Agility Loop

Agility Loop http://www.agilityloop.com Most recent posts at Agility Loop posterous.com Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:27:00 -0800 The Downward Spiral of College Education http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/Yow1QrUUcBQ/the-downward-spiral-of-college-education http://www.agilityloop.com/the-downward-spiral-of-college-education <p> <p> <p>For some time now whenever someone gives me a sympathetic ear, I feel that need to rant a bit about the current state of college education. All it does is continue to get more expensive, but without providing anymore real value. Actually in some ways the value is decreasing as grade inflation continues and practical courses are less emphasized. </p> <p>I have been meaning to write a blog post regarding the need for a revamping of college accreditation and criteria to emphasize more practical subjects. I mean, how preposterous is it that I graduated college and really had no true idea of what I really needed to know in life. What is a 401k? Why should I buy a house? How do taxes deductions work (and I was a business major!)? There needs to be a "Life 101" course that teaches kids this stuff so they are bettter prepared for the real world.</p> <p>So this evening I was pleasantly surprised to read a blog post on Innovate on Purpose (having trouble linkingfrom my tablet, but the URL is here: <a href="http://www.innovateonpurpose.blogspot.com/2012/02/slow-motion-innovation-disaster.html)">http://www.innovateonpurpose.blogspot.com/2012/02/slow-motion-innovation-disa...</a> speaking to the lack of innovation in college education (and Kodak for what it is worth). Good read and echoes a lot of my thoughts. At some point a tipping point will be reached where parents and kids will stop paying for a high end education and will look for altermative options. It has already begun on a small scale, but there will be tipping point where parents will no longer want to "keep up with the Joneses" and instead find other way to make their kids successful.  </p> </p> <p>Either way, reading the blog post motivates me to blog more on subjects like this and also makes me look forward to my meeting tomorrow.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/the-downward-spiral-of-college-education">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/the-downward-spiral-of-college-education#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/Yow1QrUUcBQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/the-downward-spiral-of-college-education Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:22:00 -0800 So Many Privacy Policies! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/TJiXJUa_S6w/so-many-privacy-policies-19485 http://www.agilityloop.com/so-many-privacy-policies-19485 <p> <p>Interesting <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/at-davos-discussions-of-a-global-data-deluge/">news article</a> about "big data" at the <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/w/world_economic_forum/index.html?inline=nyt-org">World Economic Forum</a> in Davos, Switzerland.  Big data has become quite the buzz word, and now "smart data" is starting to eclipse it (at least in some circles).</p> <p>Anyhow,an interesting tidbit about the need for consistent privacy policies/laws:</p> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/technology/europe-weighs-a-tough-law-on-online-privacy-and-user-data.html">Earlier this week</a> in Munich, Viviane Reding, the European justice commissioner, repeatedly talked about data in respect to privacy. Ms. Reding said there were 27 laws that apply to data in Europe, most of which date back more than a decade and don’t properly protect consumers today.</em></p> <p><em>Ms. Reding outlined new regulations that were presented in Brussels on Wednesday and were designed to implement one sweeping data protection regulation that would apply to all of Europe.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>No different here in the States.  Each state has the right to have their own privacy laws.  However, once you try to start sharing data between those states, it becomes a nightmare determining who can see what.  </p> <p>So is anyone in the U.S. trying to accomplish a similar goal of a "one sweeping data protection regulation"?  Seems like it would be a stretch (especially to create one), but some consolidation/agreement is definitely needed.<em><br /></em></p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/so-many-privacy-policies-19485">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/so-many-privacy-policies-19485#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/TJiXJUa_S6w" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/so-many-privacy-policies-19485 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:46:00 -0800 My Tablet is Thinner Than Yours! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/qNlYFvjUjsM/my-tablet-is-thinner-than-yours http://www.agilityloop.com/my-tablet-is-thinner-than-yours <p> <p>Reading some of the coverage almost sounds like a conversation from some sort of cheesy movie's representation of a high school football team's locker room. </p> <p><em>"Mine is thinner then his!"</em></p> <p><em>"Look how bright my screen is..."</em></p> <p><em>"I have four cores, and also a super secret fifth core!"</em></p> <p>Ok, so maybe it is a little different.</p> <p>But either way, maybe someone should actually design a better experience and sell to a user instead of playing spec porn?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/my-tablet-is-thinner-than-yours">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/my-tablet-is-thinner-than-yours#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/qNlYFvjUjsM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/my-tablet-is-thinner-than-yours Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:08:35 -0800 Phone Religious Wars: Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/V8Yl4qXUicI/why-android-is-a-good-thing http://www.agilityloop.com/why-android-is-a-good-thing <p> <p>In 2008, I picked the <a href="http://www.android.com/">Android</a> side of the Android vs. <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone</a> religious war by buying the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Droid">Motorola Droid</a> within its first week of release.  I had a corporate Blackberry until then, and probably could still have one, but I had grown wary of seeing all the cool things my iPhone friends could accomplish.  Besides, the damn trackball on my Blackberry Curve stopped working every other week and half of the websites I wanted to visit didnt even come up.</p> <p>So why didn't I buck up and pick the iPhone, a phone and platform that was far more mature at the time?</p> <p>For me, it really comes down to a bottom line...choice.  Choice for me and for everyone else.  I felt that by grabbing the iPhone and hitching myself to the Steve Jobs <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDQQtwIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLBQ6XnO5IMg&ei=1AYOT4afOcSDtgeTu-i5BQ&usg=AFQjCNHg3rVAugdTwG9aW75Si-dI7WqRuA&sig2=JYvLz_noi-DlWBgRrU5EkA">bandwagon</a>, I was going to be stuck in the walled garden that is iOS. </p> <p>I had similar thoughts back in the early PC days.  