Friday, January 13, 2017

NDA



A few weeks ago, I got an email from Facebook asking me to fill out a survey to see if I qualified to be part of some study/focus group they were running.  I was a little dubious, but I clicked on the link to fill out the survey (SurveyMonkey, really?) and it asked me some demographic information and how I take photos on my phone.  I sent it in and forgot about it.  Then last week, I got an email stating that I had been selected and Facebook gave me a bunch of possible times to come down to the Facebook campus in Menlo Park to be part of a study.  After a couple of emails going back and forth, I scheduled a 2PM meeting this past Thursday afternoon.  Turns out due to the school basketball teams playing a game against their city rival at Oracle Arena, we only had half day of class, so I had the afternoon free.  Onions and I drove down and I checked in, still thinking this all might be a scam.  But there my name was in their system and I was given this badge and was allowed up to the second floor of Building 20 on the Facebook campus.  This was the real deal.  And yes, the offices look exactly what you expect, lots of exposed beams, big windows, lots of young healthy looking employees in a big open office floor plan.  I thought I would be in a focus group but it was just me with the researcher.  During the first part of the hour, I was asked how I use Messenger on my phone and how I take photos on my phone.  Then the balance of the hour was me being asked to try and perform tasks on a new product. Why I liked it and why I didn't.  I was filmed and probably being watched through the one (or is it one way where they can see me but I can't see them) mirror.  And then it was over.  I got a $75 Amazon gift card and then Onions and I headed off to where else?  IKEA.