There is an interesting article on the Huffington Post site by Ramon Nuez that does a good job of laying out the case disruption in the content arena will only intensify. The catalyst, in his opinion, that supercharges this revolution is mobile. In particular video snippets that will be consumed on the run.
Let’s examine this hypothesis under the microscope of life. We can all agree that much of the video content placed on the web holds no value to anyone outside of the individual uploading the clip and perhaps a few of their cohort. However, what I’ve and Nuez have noticed is that there has been a significant increase of informative and inspiring content. I have found myself more and more often probing the web for ‘how to’ videos on subjects of interest. Within the results that turn up there is surprisingly well done free content.
Combining this with the Morgan Stanley estimate that by 2014 the mobile Internet will overtake the static Internet one much conclude that smartphone and tablets will be the number one content interface. My reasoning for why mobile takes the number one interface spot is simple. Phones are very personal devices. We customize them visually and audibly to personify our likes, interests, and overall personality.
One need not step forward three to four years to see that a highly personal, in the pocket device that can communicate in three modes – visual, audible, and written – opens up many ways for content providers to furnish very rich experiences. Services like Foursquare and Facebook are just now working their way beyond the tip of the iceberg.
What will really bust us through the wall is when publishers and authors truly absorb and leverage digital / mobile opportunities. Just as many of the cutting edge ad agency redefined their operational model pulling digital production and technology assets in-house to be able to present cross-media platform initiatives we might find publishers doing the same.
For those of you still in doubt just ask Amazon, the company that earned a billion plus dollar valuation by moving tons of books. According to their estimate (brought to my attention via Mashable) sales of e-books titles will over take paperback sales by the end of 2011.
I don’t have one of these devices; not sure if it’s because most of my reading is business related books and magazines (low volume publications). All of which, however, are finally moving into digital forms. I must admit that being able to make detailed notes right in the book would be a productivity boost. Especially since they will be catalog for easy retrieval.
I guess we should put one more notch on the revolutionary belt because I have a strong feeling that I’ll be moving to full digital consumption by year end.