Contemporary Contemporary Communication Communication

TechnologiesTechnologiesGetting your buzz on

Dena GrayDena Gray--Fisher, directorFisher, directorOffice of Media and Marketing ServicesOffice of Media and Marketing Services

The new age of The new age of ee--communicationcommunication•• TodayToday’’s new Internet tools and technologies s new Internet tools and technologies

are created around the notion that users are created around the notion that users want to be active contributors, rather than want to be active contributors, rather than passive observers. passive observers.

•• TodayToday’’s online and mobile communicators s online and mobile communicators are:are:–– Engaged Engaged –– Generating contentGenerating content–– CollaboratingCollaborating –– CreatingCreating–– SharingSharing –– NetworkingNetworking–– Making choicesMaking choices –– Speaking upSpeaking up–– Empowered Empowered

Revolutionizing the way Revolutionizing the way we do businesswe do business

•• ““An increasing demand by citizens and businesses, An increasing demand by citizens and businesses, fueled by advancements in technology, for faster fueled by advancements in technology, for faster response to ideas, suggestions and concernsresponse to ideas, suggestions and concerns”” is is identified in the identified in the DOTDOT’’ss Strategic Plan as a challenge Strategic Plan as a challenge for the department.for the department.

•• DOT Internet policy DOT Internet policy –– Making the business case of Making the business case of how these technologies help:how these technologies help:–– Me do my job.Me do my job.–– My team reach its goals.My team reach its goals.–– The department accomplish its mission.The department accomplish its mission.–– Better serve our customers. Better serve our customers.

Changing public expectationsChanging public expectations

•• I want it I want it ……

•• I want it now I want it now ……realreal--time and time and instantaneousinstantaneous

•• I want it my way I want it my way ……

•• I want it any time I want it any time …… day or day or nightnight

So, whatSo, what’’s the buzz?s the buzz?

•• TweetsTweets•• ChatsChats•• BlogsBlogs•• TagsTags•• WikisWikis•• AvatarsAvatars

Blogs Blogs •• Allow users to create and display online posts/logsAllow users to create and display online posts/logs

•• Can permit readers to commentCan permit readers to comment

•• Can be moderated to weed out inappropriate Can be moderated to weed out inappropriate contributionscontributions

•• Can include multimediaCan include multimedia

•• Considered more informal/conversationalConsidered more informal/conversational

•• Personalize and humanize an organization, Personalize and humanize an organization, creating a positive public imagecreating a positive public image

Blogs Blogs ((blogger.comblogger.com free from Googlefree from Google®®))

http://http://iowadotprdemo.blogspot.comiowadotprdemo.blogspot.com//

DOT news blog DOT news blog ((TypePadTypePad®®))

RSS RSS –– Really Simply SyndicationReally Simply Syndication•• RSS saves time by letting users choose to receive content from RSS saves time by letting users choose to receive content from

a number of Web sites and read it in one place. a number of Web sites and read it in one place.

•• RSS feeds alert users when new material is posted on the Web RSS feeds alert users when new material is posted on the Web sites that offer them. sites that offer them.

•• To read an RSS feed you need a feed reader. To read an RSS feed you need a feed reader.

•• Once you have a reader, itOnce you have a reader, it’’s a matter of finding sites that offer s a matter of finding sites that offer RSS feeds and adding them to the list your reader checks. RSS feeds and adding them to the list your reader checks.

•• It's not just for news. It's not just for news. –– Severe weather alertsSevere weather alerts -- Airport delaysAirport delays–– Traffic updatesTraffic updates -- Job openingsJob openings–– Public meeting noticesPublic meeting notices -- Bid noticesBid notices–– New additions in the libraryNew additions in the library

Iowa Iowa DOTDOT’’ss RSS feedRSS feed

TwitteringTwittering•• TwitterTwitter®® is a free is a free social networkingsocial networking and and micromicro--

bloggingblogging service that allows users to send and read service that allows users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are textwhich are text--based posts of up to 140 characters in based posts of up to 140 characters in length. length.

•• Tweets can be sent directly from your cell phone to Tweets can be sent directly from your cell phone to the Web. the Web.

•• Twitter can be a powerful communications tool for Twitter can be a powerful communications tool for business groups that need live interaction. business groups that need live interaction.

•• Twitter and TwitterTwitter and Twitter--like services can enhance the like services can enhance the level of interaction for happenings like Webinars and level of interaction for happenings like Webinars and videocastsvideocasts. .

Twittering Twittering –– Los Angeles Fire Los Angeles Fire Department tweetsDepartment tweets

ForumsForumsOriginally modeled Originally modeled after the electronic after the electronic bulletin boards of bulletin boards of the world before the world before the Internet, the Internet, Internet forumsInternet forumsallow users to post allow users to post a "topic" for others a "topic" for others to review. to review.

Other users can Other users can view the topic and view the topic and post their own post their own comments in a comments in a linear fashion, one linear fashion, one after the other. after the other.

