Thursday, July 30, 2009

Switching From Yoono To Tweetdeck

Image representing TweetDeck as depicted in Cr...
I am always on the lookout for helpful products and services. For the past few months I have used a wonderful tool called Yoono. For those unfamiliar with Yoono, it is a Firefox add-on that pulls friends' status updates from Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and Friendfeed. It can also retrieve your email, instant messages, and RSS reader into a single window. Similar to Digsby, it helps me follow all of my social networking activity in one place.

For the most part, I am very happy with Yoono and have recommended it to friends repeatedly. For those who are now using Yoono and love it, I say keep using it. Unfortunately, my networking habits are changing. For starters, I am now writing a blog. To accommodate my readers' needs, I would like to increase the number of people I follow and interact with. I do not see that happening with Yoono.

If I was not going to use Yoono, what could I use? Immediately, I went back through my list of favorite web sites and found Tweetdeck, PeopleBrowsr, Seesmic, and Seesmic Web. I like the idea behind each of these applications. Essentially, each of the four apps provide multiple columns for different conversations. Unlike Yoono or Twitter's home page, I only get one column.






Another feature Tweetdeck, PeopleBrowsr, and Seesmic provide is the ability to put favorite friends into groups. This is extremely helpful when I only want to watch a small number of people. When you get to the point where you are following thousands people on Twitter, it quickly becomes noise. At that moment, you will realize that you lack the time to keep up. Therefore, placing key people into a group, I can watch my close family and friends without fear of losing touch.

Following people is a good thing. However, there are times when you simply want to follow a topic. On nights when I am watching So You Think You Can Dance, I may want to follow the conversation live. In Twitter, I can do a keyword search and then keep up that way, but Tweetdeck, PeopleBrowsr, and Seesmic offer one better. I can follow multiple keywords and follow them all at the same time. As an example, I may watch keywords on NCCU, ColdFusion, Twitter, and SYTYCD without having to refresh a web page or toggle between browser tabs. Staying updated never seemed this easy.

Out of the box, these tools offer a bunch of neat stuff, but I have bigger concerns. For one, I am using a laptop with limited RAM. This means I have to be careful about opening applications that will eat my memory. When this happens, my computer crawls and I can not do anything except restart the machine. Last time I used Tweetdeck, it eventually slowed my computer down to the point I had to uninstall it.

My first decision was to use a web-based application like PeopleBrowsr and Seesmic Web or a desktop application like Tweetdeck and Seesmic. After a brief review, I decided to look at Tweetdeck and Seesmic. Both of these applications received positive feedback, but there was one thing that sealed the deal for me. Tweetdeck syncs columns between computers. While I use the same computer, I log on using different accounts, one for work and the other for personal use.

The installation of Tweetdeck was easy and it only took a moment to remember why I loved this application. Within a few minutes, I had all of my columns set up and I was ready to go. Since the last time I used Tweetdeck, they have made some additional changes. Today, I can pull Facebook status updates and I can tweet with multiple accounts. That is very cool!

If you are looking for additional power and control on Twitter, give Tweetdeck a try. Until next time...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

If You Build It: A Lesson In Becoming a Clockmaker vs. a Time-teller

A Westclox Big Ben Clock
"If you build it, they will come." Those words were first spoken in the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner. The idea, for those who have not seen the movie, is that a baseball diamond located in the middle of a corn field will bring together both historical players and loving fans. The movie was quite touching and it is the object lesson for today's article.

The year was 1999 and I just graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a bachelors degree in music industry studies. For two years prior, I owned and operated a small candy business that helped fund my initiation fees into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., buy diapers for my infant son, and contribute toward the opening of our Millennium Music record store. For the short time our store remained open, I learned a number of valuable lessons. The first of which resembles the one presented in the Field of Dreams. If you build it, they will come.

Our first visitor came knocking shortly after our doors opened. My business partner and long-time friend, Kamari Lyons, spent days with me in the acquisition of supplies and decoration of the store. Located directly across the street from the university, we knew there was a market for our product. Not only did we know it, but also a number of local vendors.

At one point, we had clothing stores, record company marketing reps, photographers, party promoters, dj's, fragrant distributors, musicians, artists, and the like trying to push their product through our doors. Many of them we knew personally, or at least had some form of connection, but others came out of the blue. In hindsight, I recognize we had something that brought value to others. Our store gave local vendors an opportunity to further their business as well as our own.

