My Moment to Speak

What is the Future of Blogging?

2008-04-28T00:53:00.003-04:00

Now it has come to the end of the semester and since I am not required to continue blogging, I am not sure if I am going to continue to do so. My decision will be based on the future of blogging. A number of things come to mind right away.

To what extent can my be used against me?
How effective of a social network are blogs?
How effective will they be in the future?
What are the alternatives?

I really do enjoy blogging, but I am not sure it is something I will continue to do in the future. I began to browse the internet and search for articles about the future and came across a very interesting blog where it talked about the future of blogs in terms of how people will use them and how they will be affected in the future. It lists nine distinct points which I find pretty believable and I have to say I agree. Based on all this I am not sure if this is my first and last blog. I will just have to see how technology evolves and use all the resources available to me to get ahead. It has been fun...farewell...for now.

One More Social Network Couldn't Hurt, But Email?

2008-04-21T00:56:00.004-04:00

After reading an article in the Technology Section of the NY Times called Inbox 2.0: Yahoo and Google to Turn E-Mail Into a Social Network, it has become clear to me that social networking is growing nonstop and the technology for it has just begun to evolve. Just looking back at the days of simple communications through the internet with programs such as AOL or AIM where users can have a profile and customize it any way they like. Then sites like MySpace and Facebook, came into the picture and developed a basis for a community of individuals to become friends, share comments, and network. But that was only the beginning. Now I hear giants like Google and Yahoo want to turn their web-email services into social networks. This is definitely a great way to expand their business and make a ton of money, but are we ready for this? I have to say, it sounds like a great idea and I am all for having one easy page with everything I would want to check on it like iGoogle, but more. This is just the evolving technology and one more social network couldn't hurt. But there are dangers involved with expanding social networks this way. Overall, we need to look ahead and see what is best for the future.

Below is a great video about the dangers of social networking and they are outlined for each site based on case. Enjoy!

The Evolution of GPS Technology

2008-04-14T01:25:00.003-04:00

After reading an article on the Rise and rise of GPS Mobile, it has just hit me that technology is evolving and there is nothing we can do about it. Now we do not even need to buy fancy navigation systems or even pay extra for them. Your cell phone, yes that device you use on a daily basis to make and receive calls, text message, check your email, and even listen to music, can now tell you where you are and how to get where you are going. It can also tell you where something is located and provide you a map of the area. In think this has to be one of the greatest additions to the technology world. Everything you need, built into one phone. The Iphone is a prime example of this. I have one and it really does have everything I would ever need. Now with the recent addition of the GPS application, my phone can tell me where I am and give me directions to where I need to go. With this new application, we can all find where we need to go and you don't even need to be in a car. You can use your phone!

Below is a video that shows you how the GPS application work on the iphone.

The New Politics: Facebook?

2008-04-07T02:01:00.003-04:00

What is the deal with Facebook and Politics? After reading a blog about how facebook changes politics, it has come to my attention that social networking sites are now being taken advantage of and abused by many politicians as well as political supporters and such. But, why would a social networking site mainly created for the use of making and staying connected to friends be used for politics? The answer to the question is simple and is clearly expressed in the blog. It stated that,

"Politics on the internet is about a tension: between politicians trying to use it to attract supporters and people trying to use it to influence change. The tension is that most of each group sees the other as a necessary evil that needs to be harnessed. If neither fully understands why the other is in this new space then their interaction is minimal."

I was never really into politics and ever since I came to DC, it has been hard to steer clear of anything having to do with politics. It has been all over the news, newspaper headlines, posters, etc., basically everywhere. I don't think politics should invade social networking sites. There are other sites and ways to express your opinion or support your cause. Even though using social networking sites may benefit the politician or supporters, it's not necessary. The evolution of the technology has opened up a robust forum for people to use and abuse. Now there are so many different sites dedicated to specific interests or views and there is no need for politics to expand so much as to invade sites for the purpose of influencing a change.

Below is a very interesting video on Facebook and politics, what a coincidence. Its short and interesting. Enjoy!

Blog On/ Blog Off: To What Degree Can My Blog Be Used Against Me?

2008-03-30T23:11:00.005-04:00

So I am beginning to learn that this is an ongoing pattern. First it was Myspace, then Facebook, etc., and now my blog can be looked at and be used against me. Where is all the privacy? I am now learning that the Blog I am using for my class can be used against me in the future by employers, while I am only expressing my thoughts and opinions freely. I understand that I may say things others won't agree with but this is my blog and I should be allowed to speak my mind.

Employers can now even further invade your private life. After reading Joshua Porters post on "The Blog is the New Resume," many things came to mind. A blog can benefit an individual if the potential employer likes what the blogger is talking about; however if your the guy who brings up many controversial issues and say things other wont agree with, your less likely to be hired. Below are the main points he brought up from the original post by Bokardoan Adam Darowski.

