In light of the invite-frenzy that is Google+, I got nostalgic for a simpler time - when invites were more accessible and I was on the "in" squad to get an invite for Google Wave. I remember it like it was yesterday... I logged into my Google Wave and stared as the Ouija Board that it was updated with posts from friends, recommended links, photos and more. While it was an awesome tool for our 2009-2010 NSAC team, outside of my 50+ team members, I knew no one else on the Wave. And why is that?
I think it may have been a little to complex for email and a little too simple for a social network, but it had great potential as a cloud business tool. Yeah, I said it. I think some people were expecting Google Wave to be the next Facebook, and even still others expecting it to be the new, complicated Gmail, when in fact, it couldn't fight with either.
Google Wave was great for a closed network of people working on a project. Emails accidentally get sent to the wrong address, whereas in Google Wave, you best believe you have the right person or their picture would be smiling at you from the top bar, almost sneering, "Well, you can't UNINVITE me now."
The realtime editing may have thrown some kids' computers into a tizzy, but it was a great way to quickly change something as people were working. It was nice to watch one person type the body of text for our copy and be editing behind them as they went (as opposed to Google docs, where my changes and their changes wouldn't appear immediately).
Google Wave has left a bit of a hole in my life since its disappearance and, while its faults were many, I prefer to remember it for the good. Also, as a Google devotee and lover of all of its services, I appreciated the thoughts for it - an innovative approach that would create ease, convenience and instant gratification.
RIP, Google Wave. You're missed.
... Okay, Google, I said something nice. Can I have my Google+ invite now?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Quora: Fun with Strangers
I'm back! After a long hiatus due to a busy schedule, I've picked up the blogging again. Considering I'm an unemployed graduate, I think I'll be laying off of the interview tips and sticking to what I know - social media.
Which brings me to Quora. I got on Quora in the summer of 2010, before it got much buzz on the interwebs, because I pride myself on being an early adopter. However, once I perused the site, I found it to be the ultimate crowdsourcing tool. Quora defines itself as "a continually improving collection of questions and answers." What I would call a hybrid of Yahoo Answers and Wikipedia, this open website wasn't too hopping when I first joined. Fast forward a few months and I remember I have an account. I logged in and checked it out, to find that Quora has developed into quite a community. Here are my reasons why you should be on Quora!
1. Got an burning question? Someone else probably already asked it. The wide variety of questions on Quora, from job advice to car advice to all-out philosophical discussions, is vast. Sure, you could post your question on Facebook and your friends will probably pass it by. On Quora, you can categorize your question and get advice from someone who knows the material. For instance, when I first joined, I asked about the government incentives for buying a hybrid vehicle. Within a day, I had responses that, um... there weren't any anymore. I fact checked the response on Google and what do you know, they were right! For when your Google search results are just a little too complicated, Quora is a great alternative to pages and pages of information.
2. No question is too vague or too specific. No matter how broad your question is (for example, "What are fun things to do in Southern California?"), people will answer it for you. If you're getting very specific, like where to recruit talent for your business, someone will have ideas to contribute. A variety of users means a variety of results - you're getting a human response to your question, rather than a query to be more specific.
3. Face it - it's fun to be a guru. I only lived in Southern California for three years, but every time someone asks about good places to eat, I'm stoked to give recommendations. You know your field, your hometown, your hobbies and everything else in your life better than other people - and they have questions about it. This is a great place for you to share!
So go go go, sign up for Quora now. With people giving background on why they're qualified to answer the question (unlike Yahoo Answers) and specific answers/expansion to what you're looking for (unlike Wikipedia), Quora is a great place to get your knowledge in a social manner. You can find me on Quora here!
Which brings me to Quora. I got on Quora in the summer of 2010, before it got much buzz on the interwebs, because I pride myself on being an early adopter. However, once I perused the site, I found it to be the ultimate crowdsourcing tool. Quora defines itself as "a continually improving collection of questions and answers." What I would call a hybrid of Yahoo Answers and Wikipedia, this open website wasn't too hopping when I first joined. Fast forward a few months and I remember I have an account. I logged in and checked it out, to find that Quora has developed into quite a community. Here are my reasons why you should be on Quora!
1. Got an burning question? Someone else probably already asked it. The wide variety of questions on Quora, from job advice to car advice to all-out philosophical discussions, is vast. Sure, you could post your question on Facebook and your friends will probably pass it by. On Quora, you can categorize your question and get advice from someone who knows the material. For instance, when I first joined, I asked about the government incentives for buying a hybrid vehicle. Within a day, I had responses that, um... there weren't any anymore. I fact checked the response on Google and what do you know, they were right! For when your Google search results are just a little too complicated, Quora is a great alternative to pages and pages of information.
2. No question is too vague or too specific. No matter how broad your question is (for example, "What are fun things to do in Southern California?"), people will answer it for you. If you're getting very specific, like where to recruit talent for your business, someone will have ideas to contribute. A variety of users means a variety of results - you're getting a human response to your question, rather than a query to be more specific.
3. Face it - it's fun to be a guru. I only lived in Southern California for three years, but every time someone asks about good places to eat, I'm stoked to give recommendations. You know your field, your hometown, your hobbies and everything else in your life better than other people - and they have questions about it. This is a great place for you to share!
So go go go, sign up for Quora now. With people giving background on why they're qualified to answer the question (unlike Yahoo Answers) and specific answers/expansion to what you're looking for (unlike Wikipedia), Quora is a great place to get your knowledge in a social manner. You can find me on Quora here!
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