No Commercial Potential?
The plane is full, presumably with a random group of roughly 150 people headed from Seattle to Philadelphia for varied purposes.
Aided by the realities of current qualitative market research technologies, a fondness for Woody Allen movies (especially the older, funny ones) and my cartoon mind, I consider the market research/communication possibilities.
What if a screen and keyboard were inserted above the drop down table at each seat? The passengers could form a small, inclusive, time-limited social network. What type of person would participate? What type of person would initiate the “conversation”? Would people share authentically or be more guarded? If you were moderating this experiment, what question could be posed or what comment might move things toward a topic of interest. What topic would be interesting or useful for a random collection of humans to “discuss”?
I suspect that travel horror stories would be a natural. Or, perhaps the topics of sports or the weather would feel safe. But, what if a skilled professional somehow shifted the topic to something more vital and interesting?
After exchanging some pleasantries with the couple sitting next to me I learn that they are going to help their daughter who is getting divorced. Would people share their relationship wisdom in an anonymous airplane chat? If you were on board how open would you be about being jilted or some other painful lesson you learned? Perhaps you don’t normally take the time for social networking such as Twitter, but would it be different if you were part of a captive audience who were passing a few hours in the sky?
Most people don’t know that I was a bluegrass musician in my twenties. A pickup band I played in at a festival in Talkeetna Alaska was named “No Commercial Potential”. Is that true for this idea?
Your thoughts?
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hi Dave,
Happy New Year! Sounds like a great initiative. Good luck and I will be sure to check out your blogs when I can.
Interesting idea. Captive audience just looking for a distraction/outlet. And with wireless becoming more and more available on flights and smart phones more and more prevalent, an app here and an app there and you’d have a platform.
Thanks for the thought provocation!
Ironically, I’m not sure airlines would WANT people to connect. The “distance” between strangers makes for a more quiet, dull, polite environment — which the airline staff want.
If people connect positively, there is the possibility of joy and commotion, and wanting to meet the person who contributed in such a wonderful way.
If people connect negatively, there is the possibility of hostility and commotion, and wanting to throttle the moron who posted such blather and ramblings.
Remote possibilities, granted, but still the potential is what airlines might smell.
I like the idea! Just not sure what the airlines would think about “connection” and “conversation”… They like quiet cattle.
Dave,
A most intriguing idea… I’m struggling with conflicted feelings about such an effort. I see the twitter, blogs, Facebook generation is populated by the younger folks (18 to 30 something?) who seem to be willing to let the world be invasive. I also see this same age span as relatively self centered therefore more willing to open up and divulge much of their private lives and inner feelings. The problem I see is that they typically have fewer life experiences from which to draw and, thereby, provide a researcher with “squishier” data. I do think this age group is more willing to network socially and/or to answer questions that deal with them self.
Conversely, those with more extended life experiences are those folks who’ve reached ages (50 something and beyond) that are beyond the point of technological seduction …. those who are probably not going to blog, twitter, or put them self on Facebook. I for one probably wouldn’t respond to “social networking” or to answer questions about or elaborate on personal or painful lessons .
I suspect your audience for such an endeavor would be younger, possibly financially less stable, and much more tech savvy… of course, this probably describes a large percent of the population market research wants.
Hope this makes sense and is of some help — I’m pleased to see you adventuring into new and unexplored areas.
Hi Dave,
Interesting idea. People sometimes react in unusual ways with the fleeting contact of an airplane flight. I have been in situations where personal and thoughtful information was openly shared with complete strangers. The faces and thoughts of these interchanges tend to remain long after the trip. The “intimacy” of 35K feet may unlock and reveal valuable thoughts and insights.
I’ll be back to visit your blog – and to read Doonesbury!
Interesting comments and thanks to all for choosing to participate.
I believe that the idea has potential for almost any situation where large numbers of people gather… concerts, sports events, conventions etc…
Using existing services and devices is the key.
I think that there is commercial potential for the concept but maybe not on airplanes. It would also be a new paradigm for market research.