1. Your blog represents you.

2. Your blog is serious business.

3. You blog is an archive.

4. Your blog isn’t the only mirror of your life.

5. Your blog is your unedited version of yourself.

He basically highlights the main points that a person should start a blog, but at their own risk. When ever you write something, you are giving your right away for others to read it and even though I don't agree with this, thats the way it is. We all just need to watch what we write and post on social networking sites and the internet in general because with the current technology available to employers, they can basically find anything. Be safe and be careful! Apparently your blog can be used as your resume'. Thats great if you are an active blogger and are blogging for a cause. As for me, I am doing this for a class and for fun. My blog is not intended for professional use, but for private use.

Below is a video with instructions on how to adjust your blogger privacy settings. It features Eric Case and he gives you a video tutorial on how to do so. This video is short and easy to follow. Enjoy!

The Future of Social Media?

2008-03-23T22:28:00.005-04:00

Before actually reading about it, I have never heard of citizen journalism or anything about it. When you even think about it, what does "citizen journalism" even mean? It is basically an ordinary person tells you what happened through his/her own perspective. Below is a very interesting video, though kind of long, that explained everything i need to know about citizen journalism.

Although the video is very interesting, i do not agree with the idea, nor do i agree with the idea presented by this video called EPIC 2014. The concept of the EPIC 2014 video provided an insight on the evolution of our world in media and the internet. It was very scary but true. Nowadays, the majority of people are relying on the media, a.k.a. other people, for information that they consider accurate and truthful. There is no problem with this because these are the people who are actually going out there and doing the work to find the information required, analyze it and report it to the people. This is done everyday, 24/7. People watch the news or browse the various sites available to catch up on the most recent news.

However, when it comes to news being reported through an altered perspective such as in a blog or social news site, the quality of the information changes. The validity of the story comes to questions because how can you trust an ordinary person telling you the latest about a recent event through his view in a blog or social networking site. I understand that journalism is a profession and that there are experts out there, but doing something like this on a more social level poses consequences for the future of media and I do not believe that it will work.

Virtual Teams = So Many Benefits!!!!

2008-03-17T17:57:00.008-04:00

"Virtual teams are the workhorses—and the unexpected blessings—of today’s organizations. Whether crossing organizational, geographic, time-zone, cultural, language, or discipline boundaries, far-flung teams are the beautiful inventions that simplify work for smart enterprises." - Jessica Lipnack and Jeff Stamps

Virtual Teams are yet another addition to our ongoing technological advancement. They provide endless benefits for worldwide corporations and their workforce. Remember when you had to travel countless hours to different cities, states, or even countries? We’ll there is no need to continue spending so much corporate funds to buy plane, train and bus tickets. Studies have found that virtual teams work for some companies and don’t for others. But, that’s the way technology works.

Virtual Teams eliminate the stress of traveling and at the same time save money and prove to be as effective as meeting in-person. They make it easier for members to communicate without even having to be in the same place. Employees don’t even have to leave their workspace and that way they can get so much more done. The prospect of all businesses are Virtual Teams and they will be successful if companies take the necessary steps forward to make them work. There are many arguments against the used of Virtual Teams because they eliminate the face to face interaction, but they prove to be effective in the workforce.

Below is a list of 10 rules provided by Lynda Gratton, a professor of management at London Business School. These rules are very valuable and help virtual teams work. They are as follows:

Invest in an online resource where members can learn quickly about one another.
Choose a few team members who already know each other.
Identify "boundary spanners" and ensure that they make up at least 15% of the team.
Cultivate boundary spanners as a regular part of companywide practices and processes.
Break the team's work up into modules so that progress in one location is not overly dependent on progress in another.
Create an online site where a team can collaborate, exchange ideas and inspire one another.
Encourage frequent communication. But don't try to force social gatherings.
Assign only tasks that are challenging and interesting.
Ensure the task is meaningful to the team and the company.
When building a virtual team, solicit volunteers as much as possible.

A more detailed description of these rules can be found here. Also below is an interesting video that highlights the benefits of Virtual Teams. Please take a look and enjoy the points brought up by this man.

Why Stay Connected?

