So... as many of you know I am in Bath (at University of Bath) this week, and am enjoying two weeks with my Judo peers. I always enjoy being around such an amazing array of people. Judo is obviously a key part of my life and in recent visits to Bath my Judo life and my computer geek life have grown closer together.
On this block of the degree I have become a lecturer, trying to share my enthusiasm for IT with my Judo colleagues. I do my
www.thejudopodcast.eu podcast and update
www.judocoach.com/blog daily with a summary of the course. Increasingly I have become incvolved with helping my fellow tudents with tehir technology issues. (My room is now referred to as "the Helpdesk").
Why am I mentioning this?
Because, I have a passion for Judo AND a passion for technology.
The two are intimately linked, well in fact everything in life is becoming more and more linked to technology. Who uses the yellow pages when they can "Google it"?
Who writes letters to their friends? Why write letters when you can SMS text message or email ro write on their wall on Facebook or send a twitter message?
Recently someone (I forget who) started using this term "social sixth sense" when talking about the effect that twiter and facebook, etc are having on us. And I agree, I know more about people in my social networks than I do about the people I know who are not technologically up to date. In a weird way i feel closer to those who keep facebook/blogs/twitter up to date than I do with my own family and "real" friends.
I know have a "feeling" for what my "internet friends" are up to, what they are doing, where they are, what they are reading, what they are feeling. I do not have that with my older friends, family, etc.
Is it worthwhile?
I would argue yes.
This week I have found a photo of myself I would never have seen otherwise, I have met up with a colleague and had a great discussion with him as a result. I have been able to write replys to peoples questions which have helped me clarify my own thoughts. I have made chit chat with colleagues in different (and the same) room, keeping "in touch" and also making plans for lunches and dinners, etc.
People have approached me and asked me about things I have been thinking about and blogging. So new conversations have occured which would have never happened otherwise.
I have involved a friend in one of my projects, and hopefully, helping him do something new.
All this as a result of new technology!
Call me a fan, so visit my
contact me page, lean about what networks I use, how I keep up to date and join the conversation... please!