Persuasive Technology Film Festival
Ok, I admit it; this is a total rip off of Schuyler Kaye but this story and the related videos are SO…GOOD I have to post this. Full credit goes to Schuyler and the other students at Stanford University. The really scary thing about this story for this “oldcyberdude” is that the future is owned by this generation and they’re just beginning!
On December 7, 2006 Dr. BJ Fogg took the stage announcing, “Welcome to the first annual Persuasive Technology Film Festival, finally emerging from Stanford’s highly vaunted Persuasive Technology Lab.” Dr. BJ Fogg’s Persuasive Technology Lab is world renowned for its groundbreaking research in persuasive technology, best persuasive practices, and the future of our wired world.
Dr Fogg set the stage by introducing us, his students, taking Computer Science 377P: Persuading People Online and Via Mobile Phone. He bragged with a confident smile that we undertook the formidable task of understanding the persuasive practices behind the recent Web 2.0 boom. The class of 30-40 doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students represented a large cross-section of academic disciplines who worked to create an extraordinary collection of films explaining the next phase of persuasive technology.
After helping an older lady to her seat, I stood anxiously as Dr Fogg explained the upcoming Grammy-like nominations. Each student entered three of their top videos and a crew of over 600 experts in the fields of technology, persuasion, psychology, entertainment, and more rated our video anonymously. The results… 8 categories, 4 nominations per category, and one winner per category who got to graciously thank the professor, the class, their mom, and the RedBull Company for helping keep him up during those unavoidable all-nighters.
Two students announced the first category, “Obsessions R Us” and explained how certain web sites will persuade people to fall into obsessive routines. They announced the nominees and videos, one of which being my video ‘Caveman Antics.’ “And the winner…” the envelope was ripped open; butterflies inundated my stomach “… Schuyler Kaye with Caveman Antics!” The rush of adrenaline got me to the stage, tripping over the top stair, which to this day I claim was on purpose, I accepted my award with a smile ear to ear and a slight blush in my cheeks. The night continued in success as the remaining two of my submitted videos were nominated for the categories “Most Creative” and “Future Minded.” Coincidentally enough, after winning the first category I also won the final category “Future Minded” making me the winningest individual of the night.
The night ended with a networking event that allowed the corporate stakeholder’s time to interact with the students. Fifteen minutes of fame… But you can still access the films created at www.captology.tv.
Here the award winners and links to the videos
Persuasion Profiling: “Future Minded” – Category Winner
Caveman Antics: “Obsessions R Us” – Category Winner
Musical Cell Phones: “Most Creative” – Category Nominee
Posted: January 31st, 2007 under General.
Tags: cell_phone, contest_winners