I had friends who were DIE HARD <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birkenstockusa.com%2Fabout%2Fcareers&ei=BAcOT7bDDtTZtwejr43hBQ&usg=AFQjCNFAu5XfTnQ-Jv7mVIGvQ8terTwwjw&sig2=lhT6ss8tAflGy_9kBkkPxQ">Macintosh</a> users, even if they did have to wait an extra year or two for decent PC games (except for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_%28video_game%29">Marathon</a>...that game was pretty sweet).  But those users were stuck to what Apple could produce.  Yes, the user experience cleaner and the platform more stable, but I could go grab a PC for half the price and have access to a software library that was far more extensive.  I had choice, and I believe that diversity of hardware and choice is what helped bring upon the end of Apple's first grand era.</p> <p><em>(Random aside...anyone remember the old <a href="http://computershopper.com/">Computer Shopper</a> magazines?  Jesus, that thing was HUGE.  The bible of computer equipment and peripherals that I actually would read through.  Does that give me more old skool geek cred)</em></p> <p>Which brings me to one of <a href="http://about.me/parislemon">MG Siegler's</a> post <a href="http://parislemon.com/post/15604811641/why-i-hate-android">Why I Hate Android</a> on his blog <a href="http://parislemon.com">ParisLemon.com</a>.  I read his blog pretty regularly, and he has some great honest and frank posts about the technology space (and yes, I am somewhat of a sucker for those who creatively curse in blog posts).  His stance on Android and iPhone are fairly well documented (and self admitted), and he chose this particular post to explain his negativity towards what Google has done with Android.</p> <p>At the core is what Google publically intended to do with Android; create an open platform that would help wrestle control from the wireless operators.  As opposed to what it has become; Google's way of taking over the world.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"> <p><em>We got all of this thanks to Google’s desire for Android to take over the world. I commented earlier that they signed a deal with the devil — I wasn’t being facetious. They actually did! And they got away with it!</em></p> </blockquote> <p>On most of Siegler's points I either agree or concede the point because I am not as familar with what as happened. </p> <p>What I do disagree is how he paints Google with such a broad brush of being evil. Public companies are in place to please their shareholders and make money (and yes, sometimes to make just their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-Short-Doomsday-Machine-ebook/dp/B003LSTK8G/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326319571&sr=1-3">board members money</a>).  Apple has done PLENTY of shady shit over the years in the same conquest of owning the mobile market.  That has been one of their strategies to enhance market share and drive shareholder value.  When Google came to market, their altruistic intentions sounded good.  However, those same intentions demonstrated some naivety to think that they could overthrow the power of the carriers.</p> <p>So would it have been better to just pursue those same altrustic intentions at the risk of not actually being able to have a valuable product?  Of course not.  They are a public company, and they had poured A LOT of money into the mobile space and had to show some return on investment rather than just try to buck the system.  So they signed shady deals, sided with the devilish carriers, so that they could actually have a viable product offering.  Apple didn't have to do this because they were first to market and were in a superior position to bend AT&T over a barrel and get the terms that they wanted.  Google was not in this position, and Verizon was not about to sign a deal like the one that AT&T did.  So Google did the deal.</p> <p>Does it suck that this what has to be done to get a product to market?  YES.  <strong>But don't hate the player...hate the game. </strong> Altruism is well and good, but most of the time it doesn't pay the bills or make shareholders happy. </p> <p>For me, Android is a GOOD THING because it is an actual viable alternative to iOS.  Without Android, would we rely on RIM and Blackberry for innovation??  Maybe Nokia?  By having Android, and iOS, consumers have choice and they drive each other to add more features, stability, and security.  I may not be an iPhone user, but I appreciate what they have done and continue to do to innovate the mobile space.  They do design better then any other, and for some folks I actually do recommend going iOS rather than Android. </p> <p>I do wonder if we will see history repeat itself from the PC era to the mobile era?  Replace Windows with Android, and it looks awfully similar.</p> <p>Fodder for another long, drawn out post.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/why-android-is-a-good-thing">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/why-android-is-a-good-thing#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/V8Yl4qXUicI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/why-android-is-a-good-thing Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:07:00 -0800 The Credit Card Data Problem http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/gH8-4illUqM/the-credit-card-data-problem http://www.agilityloop.com/the-credit-card-data-problem <p> <p>Not sure how I found it, but I stumbled upon this post <a href="http://www.mckeay.net/2011/11/28/curing-the-credit-card-cancer/">Curing the Credit Card Cancer</a> on the <a href="http://www.mckeay.net/">Network Security Blog</a>.  In the post author <a href="http://www.mckeay.net/author/martin/">Martin McKeay</a> talks about the credit card data problem and offers some ideas to help mitigate it.</p> <p>At a high level, I think we can all agree that credit card data is VERY sensitive.  McKeay makes the very valid point that as much as you want to protect this data, someone else internally always wants access to it even if they don't need it.  And then once they have access, they are very reticient to give it up (true in human nature, corporations, war, and government).  So as more people have access to this data, the more likely that this data will get exposed.  And guess who probably gets blamed? </p> <p>The same IT or security folks who are trying to protect the data in the first place.  Reminds me of some adage about s!@# rolling down hill.</p> <p>His analysis is quite good, and a good read for anyone trying to understand WHY the credit card data problem happens. But what really caught my eye was the following:</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"> <p><em>When it’s all said and done though, it’s the credit card processing system that has to change, not just how businesses treat credit card information.  We need to modify and re-engineer how we take credit cards and remove the monetary motivation for the attack (and defense) on credit card data.  