Harold Britt, owner of Britt Insurance Agency, Inc./Nationwide (www.brittinsuranceagency.com) in Anson and Union counties, N.C., talks about the technology applications he learned by working with New Ventures Business Development Inc. (www.nvbdi.org). Using these services, Britt's business is growing and saving money at the same time. New Ventures is a publicly-supported business and technology center that offers free or low-cost counseling for small business owners and entrepreneurs, thereby creating jobs and local wealth in this rural community.
Showing posts with label social networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social networking. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Twittersphere
“As of December 2008, 11 percent of online American adults said they used a site like Twitter or another similar vehicle that allowed them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others.” (Twitter and Status Updating, Pew Internet & American Life Project)
For the uninitiated, Twitter is a free micro-blogging/social networking site that imposes a 140-character limit on each individual post or “tweet,” as such bite-sized status updates are called. The phenomenon allows you to give “followers” a real-time update, via computer or a mobile device, about what you’re doing at that very moment. So, let’s say you’re at the gym and you just bench-pressed 300 pounds. Now, who wouldn’t want to hear about that? Or, maybe you find it comforting to tweet when you’re having a bad day. You’re certainly not alone. Twitter is staying mum about the number of Twitterers it has snared, but estimates put the figure at between 4 and 5 million – not bad for a site that launched in 2006. And naysayers swore would never make it.
But what if minutia’s not your thing? Well, if you can get past the frivolity, Twitter has potential beyond its stated purpose. Consider fundraising and emergency notification, for instance.
If you blink, you might miss the fact that Twitter is about community-building, and Twestivals really capitalize on this notion. The 100 percent volunteer-run Twestival concept came about in September 2008 after a group of London Twitterers connected and organized a food drive/fundraising event to help a local homeless charity. Word spread quickly, and Twitterers had a hunch that the micro-fundraising concept could be elevated to affect change on a global level. That hunch was recently tested.
On Feb. 12, 2009, 202 international cities hosted a Twestival to unite the Twitter community in support of charity: water, a nonprofit bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. From Asheville, N.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa and beyond, people gathered for an evening of fun and fundraising. Some sold tickets for entry, while others collected $1 or $2 per participant. In the end, the event raised $250,000, which will be used to fund 55 sustainable water projects and provide clean water for over 17,000 people in Ethiopia, Uganda, and India. The first Twestival-funded well will be drilled in Ethiopia at the beginning of April. Imagine how this concept could be used to support causes and projects in North Carolina’s communities.
On the subject of emergency notification, think missing children. @MissingChildren is a Twitter account that was created by web developer Nate Ritter. The account uses data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to tweet about missing, endangered, and recovered children. Twitter is also being used by some cities and colleges as one part of an overall system to make people aware of crisis situations. It’s quick. It’s to the point. And perhaps most importantly in these economic times, there’s little to no impact on the bottom line.
For the uninitiated, Twitter is a free micro-blogging/social networking site that imposes a 140-character limit on each individual post or “tweet,” as such bite-sized status updates are called. The phenomenon allows you to give “followers” a real-time update, via computer or a mobile device, about what you’re doing at that very moment. So, let’s say you’re at the gym and you just bench-pressed 300 pounds. Now, who wouldn’t want to hear about that? Or, maybe you find it comforting to tweet when you’re having a bad day. You’re certainly not alone. Twitter is staying mum about the number of Twitterers it has snared, but estimates put the figure at between 4 and 5 million – not bad for a site that launched in 2006. And naysayers swore would never make it.
But what if minutia’s not your thing? Well, if you can get past the frivolity, Twitter has potential beyond its stated purpose. Consider fundraising and emergency notification, for instance.
If you blink, you might miss the fact that Twitter is about community-building, and Twestivals really capitalize on this notion. The 100 percent volunteer-run Twestival concept came about in September 2008 after a group of London Twitterers connected and organized a food drive/fundraising event to help a local homeless charity. Word spread quickly, and Twitterers had a hunch that the micro-fundraising concept could be elevated to affect change on a global level. That hunch was recently tested.
On Feb. 12, 2009, 202 international cities hosted a Twestival to unite the Twitter community in support of charity: water, a nonprofit bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. From Asheville, N.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa and beyond, people gathered for an evening of fun and fundraising. Some sold tickets for entry, while others collected $1 or $2 per participant. In the end, the event raised $250,000, which will be used to fund 55 sustainable water projects and provide clean water for over 17,000 people in Ethiopia, Uganda, and India. The first Twestival-funded well will be drilled in Ethiopia at the beginning of April. Imagine how this concept could be used to support causes and projects in North Carolina’s communities.
On the subject of emergency notification, think missing children. @MissingChildren is a Twitter account that was created by web developer Nate Ritter. The account uses data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to tweet about missing, endangered, and recovered children. Twitter is also being used by some cities and colleges as one part of an overall system to make people aware of crisis situations. It’s quick. It’s to the point. And perhaps most importantly in these economic times, there’s little to no impact on the bottom line.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Do People Even Care about Privacy Anymore?
The September 2008 issue of Scientific American led with the banner question “Will Technology Kill Privacy?” Behind this question are a series of articles that address a growing undercurrent of anxiety felt by many people about their ability to control the amount and type of personal information that is available about them online.
