Without a doubt one of the biggest technological break throughs in this decade has been the advancement of social media networking. The ability to gather information and resources and share them with our peers has advanced our ability to educate and learn exponentially.
Some of the most successful companies in the world are embracing social media tools and implementing them in a variety of ways to enhance productivity. Companies like Intel, Dow, Oracle, IBM, and Emergent Solutions have encouraged the use of blogs, wikis, microblogs, and podcasts for daily use to allow technicians, engineers, and sales personnel to network and share ideas in order to grow. Intel has actually implemented a program model called ”Follow the Sun” where employees around the globe can hand off information to others to allow for work on projects 24 hours a day. Educational Institutions are using wikis to collaborate between students and teachers to allow for information exchange 24/7. The ability to do this was virtually non existent 10 years ago. Being able to gather, use, and store information transparently while making it accessible to anyone who needs it any time opens up a realm of possibilities never before thought of.
A wiki, which is really a website where anyone who is granted permission can access, add, or edit information any time without any web language skills, thus making for ease of information exchange. Most out of the box wiki development sites use text editors similar to “Microsoft Word”, thereby making it simple for any computer novice to input information. You can also easily add files, links, photos, blogs, and discussion forums to the site. This instantly becomes a one stop shop for information relating to the project.
This allows you to blaze a trail for others who might join the network later on and need to catch up on the progress. Some of the more popular free wiki development sites are wikispaces.com and pbwiki.
With the proper integration, different social media tools can be implemented for internal information sharing or getting your message out to the public. With the use of wikis, (internal), and facebook, Twitter, and blogs, (public). The possibilities are endless.
If anyone is in the business or social field that requires information collaboration, you owe it to yourself to search out the tools that will benefit your network.
Category Archives: Construction in General
Fair Oaks Old Town Renovation
Have you ever been to Saratoga? Or Los Gatos, the Santa Cruz Pacific Garden Mall, or the alphabet district in Portland Oregon. Think of the way these places made you feel. With their eclectic mix of shops providing hand made crafts, kitchen supplies, bicycle/hiking shops sprinkled with just the right mix of culinary offerings ranging from Italian to Mediterranean to great brew pubs. Some outdoor patio seating to provide a nice summer evening walkabout with a family friendly environment. This is what I’ve always seen happening some day in the Old Town of Fair Oaks.
I always like to tell the story a friend of mine shared with me awhile back about when he was walking out of the hardware store in Fair Oaks and there was a younger woman walking out in front of him with a man presumed to be her father. “What’s the name of this place” he asked.
“This is the Old town of Fair Oaks.” She replied. After a quick glance down the street the man said “This is the worst looking old town I’ve ever seen.”
I have a vision of a great place with a warm old town welcome feeling and I think Fair Oaks has all the potential. However I think it would take some whole hearted commitment and creative thinking by pro-active people who know how to make things happen. I would love to be instrumental in the process. I thought this might be a good place to start. Just to throw it out there and see what comes back. I have some ideas to share and I would like to hear yours.
What to Expect From Your New Home
After reading this article,(link below), by John Lemon in Fine Home Building Magazine, I immediately clipped and made several copies and declared it a must read for all of my clients. The article was published in 1999 and maintains a spot in my job completion folder to this day. This is a comprehensive overview of some of the things that can be expected after moving into your new home or remodel and how to handle them.
” Now that the punchlist is completed and the troops have departed I want to wish you luck in your new home”
Click here to read the .PDF
The Trend Toward Smaller Homes.
I keep hearing about trends with prospective homes buyers being more inclined to buy smaller homes these days. Is this really a preference or just a result of our economic conditions. A little of both I’m sure. This trend may also be the result of the “green push” being so prominent in the government agenda. The desire to conserve energy. Another important factor could be all of the baby boomers becoming “empty nesters” thereby decreasing the need for larger homes. What are your thoughts? Bigger with more amenities or smaller, more function oriented plans? Here’s an interesting article I found on the subject. http://bit.ly/cFD75B
My First Youtube Vid
I recently took on a project to help out some folks who were scammed by an unlicensed Contractor and, after a year and a half, we finally moved them in. Continue reading My First Youtube Vid
Checking for a Pulse
I was just reading an article on MSN.com about certain jobs that have gone by the wayside likely never to return. We all know that this recession has certainly taken it’s toll on the construction industry and the road to recovery will be long. The American consumer needs to take the responsibility do their part to help this economy recover. Continue reading Checking for a Pulse