If credit card information has no value for an attacker then attention will shift elsewhere and the security department will once again be able to concentrate on securing the entire enterprise rather than just a small portion that has a compliance measure behind it mandating minimum security standards.  Of course, then we’ll have to worry about what we can use to get funding from management to secure the rest of the business.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Amen Martin!</strong> This has been the case for a long time (I actually thought I blogged about it at some point), and until the payment processing get more secure and easier to use, we will continue to have credit card spills.  However, since credit card companies just write off fraud and the government makes special cases for them, what motivation is there for them to adopt better <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokenization_%28data_security%29">tokenization</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentication#Authentication_methods">authentication methods</a>?  Why should they care about fraud when they can just write it off? </p> <p>It's all about carrots and sticks, and there is neither to make this change happen.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/the-credit-card-data-problem">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/the-credit-card-data-problem#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/gH8-4illUqM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/the-credit-card-data-problem Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:22:00 -0800 Mis-Defining the Cloud http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/olnzm-IbV-w/mis-defining-the-cloud http://www.agilityloop.com/mis-defining-the-cloud <p> <p>Cloud computing is one of those buzz words that gets thrown around so haphazardly. Like cyber, and now smart data or linked data, it is typically used as a way to get money. </p> <p><em>(Quick aside.  Someone should put together a case study of what Booz Allen Hamiliton did as the cyber hysteria was ramping up.  They both fanned the flames AND came up with solutions.  You can say what you want about the process, but it seems to have worked)</em></p> <p><span style="font-family: mceinline;">The problem is that I read definitions of cloud</span> that are either incorrect or all-inclusive.  As an example:</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p><em>Cloud (computing) strategy involves a way to access applications hosted on the web through a user's browser...</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Although many cloud apps are web based, there are plenty of traditional "thick" or phone apps that use the cloud too.  Hell, your gaming console uses the cloud!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/mis-defining-the-cloud">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/mis-defining-the-cloud#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/olnzm-IbV-w" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/mis-defining-the-cloud Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:47:06 -0800 Ranablue's Innovative Ideas for Ennovex - What Could've Been http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/ydPrYZWS6mA/neueblues-ideas-for-ennovex-what-couldve-been http://www.agilityloop.com/neueblues-ideas-for-ennovex-what-couldve-been <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="09_ennovex_hero3" height="600" src="http://getfile9.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-22/weaJEehdwkngcbgJeijwdIBljekpbvibBFgyFElsviAxuddsxJnjHpihwHlh/09_Ennovex_Hero3.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="450" /> </div> Back in 2005, I was very fortunate to be a founder and CTO of a small startup called Ennovex.  We focused on security and collaboration solutions, mostly for Federal Government customers.  </p> <p>Needless to say, the four engineers that started the firm would not be the ones you would pick to help brand and market a new company.  However, this past week I got a tweet from <a href="http://www.neueblue.com/">Neueblue</a> talking about their new venture <a href="http://www.obsessless.com/">Obsessless.com</a>.  I was reminded over the past week of the great work that they did (then as Ranablue) in helping our firm get off the ground</p> <p>Actually our marketing strategy was two staged.  First was just getting a decent website up and running as soon as we could.  However, in our third year we re-engaged with Ranablue to come up with something different to help us stand out from the crowd.  From the <a href="http://www.neueblue.com/ennovex/">Neueblue website</a> (they can write this better then I can):</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"> <p><em>Each Ennovex employee chose their own superhero identity complete with alias, unique super powers and character illustration - custom drawn by a comic-book artist. Additionally, the corporate identity was revamped and a corporate messaging structure was devised to reflect the themes of innovation, creativity and experience. We presented the tagline "Superpower at Work," to sum up the new culture and focus on the quality of personnel working at Ennovex.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>We had each employee submit a questionairre and set of pictures to an artist, and a super hero picture would come back for that employee.  This super hero was then used for imaging on our website to include "Super Hero Profiles" which showcased some of our employees. Employees got business cards which had an image of their super hero on the back of the card.</p> <p>Unfortunately, due to the loss of a big contract (at least for a 35 person firm), Ennovex was sold and we were never able to fully flush out the concept.  However, it was great working with Mike and Heather and the other folks at Ranablue, and I am sure they are still doing kick-ass work with other customers as we speak. </p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/neueblues-ideas-for-ennovex-what-couldve-been">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/neueblues-ideas-for-ennovex-what-couldve-been#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/ydPrYZWS6mA" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/neueblues-ideas-for-ennovex-what-couldve-been Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:59:00 -0800 Top Ten Reasons Why Large Companies Fail To Keep Their Best Talent http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/Q6-4dSRpcIQ/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-k http://www.agilityloop.com/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-k <p> <p>It is rare that something gets published in mainstream media about leadership and corporations that I identify with so completely.</p> <p>Bravo <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/ericjackson/">Eric Jackson</a> and Forbes.</p> <p>Through <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/">LinkedIn Today</a>, I found a story on Forbes website entitled <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2011/12/14/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-keep-their-best-talent/">Top Ten Reasons Why Large Companies Fail To Keep Their Best Talent</a>.  