Electronic newslettersElectronic newsletters

Electronic notices to subscribers Electronic notices to subscribers •• DOT auction noticesDOT auction notices•• Design Manual Design Manual

revisionsrevisions•• TIMETIME--21 funding 21 funding

noticesnotices•• News releasesNews releases•• Des Moines area Des Moines area

metro alertsmetro alerts•• Council Bluffs Council Bluffs

Interstate Interstate reconstruction reconstruction project alertsproject alerts

Live chatLive chat

Live chat is a great customer service tool Live chat is a great customer service tool that goes a long way towards earningthat goes a long way towards earningconsumer trust .consumer trust .

–– Set your own hours of service.Set your own hours of service.–– Offer superior service in real time.Offer superior service in real time.–– Be available when offBe available when off--line by enabling visitors line by enabling visitors

to leave messages, forwarded to your Eto leave messages, forwarded to your E--mail.mail.–– Secure and private instant messaging.Secure and private instant messaging.

Live chat Live chat –– state government usestate government use

State of CaliforniaState of CaliforniaState of Ohio State of Ohio State of VirginiaState of VirginiaState of UtahState of UtahState of South Dakota State of South Dakota State of Minnesota State of Minnesota State of OregonState of OregonState of KansasState of Kansas

Avatars (personalize the user experience)Avatars (personalize the user experience)

CarlyCarly, an interactive avatar , an interactive avatar (character) named after the (character) named after the city of San Carlos, resides city of San Carlos, resides on a computer screen at on a computer screen at the city hallthe city hall’’s front desk. s front desk. Visitors get valuable city Visitors get valuable city hall information by clicking hall information by clicking the icons and interacting the icons and interacting with with CarlyCarly. .

Artificial intelligence technology Artificial intelligence technology now allows realisticnow allows realistic--looking looking animated characters (or animated characters (or ““BotsBots””) ) to respond to user questions to respond to user questions with contextwith context--sensitive spoken sensitive spoken answers. The answers are answers. The answers are stored in a preprogrammed stored in a preprogrammed knowledge base.knowledge base.

SecondLifeSecondLife®®

•• SecondLifeSecondLife is an is an online, 3online, 3--D D virtual world.virtual world.

•• Avatar images of Avatar images of visitors (that you visitors (that you create yourself) create yourself) move about the move about the virtual world.virtual world.

•• Missouri was the Missouri was the first state to use first state to use SecondLifeSecondLife to to recruit IT talent.recruit IT talent.

File hosting and sharingFile hosting and sharing

•• DocumentsDocuments•• Photos Photos

•• VideoVideo•• Audio Audio

•• Data Data

•• PowerPoint presentations PowerPoint presentations

Share your PowerPoint Share your PowerPoint presentationspresentations

Share a large fileShare a large file

Video sharing via YouTubeVideo sharing via YouTube

•• Iowa Iowa DOTDOT’’ss teen teen driver/work zone driver/work zone safety education safety education programprogram

•• YouTube YouTube features public features public service videos service videos produced by produced by teens as part of teens as part of the Restrain the Restrain Yourself contest.Yourself contest.

RealReal--time project management time project management and collaborationand collaboration•• Thanks to collaborative software, the daysThanks to collaborative software, the days

of crowding around a conference table to of crowding around a conference table to brainstorm are gone.brainstorm are gone.

•• Employees can meet online to integrateEmployees can meet online to integratetheir work, develop ideas, set goals, send their work, develop ideas, set goals, send messages, build systems, and manage messages, build systems, and manage projects projects –– all in real time. all in real time.

•• Share interactive calendars, pictures, videos, Share interactive calendars, pictures, videos, tasks, polls, comments, tasks, polls, comments, contructioncontruction plans, plans, blogs, files, designs, music, maps, blogs, files, designs, music, maps, documents, and much more.documents, and much more.

Share a project calendarShare a project calendar

Edit documents collaborativelyEdit documents collaboratively

WhiteboardingWhiteboarding•• Take your brainstorming Take your brainstorming

exercise or group meeting to exercise or group meeting to the next level. Therethe next level. There’’s no s no reason to sit in the same room any more. reason to sit in the same room any more.

•• WhiteboardingWhiteboarding is online version of the traditional is online version of the traditional wallwall--mounted board that allows more than one mounted board that allows more than one person to mark up the board at the same time.person to mark up the board at the same time.

•• All changes are kept in sync with one another in All changes are kept in sync with one another in near real time and the final product saved/near real time and the final product saved/printed. printed.

•• Chatting while using the whiteboard enhances Chatting while using the whiteboard enhances the communication process.the communication process.

Social networkingSocial networking•• Social networking is the Social networking is the

use of a Web site to use of a Web site to connect people who connect people who share personal or share personal or professional interests, professional interests, place of origin, ethnicity, place of origin, ethnicity, education at a particular education at a particular school, etc. school, etc.

•• ItIt’’s not just for s not just for teenagers, businesses teenagers, businesses are using these are using these sites as hosting sites as hosting platforms. platforms.

