I’d like to introduce Appozitegeist, my new blog where I will write in my official capacity as a founder of Appozite. Appozite is a totally new kind of e-commerce company, focused on bringing shopping into an era of social software and smart recommendations, creating a more relevant and fun experience, both for shoppers and retailers. Appozite is a brand new company, so expect lots of changes and updates in the coming weeks and months as we get things going.

I’ll still be blogging here about my dissertation and my various academic research interests revolving around organizational communication, technology and work. The Appozitegeist blog will explore shopping, style and social issues; it’s bound to be quite different from what I talk about here. I’m very excited about the new company and my role there, so give it a look!

I’m just getting home from the last party after the last panels of SXSWi 2008. It was a great conference where I met a number of very interesting people. I’ll be posting more on what I learned over the next few days. Also, I really am updating this site over the next few days as well. So, travel safely my new friends, and I’ll be talking to you soon!

I’m in the process of moving my blog and other content to this new site. Welcome to www.deeringdavis.com! Things may look a little rough over the next few days, but it’ll be finished soon. You can be looking forward to much more than a blog by the time I’m done, I can promise you that.

A reader posted this question on Fast Company’s website, and though there are only four responses so far, everyone has said yes. Huh.

Update: I didn’t have time to elaborate any on this before, but I can now. I am not at all surprised that people check their Blackberries while with their families or friends. But I am a little surprised they admit to it so readily. I would have expected a social desirability bias in people’s responses; isn’t it bad to work when you’re with your kids? That’s what TV says anyway.

Looking at their individual responses is a bit more revealing - the four responses use language like “need to stop that” and “wow I have no life.” So maybe these people are comfortable telling the world they check their Blackberries while with their kids, as long as they admit that it might be a bad thing.

I wonder what kids think of Blackberries and their ilk. When I was little, no one had cell phones, especially not my parents. Do they mind that their parents keep their Blackberries around all the time? Do they think their parents are important or cool? Do kids want their own Blackberries?