It lists Jackson's list of ten reasons of why companies lose their best talent. </p> <p>All ten reasons ring true to me, but several really resonate with me.  For example #2, "Failing to Find a Project for the Talent that Ignites Their Passion":</p> <blockquote> <p><em>Big companies have many moving parts — by definition. Therefore, they usually don’t have people going around to their best and brightest asking them if they’re enjoying their current projects or if they want to work on something new that they’re really interested in which would help the company. HR people are usually too busy keeping up with other things to get into this. The bosses are also usually tapped out on time and this becomes a “nice to have” rather than “must have” conversation. However, unless you see it as a “must have,” say adios to some of your best people. <strong>Top talent isn’t driven by money and power, but by the opportunity to be a part of something huge, that will change the world, and for which they are really passionate. </strong>Big companies usually never spend the time to figure this out with those people. </em></p> </blockquote> <p>I do understand that in the corporate world, especially the consulting/contracting world, the priority is to really keep an individual is muted by the drive to fill jobs and win new work.  However, I think that many in my generation really want to find value in their work.  Being a simple seat filler is not enough...you need show me more.  Make an employee CARE for their work, and you will get amazing results.</p> <p>And then there was #8, "The Missing Vision Thing".  Likely the biggest reason I will be considering other opportunities starting in the New Year.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"> <p><em>This might sound obvious, but is the future of your organization exciting? What strategy are you executing? What is the vision you want this talented person to fulfill? Did they have a say/input into this vision? If the answer is no, there’s work to do — and fast. 8. The Missing Vision Thing. This might sound obvious, but is the future of your organization exciting? What strategy are you executing? What is the vision you want this talented person to fulfill? Did they have a say/input into this vision? If the answer is no, there’s work to do — and fast. </em></p> </blockquote> <p>Many of these tenets also apply to the success of government organizations as well.  Too often talented people are seen as simple cogs...easy to replace with the next person with the same resume.  It might even be worse since government is also not rewarded based off results, just awarded for maintaining their huge pot of money or inflating their egos.</p> <p>So take a moment to read the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2011/12/14/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-keep-their-best-talent/2/">article</a>...worth the time.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-k">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-k#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/Q6-4dSRpcIQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/top-ten-reasons-why-large-companies-fail-to-k Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:43:00 -0800 Starting a Blog - It's All About Content http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/zEw0AAXTaD0/starting-a-blog-its-all-about-content http://www.agilityloop.com/starting-a-blog-its-all-about-content <p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a couple of posts that I shared on Facebook, a buddy of mine asked me for some tips on setting up his own blog.<span style="">  </span>Rather than just work with him directly, I figured it was easy fodder for a quick post here (don't worry Morris, I will still help you over beers).</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My blogging history really started with Foursixteen.net running on Typepad in October 2003, now actually available at <a href="http://416.typepad.com">416.typepad.com</a> (I let the domain expire).<span style="">  </span>The content of the blog was really all over the place, but at the end had <strong><em>1953 posts and 3275 comments</em> </strong>that entertained the hell out of the 10-20 of us who were in the same social circle.<span style="">  </span>Although the content may have been <a href="http://416.typepad.com/.services/blog/6a00d834519b4269e200d834519b4369e2/search?filter.q=cats">pictures of cats</a> and <a href="http://416.typepad.com/416/2004/03/michelle_ferre_.html">Michelle Ferre</a> references, Foursixteen.net was successful because there was constantly new content.<span style="">  </span>Every morning there would be a new post, and likely five comments on that post.<span style="">  </span>Therefore a vibrant community was established because there was a reason to come back.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first lesson is that you need to be dedicated to contributing new content on a regular basis.<span style="">  </span>Probably once a week if you can pull it off.<span style="">  </span>Since Foursixteen.net I have tried several times to restart a blog.<span style="">  </span>Both on my own at <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com">AgilityLoop</a>, and with others (<a href="http://www.sleekfeed.com">Sleekfeed</a> didn’t get too much traction).<span style="">  </span>But every day time I petered out and didn’t write a post for 3-6 months.<span style="">  </span>Then I would come back and write something random, but since I never established much momentum, I was never ever to build much readership and therefore self motivation to develop a vibrant community.<span style="">  </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, does the content itself need to be all on the same topic?<span style="">  </span>Part of the struggle I had in starting a more serious blog was being able to contribute content that was relavant to my work life.<span style="">  </span>I was worried that if I was all over the place, I would have no shot at actually building a readership.<span style="">  </span>This is probably true, but by limiting myself it also limited my posts, therefore limiting my motivation to write content, therefore limiting the possibility of actually creating something people when visit.<span style="">  I have settled on a middle ground where I try to stay mostly technical, but if I feel the need I will go off the reservation a bit.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lastly, PLEASE PLEASE don’t be a blog where you just re-post other people’s content.<span style="">  </span>Feel free to quote someone else, but also take a position and write something in your own words.<span style="">  </span>Part of the problem with Twitter is that the stream is polluted by tons of re-tweets that limit the ability to actually find something useful and original.<span style="">  </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are plenty of blogging platforms that I have used.<span style="">  </span>Frankly, they are all pretty much the same.<span style="">  </span>And in my experience the blogging platform really doesn’t matter.