Today I presented to the WIC hot breakfast series on Web 2.0 and the impact of technology on social computing. I talked about how life is really fast paced, we are time poor and don’t have time to catch up with our friends and family as it is, let alone have time for social networking with web friends. But a communication and connectivity revolution is occurring and like any good revolution, its one that connect people, information and knowledge and is about the people and YOU taking control.
Yes, I’m busy and time poor, but what I’ve realised is, this is exactly why social computing works for me. By using the social computing tools available me i am sharing contacts with people I trust and learning how to quickly get through the noise on the Internet, to the sites that are going to be interesting and relevant to me.You can leverage off the power of the many and build your network through friends and friends of friends. Its about getting connected. It also about trust and how you trusted network can work for you so you can gain access to the knowledge and information you need.
This connectivity revolution is fostering innovation and creativity. Instead of the Web 1.0 top down approach to information, Web 2.0 allows a bottom up approach to sharing information. That’s why the social stuff is at the very core of Web 2.0. Knowledge may be power, but the real power is when that knowledge is shared. Viva the revolution!
Just a quick note to let you know that I am presenting at the next WIC hot breakfast series of meetings this week. I am talking about the Impact of Web 2.0 Technology and Social Computing. More information on the event can be found at WIC.
The WICked Woman of the Year Award seeks to recognise the amazing work done every day by women in the ICT industry. The WICked Woman Award is open to all women working in and making a significant contribution to the ICT industries in the
Canberra region.
The women nominated for the award in 2007 have all acted as role models or mentors for women in the ICT industry and have encouraged women into the industry.
At last night’s annual WIC in Winter Dinner, Lynette Johns-Boast was announced as the 2007 WICked Woman of the Year. Lynette has over 20 years industry experience and joined the ANU as an academic in 2003. She maintains close links with the ICT industry and has played an important role in bringing the
Canberra business community and ANU software engineering students together to help solve real-world ICT problems through project-based courses.
In 2006 Lynette hosted the inaugural ’software engineering showcase’ at ANU that was attended by many members of the local business community. In the same year she also established a mentoring group for female students studying software engineering at the ANU. This has since been extended to all computing students. The group is for first year and later year students and provides a forum for them to get advice and support from Lynette and to also establish their own support networks.
The proportion of female students studying computing degrees has fallen nationally and at ANU in the past few years. Lynette’s mentoring work, her engagement with the ICT industry through courses, and the support that Lynette has provided with College recruitment activities is important in assisting to arrest and reverse this trend. Lynette is an important role model for female students studying computing degrees and for those considering studying computing.
Congratulations Lynette, I believe she is a very worthy recipient of the WICked Woman of the Year Award.
I have been a member of WIC (Women in Communication) for some time now. It is an association designed to encourage women to enter the technology and communications industries and provide peer support for those in the industries.
What I find amusing is the reaction I get from some of my male colleagues when I mention that I went to a women’s breakfast. They joke about “secret women’s business”. A male colleague commented he finds such forums divisive. This really surprised me.
WIC actively encourage both women and men to attend their forums and the information, though tailored to mentoring women, is equally valid and applicable to our male colleagues. So please, if you hear about such events and networking groups, be supportive and come along. You are most welcome.
It is fantastic to be a part of something that is helping to inspire women to progress in the technology and communication industries. In particular, WIC is working with other organisations to develop forums where the industries can be promoted to women of all ages but in particular to girls in their last years of high school and at tertiary institutions who are in the process of making career decisions.
The association aims to:
- provide a forum where women in the technology and communications industry can network for mutual benefit;
- provide a range of activities to increase the participation of women in the technology and communication industries;
- provide a forum to develop role models of success to participate in community and school based activities to change the image of the technology and communications industry to one which is attractive to women;
- have fun.
WIC events are fun and informative. Each month an award, the “WICked” Woman of the Month award, is given to recognise the amazing work done everyday by Women in ICT. These events are a fantastic networking opportunity and are filling a need for support and discussion amongst collegaues in the industry.
Recent Comments