Facebook is always full of little localization/location-sensitive tricks. I started to take notice a few years ago on a trip to Mexico when I was asked if I’d like to change my language to Spanish. At the time, it appeared that facebook used Geotargeting to figure out where in the world you were. They still do this and also have an arsenal of methodologies they test to make it easier for people to connect to you.

• What’s your Japanese name?

One of the languages I’ve put on my facebook profile is Nihongo, or Japanese. This prompted facebook to ask me if I had a Japanese name, which undoubtedly would make it easier for Japanese users to connect with me on facebook, if I were of Japanese descent.

• One-time use QR codes

On a recent trip to Japan, I noticed several things popped up in the sidebar while communicating on facebook. One of the things that stuck out was a one-time QR code that allowed me to log in on my Japanese mobile phone

• What Train Station is nearest to you?

On that same recent trip, after changing my current home location to Tokyo, Japan, facebook asked what train station was closest to me.

 

  

All this heat here in Vancouver’s got me thinking… what about Japan?

In 2005, The Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) began advocating the Cool Biz campaign as a means to help reduce electric consumption by limiting use of air conditioning. According to the Environment Ministry, central government ministries were to set air conditioner temperatures at 28°C until September… (more at Wikipedia, HERE.)

People in Japan were encouraged to wear moisture absorbent clothing and sweat it out!

Fast forward to 2009, someone’s figured out that there’s something really wrong with this. (Other than the stench of dead animal emanating from good ole Watanabe-san in the cubicle next door.)

From Terrie’s Take #527:

-> ‘Cool Biz’ hurts economy

A former economist for the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo, fed up with having to work in an office whose air conditioning was set to a sweltering 28 degrees per the Cool Biz guidelines, has found that the high temperature in offices rather than helping the economy, is actually hurting it. The researcher found that high office temperatures are reducing office worker productivity nationally by about JPY653bn (US$6.9bn) a year, or 0.13% of the nation’s GDP. According to the researcher, the ideal temperature to save energy and yet suit the wearing of cool biz-type clothing, and which is used by the United Nations, is around 25 degrees. The researcher discovered that for each degree the air conditioning is set above 25, worker productivity drops by 1.9%. ***Ed: Cool biz ain’t so cool after all.** (Source: TT commentary from bloomberg.com, Jul 23, 2009)

Here’s the LINK to the full story and don’t forget to check out Terrie Lloyd, HERE. Oh yea, and stay thirsty, my friends.