Recently, something a little less dramatic happened. I received a notice that had to go out to the entire North Carolina Central University. The information was important enough to go out through a special group of web liaisons. These individuals serve as representatives within their departments. Their prime objective is to send and receive information related to Information Technology, more specifically Web Services. With over 119 people identified, trained, and connected, this established group served a valuable need. In this case, to disseminate information about a recent change in leadership. Whatever the topic, the infrastructure was in place to offer assistance in a time of need.

The point of this article is to drive home the idea of becoming a builder. James C. Collins, author of Good to Great, made a comparison between a clockmaker and business builder. In the story, Collins explains that charismatic leaders are wonderful time-tellers, but once they are gone the magic is gone with them. On the other hand, a clockmaker builds something that will potentially outlast the maker and offer value long after the time-teller is gone.

So it is with you and with me. Look around and evaluate your life and its contributions to the world. Are you a great time-teller or a solid clockmaker? Are you building an infrastructure that will outlast your constant attention or will your efforts die with you?

Whatever your answer, I have some recommendations that may help you become a strong builder.

Have a Vision
In order to achieve great things, one must see the big picture. Where are you trying to go? What are you trying do? These are basic questions you should ask yourself as you begin this journey. If the answer is a successful blog, daycare center, web development firm, recording studio, or even an amusement park bigger than Disneyland, then it is important to understand where you would like to go.

Build In Baby Steps
Rome was not built in a day, so neither will your endeavor. With project planning we are often taught to construct each step with exact detail. While this sounds good, I have come to learn that things change. I believe it is good to have a vision of a finished product but also remain flexible to adapt with new information. When you build in steps, you allow yourself time to adjust, if necessary.

Get Back Up
When you fall down or get blindsided with unfortunate events, get back up. I know, it sounds easy but do not let misfortune or speed bumps get in your way of moving on down the road. When it happens, and it will happen, get up, dust yourself off, find your vision, and keep walking.

Have Fun
One of my favorite quotes talks about success. It reads, "Success is a journey, not a destination." Remember that our road to building strong business ventures (clocks) is paved with memorable and enjoyable sites. Whether it is going to school, living in a one room apartment, or working double shift to gain experience, enjoy the process of reaching your dreams.

Remember, if you build it, they will come. Until next time...

Monday, July 27, 2009

CampusEAI's MyCampus vs. NCCU's MyEOL: And the Winner Is...

Image representing CampusEAI as depicted in Cr...Image via CrunchBase
It has been a few weeks since our last meeting with CampusEAI regarding their MyCampus solution. If you recall, I wrote MyCampus vs. MyEOL: War of the Campus Portals and Up Against the Wal-marts to explain the details surrounding our look into a third-party portal application. At the conclusion of my last article, the situation looked as if the grant was a done deal. The CIO and direct reports seemed to like the solution, but wanted some time to consult with other institutions already using the portal.

My attempts to get a comment from any university using MyCampus produced little fruit. This made me wary. I also looked online for a perspective outside CampusEAI's web site. It would have been nice to hear both pros and cons, but found nothing.

With the number of blogs on information technology in higher education, one would expect to find plenty of write ups. Unfortunately, it seemed that a veil of silence protected any comments other than theirs. Maybe I am completely wrong, but that is how I saw it.

Anyway, back to the story. Two weeks go by and a number of us at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) have taken the opportunity to speak with inside developers and project managers. We were given the opportunity to look under the hood and ask questions about the process, tools, and requirements.

The NCCU team, now led by a new CIO, organized a number of internal meetings to discuss our findings. The decision to adopt or reject the portal must be made on solid facts, not personal bias. Therefore, the CIO took our individual reports and needed time to review. After careful consideration, the CIO called a special meeting with members of the project and representatives from CampusEAI.

When all were assembled, the CIO revealed his decision. Based upon facts and with the best interest of North Carolina Central University at heart, our leader informed us and CampusEAI that we will NOT accept the grant. He then continues to explain a number of relevant issues ranging from economic hardships, budget constraints, prior commitments, lack of personnel, and lack of communication with campus stakeholders. In review, I think the decision was a good one and agree whole-heartedly with the reasons provided.

To those institutions looking for more information. I can tell you that MyCampus looks promising. If you do not have a portal, or looking for something with web 2.0 features, give the consortium a looksee. For us, the solution and timing was not right.

On a personal note, this means the talented and incredibly resourceful web developers in Web Services can return to what they do best and create MAGIC.

