I’m pleased and excited to have this opportunity to introduce
Ali Hossaini for tonight’s conversation about connectivity and how we can use
technology to better connect our communities, to build new communication
channels, and to aggressively activate our public spaces.
I’m sure Ali will talk tonight about a variety of ideas,
devices, installations, displays, kiosks, etc., but, to me, the singly most
powerful tool for connection ever devised is the cell phone and I believe we’re
just beginning appreciate its power. You may regard it as a calling tool, but
we think of these devices (to which we are now permanently tethered) as digital
trackers.
They will serve and disturb us forever more. To give you just
the slightest, but most telling example, consider this – the average response
time for an email is 90 minutes while the average response time for a text
message is 90 seconds and the open rate on texts is 98%. We’ll never be free
again.
But – make no mistake – we’re all willing accomplices in our
own torment because we’re willing to trade our peace and privacy for
convenience, savings, and speed. Throughout the day, as we go about our
ordinary business, each of us creates a massive stream of descriptive data and
it’s this very output that increases the value and the power of our
devices.
Today, we’re all digital immigrants, but our kids will all be
digital natives - connected almost from birth by this most immediate and
intimate device. In fact, for our kids, it’s virtually a second brain. When
it’s used properly, it can make us all more productive, more aware, and better
decision makers because it provides us with (a) what we need; (b) when we need
it; (c) wherever we are; and (d) increasingly, without asking.
And again, this process is just beginning. Places and spaces like the Pier will tell us
stories – draw us in - motivate and guide us - and deliver a highly customized
experience with rich media and content which is engaging, relevant, and - most
importantly - delivered at the right time and place. Everything today is about
creating immersive and compelling experiences. Attention spans are short –
interest is fleeting – you’ve got to be there when the buyer is ready.
We call this concept “contextual commerce” or I Want What I Want When I Want It. Building
systems to deliver real-time results and experiences like this and doing it
well isn’t easy. It’s all about creating and sustaining active consumer and
customer engagement through data-driven systems which help us establish an
ongoing and growing relationship with each and every individual which is at
once (1) authentic; (2) immediate; and (3) personal.
The good news is that these aren’t expensive and complex
systems and even the simplest of them can learn and improve their accuracy and their
responsiveness (and therefore their value and utility) with every interaction.
The bad news is that we’re never going to get to where we need to be if we don’t get started right now. In fact, I like to say that if you’re not in a hurry at the moment, you’re probably too late.
But speed alone isn’t very helpful if you’re headed in the
wrong direction and, if you don’t care where you end up, any road will take you
there. What we need is a guide and a map for the journey ahead. And, as luck
would have it, we have just such a person with us tonight.
I give you Ali Hossaini.
