Disaster: The Future of Crisis Communications

I followed this session via Twitter and huge thanks to live blogging/tweeting from Elysa Ellis.

Everyone now has the ability to be an immediate publisher, and we are in an age of “permissionless information.” People can post information immediately, with no filter. The real challenge is editorial – getting out information quickly, but getting out what’s most important and coordinating all the information so it becomes relevant and prevents clutter. Even the United States Air Force knows “speed is more important than security in a crisis.”

The real goal is to get the most amount of information out there, in the shortest amount of time. While everyone has the ability to be out there, you as a brand or company have to be out there too. If you’re not out there, speaking to your audience, someone else will do it for you. Audiences are looking for “verified” information, and as a brand or established company, you carry some credibility others don’t. However, as a brand, you need to be prepared for this and plan ahead:

• Understand what you can and can’t say – build corporate/legal approvals – and TRUST – in advance
• Establish boundaries and rules of engagement
• Make sure you have the right technology to tell the story
• Establish networks (police, fire, social media influencers, etc.) before events, so you can call on your network when you need to

Remember, things move fast, so you need to plan ahead, but be flexible and forgiving. If you make a mistake or do something wrong, admit it. Be flexible, be honest and genuine, and don’t be afraid to utilize/curate information from the hundreds or thousands of citizens on the ground gathering and sharing information.

Constantly review the tools in your toolbelt (blogs, photos, videos) and the sites you use, and make sure you’re ready to tell your story in the best way possible, because if you don’t have approval to use it, you’re at a disadvantage, because the average citizen doesn’t need it. That certainly doesn’t mean leaving out traditional media, it’s just that newer tools typically allow you to get out there quicker.

 

Bre Pettis Opening Remarks

SXSW 2013 Opening Remarks

@Bre, Bre Pettis, Founder Makerbot

I’ve been following Makerbot the last several years, as my SXSW buddy John Biehler has been a big advocate and user of 3D printers (in fact, he’s got a session on the topic at SXSW this year). It’s really cool to see all of the things they can do, and can’t wait until the technology becomes more commonplace.

Here’s a bit of what Pettis shared with the audience:

• In the same way Photoshop changed the way photography works, Makerbot is dedicated to helping change the playing field for innovative explorers.
• They just announced a digital scanner which can help to scan existing 3D items to replicate them using 3D printing, as well as a partnership with AutoDesk which will allow designers to design and make things much more easily.
• While the Makerbot primarily uses the extruder to melt plastic and form it into your design, you can use different types of extruders to make all sorts of things – from a syringe filled with icing or chocolate for cupcakes to metal and other things.
• The vision is to have makerbots everywhere, from schools to homes.
• Yes, you can build your own legos, but it takes quite a long time. It’s primarily used right now to help designers and inventors prototype items. Even Ford Motors is using 3D printers to design and prototype car parts.
• They’ve grown Thingverse – a website for designs of various 3D printed items to over 40,000 items, with nearly a fourth of things submitted in just the last few months.

All in all, 3D printers are very cool and have the potential. It should be interesting to see what happens to things like the toy industry and how big an impact it can have on things like that. Much like Pettis, I think this has the potential to be huge for future inventors – in fact, most of the Kickstarter campaigns I’ve seen recently have used 3D printers to prototype their inventions. Imagine how this levels the playing field!

 

SXSW 2013

It’s not to strong of me to say I love SXSW, it’s such an awesome event full of digital creatives. It’s a tremendous event to learn and network with thousands there to challenge thinking and try new things.

I’m not there, but I’m watching as much as I can live online and following twitter hashtags. I really want to be there, but will cover as much of it as I can right here, just as I have in previous years when I’ve attended.

If you want to watch some of the sessions streamed live, visit http://sxsw.com/live

And huge thanks to Oracle for making the live stream available.