Until next time...


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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Small Discovery Makes Lazyfeed Exceedingly Cool

A few weeks ago, I took Louis Gray's recommendation and created an account on Lazyfeed. He spoke passionately about the service and later offered an invitation code. How could I resist?

My first impression, after connecting my blog, Twitter, and Delicious accounts, was "Ok, now what?" I recognized that my tags helped the service find related RSS feeds. That was cool but I think it was too much information all at once, so I went back to Google Reader where I feel most comfortable.

Over the following days, Louis kept driving Lazyfeed as this excellent resource but I could not see the value. He even went so far as to say Lazyfeed was one of his four favorite sites that he used daily. Again, I see that it brings in feeds but that alone did not excitement me. It just felt so overwhelming. Even after watching his video demonstration and listening to the Social Geeks, I went back my trusted Google Reader.

This morning, after a restful 8 hours of sleep, I decided to spend a little time exploring the Lazyfeed site. I decided to add some of the tags and keywords I use on meehive and Google Alerts. At first glance, there were some interesting finds. I clicked on the Hot Topics and checked out some feeds about Michael Jackson, Harry Potter, and Tron.

The list of added tags, located on the left-hand side, continued to grow. I recognized that every few moments the list would reshuffle based on new feeds. The feature is cool, but it was one of those things that contributed to my feelings of information overload. As soon as I read something on Facebook, I would get updates for four or five other tags. Additionally, the list of topics on Facebook appeared to go on and on. If that is how each one of these tags looked, when selected, then I knew this service was far too much for me.

Just then, I noticed something I had not noticed before. Some of the tags listed on the left-hand side were gray and no longer bold. Even though some of the tags were being refreshed, when clicked, the list of feeds under that tag was much shorter than before. It appears that Lazyfeed archives older feeds and only shows you new feeds. Depending upon the level of activity for the tag, I might see one or ten new feeds. This small and overlooked detail gave me hope that I can stay on top of the feeds.



Let me explain. In services like Gmail or Google Reader, I can achieve a clean inbox. After reading all of my feeds and messages, it is empty. Throughout the day I will receive notifications that something new has arrived. At my leisure, I will then stop in and catch up. At first glance, that was not the case for Lazyfeed. That is until now. Now, I see that after reading the feeds for a particular tag, it turns gray and no longer bold. When refreshed with new feeds, it turns black and bold. When clicked, it only shows the newest feeds.

It was at that moment when I realized the power of Lazyfeed. I understand that I am getting feeds for my favorite tags, which is more topical, versus feeds coming from blogs I subscribe too using Google Reader. Using Google Reader, Friendfeed, Facebook, or Twitter will limit what feeds I am introduced to because my list of friends and saved blogs change less often.

With that, I have to thank Louis Gray and the developers of Lazyfeed for sharing this outstanding resource.

Until next time...

Friday, July 24, 2009

Observations from a Receptive IT Manager in Higher Education

There are some mornings that I look over my desk and envy the skills of the Web Services team. I remember it was only a few years ago that I was the sole developer at Elizabeth City State University. For the most part, I was responsible for programming, designing, promoting, managing, training, and writing. The job was fun but there never seemed to be enough time to accomplish my goals.

In 2006, two years after earning the M.B.A., I wanted to try my hand at management. A trusted friend and fraternity brother told me about an opening at North Carolina Central University and encouraged me to apply. I did. The call for an interview came within a few short days.

Knowing very little about the university, I was impressed. The Information Technology department appeared to have it all together. They had card entry on the doors, nearly 70 employees, and plenty of resources. The Deputy CIO, Leon Lewis, understood the web and recognized the value Web Services could have on the institution. He was open to ideas and told me that he fully supports the team.

On the way home, I could not contain my excitement. For the next 3 hours, which is the drive time between Durham and Elizabeth City, my face was stuck on "constant smile." Unfortunately, over the next few months the smile slowly faded. I heard nothing about the job. I made a few calls to the campus requesting an update on the position, but nothing. I nearly gave up the idea of ever moving out of Elizabeth City. That was until I received a call from the Human Resources department at NCCU. Not that you were surprised, but they offered me the job.

I wanted to hide my excitement, so I calmed myself enough to say, "Thank you!" Then, as if I had no clue to the decision, I asked for more time to weigh my options. They agreed.

