Yestereday’s NY Times had a great article about the technology use of millennials (those born between 1980 - 2000). It reinforces the findings of the recent Pew Internet studies (see here for example) about video cell phones, messaging and other technologies to stay in touch. After plunking down some hard cash to get my son a 60gb iPod, I can attest to their use of hand held technologies to communicate and view information. Just watch the recent spurge in cell phone commercials to get a feel for where this is at (Verizon’s vcast commercials for example).
Extension is currently behind the curve in getting almost any of these technologies in place. Iowa State is the only state that I can find with a video podcast. The two that I’ve watched are interviews, but I really liked the 1.17.06 "From earth to the moon, to mars, and beyond." This is an hour video podcast, so expect a long download even with broadband. Use this link (iTunes needed) to find the podcast. If you are interested in space and education, be sure to check it out.
Are the millennials all technology, all of the time? Nope. A t-shirt worth buying is mentioned two-thirds of the way throught the Times article. Its byline: "Ctrl, alt, delete," referring to the need to unconnect from time to time.
The catch is that technology is changing fast, but not as fast as the most recent "hot" websites and blogs. How does Extension reach out and succeed in these areas? One way is start involving millennials in our projects, committees, etc. and let them pull us along. Another is to keep pushing interactive technologies that support social networks - the whole web 2.0 concept.
A last thought. In the final section of the google is discussed as both a verb and a noun. How does this generation (and I would argue most others now too)? Google. It’s not about going to an Extension site and then searching. It’s about the easiest route. And right now that is Google.
Found via the Institute for the Future’s Future Now blog.
OK, another podcast review. I’m into my third bi-weekly edition of the podcast The Future and You, and I really like it. It is a somewhat eclectic mixture of futurism via unique interviews and book readings. Hosted by the science fiction writer Stephen Euin Cobb, the podcast resembles a radio talk show with various interviews on topics pertaining to the future. See the site for listings. The first three episodes have covered cryongenics, space, sci-fi film star interviews, biotechnology, genetically modified crops and chapter readings of Stephen’s book Bones Burnt Black. If you’re looking for information to apply immediately, you probably will not find it here. If you’re looking for a podcast that will help to broaden and challenge your view of tomorrow, this is it. It’s currently the podcast I look most forward to getting. Available via iTunes or via other podcasters.
Thomas Rowley over at Rural Policy Research Institute (RPRI) provides an editorial on the impact of federal budget changes on rural America. Thomas sees mostly bad news, but finds some good nuggets in the details.
Business Week has introduced a unique weekly podcast on iTunes. Like Seed Magazine (reviewed here) it focuses on their weekly cover story. What makes their podcast unique is that it does not simply "read" the cover story, but conducts an interview with the author. I’ve made my way through four of the interviews and have found them enjoyable. All have focused on emerging trends or issues. These have included the future of the car industry, where to invest (good information about the direction of the economy), big events of 2005, and the increased importance of math in business and industry. The podcast lengths have varied from about 8-20 minutes. The Business Week podcast page lists other podcasts that are available.
Recommended for Extension professionals in general, and especially those working on economic related issues.
Microsoft Executive Circle is sponsoring a free webinar on January 25 in honor of Peter Drucker. Compete information may be found here. Goals for the webinar include:
- How Peter Drucker has influenced our speakers’ lives and work
- How you can leverage Peter Drucker’s teachings toward your own success including actionable take-aways
- Where you can learn more about Peter Drucker’s teachings
This looks like a great opportunity to hear speakers like Tom Peters. A good way to use technology. Prior posts about Drucker may be found here, here and here.
Found through this post on Tom Peters’ blog.
How fast do people evaluate your website? Really fast according to this post at Impact Lab. Interesting information for Extension Professionals putting together web sites.
I’ve been trying to listen to several epsidodes of each podcasts before making a decision on keeping or chucking them. This is a dynamic process, much like the shows one watches on TV. Some tend to stick around, some fall of the screen, and we check in on some without catching every episode. One that I tested almost as an alternative is Nature. I’m glad I did. Nature produces a weekly 20 minute or so podcast that is international in its outlook. I’m still playing around with the Naked Scientist and New Scientist podcasts, but I keep coming back to Nature. I’m still having high hopes for New Scientist, mainly because it comes across as The Economist version of weekly science magazines: top notch (the Economist is my pick for the best weekly current events magazine. See this prior post).
I’ve been impressed with Nature’s breadth. Recommended - at itunes or via Nature’s podcast link.
Seed Magazine is a unique science magazine that focuses on how science impacts and changes culture. I don’t subscribe, but do occasionally pick up an issue at the bookstore. Better yet, I subscribe to their podcast on itunes (see also Seeds podcast link). A short (5-10 minute) podcast on a key story. This week it was on urban coyotes. I like it. A good way to get a short, targeted story. Seed also has video coming to its site soon.
Kevin Kelly at Cool Tools has a nice piece today about books that discusses two things. First, it talks about how he uses books in addition to online sources to gather conceptual information. He then recommends the first of five books that are unique in capturing or describing unique concepts and trends. His plan is to post one new book review each day this week. Today’s post is about The Search, John Battelle’s book on the Google and how search functions have been developed and their current and future impacts. I’ve passed the book several times in the bookstore and have even skimmed it a few times. Every time I do, I think of my current reading list and put it back. Now as I start to "conceptualize" these actions I think it will be added to my cart during my next trip to the store. John Battelle also has a related blog that talks about "search".
Why? I’ve blogged before about why I think librarian blogs are good sources of information about where information technology is heading for Extension. Same with searching. It is the key link in how people find their information. I plan on visiting Cool Tools daily this week (no problem for me - its on my daily list in my news aggregator) to see what books Kevin is recommending.
I’ve been trying out various podcasts on itunes. The growth in the number of new podcasts has been amazing. I’ll try to add a few reviews here from time to time. A good starting point is APM’s (American Public Media’s) Future Tense podcast. Short (under five minutes) summaries of a key technology or future related news item. I found the four or five that I listened to very informative and a good "mini" briefing on key items. For me, its perfect for short trips to the store, brief shores, etc. I subscribed.