What: FaceTime study on the Collaborative Internet (see FaceTime’s summary, or a CNET post about the results)
Post to which it relates: Fostering Ambient Awareness in Virtual Teams
Bottom line: FaceTime does an annual survey looking not only at use of collaborative technologies by workers, but also what kind of cost that has to companies. You might be surprised that the focus of costs is on fixing problems like attacks, not on lost productivity. This is a refreshing perspective on collaborative internet, since it’s most common to hear about lost productivity. This is worth looking at for any manager or organization considering the use of collaborative technologies. We, like many others, are excited about the possibilities these technologies open up for improving business processes, but it’s equally necessary to determine what the IT security and maintenance costs will be.
What: NYTimes article about a device that monitors your communication with others
Post to which it relates: Spread Your Virtual Smile, Really, Assessing the Quality of Collaboration in Virtual Teams
Bottom line: Leave it to MIT to invent a device like this. Apparently it is like a small cellphone, and records your conversations with others. Related software sorts through patterns to make recommendations towards being a more effective communicator. While many of us undoubtedly could be better listeners in person, imagine if this could be adapted to help people communicate more effectively in virtual worlds, web conferencing, or other collaborative technologies. Communicating in most of these collaborative environments is not the same as in real life, and most of us are less savvy in these environments. Companies are increasingly interested in taking advantage of collaborative technologies, but only if communication and collaboration can still be effective. An automated device to help people adapt to this new way of interacting would be tremendously helpful.
What: Chronicle of Higher Education article about how cloud computing might change colleges.
Post to which it relates: Improving Virtual Team Leadership Using Technology
Bottom line: Apparently college faculty are some of the most active adopters of cloud computing, particularly for research. Files are available at both home and the office, research documents can be shared with colleagues, and multiple computers can be employed together for completing tasks at “supercomputer” strength. What’s not explicitly discussed may be even more important: cloud computing at colleges not only changes computing at colleges, but has the potential to strongly impact computing in the workplace. At institutions or programs where faculty are adopting cloud computing and collaboration, they also teach their students to use these technologies for coursework. For example, the article cites a group of MIT students who collaborate on papers and projects without being physical co-located. It’s unlikely that young people have many non-academic uses for cloud computing and collaboration technologies; this is one area of technology that might not be naturally led by our youth. These students are the next generation of workers, so technology use they learn in college now will have a drastic impact on business practices of the near future.
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