<span style="">  </span>Whether you use <a href="http://www.typepad.com">Typepad</a>, <a href="http://www.wordpress.com">Wordpress</a>, or <a href="http://www.posterous.com">Posterous</a> (where this is hosted now), the all offer similar twists on the same blog concept and are all pretty easy to use.<span style="">  </span>Find a domain name, create a free account, and start blogging.<span style="">  </span>But again, the key is regularly updated unique content that people actually want to read.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course take all of this with a large grain of salt. <span style=""> </span>I certainly have not created any sort of vibrant community, but it has been fun writing a post or two and actually seeing people read the random shit that pops into my head.</span></span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/starting-a-blog-its-all-about-content">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/starting-a-blog-its-all-about-content#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/zEw0AAXTaD0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/starting-a-blog-its-all-about-content Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:16:00 -0800 Winning. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/qy1vm9wdPN8/winning http://www.agilityloop.com/winning <p> <p>Ran across this post entitled <a href="http://startuphoodlum.com/2011/12/06/winning-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/">Winning is the Only Thing That Matters</a> over at <a href="http://startuphoodlum.com/">StartupHoodlum</a>.  Great post, and I think it applies to more than just startups.  One tidbit:</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"> <p><em>Nobody else cares about your journey, they don’t give a shit about whether you slept under your desk or whether you took the lowest salary.  They don’t care whether you ate Ramen noodles or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Nobody cares that you fucked up your relationship with your girlfriend.  Nobody cares that you worked 20 hours a day for months.</em></p> <p><em>Certainly, nobody cares if you “almost win.”</em></p> </blockquote> <p>It applies to life, work, and of course, 416/Sleekfest. </p> <p>Just win baby.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/winning">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/winning#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/qy1vm9wdPN8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/winning Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:54:00 -0800 Why I'm Returning the Kindle Fire http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/PFGpi8wqMlg/why-im-returning-the-kindle-fire http://www.agilityloop.com/why-im-returning-the-kindle-fire <p> <p>I had been resisting the urge jump into the tablet revolution for some time.  Partly because I can't use a tablet at work, partly because I'm an Apple contrarian, and partly because there wasn't a compelling Android tablet to tempt me to plunk down $500.</p> <p>However, when Amazon announced the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-Amazon-Tablet/dp/B0051VVOB2">Kindle Fire</a>, I was pretty excited.  I have had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle#Kindle_2">Kindle 2</a> for a couple of years now, and outside of cell phone it is my most useful gadget.  It has brought me back to my avid reader roots (thx Mom!  That penny a page was a helluva a motivator when I was a kid.  Even though to your chagrin I mostly read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance">Dragonlance</a> books).  The Fire was an Android tablet, and the $199 price point is pretty appealing.  Besides, it was going to be out around my birthday so why not give it a shot?</p> <p>So as the reviews came in, and I read more about it, I started to <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/android-tablet-conundrum-kindle-fire-or-other">worry</a> that the Fire was not going to be for me.  As it turns out, within a couple of days I confirmed those suspicions.  The Fire is a GREAT deal for $199, but really had several shortcomings for a geek like me.</p> <p><strong>Modified Android and Lack of Android Market</strong></p> <p>When the Fire was first announced, I saw that it was really a forked version of Android 2.2.  However, I figured that wouldn't be that big of a deal.  Turns out, it is.  Sure, there are plenty of decent apps in the Amazon App Market, but it is still lacking in plenty of great apps I use on a regular basis.  With a regular Android phone or tablet, I could still get to the Amazon market AND the Android market.  Sure I could root the Fire, but then I couldn't return it if I wanted to (and as it turns out, Amazon released a new Fire s/w version that <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/245225/amazon_updates_kindle_fire_removes_root_access.html">removes the root accces</a>).</p> <p><strong>No Google Apps (Mostly Gmail)</strong></p> <p>When I bought the first Droid, I made the switch to <a href="http://www.gmail.com">Gmail</a>.  I had been perseverating on making the switch from Yahoo Mail for some time leading up to my purchase, but the tight integration of Google apps into Android pushed me to make the change.  And I haven't looked back.  So when I got the Fire and was back to a regular mail app I felt a bit cheated.  Then throw on top the lack of Google calendar and other apps and the Fire truly becomes just a media consumption device.  I want more.</p> <p><strong>Performance</strong></p> <p>The Fire gets pretty damn sluggish when trying to multi-task or do too many things at once.  If you were to see me browse or use my phone, you'd see how absurdly ADD I am.  Im all over the place, and I expect a computer to keep up with me.  It is why I switched to <a href="http://www.cyanogenmod.com/">CyanogenMod</a> on my <a href="http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices/htc-incredible-2">DINC2</a>.  The Fire simply can't keep up.  And I am not willing to wait for CyanogenMod for the Fire.</p> <p><strong>Other Choices and the iPad Factor</strong></p> <p>Plenty of my friends are nice people who are Apple drones (sorry...if any of you read this I couldnt resist).  BUT, as much as I kid, the iPad is fast, and clean, and overall a great device.  After using the Fire I realized that I was having a little bit of gadget envy.  Plus, over the past couple of months, there are several new Android tablet options (and not just the Galaxy Tab, Moody) that are very compelling.</p> <p>So today, the process begins to return the Fire.  It really is a great deal, and for a lot of folks it will be perfect.  If I didn't have my traditional Kindle, I'd keep this and still get a higher end tablet. But since I already have a Kindle for reading that has superior battery performance, the Fire ends up falling in a weird middle ground.  Instead, I'm eyeing the <a href="http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_Prime_TF201/">Asus Transformer Prime</a>, which comes out this month and looks fantastic.  Just hope it lives up to expectations.