film, your video(s) will live on on the “Life in a Day” channel as a time capsule that will tell future generations what it was like to be alive on July 24, 2010.

• Foursquare Location Layers is Brand Tips on Steroids
  There's a new service called Location Layers from Foursquare that allows Foursquare users to subscribe to brands like the IFC and Huffington Post, and get tips from those brands about specific venues delivered via push notification.
  (tags: foursquare layers lbs)
• Mapping Twitter city landscapes
  Urban tick have used Twitter geospatial data to draw startling new maps of the world's most active cities
  (tags: data geolocation infographics london maps online twitter)
• Flattr: And Then There Were Social Payments
  Rupert Murdoch is not the only one thinking about how to get people to pay for online content. A team of Swedish entrepreneurs, that until recently spent their days enabling illegal file sharing running Pirate Bay, has ironically decided to make good by founding Flattr which will help content creators make money online.
  (tags: flattr torrent payment)
• FourSquare: Bankers Beware!
  Making my way back home from work tonight, I was playing around on FourSquare an
  (tags: computers technology blog articles)
• 5 creative ways brands can use foursquare 'tips'
  No matter your personal view, it is difficult to argue against the possibilities of the platform, especially for brands.
  (tags: foursquare lbs brands marketing creativity)
• Are Your Ears Burning? In Social Networks, One-Third of Consumers Talk Brands Every Week
  Social media didn’t invent conversations, it provided us with tools to surface and organize them. Conversations about brands predates the mediums used to connect messages and aspirations with consumers.
  The motivation for brands to engage in social networks varies based on the culture and agility of each company, but what is constant is the aspiration to connect with customers and prospects to earn awareness, attention and connections. On the other hand, B2B and B2C consumers have also expressed desire to connect with those brands whose intent is genuine and beneficial to the each engagement and the overall relationship. The time has come to not only engage, but do so in a way that’s mutually beneficial to individuals, brands, and the ecosystem at large.
  (tags: briansolis brands socialnetworking consumer)
• Facebook influences Nigeria football team ban U-turn
  Nigeria's president has said the hundreds of posts on his Facebook page helped persuade him to reverse his suspension of the national football team from international competition.
  (tags: nigeria football facebook worldcup)
• links for 2010-07-05
  <br />Read more at the source: <a target=_blank href=http://raxraxrax.com/2010/0
  (tags: computers technology blog articles)

Making my way back home from work tonight, I was playing around on FourSquare and scanned Liverpool Street area for nearby tips. Sometimes you can find a real nugget of treasure… where to buy the best coffee, cheap gym membership, money off vouchers… but today, it was the following screenshot that caught my eye…

Upon closer inspection…

The best thing is… I bet the bigwigs at UBS are too square for FourSquare and are too busy scoffing sushi and knocking back their Pernod-Ricard Perrier-Jouet to even know that this piece of invisible graffiti is looming above their place of work…

Nothing left to say, really…

Kudos to Richard C… whoever you are! Brilliant!

• links for 2010-07-04
  <br />Read more at the source: <a target=_blank href=http://raxraxrax.com/2010/0
  (tags: computers technology blog articles)

• links for 2010-07-03
  <br />Read more at the source: <a target=_blank href=http://raxraxrax.com/2010/0
  (tags: computers technology blog articles)

• How a joke spread virally in 1910
  Today viral jokes spread by email, Twitter, or blogs. But in 1910, jokes went viral by telegraph, and not how you might think
  (tags: viral history)
• Bid to keep Portsmouth safe with Facebook
  Facebook is the latest tool in the fight to keep Portsmouth safe.
  The Safer Portsmouth Partnership has launched a page on the social networking site to reach new people and communities.

  They are targeting those who might not usually visit police, council, NHS, fire service, probation or voluntary sector web sites.

  (tags: facebook portsmouth)
• Twitter hits 1,000 tweets a second
  Twitter has broken a new record, with1,000 tweets being posted per second.
  (tags: twitter)
• links for 2010-07-02
  <br />Read more at the source: <a target=_blank href=http://raxraxrax.com/2010/0
  (tags: computers technology blog articles)

• Lady GaGa breaks Facebook record – first person to have 10m+ Fans
  Lady GaGa has become the first living person to have ten million fans on Facebook.
  (tags: gaga facebook fans)
• Facebook trials 'facial recognition' technology to make tagging photos easier – Telegraph
  Facebook has started testing facial detection technology in a bid to make tagging people in photos less laborious.
  (tags: facebook tagging facial recognition)
• Principles underpinning online communications by @_c
  Ged Carroll wraps it up nicely: Transparency / Honesty / Process / Rapid response / Flexibility / Integration
  (tags: principles guidelines socialmedia communications)
• Digging digital government: recent major works and what they mean
  Major works by Whitehall webbies in the past six weeks have repeatedly got top billing on No 10’s legendary grid, and even made front page news.
  This feels very different from even a year ago, when web teams had to work hard just to get their voices heard on the importance of the web for customer service, its power to humanise and its potential for government-citizen participation.
  (tags: egovernment digital whitehall)
• links for 2010-07-01
  <br />Read more at the source: <a target=_blank href=http://raxraxrax.com/2010/0
  (tags: computers technology blog articles)