After speaking with my current supervisor, family, and friends. I decided that moving to Durham and working for North Carolina Central University would be a perfect opportunity. For one, I could work with other developers. Second, I could enhance my management experience.

Over the next 2.5 years, I have learned a great deal about programming, graphic design, multimedia, business intelligence, web technology, and management. I realize that there will always be someone better than me. Let's try seven names out for size: Dindo Liboon, Darin Tyler, Mike Render, Derek Brinson, Bobby Nichols, Chris Porche, and Phil Molaro. If I could just be in the same room as these guys, I am pleased as punch.

At moments like now, I find that I envy their skill to make magic happen. Yes, I wonder sometimes where I would be today had I continued to develop the way I used too. Having made the move into management, I spend more time reading, networking, planning, and supporting. This is not to say I dislike being a manager because I LOVE it. It is just that I have to put down one skill set for the adoption of another.

Looking toward the future, I am very interested in moving up the managerial ladder. However, this decision means I walk even further away from programming. This is a sweet and sour moment. It is sweet because of the opportunity to explore my other interests and build strengths in new areas but sour because I also grow weaker in development.

I recall a time when I looked at the older managers, who failed to understand what I did on the web, and hoped that I never ended up clueless. Today, I understand. I personally do not have to know everything there is to know about anything. My value is in knowing and supporting someone who knows more than me.

I guess every passing moment is another opportunity to learn something new. I know I am, what about you?

Enjoy today and all that it brings. Until next time...

Thursday, July 23, 2009

First Look at Google Voice

Yesterday evening I received the long awaited invitation to Google Voice. With pure excitement, I jumped in the air and yelled, "I got it, I got it!" For a moment, I felt like Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after he found the last golden ticket. Immediately, I broke into song, "I've got the golden ticket, I've got the golden tickeeeeeeeeeeeeet!" But then I quickly lost the band, playing in my head, when my kids just looked at me with a dumbfound stare. Oooooookay, I thought.

What is Google Voice? To the best of my knowledge, the project grew out of another Google product called Grand Central. The basic idea behind Voice is a single phone number ties in with your existing telephones. When people call your Google Voice number it can ring your cell, office, and home phones simultaneously. Family, friends, and business partners will no longer have to hunt you down by dialing every number in the book. With this service, one number is all you need to stay connected. Additionally, the service has an answering machine that will allow you to check messages from the web. If you think that is cool, it only gets better.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me take a step back and describe what I see. Once I log into the site, my first impression is simplicity. The layout reminds me of Gmail with its navigation on the left hand side and the inbox consuming the body of the page. Google provides a default welcome message that you can either read for yourself or press the "play" button to have a male sounding voice read it for you.





For the most part, the tools are quite similar to that of Gmail. At the top there is the Archive, Spam, Delete, and More Actions button. Down the left hand side there is the Inbox, Starred, History, Spam, Trash, and Contacts button. Immediately following the standard Gmail navigation is a group of Google Voice specific buttons, they include: Voicemail, SMS, Recorded, Placed, Received, and Missed.

Voicemail
By clicking on the voicemail link, I see a list of messages awaiting my attention. My options are to call the person back, send an SMS message, add a note, block caller, e-mail, download, or embed the message onto a web page. Similar to e-mail, I can also star the message as a favorite.

SMS
Under the SMS button, I see a list of text messages both sent and received. The application tells me who the message came from or who it was sent to, the date and time of the message, and options to call, SMS, add note, or block caller. As with all messages, both SMS and voicemail, I can delete, mark as spam, keep as read/unread, and archive.

Recorded Calls
Withing Google Voice you can also record your calls while you talk. The recorded calls button will list any recorded items you may have.

Placed, Received, and Missed
Similar to a regular cellphone, Google Voice will keep track of calls placed, received, or missed. Like other messages, you can simply press the call or SMS buttons to return a message.

Contacts
One huge plus is the synchronization of Google Voice contacts with Gmail contacts. Any contact you have within Gmail is automatically shared between the two services. This is a great idea and should encourage users to maximize the address book more fully.

Placing a Call
To place a telephone call, simply click on the Call icon located in the upper left hand corner. When clicked, a small window will open and ask for a phone number. Within this box, you can either type a phone number or a name. As you type the name or number, a second window will open showing you possible contacts as listed in your address book. This is quite handy and a major time-saver. Once you have entered a name or number, you must then decide which phone to use. If you have not stored an office, mobile, or home number, you can enter them here. Whatever number you choose, Google Voice will call you first. When you pick up the phone, the system will then place the call as normal. As I understand it, you can use this service anywhere and call just about anyone.

