Twitter not fritter

In terms of trends for the future I do believe that web 2.0 and 3 and 4.... will continue to have a huge impact on our lives and our businesses. Yet with the vast array of resources available it is easy to be swamped with the choice in things which are supposed to make our lives easier.

Twitter is one tool that I thought I could do without. All I could see is twitter as fritter. Who cares what someone is doing right now? If someone, even if I know them well, is about to go to the bathroom or is having curry for dinner, do I really need to know? That's when I started thinking about what might be more powerful usage of Twitter and I started 'playing'. What I have discovered is that twitter can be a great way to extend your networks and to share really useful ideas. Now I check it out when I fire up my computer and link into some amazing people from around the world. They help keep me up to date by referring me to links in areas that I may never have discovered for myself - I have learnt heaps! Twitters that are of the higher order thinking variety are much more useful to me. They can be used really powerfully in an organisation and across networks, to share and develop thinking. So let's all lift our game and tweet intelligently. Otherwise we are wasting an awful lot of time! (Yes I do know that some people want to know the intimate details of every motion...I'm not one of them).

And if you want a good example of how twitter can be used as an effective educational tool (and even possibly help break down traditional silos of learning) the read the blog article on Using Twitter as an Educational Tool. This blog has good ideas whether you are in education or in business so check it out. Then twitter me with some great thoughts that will extend us both...

ReadWriteWeb

I came across this blog today and I think it is a useful one for keeping abreast of trends to do with technology.
ReadWriteWeb is a popular weblog that provides Web Technology news, reviews and analysis. There were several entries that took my fancy. One of these was an indepth look at Gen Y - how they think, what they do, what needs to be considered in meeting their needs and how they use technologies. This excellent article Why Gen Y is going to Change the Web also connects to a range of other Gen Y blogs.

Another article of interest was Do Mobile Games Have a Place in the Classroom. This poses many questions that teachers need to consider in order to use mobile technologies in the classroom.

This blog is one to watch. It is high quality, informative and future-focussed.

Climate Change

If you haven't yet explored the Celsias website you really need to do so. It contains a raft of information about climate change and global warming. The site contains articles and podcasts reflecting a diverse range of ideas. You can see what projects are being undertaken, contribute ideas or start up your own project. If we all make changes, no matter how small, that's a start...

Diversity

Yes - diversity is a buzz word right now. But it is also of major significance as we move forward to become global leader. In his blog, Jim Kouzes talks about global leadership in terms of thinking beyond your culture and being open to many ways of doing things. "In brief, it's getting out of yourself!"

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel overseas for three months. That time certainly helped me reflect on my role as a global citizen and to think widely, see others' viewpoints and reflect before acting. A friend of mine talks about considering all the possibilities before even beginning to narrow down ideas. This is not only about understanding other people's viewpoints but actively visualising diverse stakeholders as real people - giving them a name and an avatar and getting into their way of thinking.

Not everyone is able to travel but there are other ways of getting out of yourself. One way is to spend time in your own town or city, observing what is around you. Take time to meet people from all walks of life...talk to taxi drivers....try some different activities...act as a tourist for a day. Spend time in your clients' environments to see what it is really like for them.

Another example of thinking beyond is using the internet to keep up to date with trends and ideas. Find some blogs or websites you really enjoy and visit them regularly, or sign up to an rss feed if they have one. The web 2.0 environment expects you to be an active participant so go to it! Challenge yourself to find diverse material, including that which really challenges your thinking or provides a different viewpoint from your own.

Making Trips easier

Today I read about this service, which can provide you with all the information you need about the places you are going to. Once you gave booked your travel you just send them your confirmation email and they will provide google maps, local restaurants etc. Let them do the work for you - it even syncs with outlook and ical. Check out all the features by going to their website.

Eyes to the future

One of the most important things to do when considering the future is to scan the environment constantly for new trends. A distant speck on the horizon may suddenly turn into a tornado that hits you straight between the eyes. This doesn't mean that you need to react to every new idea, simply be aware and prepare to be flexible. Check out some of the links on this blog to keep yourself up to date. Find the ones that meet your needs and visit them regularly. If you find a link that has valuable information on trends let me know and I will add it to the list.