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Making Big Data Actionable
As we move toward a semantic web, a web of understanding, everything changes. In this excellent post from Mark Van Rijmenam (@VanRijmenam) the coming Big Bang between Big Data (knowing what your customers are up to) and gamification (creating gamified rewards to shape behavior) is explored. 

Mark points out those GAMES generate BIG DATA. Imagine the matrix. You can know what customer segments and personas respond to what kinds of rewards. If you are an Ecom person replace the word "rewards" with offers to understand the immediate benefit of mining gamification’s Big Data. 

Mark's pieces is very pro-gamification (as I am). There is a group who decry gamification as mouse in maze wastes of time. Such analysis belittles gamification, the application of game theory to LIFE and marketing, and human nature. I don't feel LESS of a person because I'm competitive and enjoy rewards. 

In fact I'm working with the amazing team at Atlantic BT to "gamify" cancer right now for our http://www.curecancerstarter.org crowdfunding cancer research website. Is cancer a game? As a cancer survivor I would never suggest such a trite analogy, but having had chemo doesn't change how much I enjoy playing games (except DURING chemo which sucks pretty much). 

To those gamification / marketing naysayers I say read Mark's article and then tell me how what you plan to do is half as exciting. BTW, no one said gamification is the only cool thing that works, but I gamify so therefore I am :). Marty

More #Gamification thoughts on #GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/102639884404823294558/posts/b5YwzYHoGC1