Sending SMS (Text) Messages
Not only can you place telephone calls, but Google Voice also provides a tool to send text messages. To send a message, click on the SMS button, which rests to the left of the Call button. Once clicked, a small window opens and you can add a name or number and then type your message in 160 characters or less.

Balance
There is one area near the very bottom of the navigation panel that reads, "Balance." On my screen it reads $.10 in green numbers. This section provides a report on how much money I have left on my balance. For individuals seeking to make international calls, you can deposit funds via Google Checkout in the amount of $10. Additional features include calling rates and a transaction history.

Calling Widget
Now that you have a Google Voice number, the next task is to share that number with your friends, family, and business associates. Google provides a calling widget that you can place on your web site. When clicked, users will type in their name, phone number, and hit "Connect." Immediately, Google Voice calls the visitor's phone and then calls you. Visitors concerned with showing their phone numbers can select a check box to keep their number private.

Receiving Phone Calls
On the receiving end of a call, you have a few options. As the call comes in, Google Voice announces the name of the caller and provides you with the following options:

  1. Take the call
  2. Let the caller go to voicemail
  3. Listen while the caller leaves a message
  4. Take the call and record the conversation
Additional Settings
Under the settings tab, which is located in the upper right-hand corner, you can make a number of updates to your account. You can add phone numbers, create groups, create voicemail greetings, change your pin number, chose to screen calls, transcribe voicemail messages, opt-in for caller ID, notifications, and do not disturb.

Mobile App
The last feature I would like to share with you is the optional mobile application. I downloaded the app for the Blackberry and I am provided with a number of options; I can make a telephone call from the cellphone (using my Google Voice number), see a history of telephone call transactions, and listen to (or read) voicemail messages.

Conclusion
Based on my initial observation and usage of Google Voice, I am thoroughly pleased. Google has put together a valuable tool that will change the way we use our land line and mobile phones. I am even more pleased to get all of these features for FREE.

My only concern with the service is the potential loss of privacy. With the ability to embed voicemail messages onto web pages and record telephone conversations on the fly, I fear that I may say something that can be used against me in the future. The concern is not enough to sway my use of the service. However, as more people get on board, we must be aware of what we do and say because this type of technology makes sharing discussions very easy.

Overall, I applaud Google for a groundbreaking product and encourage you to sign up today for an invitation. Until next time...

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

NCCU Web Services Finds Challenges With Scrum's Sprint Demonstration

Yesterday, the Web Services team at North Carolina Central University conducted its 24th Sprint Demonstration. What is a Sprint Demonstration, exactly? A Sprint Demonstration marks the completion of a project. For us, we invite our Web Liaisons and customers into a conference room, where we highlight our finished web products. For visitors, this is an opportunity to see new things, provide feedback, and ask questions directly to the developers. For the developers, we get to watch the reactions and gather feedback that may enhance the outcomes of the next iteration. In theory, this is a win/win opportunity.

In reality, few people take the time to follow changes made to the NCCU.edu web site. That is until those changes go to production. Second, many of the wonderful things the team designs are simply lost in cyberspace until an unforeseeable future arrives. The team and I held many discussions amongst ourselves concerning our audience's readiness to adopt new things. Until the masses understand the value and are prepared to use a web application, the tool is only valuable to its creators.

Our job, as I see it, is to help create excitement. First, we have to understand the customer's needs and second, offer solutions that they are willing to use. For those applications that are allusive, we need to educate our users and find support in early adopters. I believe once this is accomplished, the team will see more visitors at the demonstrations. Not only will we see more people, we will see more individuals fighting to get the best seats in the room.

One day, I envision a campus full of bloggers and web affectionados. Today, we have a few departments and individuals that fully embrace the technology of social networking. This fact reveals a light at the end of the tunnel. So far, these individuals have been so supportive and do their best to spread the good news. I believe with increased education comes greater adoption of web technology. Until then, we have an uphill battle to win the hearts and minds of this campus one person at a time.

Until next time...

NCCU Leaves Kampyle for Get Satisfaction

About a year ago, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) redesigned the look of its web site. The process was challenging. Not necessarily for technical reasons, but rather due to the political influences of faculty, staff, and students. There were many that enjoyed the change because they saw it as an upgrade. Others felt it was a distraction and totally unnecessary.