In the provocative opening editorial, John Rennie crystallizes what underpins the uneasiness that many people feel with the information fishbowl we all swim in – the connection between privacy and freedom. He cites an idea posited by English philosopher and ethicist Jeremy Bentham for a new form of prison, the panopticon, an all-seeing place where “inside its walls, convicted prisoners would be exposed to perpetual view from a central tower by an unseen jailer who would supervise their behavior, health and menial labor.” Bentham said that this would be effective because inmates would never know when they were being observed, so that out of uncertainty and fear – they would end up standing watch over themselves.
Bentham’s idea is brought forward and connected to the Internet by David Brin in his book The Transparent Society, in which he argues that “the modern conception of privacy is historically transient and made obsolete by new technology.” In the opening editorial, Rennie notes Brin’s central point, in that the only way to prevent abuses is to require that everyone, including governments, must be equally transparent.
Transparency? The Internet has the corner market on that, especially now with the booming vehicle of social networking. It is startling really, the frank disclosures that populate worlds like Facebook and MySpace. This seems to indicate that that millions of people are on some level, consciously or not, accepting a reduced valuation of privacy. Unchecked, the Internet allows for the reduction of ability to protect our reputations. But one could also argue that the thick and well-established lines between our personal lives, our family lives and our professional lives have quickly eroded – by choice.
In the provocative opening editorial, John Rennie crystallizes what underpins the uneasiness that many people feel with the information fishbowl we all swim in – the connection between privacy and freedom. He cites an idea posited by English philosopher and ethicist Jeremy Bentham for a new form of prison, the panopticon, an all-seeing place where “inside its walls, convicted prisoners would be exposed to perpetual view from a central tower by an unseen jailer who would supervise their behavior, health and menial labor.” Bentham said that this would be effective because inmates would never know when they were being observed, so that out of uncertainty and fear – they would end up standing watch over themselves.
Bentham’s idea is brought forward and connected to the Internet by David Brin in his book The Transparent Society, in which he argues that “the modern conception of privacy is historically transient and made obsolete by new technology.” In the opening editorial, Rennie notes Brin’s central point, in that the only way to prevent abuses is to require that everyone, including governments, must be equally transparent.
Transparency? The Internet has the corner market on that, especially now with the booming vehicle of social networking. It is startling really, the frank disclosures that populate worlds like Facebook and MySpace. This seems to indicate that that millions of people are on some level, consciously or not, accepting a reduced valuation of privacy. Unchecked, the Internet allows for the reduction of ability to protect our reputations. But one could also argue that the thick and well-established lines between our personal lives, our family lives and our professional lives have quickly eroded – by choice.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Benefits of Personal Communication (via the Web) Seriously Underrated
As we work to get more broadband around the state, and around the country, you often hear about the economic impact of broadband – the jobs made possible through access, the training and educational opportunities, the increased possibilities for local governments and healthcare, etc., etc.
But, in taking a break from all the economic stimulus talk, sometimes it seems we skip over the most fundamental aspect of broadband – simply providing a vehicle for personal communication. While this benefit may seldom come up during policy debates about public funding, it is still of valid importance.
In thinking of how we communicate with colleagues, friends and family, most of us have reached a point where our most constant communication is done over e-mail. It is simple really – by e-mail, we can reach a lot more people, in a lot less time. Do you have famiy or friends overseas or on the other side of the country? Well, you probably use VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) to talk with them. In this instance, it’s actually better than phone service because folks can use video as well. (Hey – pictures are great, but how else would you have such a great opportunity to see how quickly your nieces are growing?)
Then there’s Facebook. Talk to almost anyone using this and you’ll hear them go wild over how many unexpected (or forgotten, lost) friends they have suddenly and joyfully reconnected with. You now get to easily keep up with each other day-to-day, even if you haven’t actually spoken to them in years! Maybe these examples are too personal, but we would venture to say that many people would give up their televisions or cell phones before giving up their broadband access.
Some experts have argued that Internet-based communication erodes people’s ability to interact well in-person. But the personal communication aspects of broadband rank tremendously high for many people, above and beyond the obvious economic benefits of connectivity. It’s hard to imagine not having broadband access, and even harder to realize that so many people around the state don’t have this communication tool available.
But, in taking a break from all the economic stimulus talk, sometimes it seems we skip over the most fundamental aspect of broadband – simply providing a vehicle for personal communication. While this benefit may seldom come up during policy debates about public funding, it is still of valid importance.
In thinking of how we communicate with colleagues, friends and family, most of us have reached a point where our most constant communication is done over e-mail. It is simple really – by e-mail, we can reach a lot more people, in a lot less time. Do you have famiy or friends overseas or on the other side of the country? Well, you probably use VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) to talk with them. In this instance, it’s actually better than phone service because folks can use video as well. (Hey – pictures are great, but how else would you have such a great opportunity to see how quickly your nieces are growing?)
Then there’s Facebook. Talk to almost anyone using this and you’ll hear them go wild over how many unexpected (or forgotten, lost) friends they have suddenly and joyfully reconnected with. You now get to easily keep up with each other day-to-day, even if you haven’t actually spoken to them in years! Maybe these examples are too personal, but we would venture to say that many people would give up their televisions or cell phones before giving up their broadband access.
Some experts have argued that Internet-based communication erodes people’s ability to interact well in-person. But the personal communication aspects of broadband rank tremendously high for many people, above and beyond the obvious economic benefits of connectivity. It’s hard to imagine not having broadband access, and even harder to realize that so many people around the state don’t have this communication tool available.
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