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/why-im-returning-the-kindle-fire">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/why-im-returning-the-kindle-fire#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/PFGpi8wqMlg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/why-im-returning-the-kindle-fire Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:08:00 -0800 Standards-Palooza Hosted by PM-ISE http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/euwSlJLebHs/standards-palooza-hosted-by-pm-ise http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-palooza-hosted-by-pm-ise <p> <p>Registration is now open for <a href="http://www.ise.gov/wis3">Workshop on Information Sharing and Safeguarding Standards (WIS3)</a>, AKA Standards-Palooza, on December 5th in Washington DC!  The intent of the event is bring together government and industry to discuss how standards based innovation can advance information sharing. </p> <p>Although the event is organized by the <a href="http://www.ise.gov">Office of the Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE)</a>, industry organizations <a href="http://www.afei.org/">AFEI</a>, <a href="http://www.ijis.org/">IJIS</a>, <a href="http://www.actgov.org">ACT-IAC</a>, and <a href="http://www.omg.org/">OMG</a> are actively participating by leading breakout tracks on specific topics. The topics include:</p> <ul> <li> <div><strong>OMG: Translation of Business Requirements to Technical Architectures<br /></strong>Translating business requirements to technical architectures to automate information sharing</div> </li> <li> <div><strong>AFEI: Identity and Access Management Across Government<br /></strong>Authenticating and authorizing ISE users to access information sharing systems data</div> </li> <li> <div><strong>IJIS: Federated Information Sharing Frameworks and Services<br /></strong>Messaging frameworks and services that can operate across agencies</div> </li> <li> <div><strong>ACT-IAC: Supporting Standardized Information Exchanges Across Government<br /></strong> Standardized information exchange models that enable interoperable information sharing</div> </li> </ul> <p>The hope is that this event is actually a kickoff for a set of other intiatives to advance the ISE, so stay tuned to the <a href="http://www.ise.gov">ISE</a> website for more information.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-palooza-hosted-by-pm-ise">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-palooza-hosted-by-pm-ise#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/euwSlJLebHs" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-palooza-hosted-by-pm-ise Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:04:00 -0800 Social Media Networking Night http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/MZLIlSIQBi0/social-media-networking-night http://www.agilityloop.com/social-media-networking-night <p> <p>Heading to the <a href="http://suindc.syr.edu/news/socialmedianetworkingnight.html">Social Networking Media Night</a> tomorrow night hosted by Syracuse at The University Club. Looks like an interesting event... Hope it provides some interesting information and some new folks to network with.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/social-media-networking-night">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/social-media-networking-night#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/MZLIlSIQBi0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/social-media-networking-night Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:55:00 -0800 Standards Alone are not Enough to Drive Interoperability http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/FrP_Rz5rOtQ/standards-alone-are-not-enough-to-drive-inter http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-alone-are-not-enough-to-drive-inter <p> <p>There are no shortage of industry standards that allow for products and services to interoperate. In fact, there are so many standards that a team implementing an information sharing system can quickly become overwhelmed in determining which standard is best. Then once they pick a standard, they must determine HOW that standard will be used and ensure that the standard is used in the same manner as the other systems they want to interoperate with.</p> <p>In my experience integrating enterprise level systems, the great equalizer for HOW a standard will be implemented is the Internet. I could A) read the standard specs over three cups of coffee, OR B) I can rely on the lessons learned from other implementers who have been in the same boat I have been in. To a busy implementer, which do you think they will pick?</p> <p>But of course the Internet is the wild wild west, and the information gathered doesn't guarantee interoperability either. Just because I implemented a <a href="https://www.niem.gov/about/tech/Pages/iepds.aspx">NIEM IEPD</a> for arrest warrants recommended on an Internet forum doesn't meant that I will be able to pass that arrest data to another agency.</p> <p>A first step is providing a central repository of standards, profiles, and best practices that implementers can use to collaborate on the solutions they are currently implementing and they have implemented in the past. However, it is KEY that this solution be available for more than just one segment of business or government agency. Information exchange does not just happen INTRAangency in the Intelligence Community or at DHS. It happens INTERagency between these agencies. Therefore, if each agency maintains their own repository, then we may remain in the same stovepipe problem we are now. Agency A implements Profile P of Standard X, and Agency B implements Profile Q of Standard X.  Iterate this problem for 8 more agencies, and information systems are in the same boat of implementing different connectors to each system.  </p> <p>In addition, for a respository to work, implementers and agencies MUST contribute back to the repsository. It must be a two way conversation for it to be useful.</p> <p>A repository is not the only step (governance anyone?), but it is an important part of breaking down the iron curtains between information systems and allowing for information to more freely flow to the users who need it.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-alone-are-not-enough-to-drive-inter">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-alone-are-not-enough-to-drive-inter#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/FrP_Rz5rOtQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/standards-alone-are-not-enough-to-drive-inter Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:37:00 -0700 EA and Information Sharing - From Intelligence to Assets http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/LWZhqwUUXSE/ea-and-information-sharing-from-intelligence http://www.agilityloop.com/ea-and-information-sharing-from-intelligence <p> <p>Excited to be moderating a panel next Tuesday November 8th at the <a href="http://goveaconference.com/Events/2011/Home.aspx">FOSE Enterprise Management Conference & Exposition</a> entitled <a href="http://goveaconference.com/Events/2011/Sessions/Tuesday/Session-2.5.aspx">"EA and Information Sharing - From Intelligence to Assets"</a>.  