As a result of this change, my team and I wanted to remain in touch with our customers so that we could identify any loose ends and stay proactive. The solution, as I saw it, was to employ the use of a feedback system. I looked for a number of solutions. Some were free and others were not. I wanted something that would keep users on the site but prompt them for feedback.

In the end, I found Kampyle to be a solution with possibilities. Out of the box, the web-based tool provided a pop-up form that could be submitted without leaving the site. The administration back-end offered little in the way of customizing the form, but with valuable reports and the ability to connect with Google Analytics, we were sold. Almost immediately, we received a handful of responses. Most were helpful and offered suggestions toward making NCCU.edu better.

After a few months, I learned that Kampyle moved out of its free stage. I received a number of phone calls and e-mails asking us to select a paid package. Ranging from $250 to $500 a month, we could continue as normal. The only problem is that Web Services has no money. Often looked at as a luxury, we tend to get few dollars when compared other priority needs. As a result, we had no choice but to remove the tool.

To my surprise, after a brief revisit to GetSatisfaction.com, I found that they now offered a similar solution, but free. As I understand it, many web companies use GetSatisfaction.com as a feedback tool. Customers can offer notice of praise, ideas, questions, or problems. Not only can they offer but they can also interact with each other.

When a problem is fixed, everyone experiencing a similar issue will be notified via e-mail. Additionally, we can encourage our Web Liaisons to join the site as a proactive approach to customer service. This makes me very happy and I assume it would make the Chancellor proud, assuming we actually provide great service.

If you are interested in viewing the new tool, visit NCCU.edu and look for a maroon "Feedback" button on the front page. While you are there, drop us a line.

Until next time...

All That Remains Is The Dissertation

In order to secure a doctoral degree, one has to progress through a series of steps. For me, a huge portion of work is behind me, but I still have plenty to do. More specifically, I have to finish the final paper, which we call the dissertation.

As of yesterday, I began the first day with my mentor. The class is labeled DOC 733. This is actually the second time I am taking it. According to the University of Phoenix, doctoral students are required to continue with this course until the dissertation proposal is approved by the IRB. The proposal consists of three chapters. Chapter one is the introduction, chapter two is the literature review, and chapter three is the methodology. Based on documents given to me, the average size of a proposal is around 60-115 pages.

Clearly, this appears to be an overwhelming project. Throughout the past year, the University advised us students to read journal articles and prepare the proposal. In fact, over a year ago there were some that already submitted their proposals and achieved IRB approval. Me? Well, I was far too busy trying to finish my coursework.

Today, I am looking at this paper thinking the journey of a thousands miles begins with one step. If I can only look at the project as a bunch of tiny tasks, then in time the job will get done. To support this belief, I submitted to my mentor a plan of action. Based on the eight weeks I have left in this course, I figured that writing 500 words a day would give me around 3,500 (or 7 pages) a week. That seems doable, right?

As of this post, I haven't written anything new. I told myself that if I can only wake up at 3 am each morning, that would give me a few undisturbed hours to read and write. I also recognize that weekends provide valuable gems of opportunity, maybe I can get ahead.

I am optimistic. I believe I can finish the proposal within this course. Although, I cannot control how long it will take for the IRB to review my submission. In any case, I figured telling the world my goal would also help apply healthy amounts of pressure. If I succeed or fail, it will be in the public eye. Besides, whatever lesson I gain from the next eight weeks, I hope someone else will find inspiration and hope that they can do it too.

Until next time...

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

How to Share Interesting Stuff from the Web Using Google Reader and Friendfeed

Content is key. At least that is what my friend Derek Brinson repeatedly says. Based on my own observations and numerous articles written on social media, I would have to agree.

During the morning commute, my carpool partner, Anabel Barbosa, and I spoke about yesterday's entry. At some point, the discussion led to blogging, Twitter, and how to earn more followers. My response was, "Post good content and engage often." It sounds an awful lot like the secret to losing weight, eat right and workout. It is not all that romantic, but if you follow the rules, your numbers will grow and your weight will drop. No, it will not happen overnight but with some consistency, it will happen. This article will focus solely on the first ingredient of gaining loyal followers through the posting of good content.

I feel this is important information because many of my friends are not doing this. Instead, they resort to get rich schemes that promise hundreds of followers. Similar to weight loss fads, they do not provide lasting results.