2008-03-02T22:42:00.006-05:00

Throughout my college life, all I have heard from my professors, public speakers, and many company presentations, is that in order to get ahead in life, you must be well connected. Now what do we mean by connected? Connected means that you know many people who can help you through jobs and many other employment opportunities. I strongly agree with this because the more people you know, the better off you are and the easier it will be to find a job in the future. I have been looking for jobs and internships since freshman year and let me tell you it has not been easy. Employers have told me that its good that I am starting off early and searching for jobs and internships, but they are looking for "older and more experienced" juniors or seniors. However, nothing is easy and in order to actually find a job, you must take advantage of all connections and opportunities available to you. An article posted on Boston.com, gives some very helpful steps to doing so. They are as follows:

Step 1 – Define yourself and what you’re looking for
Step 2 – Define your initial network
Step 3 – Start in your comfort zone
Step 4 – Expand your network beyond campus
Step 5 – Keep track and keep in touch

Utilizing all of your resources is essential to your success in finding a job. I just found out about a site called LinkedIn. This site provides everything you would need in the business world such as contacts, jobs, expert advice, and many other opportunities and this is all told to you on the front page of the site. Also below is a great video that tells you all about the site.

The basic message is to stay in touch with people who can help you and develop your own network. In order to succeed in life, you must take advantage of every resource available to you. In other words, "It's not what you know, but who you know."

Great...I Still Have No Privacy!!!!

2008-02-24T22:33:00.005-05:00

Don't we all wish it was that easy? With the push of a button, we can have privacy on the computer!!

News Flash, that is not possible. Social Networking sites like facebook, myspace, etc., never delete your private information even if you delete your account. Servers run by these sites keep our private information and it never gets deleted. Yes, that means if you where to re-activate your account on one of theses sites, ALL of your information will be available. More information provided here.

This is very disturbing. Why would I want my private information, keyword: "PRIVATE," stored on a server? Most likely I deleted or deactivated the account for a reason and the reason was that I did not want others to see what I was like in my private life. I'm not the way I used to be. I am a completely different person. Now if i reactivate any of my accounts, there may be information posted that some employers may find unsuitable, however that is how I used to be. There is no need to let people know how I used to be because I have changed and can create a new account if I wanted to. No need for my information to be stored.

Now we have to think before we put pictures, comments, and personal information up on the internet because it never gets deleted. Its like there is always an eye watching you and tends to get very creepy...
Also be sure to watch this great video about internet privacy and what others think:

Exactly, it is a Second Life….

2008-02-18T00:28:00.004-05:00

What in the world is Second Life? Why would I want one? When I first heard about Second Life, I had no idea what to expect. Is it a program, company, website? After reading and article and watching a slide show, I clearly see that it is exactly what it says, a Second Life. This program offers its users a chance to have two lives, one real one and one virtual one. This programs looks just like SIMS, however there is so much more you can do with Second Life. Its simply another world.

You can have you own identity, character, everything!!!!! You can buy and sell land using REAL MONEY!!! You can even have sex, which is kind of strange in my opinion because its not real. This program is your Second Life and you can do whatever you want. I cannot wait to use this program and experience firsthand all it has to offer.

If you think there is something I have not told you about this program, please watch this:

Technology, who needs it?

2008-02-10T23:27:00.001-05:00

Why in the world would we need computers, the internet, cell phones, etc.? Well the answer is simple. Without these innovations, we would not be where we are right now. Think about it, how many things are run by computers? A whole lot and some people just don’t realize how much easier our lives are with technology. You can browse the internet to shop or look up your favorite bands profile or even watch movies. However people like Doris Lessing, disagree. She says,

“We are in a fragmenting culture, where our certainties of even a few decades ago are questioned and where it is common for young men and women, who have had years of education, to know nothing of the world, to have read nothing, knowing only some speciality or other, for instance, computers”

I’m sorry Doris, but I am going to have to disagree with you. We are in a technological revolution and the more advances we can get the better. That is why we have moved on. I personally cannot even picture the world without technology. That is why I strongly believe that technology is the foundation of our being. Computers run things like stock market, hospitals, banks and even airports. The use of this technology helped us create an advanced society, where things can be done for you with the push of a button. Yes, I can see why some people rebel technology, because they did not have it during their childhood and are not used to it. But, its time to move on and accept change. Technology, we need it…

Kendra's Words of Wisdom

2008-02-10T16:07:00.000-05:00

Kendra's Blog contains an incredible overview on how social networks are both beneficial and detrimental to society and its people. With these new innovations, employers know have the opportunity to see what their employees are doing, while they should be working instead of browsing the internet or such. This can both help the employee if they are doing their work and hurt them by getting them fired for their actions or for what they view. All in all, not everyones perfect and we know that, but people cannot be judged by what they view and this strengthens my belief in the fact that we do need privacy in our lives.

Wait…I can have things my way?

2008-02-04T02:17:00.000-05:00

We have all been in a situation where we saw a shirt or shoes or a pair of pants that seemed great, but if it where in a different color or fabric. Simply put, why can’t we just have everything customized to our liking? Well, Nike decided to take a few steps ahead of its competitors and incorporate NikeID, a site where you can customize sneakers, in its stores. Now, not only I can shop for shoes or sneakers without even leaving my room, I can customize the features and create my own ideal shoe. This is a major break through in the online business world. It helps Nike boost its image and customer satisfaction rating. Why wouldn’t anyone want to customize their own perfect shoe?

