The document discusses several topics related to social media and collaboration: - Kevin Kelly presented the fact that the web has only been around for 5,000 days, and envisions it becoming a single, global network connecting all people and devices. - Howard Rheingold discussed how collaboration has always helped problems get solved more effectively by bringing more inputs and perspectives. - Social media and networks are changing how people communicate and form relationships, with some concerns about overuse from older individuals.

1. Social Media

2. The Next 5,000 days The fact of the web being around for only 5,000 days as of the 2007 EG conference blows my mind away. Kevin Kelly presented this fact in such a nonchalant way as it came across as matter-of-fact. You can see this for yourself at http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html . The main concept that strikes out at me is the concept of the ONENESS. It is all one machine through which everything will travel. Kelly even refers to it as "THE ONE".The web will own every bit created, every phone or device we use is just a window connected to the global oneness. The restructuring of media falls into just gathering it onto one platform instead of several platforms. Reporting is not dead, just morphing into the next stage or level. I believe Kelly said it all when he pointed out that the concept of the relationship between man and machine has changed. Instead of machines being an extension of man, man is an extension of the machines.

3. Collaboration and Our Changing World This post is to discuss collaboration as it was discussed by Howard Reingold at http://www.ted.com/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html . Reingold points out the ways evolution was affected by cooperation of things from the minute to the big picture or grand scale of things. I shall attempt to answer the following queries as best I can. What does collaboration mean? Collaboration means a cooperative attempt between two or more parties to achieve a goal. That is my definition. Now, those at Merriam-Webster.com state collaboration as: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor. I seem to be close to the official definition.

4. What role will/does collaboration play in working with others and solving problems? As the old adage goes, two heads are better than one. This is the basis of what a computer was designed for, that multiple sources of input can offer a greater amount of answers and also increase the probability of better quality of solution. In short, collaboration has always created a wider range of input as well as better solutions. It will continue to do so thereby continuing to influence the world in all aspects from monetary to industrial to culturally. How can social networks/media and collaboration creates new forms of wealth? What are some possible examples? As media and technology evolve and create new and faster means of communication, then new and faster ways to buy, sell or create monetary means will also continue to evolve in order to keep up with the new technology or markets. As far as examples go, Ely Lilly & Company, IBM and Sun all created markets for their research and technology that all generate a new source of income derived from or a result of collaboration.

5. "How is social media and social networks changing us and how we communicate?" I asked four different individuals ranging in age from 16 to mid-to-late 40's the question, "How is social media and social networks changing us and how we communicate?" The answers were basically the same as far as the speed and ease of access topics were discussed. The issue of maybe spending to much time on these "social networks" seemed to bother the older individuals more than the 16 yr. old. Amazingly, all the persons interviewed agreed that those relationships were more of that of "aquaintances" rather than friendships, which they still based on the norms of the prenetworking era. As my daughter stated at the end of her interview, "Dad, your just OLD!!!" The link below will take you to the interviews. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqXOh5lt5OU

6. What is content marketing & Why is it important to organizations or companies? We are to define what content marketing is and why it is important to organizations or companies. First, let me give you the definition as provided by the person whom I consider the Guru of content marketing, Joe Pulizzi . It goes like this: Content marketing is a marketing technique of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience - with the objective of driving profitable customer action. In short, it is noninterupted marketing. This media also goes by it's noms de guerre, such as custom publishing, custom media, customer media, customer publishing, member media, private media, branded content, corporate media, corporate publishing, corporate journalism and branded media. Call it what you want, but the long and short of it is that with great content, your company has the opportunity to be be successful.

7. Without it, failure is all but certain. Basically, content marketing is the art of communicating with your customers and prospects without selling. Instead of pitching your products or services, you are delivering information that makes your buyer more intelligent. The essence of this content strategy is the belief that if we, as businesses, deliver consistent, ongoing valuable information to buyers, they ultimately reward us with their business and loyalty.( http://www.junta42.com/resources/what-is-content-marketing.aspx ) You can read the White Paper issued on this topic at: http://www.junta42.com/media/40919/cmi_attractandretain.pdf As far as why it is important to companies or organizations is as plain as the nose on your face. The business of today is to deluge your clients with as much information that they can use so that they now have to choose what they need to discard as unnecessary. Companies must get on the fast track of social media to keep up with the competition and the rest of the technology as it continues to evolve and transform the media world on a daily basis.