兩年前某個夜晚，臨危受命寫文，要半小時內寫完，就這樣，我胡裡胡塗開始了寫稿生涯，一寫便是兩年。寫著寫著，生活也起了一些變化。夜訓了，變胖了，寫了半本書，最後銷情不是非常理想，但總算完了小時候的心願。
這段期內，除了寫稿，我也嘗試過不同種類的工作，例如做一些財經研究、新媒體研究、製作網上節目、參與網上節目、策劃互聯網推廣、統籌Web2.0開發項目、林林總總同步進行什麼都試。我的工作背景有點Tech，我也喜歡新東西，也許是這個原因，我的工作總跟互聯網有關係。
黎老闆說，專注才是成功之母，曾經何時，我也以為可以同時處理不同的工作，其實prejudice being a basic human commodity，人總以為自己有能力討好全世界，於是rather than achieve everything，we ended up achieve nothing。最近開始，思哲慢慢減少寫報紙稿，維持每周一篇。接下來，我會更專注在新媒體的工作上努力。
近幾個月，我加入了Homebloc這個Web2.0開發團隊，跟一群Geek仔日夕相對，試圖實踐一個幾新鮮既概念 ─── Hyperlocal News。它指那些發生於社區內的、主流媒體沒函蓋的，卻往往最貼近生活的新聞資訊。例如說，誰是你住處附近最便宜的豬肉檔、是哪位鄰居每天準時發出噪音、上班乘搭的巴士路線最近改了班次等等。昨天，受制於生產成本，這些極具價值但小眾的新聞，沒法子登上大眾媒體的舞台。
再舉個例，這就是連接你和你社區的人。你能向你社區的人直接表達想法，甚至直接跟他們進行日常生活上的互動。例如你能透過Homebloc分享你的照片、透過Homebloc找你的失貓、透過Homebloc轉讓你的傢具等。
差不多兩個月前，我們推出了Private Beta，參與者給予我們很多意見。其後，我們拿了某些同類型網站，做了一趟usability test，過程既好玩，亦取得了很寶貴的參考資訊。舉例說，我們看見user面對功能強大的網站卻無從入手的一臉無耐，我們又看見冗長的表單在註冊時如何惹人生厭。
坦白說，Homebloc開始的時候，太心急去採摘那些「Low Hanging Fruit」，急於求成，沒想清楚策略是否正確，於是後來即使從User處收取了很多意見，卻由於前期的開發方針有誤，包袱太多太重，以致後期開發有所限制，不能輕易作出重新部署。
誠然，如果我們連一小撮用戶的訴求也回應不了，更遑論要回對其他廣大的用戶吧。此刻，Homebloc團隊正忙得不可開交，我們的workflow正在蛻變，願能嚴格執行SCRUM development cycle；只要能上下一心，把現在這個Prototype的UI徹頭徹尾地改過來，我們才可以回應user和自己的期許。打個比喻，就像我最近搬家，Homebloc現正準備遷到另一個地方生活，象徵一個全新的開始！
Nov 11, 2008
Nov 6, 2008
"Entertainment Weekly" of your friends
When Wanszezit forwarded this link to us this morning, I was certainly surprised if not shocked. Is this real?
Facebook, one of the more popular social networking sites and a typical example of what the web 2.0 "movement" is all about, has emerged as the second most visited site from Hong Kong. For a website that only started targeting the Asian region a short time ago, this is even more remarkable.
It would be foolish to give an analysis of its success with Wanszezit nearby, but I would like to share my personal experience of adopting to the "Facebook" frenzy.
I was aware of the website for quite some time but did not bother to sign up. As a member of the late majority, and more importantly an extreme introvert, I am not keen to try it out. Then for reasons I did not remember, I finally gave in about a year ago. Nonetheless it didn't catch my interest and was quickly forgotten.
Things started to turn when I joined the development team half a year ago.
First come the Facebook application "Street War Online" (古惑仔Online). Although the gameplay and the objectives were simple and unchallenging, I (and most of the colleagues) was immediately addicted. Alter ego in a orderless world is forever attractive. As a side effect, my "friends" list was closed to double less then 3 weeks.
When the excitement subsided later I soon realised, with the expended list, this is a great place to "know" all your friends and relatives. As soon as they shared their photos online, you will have a pretty good idea of what they are up to recently. Who's getting married, who recently went overseas, what they have been doing in the weekends, and other things that you cannot imagine can now be seen online.
It feels like going to a nudist beach but you are the only person wearing clothes.
As with any social-based websites, it will definitely benefit from the continuous growth of users and the increased in traffic. Monetising the website will be politically challenging (and more on that later). But with its popularity, survival in the near future is unquestionable.
So the question now becomes...will the "Facebook phenomenon" be here to stay?
Given that the Hong Kong people are crazy about entertainment news and the willingness to share, I have no doubt that this will become part of the culture.
Be prepared to add your sons and daughters to your "friends" list real soon...
Facebook, one of the more popular social networking sites and a typical example of what the web 2.0 "movement" is all about, has emerged as the second most visited site from Hong Kong. For a website that only started targeting the Asian region a short time ago, this is even more remarkable.
It would be foolish to give an analysis of its success with Wanszezit nearby, but I would like to share my personal experience of adopting to the "Facebook" frenzy.
I was aware of the website for quite some time but did not bother to sign up. As a member of the late majority, and more importantly an extreme introvert, I am not keen to try it out. Then for reasons I did not remember, I finally gave in about a year ago. Nonetheless it didn't catch my interest and was quickly forgotten.
Things started to turn when I joined the development team half a year ago.
First come the Facebook application "Street War Online" (古惑仔Online). Although the gameplay and the objectives were simple and unchallenging, I (and most of the colleagues) was immediately addicted. Alter ego in a orderless world is forever attractive. As a side effect, my "friends" list was closed to double less then 3 weeks.
When the excitement subsided later I soon realised, with the expended list, this is a great place to "know" all your friends and relatives. As soon as they shared their photos online, you will have a pretty good idea of what they are up to recently. Who's getting married, who recently went overseas, what they have been doing in the weekends, and other things that you cannot imagine can now be seen online.
It feels like going to a nudist beach but you are the only person wearing clothes.
As with any social-based websites, it will definitely benefit from the continuous growth of users and the increased in traffic. Monetising the website will be politically challenging (and more on that later). But with its popularity, survival in the near future is unquestionable.
So the question now becomes...will the "Facebook phenomenon" be here to stay?
Given that the Hong Kong people are crazy about entertainment news and the willingness to share, I have no doubt that this will become part of the culture.
Be prepared to add your sons and daughters to your "friends" list real soon...
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