So I’ve tapped into audio platform known as Soundcloud. And
admittedly it still seems a bit odd to me.
Perhaps I need to identify some sort of categorical arrangement. It seems somewhat random in a definitive
search. But I have immediately recognized the platforms usefulness.
Clips
from the Soundcloud platform could be used within a site as references. They
seem to bring an intimacy or personal point of view to the subject matter. They can illustrate or emphasis through audio
tracks, to give the reader a clearer sense of your intention. It can also be utilized highlight
collaboration efforts.
Overall,
I find it to be a small, but advantageous tool.
The frenzy of Social Networking is
all about us. Through media websites like Facebook, Google +, and Twitter,
people are connecting both personally and professionally. Armed with an interactive
arsenal of tools like e-mail, blogs, and message boards, individuals are
reaching out to convey their interests and concerns. The technology is being professional
utilized by businesses to create career contacts, to educate, and to conduct commerce.
Social media increasingly become more subjective.
Even
in connection with businesses, blogging has emerged as a staple. In fact, today
a business is neglecting their potential reach if they do “...not have a blog
(or “learning center”) that is actively updated on a regular basis.”(Beachum) Whether its conventional blogging
or Microblogging, the broadcasting of up-to-date activities can help to keep
interest in your ideas, and the incorporation of hashtags will indicate a
trending topic.
Other
services, such as Short Message Service
(SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service
(MMS) enable messaging by way of cell phones. Though this facilitates a mere
160 characters on average, it also allows the transfer of audio and video files
via text messaging.
The
ability to Chat is facilitated through a web interface or special client.
Within a chat room, people are able to converse in real time, on usually a
particular designated topic. However, there are chat sites more tailored toward
conventional discussions, such as the ever popular Skype or web-based chats that
allow participants to explore a variety of ongoing discussion threads. As
always though, caution must be taken to insure the security of personal
information over such sites. Not all users of social media are as friendly as
the sites they may prey upon.
When considering the statistic that
“more than 94%of Internet-connected
American adults use e-mail,” it is safe to assume that most people are
fluent with e-mail transactions. Perhaps it’s because of this fact that
marketers intend to increase their email advertising budgets over the next year.
The immediate advantages of e-mail, including that of speed, affordability, and
accessibility are obvious and beneficial to both individuals and businesses.
But the actual components of the system may not be so familiar.
www.business2community.com
Beginning
with an e-mail client, such as Microsoft Outlook, an account is set up to support
the creation and transference of various e-mail communications. Once synced to
a particular e-mail address, the messages are transferred via TCP/IP suites and packet switching. A DNS server determines the path of the
messages and directs them through several alternate routers until arriving at a
designated mail server.
Depending
upon the e-mail client, messages may be handled in different ways. Through a POP server, all messages are downloaded
and stored onto the customer’s computer. Though all mail is managed by the server,
all messages must be managed from the customer’s computer. An IMAP mail server,
however, stores and maintains all messages on the server, allowing the customer
more flexibility in their e-mail management. IMAP also allows synchronizing accessibility
from differing computers.
An
e-mail could be as simple as plain text message addressed to a single recipient,
or an elaborate formal communication to several addressees. It could include a
lengthy message, graphics, attached files, and links to pertinent web pages. A
customer can receive, compose, and send messages instantly anywhere at any
time. But always keep in mind that e-mails are also very impersonal and,
because they lack tone or expression, can be misconstrued.
My initial reaction to Google Docs was one of pessimism. I
am an avid fan of Microsoft Word, and there was no way something else could
produce at such a universal level. But I soon realized that it is in fact a
whole new level of document crafting. The program excels in both capabilities and usability.
After
familiarizing myself with a few Google Docs forms, I recognized several
potential applications for it as a writer. Beyond the fundamental use of word
document creation, the spreadsheet and presentations formats of Google Docs will
enable me to address the business aspects of professional writing. I can now easily articulate myself through
both literary and visual expression within the same document. It serves as
almost a self-publishing program.
Whether
my future pursuits take me into public relations, marketing, or any media field,
I can create rich supportive documentations to convey my creative ideas. That
fact that it is located in one place helps to insure originality and
authorship. Yet I am still able to allow my writing to be edited by selected
individuals.
Over the last month, I've been linked with others through
the highly praised social connection of LinkedIN. The initial establishing of an
account and discovering compatible contacts was relatively easy. I even received
several requests from other professionals within the writing arena.
My
opinion of this endeavor thus far is still divided. For the reason that I look
at it as yet another collection of my personal life left at the curb for all to
rummage through. I’m beginning to believe there is no privacy left within our
everyday lives. Plus, it seems be another facet to constantly be checking in
on.
Yet on
the supportive side, we have the professional aspects of it. After all, I’m not
simply connected to professionals; I am connected to authorities within my area
of interest. Much like Twitter, I have daily interaction with literary agents,
publishing firms, or simply other writers. And those are things I could definitely utilize...
So I
think I will need to see which way the scales tip as I continue to pursue my
career as a writer.
Gone are the days of being shackled to desktop computers, as
businesses turn to mobile devices in an effort to be more productive and
efficient. Any basic search of Yahoo will produce countless articles and blogs
pertaining to the future of mobile technology. But in looking deeper into first
hand authoritative sites, we find the essential need for untethered commerce has
gone to lofty extents.
www.3seventy.com
Private
devices within the workplace were once highly frowned upon. But now businesses
want their employees to be “connected.” They
want to broaden their products and ideas far beyond the company structure. Mobile devices enable this by keeping task
lists for employee, scheduling projects and updating statuses. Accessibility to
company information while on the job site has helped to reduce travel and
energy costs. Apps give the ability to track expenses, customer relations
through social networking, or communication with clients. Additionally, there is
the benefit of mass storage within these devices; “Up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of
data (equating to approximately 80,000 boxes of paper) can be stored in a
device as small as a pen.”(Milligan)
Yet,
every improvement has its drawbacks. Foremost, the substantial cost to large
companies in providing their employees with current technology in an ever
advancing age; yet another reason why many companies encourage the private
devices. Having differing Android and iPhone operating systems can produce
great problems for IT managers. There are multiple security and management
issues when utilized for a business, from viruses to the theft of company
information.
A
possible option for companies is the development of Cloud Computing.
I have now obtained a LinkedIn account and increased the
size of my digital footprint exponentially.
Being quite conservative socially, it all gives me this sensation of
standing at the edge of a great chasm, in about 50 mph winds. I realize that it
a progressive step in life, even as it goes against most of my reasoning.
Right
out of the gate I can see the benefits of having such a connection;
professionalism. It will allow me to connect and engage with specialized
contacts that will inevitably further my professional career. Through it I can
keep current with other writers and publishers, be alerted to prospective job
opportunities, and create a somewhat social resume for others to view.
My concern,
aside from immediate consumption of even more of my limited time, is the incursion
upon my privacy. Unlike many, I do not like to openly share. My closest friends
do not ever know what I will get them for Christmas or when I might stop in. I
want my words, not my everyday life to be known. I like to be enigmatic, which
to me is intriguing. I don’t need to know people that well; and well, I
probably wouldn’t want to anyway.
Perhaps
I am being too vigilant. All things considered, we live in a world where all is
accessible and little is wondrous any more. Unwittingly we follow, to be like
all others, to be the carbon copy, to leave our carbon digital footprint.
