Tag Archives: tricorder

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Tricorder Blues

When I was a young girl sitting on the living room floor in front of our black and white television, I marvelled at Spock and his Tricorder… or Bones and his device. They were possibilities. I never imagined that in my lifetime, rudimentary Tricorders would be everyday tools. I write this on a ‘droid tablet, a “real” handheld device capable of analysing data, storing information and scanning.

June 2 would have been my maternal grandfather’s 130th birthday. Victoria was Queen. The Wright Brothers had not yet flown. Transcontinental trains in North America were new-fangled and the epitome of high speed transportation. A mere three generations after his birth, we’ve been to the moon, transplanted hearts, and nearly annihilated ourselves, twice!

Sadly, for all our advances, poverty, prejudice and fear continue to exist. There is no Tricorder yet capable of eradicating ignorance.

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Social Networking is a Virtual Conversation about Something and Nothing

Conversation

Image by Bright Meadow via Flickr

My Android – I call it my tricorder – has taught me a thing or two about the proliferation of Twitter and Facebook. My professional interest in virtual communities is all-encompassing, but that doesn’t mean I like to use all of them.

Social Media Integration, however, requires the practitioner to put aside her personal preferences to appreciate the whole, especially as social networks are webs not linear. From a business perspective, you can ignore those networks that fail to deliver your key demographics – but not for long. Facebook is a prime example of demographic shift.

I digress. My Android has made the efficiency of Twitter and Facebook as message distribution systems apparent in a way that using laptop or desktop connection does not. The conversation comes to the fore, because the ads, photos etc. appear only when the user wants them. Yep, the crap disappears, leaving the essence. LOVE IT! Experience tells me that won’t last long, but I’m enjoying the current state of the union between human and device.

At first glance, a Twitter feed can appear to be much ado about nothing. On closer inspection, you might discover that you are eavesdropping on a conversation much like you do on a subway car or in a coffee shop. Incomplete sentences, shrugs and subtext are there. Entering into the conversation – is not the same as interrupting a face-to-face conversation – and that is the beauty of it.  How does that work? The participants can ignore your virtual interruption, incorporating it only when they are ready. You only need to cough once – post a response – then wait patiently.

I’m not going to promise that you’ll be noticed. Again the beauty of the virtual conversation. Snubbing is not as devastating online as it is in person. [Unless you are 14 years old and petulant!]

If your business relies on building relationships, social networking lets you reach more and build more in a shorter space of time. As long as you have a significant investment in personnel. I stress that you need personnel – not software – because a virtual conversation is still a conversation – human interaction.

PS – I haven’t found an app that will beam me up, Scotty.