What: NYTimes article about Peek, an email-only mobile device.
Posts To Which It Is Related: Time to Think Differently About Collaboration in Virtual Worlds
Bottom Line: This article is mostly a review of Peek, a mobile device that is relatively limited since it only does no-frills email.  However, what’s more interesting than the review is the author’s mention of a market of individuals who might prefer something simple over something complicated.  The release of the Peek represents at least one business recognizinging that virtual collaboration tools and softwares can bring people together in many ways, and that there is the less-demanding or less technical end of the spectrum to think about too.  There are early adopters and late adopters – when late adopters start to use newer technologies it means those technologies are truly becoming mainstream.  If Peek is successful, it may be evidence that mobile communication is becoming very widespread for social reasons, not just business reasons.

What: WSJ fashion tidbit about the launch of a virtual avatar at Sears.com
Posts To Which It Is Related: The Mind Has a Body of Its Own
Bottom Line: Sears is launching a feature on their website, and apparently in stores also, where shoppers can use an avatar to try on clothes.  This seems to be an interesting new use of avatars, though individual rather than social.  The company who designed the software have found that shoppers who use the software tend to actually purchase items.  I think the true test is whether they keep those items (we have all ordered more from a website than we would in a store, with inevitable returns).  This has great potential, since clothes that fit correctly look better than those that don’t.  Incidentally, Lands Ends (owned by Sears) have had a trying-on avatar feature for years.

What: A NewsFactor.com Business Briefing discussing IBM’s study of social networking.
Posts To Which It Is Related: Emergent Collaboration: The Reason Why Email Should Not Be Used for Collaboration, Freeing Yourself From Email
Bottom Line: IBM is interested in sharing some of what they have learned about the business uses of social networking tools.  Through their Center for Social Software, they will include other companies in their study of how businesses can maximize collaboration tools that are currently used for social or non-business purposes.  The article points out that some companies worry about lost time if workers use the tools to discuss non-work topics.  However, the IBM Medis Relations representative pointed out that this happens in regular office situations too, and that IBM have found it doesn’t interfere with getting work done.  I think we would probably argue that having a healthy amount of social interaction is conducive to getting work done, and absolutely crucial if that work is done collaboratively or interdependently.