DOTDOT’’ss using using FacebookFacebook• Georgia – recruitment of interns, coop

students and transportation engineering assistants

• Maryland – intern recruitment

• Michigan – connecting everyone who works or has worked for MDOT

• Missouri – human resources, news feed, winter safety messages, discussion group for construction projects, photo sharing

• Rhode Island – employee recruitment

• Virginia – intern recruitment, to fill summer jobs, diversity leadership program

• Washington – human resources

Professional networkingProfessional networking

•• LinkedIn.comLinkedIn.com®®

allows you to find allows you to find communities of communities of professionals who professionals who share a common share a common experience, experience, passion, interest, passion, interest, affiliation or goal. affiliation or goal.

Ethnic social networking sitesEthnic social networking sites•• The emergence of niche The emergence of niche

social networking sites social networking sites may arise from our may arise from our need to build a need to build a community with people community with people we do not personally we do not personally know, but who we feel know, but who we feel affiliatedaffiliated with.with.

•• Marketers and human Marketers and human resource recruiters are resource recruiters are tapping into these sites.tapping into these sites.

Virtual education and trainingVirtual education and training•• Online tutorialsOnline tutorials

•• Live labsLive labs

•• Breakout rooms Breakout rooms -- ability to assignability to assignindividuals to rooms for small group individuals to rooms for small group collaborationcollaboration

•• HandHand--raising for verbal questionsraising for verbal questions

•• Question manager for written questions or Question manager for written questions or threaded discussion by topic threaded discussion by topic

•• Live videoLive video

•• HandoutsHandouts

Virtual meetingsVirtual meetings•• A lowA low--cost alternative cost alternative

to realto real--time video time video conferencing.conferencing.

•• Used with a Used with a simultaneous audio simultaneous audio conference call over conference call over regular telephone lines or regular telephone lines or using chat.using chat.

•• Ability to centrally control the Ability to centrally control the simultaneous presentation of simultaneous presentation of text, graphics, images, and text, graphics, images, and video on every participantvideo on every participant’’s s screen from one location. screen from one location.

WebinarsWebinars

WikisWikis•• A wiki is a Web A wiki is a Web

page whose page whose content can be content can be edited by its edited by its visitors.visitors.

•• Examples Examples include include Wikipedia,Wikipedia,WiktionaryWiktionary and and WikitravelWikitravel..

Social bookmarkingSocial bookmarking•• Social bookmarkingSocial bookmarking is a method for Internet users is a method for Internet users

to store, organize, search, manage, and share to store, organize, search, manage, and share bookmarks of Web pages on the Internet.bookmarks of Web pages on the Internet.

•• Bookmarks are tagged/labeled so they can be Bookmarks are tagged/labeled so they can be sorted by topic. sorted by topic.

•• Social bookmarking enables professional groups, Social bookmarking enables professional groups, agencies, work units or teams to save bookmarks agencies, work units or teams to save bookmarks to the same site. This can be a tremendous time to the same site. This can be a tremendous time saver for groups looking for similar information. saver for groups looking for similar information.

•• Libraries have found social bookmarking to be Libraries have found social bookmarking to be useful as an easy way to provide lists of informative useful as an easy way to provide lists of informative links to patrons. links to patrons.

Social bookmarking Social bookmarking –– the salt shortagethe salt shortagehttp://delicious.com/Maverick2008http://delicious.com/Maverick2008

Surveying and pollingSurveying and polling

•• SurveyMonkey.comSurveyMonkey.com

•• freeonlinesurveys.comfreeonlinesurveys.com

•• eSurveysPro.comeSurveysPro.com

•• polldaddy.compolldaddy.com™™

•• questionpro.comquestionpro.com

•• freesurveysonline.comfreesurveysonline.com

•• coolsurveys.comcoolsurveys.com

•• surveypopups.comsurveypopups.com

PodcastingPodcasting•• Podcasting Podcasting is a way of publishing audio and video is a way of publishing audio and video

broadcasts via the Internet. broadcasts via the Internet.

•• Podcasts are feeds that contain digital audio and Podcasts are feeds that contain digital audio and video files, such as MP3, MP4 or M4V files. video files, such as MP3, MP4 or M4V files.

•• A podcast feed reader is needed to view or listen to A podcast feed reader is needed to view or listen to the feeds. the feeds.

•• Once you subscribe to a podcast, you can either Once you subscribe to a podcast, you can either listen/watch it on your computer or transfer it to a listen/watch it on your computer or transfer it to a portable MP3/video player, such as an iPod. portable MP3/video player, such as an iPod.

PodcastingPodcasting

Streaming multimediaStreaming multimedia

•• With streaming media, a Web user does With streaming media, a Web user does not have to wait to download a large file not have to wait to download a large file before seeing the video or hearing the before seeing the video or hearing the sound.sound.

•• Instead, the media is sent in a continuous Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream and is played as it arrives. stream and is played as it arrives.

•• The user needs a player, which is a special The user needs a player, which is a special program that program that uncompressesuncompresses and sends and sends video data to the display and audio data to video data to the display and audio data to speakers. speakers.

Streaming mediaStreaming media

Business applicationsBusiness applications

•• Once again the equations that Once again the equations that determine the way we work and live are determine the way we work and live are being rewritten.being rewritten.

•• How can you use these utilities:How can you use these utilities:–– As individual employees.As individual employees.–– As teams and work units.As teams and work units.–– As a department.As a department.–– As a customer.As a customer.