In Mashable today, Christina Warren discusses the recent update to Glue, a recommendation engine for influencers.
The newest changes to the service, including special powers when you level up to a “guru” (top recommender) and prizes build off the social game mechanics that have long been baked into the service. These included badges and a…

Stagecoach Island is a virtual world/role playing game developed by Wells Fargo to convey interest in the brand and financial responsibility to teens. While virtual worlds have received a tremendous amount of attention in recent years, unsurprisingly, banks haven’t been quick to embrace the medium to market their products and services.
While other funware-esque approaches…

Here’s a great, quick article from Frank Spillers on using Fun in Design & Usability. There are some excellent points down below the fold.
My favorite one is #6: Metaphor Sucks.

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Semantics matter.
Shortly after the Christmas Day bombing attempt, acting head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Gale Rossides told the New York Times:
“The advantage we have of random unpredictable procedures is it will prevent somebody from figuring out how to game the system,” Ms. Rossides said. “The security strategy in its core has built…

Most of us know some mad genius tinkering around in the dark corners of their homes and apartments developing some gadget or other that they swear will change the world. These mad geniusi live in the dark corners of our lives as well, impressing us quietly via random emails or during the occasional dinner…

Tara Hunt writes an interesting – if unsurprising – commentary about the cliquishness of the Web industry, and the Le Web conference in particular. For the salacious/redacted details alone, it would be worth a quick read.
But what’s particularly interesting about it to me is her observation that the clique has also resulted in an…

Tonight, the Founders Club (yes, they use the word club without irony) is holding a gala event on the trading floor of the NYSE. The invitation, for those of you who didn’t receive it, is here.
Now let me preface what I’m about to say with:

I did not receive an invitation to this event (I…

In a classic case of gaming the system, frequent flyers used a generous (and well-intentioned) program by the U.S. Mint to freely earn a large number of airline and hotel points. It’s reported in today’s Wall Street Journal with very little judgement from Scott McCartney.
This exploit, which was well documented on Flyertalk.com (where…

Ever since moving our offices and home up to Harlem, there have been a nonstop series of events which prove – day in and day out – that not only is racism alive and well in America, but that when a neighborhood is poor, City officials (from elected representatives to the police) and core…

In his article in today’s New York Times dealbook, Andrew Sorkin details the sham of Sharia financing – the Koran-compliant investment vehicles that underwrote Dubai’s recent economic collapse.
What’s interesting to me about the discussions – both as relayed to Mr. Sorkin, and as presented in the current context – is the lack of appropriate…