Review of reader 1 - Professional Communication Technology

Despite feeling fairly ‘in the know’ when it comes to social and informational technologies, I found that after reviewing  ‘Reader 1 – Professional Communication Technology (WBS 3730)’ that there was far more knowledge and exploration to be had below, what I now perceive to be its superficial surface level.

The web 2.0 platforms such as; Blogs, Facebook, and YouTube (all detailed in the introduction to professional communications) are programs of which I am familiar with both for social and career boosting prospects within my world of work. I was aware of their benefit to me, but once I began to read and review this reader I started to explore and identify other forms of enhancing web 2.0 programs, as well as how they are used globally. While researching I came across this article, which I felt elaborated on the reader itself:

ARTICLE LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

Ironically I found it on one of the largest web 2.0 informational platforms Wikipedia, which I feel supports the ever-engulfing power these forms are having within technology today. It really identifies the importance of communication and file sharing between users, eradicating the typical one way communication between reader and creator, which can still be seen in more physical forms of media such as; newspapers. Before studying this reader I did not fully appreciate nor comprehend the importance of this ‘equality’ between reader and creator. This form, I believe allows each individual to feel more involved during the progression within society.

Throughout my further research I also discovered numerous other forms of web 2.0 platforms, one of which I feel will be particularly beneficial to me. The site is called ‘delicious’ and allows you to bookmark sites that interest you, as well as viewing the sites that capture others. My link is as follows:

DELICIOUS LINK: http://delicious.com/simone_grandjean

Despite all the positives these web 2.0 platforms can provide us with, for example; the marketing of ourselves or the unlimited forms of interaction and communication of knowledge, as I read further into the three competencies – based upon O’Reilly’s meme - It occurred to me ‘what about privacy policies?’ ‘When are we becoming too publically exposed?’ Young adults are un-knowingly revealing themselves to the wider world via these web 2.0 sites such as Facebook. Unlike us as professionals who can see the benefits of this freely exchangeable knowledge to enhance us, as well as our careers; children as young as 7 and 8 are not only being exposed to the ever demanding and ever changing media, but becoming influenced and persuaded into views or opinions that they may not have. In addition to this, the children that are growing up in this world that is becoming more and more ‘technologically consumed’ are finding it hard to differentiate between ‘cyber worlds’ and ‘reality’. I found this short video clip on YouTube detailing this:

To conclude my review of Reader 1 – Professional Communication Technology, I feel that I have explored and identified both the positives and negatives that the world of web 2.0 has to offer. For me personally, the unlimited boundary whereby the reader has now become the creator and vice versa, is a phenomenon. Catapulting my progress to gain knowledge and promoting myself to establish the best career I can achieve. On the flip side, the harsh and addictive natures of these sites I believe are too much for young adults to be experiencing. Without boundaries and guidelines at these young ages, who knows what damage can be caused.

Reading and reviewing this reader has definitely captured and encouraged me whilst exploring media further. It has left me more ‘in the know’, yet curious as to others opinions and the question ‘what is to come next within this web 2.0 world?’ While asking myself this question I discovered some quotes I found thought provoking and have detailed them below:

"I'll go to multiple news sites because I don't trust any one site." - Sean, age 17, on how he gets news online.

"For me, transparency is a competitive weapon." - Sun COO Jonathan Schwartz, on why he blogs.

"eBay has 150M customers, in the nicest terms, that's 150M people who have learned to trust strangers." - eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, on how business can be an engine of positive social change.

"[In 5-10 years, the value in media] will be in the companies who can grow audiences, not in those who control content." - Vinod Khosla, former General Partner at Kleiner Perkins.