Mobile Content Writers - MoCo Commentary by Lynn Walford

Think Outside the Handset into the Hearts and Minds of Users

In the world of mobile content, I see a lot of copycatting going on, licensing of other formats for the mobile screen instead of creating new art forms. In a recent essay in the The Los Angeles Times Magazine(West), "“Shrink Wrap," Dan Neil reports that he thinks that highly visual films will not translate to the small screen of the iPhone or iPod and give "iHeaddaches". I say lets create a new from and give the public more bang for their bucks.

Mobile content creators ought to be creating tools, entertainment and text that enlightens informs and makes the world a better place. One place where there is a vast capacity for solving problems is in location-based-services (LBS). I flipped out when I saw an app that with GPS in the phone actually kept track of mileage. After having survived an IRS audit where I had reproduce, I mean produce a year of mileage records, the possibility of a downloadable mileage not only made me smile, it made me bless the GPS chipset and satellite.

Yes, GPS is great to find a Starbucks, pizza or movie, but there can be so much more. How about a clean public restroom? The cheapest gas station? The best fresh strawberry or corn road stand? This where knowledge is power and intelligence rules. In a world where everyone wants something instantly few businesses take the time to do the research to find the answers instead they just aggregate other sources for long lists of way too much information. It’s not just location, location, location but edited directed precise information.

This brings me to my other pet peeve, instead of writing new news stories there is an endless supply of news aggregators who just take a press release and re-release it as story. One news release can appear on the web over and over a gain. When I’m paying high access rates, I don’t want to have to sift through the same ol’ same ol’ for the information I need in the moment.

What ever happened to customer service? The development of services that take the work out of the web surfer’s hand and delivers it directly to handset. We see fantastic service with Voce, a high-end premium wireless service that is beyond --- in cars and hires Personal Mobile Assistants (live people) to help its customers. But let’s think beyond that by taking the best of other media and finding a way to make it easier for everyone.

Do I know the answers yet? One thing I know for sure about creativity is that every question is usually answered with from somewhere. Right now, my friend is at track meet with her son and she can’t leave, she’s beyond a soccer mom. She’s an attorney and want to work part time while managing the lives of three boys. What kind of things could we help her while she’s at the soccer game all day? I have an hour ride to airport coming up to pick up a friend. How can I check or the arrival time of the flight and the traffic without running into the guy watching video on his Razr?

There is an all too important phrase I learned when I was a sales associate at posh retailer, “How can I help you?"

Lynn Walford is a freelance writer who writes mobile content.

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