I will be joined by Emile Beshai from DHS, Glenn Cruickshank from Deloitte Consulting, and Sue Jaxel from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. </p> <p>The high level description of the session:</p> <blockquote> <p>Information sharing is at the heart of every agency’s mission – whether it’s in the areas of healthcare, citizen services, or national security.  This panel will include two case-studies detailing how agencies within the intelligence and national security communities leveraged enterprise architecture to achieve real-time information sharing not only within the federal government, but across all internal and external domains.  The first case-study will delve into the Department of Homeland Security’s SBU Portal Consolidation, which strengthened collaboration and information exchange with key partners in the federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, international, and private sectors.  The second case-study will showcase the IC Enterprise Registry and Repository, an intelligence community enterprise capability that provides IT publishing, IT lifecycle management, and human discovery and retrieval to support the sharing of community assets. </p> </blockquote> <p>Looking forward to a thoughtful and engaging discussion!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/ea-and-information-sharing-from-intelligence">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/ea-and-information-sharing-from-intelligence#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/LWZhqwUUXSE" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/ea-and-information-sharing-from-intelligence Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:53:00 -0700 Android Tablet Conundrum - Kindle Fire or Other Android Tablet? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/xOQwGcg26cc/android-tablet-conundrum-kindle-fire-or-other http://www.agilityloop.com/android-tablet-conundrum-kindle-fire-or-other <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Amazon-kindle-fire-tablet" height="465" src="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-10-29/mwuoidqmxHhEjHJppshHhFecsBsrBuudAqywcDApHlcbpjmpFJaFhpEwAhwt/amazon-kindle-fire-tablet.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="325" /> </div> Several of my friends have iPads, and I have my trusty Kindle.  I do love my Kindle, and I can't travel without it (or fall asleep).  That being said, when I look at my cute little Kindle next to the iPad, I get a little bit of gadget envy.</p> <p>So I think it is time that I found out what this whole tablet phenomenon is all about.</p> <p>However, I am firmly rooted in the <a href="http://www.android.com">Android</a> camp.  I bought the original Motorola Droid, and just recently grabbed the Droid Incredible 2 when my original Droid took a shower during a rainstorm (#fail).  Although I have compliants about the DINC2's <a href="http://community.vzw.com/t5/DROID-Incredible-2-by-HTC/Poor-Reception-and-Signal/td-p/551814">network problems</a> (fodder for another post), all in all, I am a buyer on Android and will stick with it.  Therefore, I really want to grab a tablet running Android.</p> <p>Like other Android fanboys, the arrival of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-Amazon-Tablet/dp/B0051VVOB2/ref=amb_link_357801542_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-1&pf_rd_r=0CRNZQWVT4D9FMAWE1YV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1324747422&pf_rd_i=2676882011">Kindle Fire</a> has created a bit of a conundrum.  Do I grab the Kindle Fire at $199 or instead shell out $400+ for a fully functional Android Tablet? </p> <p>I have spent this lovely rainy morning digging around the web, doing entirely more research then this purchase probably warrants (it's what I do).  Originally I was pretty taken with the Fire.  Smaller form factor, customized user experience for content, and that nice price tag of $199.  But as I have dug into it, the Fire seems less like a tablet and more like a Personal Media Player with a Amazon front-end.  No native Google apps (which I use a ton), no support for the Google app store which will limit the apps it will support, and no word if Netflix or Hulu will support the device. Although I would like to have a nice PMP, I also want to use a tablet for other uses such as blogging, tweeting, and even some work here and there.</p> <p>But there is that damn $199 price tag, the fact that I am already an Amazon Prime subscriber which keeps adding new content, and that no one should truly count out Amazon and Bezos.</p> <p>Im thinking at this point that I will preorder the Fire and give it a shot.  I can always return it, and if I get a really wild hair I might even grab a <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab">Galaxy Tab</a> as a comparison.</p> <p>And maybe I will even keep blogging where I would write a review.  Now THAT would be truly revolutionary.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/android-tablet-conundrum-kindle-fire-or-other">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/android-tablet-conundrum-kindle-fire-or-other#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/xOQwGcg26cc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/android-tablet-conundrum-kindle-fire-or-other Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:11:06 -0700 Discount Code for FOSE 2011 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/MiBj0EwSvn8/discount-code-for-fose-2011 http://www.agilityloop.com/discount-code-for-fose-2011 <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpagilityloop_fckey" height="96" src="http://getfile0.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-myqp/fFDmziicaxGhowcHxydEbisGyjpHuEffbzAtyzwoAqdoaficwhdIiodjDCdI/media_httpagilityloop_FCkEy.gif.scaled500.gif" width="155" /> </div> I am fortunate to be a moderator at <a href="http://www.fose.com/Events/FOSE-2011/Home.aspx">FOSE</a> this year and I have a discount code for anyone else who may want to attend the show.  It is July 19-21 at the <a href="http://www.dcconvention.com/">Washington Convention Center</a>.  If you are interested go ahead and <a href="http://bit.ly/FOSE2011Reg">register</a> and the discount code is CONFOS1. And for background on the "Integrated and Federated Information Sharing Across the Regions" <a href="http://fose.com/Events/FOSE-2011/Sessions/Tuesday/IMC3-Integrated-and-Federated-Information-Sharing-Across-the-Regions.aspx">session</a> I will be moderating there is more information on the <a href="http://www.ise.gov/integrating-front-line-assured-sensitive-unclassified-sbu-interoperability">ISE website</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/discount-code-for-fose-2011">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/discount-code-for-fose-2011#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/MiBj0EwSvn8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/discount-code-for-fose-2011 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:10:33 -0700 Simplifying "Terms of Service" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/w9sU9TmKfQQ/simplifying-terms-of-service http://www.agilityloop.com/simplifying-terms-of-service <p> GigaOM has a post today entitled <a href="http://gigaom.com/cloud/has-dropbox-set-the-stage-for-a-privacy-revolution/?utm_source=feedburner">Has Dropbox set the stage for a privacy revolution</a> detailing the last several "fun" months at Dropbox, and their recent change of their terms of service to make their privacy policies clear.  