links for 2010-02-16

Games, stories, imagination, user experience, social engagement… can one draw a line between them? I think the potential of play and imagination in communication, storytelling and advertising is massive. Just don't get stuck on the labels. People like to play – whatever they are doing and what they call it.

Tim O'Reilly shares his vision of the future. It makes sense that the customer/user experience will simplify this way, particularly on mobile where traditional advertising is lost. Get the user to the point with the transaction to purchase your product, forget about all that marketing speak or persuasion (although I assume these will still need to be part of the overall equation somewhere in informing choice and identifying products for purchase). In a way direct purchasing establishes a more trustworthy relationship – your customer can get what they already know they want with no middle men or story makers, and the directness of that purchase builds a better relationship.