I designed and ordered sneakers from NikeID and they looked great. Competitors should wake up and see how advanced the world is right now and take advantage of the online business market. This site only helps generate profits for Nike because everyone wants their own style, so why not customize it?

I personally am happy with the way companies are expanding their markets. Nike is making a lead example here. They understand that people like everything their way and as a result they developed a basis.

Blog POWER!!!

2008-01-27T21:44:00.000-05:00

When you think about it, how powerful and/or influential do you really think a blog is? Well if it has the power to cause a major lawsuit that spurred from a comment posted by an angry Verizon Wireless customer about problems with a phone then it is pretty powerful. When I first heard about the concept of a blog, I was a little perplexed about what a blog actually was and what it was used for because blogging is something that I am not familiar with. I usually stay away from sharing my thoughts with random people I and don’t think it is necessary to tell them about my life. Blogging was never my thing, but now that I have read about how influential a blog post can be, I have changed my mind.

Who knew that all it took was a blog post to stimulate something like this. All the customer did was post comments about a phone that he was not happy with and all of a sudden, he found that many others share his problems and frustration. It is important to note that something as simple as a complaint post can cause big things to happen. Blogs are more than just random feelings because you would be surprised how many people share your thoughts.

Blogging can also be a very useful tool in the business world as we may all know already. It can influence businesses and their products as presented by the Verizon Wireless case. However, it does not only impact businesses in negative ways. It can help stimulate business through the advertising of products through blogs and comments on them. If people are satisfied with certain goods or services and they write about them, others may be willing to try them out. This creates a new market for businesses because other than advertising and marketing, businesses can see what people think of their products and people can also find out about products they never even heard about. Businesses need to make the most of blogging for their benefit and bloggers need to keep up the good work and do the same.

Facebook: Good or Evil?

2008-01-23T01:24:00.002-05:00

Before I start I would like to congratulate the NY Giants for their win against the GB Packers sending them to Super Bowl XLII against the undefeated NE Patriots. This has been the highlight of my whole week. Now after a rough weekend of family anniversaries, traveling and homework due the first week of classes, I came across an article in the economist about Facebook and its potential to be used as an excellent social network. That made me think back to my senior year in high school, when I just heard about Facebook. As soon as I found out I had been accepted into the American University I created an account and profile on Facebook and began adding friends from American and other networks. Basically I was becoming Facebook friends with complete strangers that go to the same college I do. Eventually this led to constant messaging and chatting between people of similar interests and we became friends without even meeting each other in person until welcome week of college. That is at least how it was for me. Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook about 4 years ago and all it has done was grow into a worldwide social network. I only view the internet social networking site as a mere communication means that allows people of a same area or school or set of interests to communicate and get to know one another, without actually having to meet face to face. Now all the new applications that were added to Facebook were only added because it was made into a worldwide network which allowed major companies to buy ad space on the site and advertise new products and applications. The greatest addition to Facebook was the Mini-Feed because you can see everyone’s status, updates, etc., and the majority of the other applications are mere attractions and I believe they are not very necessary.

In addition, Facebook is a great social network and all but it does have its flaws. My opinion is best supported by Rob Cross in his interview with CSC World, when he says “Almost everybody knows that a network is an asset, that better-connected people do better.” Now I completely agree with this quote, that networks are a great way to get ahead in life and be connected, but it has come to my attention that employers are now starting to use Facebook to get a good view of what their potential employees’ social lives look like through the site. We now become vulnerable because people use Facebook the way they want to and people don’t expect employers to find their embarrassing or immoral pictures on the site. Now I know that Facebook has added privacy features, but do you really think that if a person with a bit of power, can’t get to your profile?

The way I see it, is that Facebook is a great social network where everyone can chat and use different applications to express the type of people they are, while obtaining different connections in terms of friends or potential employers. Now since this is an open social network, it can be used against you. We all use networks to meet people, stay connected and get ahead in the real world, but we also have to realize that we can be judged based on what is seen on this site. I’m sure an employer would not hire me if they would open up my Facebook profile and see a picture of me standing there wasted at a party with friends, while the next person may have a family portrait or something. Basically all I am saying is that social networks are great tools for us to use, but I do agree with a quote from the economist that states “Facebook, like many hot start-ups in Silicon Valley, has some fantastic features, but maybe not much more.”

My First Blog Post

2008-01-17T19:20:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

My name is Timur Khalif and I am an undergraduate student at the American University blogging for my Social Networking and Business class (ITEC-333-001). Hope you all enjoy my thoughts.

Timur Khalif
“On my honor, all posts on this blog are my own”