The next big thing in technology

"The next big thing is constant real-time online interactions such as sharing photos, messages and locations from wherever you are, whenever you like. Everything is getting faster."

This is already happening in my life and I can tell you I wouldn't need to work away from home if it were set up properly and everyone was doing it. The whole article is worth a read because it is a series of interviews with those who ought to know where our technology is headed. It is actually good to be able to connect with people online. it enhances live meetings no end and the benefits are substantial. it tends to forge strong bonds but you can also get a lot of innovation and hilarity. People tend to be more relaxed online and more like themselves. In a live social setting they have all their interpersonal skills to deal with. If the world is going this way, I wish it would hurry up. I'd be far happier mixing and matching it online and then organising live meetings with others when I needed to. It brings such a great deal of variety to your life and you can really get to see just how much people do and how interesting they can be. This will often go unnoticed in a group situation in real life.

The next big thing - Essential Gadgets - Executive Style - theage.com.au

Facing up to Facebook

Image via WikipediaI confess it threw me when I first went on Facebook at the end of August and I guess a lot of people are Facebooked out by now. Doesn't bother me because I have discovered it's a fantastically easy way to make contact with people and keep the contact going . You don't have to write long emails and you don't have to constantly be on the phone. Facebook simplifies all of the contact stuff. Then it is really funny and positive. The comments are usually light hearted and the range of apps now is becoming more grown up. It is important to have mixed age groups on social networking sites because it tends to tame the extreme and put the virtual world into perspective. People can get themselves into trouble on social network sites if they are making out to be someone they are not or an age they are not.On other social networking sites they can get lost in a persona. Facebook can keep a certain amount virtual as such but the truth becomes obvious and people cannot be conned or con. Your Facebook person is more like your real self and that keeps you safe but it also keeps you connected. There is still a bit of sorting out Facebook needs to do in terms of the operation of its site because it tends to go a bit tetchy at times, but , all in all, it is a place where you can feel really cheered up and you can cheer others up. It works very positively.