Barcelona Media, an interdisciplinary center of research and innovation, hosted the Norman Lear USC Annenberg Center director Marty Kaplan to speak at its 10th anniversary celebration on March 6, 2012.
A disclaimer – Marty is a dear friend, but I was under no obligation to post his talk – I offer it to you because it is that good!
Marty’s talk is titled “From Attention to Engagement: The Transformation of the Content Industry.”
Consider the following:
Today there are 600 channels, 175 million active internet sites, 200 million blogs, 845 million users of Face Book, 300 million users of twitter, 2 billion videos streamed on Netflix, and 800 million viewers/month on YouTube. None of this had been invented 7 and 8 years ago.
The use of information is more pervasive and intrusive than ever before. Every time we swipe a credit card, record on our DVRs, use our Target, Ralphs, or other credit card or ID, use our cell phones, visit an internet site, etc. etc. etc. that information is available to marketers, politicians, entertainment companies whether we like it or not.
Marty is brilliantly comprehensive in explaining not only the phenomena of what has occurred but the impact it has made on our lives, politics and every other dimension of contemporary life. I highly recommend watching his 54 minute video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvTj5y9voSw
For those with less time, here is a skimmable pdf: http://www.learcenter.org/pdf/Barcelona2012.pdf
Rabbi John Rosove's Blog 
“From Attention to Engagement: The Transformation of the Content Industry.”
This presentation left me breathless and dizzy. I have never so thoroughly appreciated the culture gaps in contemporary society. Marty’s talk put me in touch with the velocity & complexity of communication skills and information exchange to the point that I end of feeling totally out of touch with the world around me. Until now, I always had thought that I am a good communicator. My confidence that I control my own life is shattered. Right now I feel like I’m living in a maze way beyond my comprehension.