Evolution

Ever have those sorts of conversations, where, as you say your words out loud, you realise that you are articulating thoughts you have never spoken out loud to others?

I had one of those conversations the other day, when I was talking with Teresa, and I said that I am no longer particularly interested in all those bright and shiny new tools that are out there. I used to be, but these days I find that while I still keep a vague eye open for new things, I don’t care to rush out and play with new toys very much any more. (You will note I haven’t really written in depth about new toys here for a long long time.) I am more interested in learning about how the tools are evolving, and how our use of the tools is evolving. I would rather motivate colleagues, and get them interested and informed and start them doing things, and try to facilitate the right environment and support for them to continue to explore and learn all about these tools, than to do this myself.

When I think about it, I suppose it’s fair enough, really, seeing as I have been playing with a lot of these things for a while now – since 2005 – and it makes sense that my interests too have changed. Looking at the tools I use I realise that I have been using most of them for years:

• blogging. I have been blogging since mid-2005. I started by being super-skeptical and quickly realised what A Big Thing all this is (Web 2.0, Social Media, call it what you will). I still enjoy blogging, but mainly as a writing exercise.
• RSS. My absolute favourite, the bestest, most amazingest tool of them all. Started off using Bloglines in 2005, gradually migrated to Google Reader. Without my RSS aggregator I would be lost – it is essential for my continued learning.
• Twitter. Would you believe I have had my Twitter account since November 2006? It was pretty frustrating back then, because hardly anyone used it – but look at it now. As Chris Corrigan says: “Hooray for Twitter.” I learn a lot from Twitter.
• Flickr. Have had an account since early 2005, too, I think. I can still remember how fun and compelling I found it back then. Got a paid account not long after discovering it.
• LibraryThing. My personal library would be nothing without you, LibraryThing. I am a proud life member and have had my account since 14 September 2005.
• Facebook. Have had an account on Facebook for a long time too, way back in the days where you had to have a .edu email account to be able to create an account there. I go through phases with FB and don’t think I am super active there but I check it at least once a day and have been enjoying the fact that I have friends there from many different language communities. I don’t think I can express quite how much it completes me to be able to communicate with others in the languages I speak. (Corny, I know…)

There are others tools and services*, of course, but these are the ones that have really made my life easier. I expect I will continue to use them for as long as they do. (Assuming they continue, of course.)

What about you? Has your interest in this whole hoo-ha changed at all? Assuming you have (had) an interest, of course. What continues to interest you?

I am glad I had this conversation. Thanks Teresa!

* E.g. FriendFeed, Google Docs, Twine, GoodReads, Last.fm, etc.