A new generation of simple, affordable and easy to use tools has led to what has been called the "democratization of publishing". Anyone with a camera has become a "photographer", with a keyboard an "author", a microphone a "podcaster", etc. As the means for production and distribution of content have become readily accessible, the most valuable inelastic commodity has become attention. In this talk we will describe both how Yahoo has been working to lower barriers to participation and turn every "consumer" into a "creator", but also how we are using data mining techniques to help identify and leverage high-value content. Yahoo! is creating systems that engender mass participation but also that allow the "cream to rise" by ensuring that every user of the system creates value in his or her wake. Examples from widely available real world products (such as Flickr, Yahoo! Answers, del.icio.us, upcoming.org, etc.) will be used as illustrations.
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