What I found interesting is that when they first tried to clarify their policies, there was actually <em>more </em>uproar from customers. <blockquote><em>Then, on July 1, when Dropbox tried to do right by its users by clearing up much of the language in its <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/terms"><span style="color: #64a0c8;">terms of service</span></a>, <a href="http://www.dropbox.com/privacy"><span style="color: #64a0c8;">privacy policy</span></a> and <a href="http://www.dropbox.com/security"><span style="color: #64a0c8;">security overview</span></a>, another uproar ensued. It appears this was the first time many customers bothered to read these documents, because the commenters on a <a href="http://blog.dropbox.com/?p=846"><span style="color: #64a0c8;">blog post announcing the changes</span></a>, as well as forum members across the web, began loudly criticizing certain Dropbox practices.</em></blockquote> This makes sense...I can tell you that I almost NEVER read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terms_of_service">TOS</a> when signing up for a service. Although the article make the point that this could set the stage for a privacy revolution, I think actions like these are hopefully bigger.  Yes, making privacy policies clear is important due to recent privacy violations.  But how about making security practices just as clear?  There have been so many hacks lately that adding clarity to security practices (whether in the TOS or elsewhere) could have real value.  If I was idealistic (I'm not), it would be great if there was some sort of neutral party that rated the privacy and security policies of websites and posted them in a public location.  Similar to the mileage ratings for cars, the consumer could decide based off the rating.  However, not sure you can have a truly neutral party that will give an accurate rating.  And if it is anything like the standards for MPG and cell phone battery life, the numbers would be next to useless. </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/simplifying-terms-of-service">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/simplifying-terms-of-service#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/w9sU9TmKfQQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/simplifying-terms-of-service Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:44:27 -0700 Translation of Theory to Real http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/K4zJ0S4HSYM/translation-of-theory-to-real http://www.agilityloop.com/translation-of-theory-to-real <p> Just some quick thoughts I had during the day and this evening.   I am actually at the <a href="http://www.omg.org/news/meetings/tc/ut/info.htm">OMG Technical Meeting</a> where standards and frameworks are defined for a whole set of technologies.  There has been some great discussion here, and I am trying to absorb what I can for my first OMG event. What has been reinforced for me here is that there is a small percentage of people in the world either smart enough, and/or passionate  enough, to a specific topic to define standards around a technology or methodology.  However, unless the business utility is translated to concepts and language that the general buyer (aka contracting officer or project manager) understands that standard or technology is next to useless.  It is also crucial that those general buyers actually know HOW to ask for the standard and what it will benefit.  Without this knowledge, the buyers will not have the knowhow to sell the standard internally to people who are even less tech savvy.  And typically these less tech savvy people are the ones actually setting aside money to buy that same technology. Im probably not making too much sense, but I think this translation layer is a key to success in technology projects and efforts. </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/translation-of-theory-to-real">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/translation-of-theory-to-real#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/K4zJ0S4HSYM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/translation-of-theory-to-real Tue, 17 May 2011 18:47:00 -0700 Questioning the Value of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~3/s-nx6Y8vxdw/questioning-the-value-of-enterprise-architect http://www.agilityloop.com/questioning-the-value-of-enterprise-architect <p> <p>In my role in supporting the U.S. Government in the evolution of an <a href="http://www.ise.gov">Information Sharing Environment</a>, I have had the opportunity to become more exposed to the <em>machine</em> that is Enterprise Architecture Frameworks.  Not the frameworks themselves necessarily, but the machine and engine around them.  And more and more I have to wonder, what is the true value of the frameworks and the associated artifacts it produces?</p> <p>To give context, it is probably useful to understand my background.  I have "grown up" during my professional career architecting (little "a"), designing, and implementing information systems.  This has included upgrades of email infrastructures (I still hate you Groupwise) to enterprise wide white pages/attribute services.  However, when I say that I have architected these systems, I mean that I have worked with some VERY good people to actually plan the entire system from software to hardware to networks to user experiences.  However, during that time, the maintenance and creation of artifacts related to Enterprise Architecture (big "A") Frameworks was NEVER a priority.  Typically there was only enough time and money to actually design and implement the system (DO SOMETHING) rather than the creation of artifacts (PROCESS).</p> <p>Now does that mean I was simply blind to the usefulness of those frameworks?  Perhaps.  But since then I have had more exposure to life in the SETA world and with agency CIOs where these same Enterprise Architectures get a lot more play.  A lot of money gets spent on maintaining the associated artifacts b/c they are required for certain programs (typically over a certain dollar amount).  There are relatively few people who are "certified" in Enterprise Architecture, and therefore those contractors are pricey. Anyhow, I don't have a good answer.  But I do know that creating documents simply for the sake of creating them is not best practice.  I think there seems to be a lot more value in concentrating on information architectures and knowing more about our data so we can effectively share it with our business partners.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/questioning-the-value-of-enterprise-architect">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.agilityloop.com/questioning-the-value-of-enterprise-architect#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AgilityLoop/~4/s-nx6Y8vxdw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1585477/177-294-20100921133311_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPuxd34FQd0V4 Kevin Heald agilityloop Kevin Heald http://www.agilityloop.com/questioning-the-value-of-enterprise-architect