Robert Scoble

Robert Scoble is an American technology journalist, blogger and author known for his early influence in tech blogging and social media. He gained prominence in the early 2000s while working as a technical evangelist at Microsoft, where he maintained an influential blog that offered insider perspectives on the company. During his career, Scoble has written extensively about emerging technologies, particularly in areas like virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and social media. His 2006 book "Naked Conversations," co-authored with Shel Israel, explored how blogs were transforming business communications and became a significant text in the early social media era. After Microsoft, Scoble worked as a video blogger for Fast Company and later joined Rackspace as their Startup Liaison Officer. His work has focused on identifying and analyzing technological trends, though his predictions and analyses have sometimes drawn criticism from others in the tech industry. Scoble's approach to technology journalism has emphasized personal experience and direct engagement with new products and innovations. He maintains an active presence across various social media platforms and continues to comment on developments in technology through his blog and other online channels.

Readers view Scoble's work with skepticism due to his tendency to make bold tech predictions that don't materialize. His blog posts and social media commentary receive criticism for surface-level analysis and over-hyping new technologies. What readers liked: - Early insider perspective on Microsoft during blogging's rise - Accessible writing style that explains tech concepts to non-experts - "Naked Conversations" captured the initial impact of business blogging What readers disliked: - Frequent inaccurate predictions about VR/AR adoption - Self-promotional tone in reviews and analysis - Lack of critical perspective when evaluating new products On Goodreads, "Naked Conversations" holds a 3.7/5 rating across 373 reviews. Readers praised its historical significance but note its dated content. One reviewer called it "an interesting time capsule of early social media optimism." Amazon reviews average 3.5/5 stars, with criticism focusing on Scoble's "superficial understanding" of complex topics and "endless self-reference," according to multiple reviewers.

Age of Context: Mobile, Sensors, Data and the Future of Privacy (2013) Examines how contextual technology and data collection are changing human interaction with devices and services.

Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers (2006) Analysis of how business communication evolved with the rise of blogging and social media.

The Fourth Transformation: How Augmented Reality & Artificial Intelligence Will Change Everything (2016) Explores the impact of AR and AI technologies on business, society, and daily life.

Chris Anderson writes about technology's impact on business and society, with books like "The Long Tail" and "Free". His work examines digital economics and emerging tech trends similar to Scoble's analysis of transformative technologies.

Kevin Kelly focuses on the intersection of technology, culture and future trends through books like "The Inevitable" and "What Technology Wants". His perspective on technological evolution aligns with Scoble's forward-looking examination of emerging tech.

Peter Diamandis examines how exponential technologies will shape the future through books like "Bold" and "Abundance". His work covers similar territory to Scoble's analysis of transformative technologies and their business implications.

Paul Graham writes about startups, technology and innovation through essays and books like "Hackers & Painters". His insights into the tech industry and entrepreneurship parallel Scoble's insider view of Silicon Valley.

Clay Shirky analyzes how technology changes human behavior and organization in books like "Here Comes Everybody" and "Cognitive Surplus". His exploration of social and technological transformation mirrors Scoble's focus on tech's societal impact.