Hi, my name is Alexander van Elsas, I am a married geek and have 4 children.
I am especially interested in the adoption of new (media, mobile, Internet) technologies by its users. In my blog I tend to write from a user centric point of view. If interested you can follow me on this blog , on twitter or find me on facebook. I’m a big fan of interaction, so I always try to reply to comments on my blog.
I’m an iPhone wannabe hacker, learning fast. I’m currently founder, CEO and lead iOS developer of Zwapp, a social app discovery service that recently launched and got attention from TechCrunch and Scobleizer. Zwapp will become the leading app discovery service that allows you to find great new apps together with your friends. Why not give it a try? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
I also run www.pinkelstar.com, a mobile social analytics company, soon to be renamed to Zwapp Connect.
PinkelStar is a service that is aimed at mobile application developers (iPhone and Android). It offers developers the ability to integrate social networks like Facebook and Twitter natively into their app. It lets app users take their favorite apps into their social networks and tell their friends about it. It comes with stats and much, much more. You can follow PinkelStar on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and read about our developments on the PinkelStar blog.
Before that I used to be CEO of Glubble, a startup that was responsible for the Glubble for Families service, a unique Family browser that connects families including small children online. Glubble provided children a safe and fun experience on the web and provides families a private family page where they can send each other messages, share photos and create family events. Glubble has been downloaded more than 800.000 times and was used in more than 125 countries worldwide. Unfortunately it ceased to exist.
The past years I have also been working in the field of social media technology advising several companies on their Web 2.0 strategy and initiatives.
In a previous life I got myself a PhD in the field of computer science meeting Industrial Design (Delft Technical University: FreeForm Displacement Features in Conceptual Shape Design). After getting my PhD I went to work at the research lab of KPN, the Royal Dutch Telecommunications company in the Netherlands. I have worked there in many projects on technology/service development. I also have worked in the mobile field and was involved in the technical and commercial roll-out of UMTS in the Netherlands for KPN.
@vanelsas 
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So you think that there’s a future in voice recognition, past English? It’s already difficult to translate preloaded text correctly into other languages, let alone automatic voice to text recognition in multiple languages, especially for mobiles. I know they have voice to text to quickly find a contact/action that’s written on a phone/phonebook… but I don’t really think, at this point in time, that voice to text is logical for global use.
@bessy I would agree on that. It works for simple directives, but is difficult for natural language.
“I love trying to make technology work for the user, instead of making the user work for the technology.”
I like that quote from a Consumer’s perspective. But the R & D guys may opt for the latter. 🙂
“PhD in the field of computer science meeting Industrial Design”
I’d never heard, CS had got to do something with ID. Is this a new kind of specialization?
@techsadhu they might not look related, but if Industrial Design has taught me anything at all it is that the best designs are the simplest ones. Just think Apple and you will understand what I mean.
Hi Alexander,
I am so glad to have found this wonderful blog of yours. You seem to be monopolizing the “starred items” on my Google reader. 🙂 If you have time, come visit Openweb.Asia – sort of the web 2.0 workgroup of the Asia, where my own blog is also part of.
Hi Chang (I went over to web 2.0 Asia to look up your name) 😉 Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad to hear you enjoy reading my posts 🙂
I have been regularly following your blogs.I am working in a Web 2.0 R and D lab.
I was thinking if Performance Appraisals could also be 2.0 fied just like other 2.0 revolutions.Will the Wisdom of Crowds be of any help to the Performance appraisals.Also Is there any possibility of a 360 degree appraisal with an element of Web 2.0 in it ???
Would like to get your views on it.
you can email me at
pkaarthikeyan@gmail.com
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