To begin, let us talk about Google Reader. On Saturday, I wrote, "Google Reader Reveals Opportunities To Become an Industry Leader." I explained that Reader holds all of my blogs and news in one place. When I am ready, I skim through the list and read the most interesting articles. This habit enables me to stay abreast of the latest news and trends without wasting valuable time searching for them.

Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Friendfeed are perfect places to share interesting web finds. With tools like Shareaholic, StumbleUpon, Digg, Bit.ly, and Google Reader, it has become very easy to spread the word. While there are many different ways to share, I am going to show you how I do it.

Because the majority of my great finds are already in Google Reader, I just need to decide which articles or blogs meet my standards. When ready, I simply press the 'Share' button at the bottom of each item. At this point, anyone following me on Google Reader will receive a copy in their Reader window. Unfortunately, I only have 14 people following me, whereas, I have many more followers on Friendfeed, Twitter, and Facebook. How can I use Google Reader to share with them?

The next step is to use Friendfeed. Friendfeed does an excellent job of pulling updates from my favorite web sites. Once Friendfeed receives my update, it automatically pushes my updates to Twitter. With the push of one button, I can update all of my friends.

Google Reader to Friendfeed
Let me step back for a moment and explain how I connected each of these sites. To connect Google Reader to Friendfeed, do the following:





  • Visit Friendfeed. If you do not have an account yet, go ahead and get one.
  • Once you have created your Friendfeed account. Visit your time line by clicking on your name.
  • Under your name, you should see the words 'Settings.' Click it.
  • Select 'add/edit' next to 'Services'
  • In the gray box, you should see 'Google Reader.' Click it.
  • A pop-up window should appear. In the box, type in your URL. Mine is 'http://www.google.com/reader/shared/damondnollan' If you don't know the URL of your shared items page, click the link under the box.
  • Once the URL is entered, click 'Import Google Reader'
  • If successful, you should see 'Google Reader' under your services column.
At this point, Friendfeed will systematically check for any updates and post it to Friendfeed only. If you only use Friendfeed, then your job is done.If you use Twitter, then there are a few other steps.

Friendfeed to Twitter
To connect Friendfeed to Twitter, do the following:



  • Visit Friendfeed
  • Under your name, you should see the words 'Settings.' Click it.
  • Select 'add/edit' next to 'Services'
  • In the gray box, you should see 'Twitter.' Click it.
  • A pop-up window should appear. In the box, type in your Twitter username.
  • Once the username is entered, click 'Import Twitter'
  • If successful, you should see 'Twitter' under your services column.
Twitter Publishing Preferences
To avoid multiple posts, we need to control those updates Friendfeed will publish. The following steps removes Twitter from posting to itself and publishes Google Reader.



  • Visit Friendfeed and click on 'Settings.' Remember, this is immediately following your name in the upper right hand corner.
  • Click on 'Twitter publishing preferences'
  • This will bring up a page with options. For this step, ensure that the following box is checked: 'Post my FriendFeed entries on Twitter by default'
  • Next, under the 'Post Entry From:' section select 'The services I've selected below:'
  • Uncheck 'Twitter'
  • Check 'Google Reader'
  • Finally, press 'Save changes'
Once you have completed this step, Google Reader will automatically update Friendfeed, which will then automatically update Twitter. Cool, huh?

There is one final thing I would like to show you. Earlier, I made the assumption all your blogs and news articles were already in Google Reader. The most pressing question should be, "How do I get stuff in there?"

The two ways I get news into Reader is by subscription or 'Note in Reader.' Subscribing to blogs or news feeds is as simple as following the RSS link. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. When clicked, the page should ask your RSS reader of choice. Select 'Google Reader.'

The other way to get news into Reader is by the 'Note in Reader' bookmarklet. This option is very easy to set up and use. By dragging the bookmarklet into your browser's toolbar, you can visit a web site or article and quickly share on Google Reader, which automatically shares on Friendfeed and Twitter. To set up, follow these steps:




  • Visit Google Reader
  • Click on 'Your stuff' in the left-hand side navigation.
  • Once clicked, you should see "Share anything from the web..." on the right hand side of the page. To create bookmarklet, simply drag 'Note in Reader' to your toolbar.
To use:


  • Find an article, picture, or movie that you would like to share.
  • Click on 'Note in Reader' in your browser toolbar. A pop-up window should appear.
  • At this point, you can add a note or highlight some text in the article and hit refresh.
  • Finally, press 'Post Item'
After you submit the article, you can return to your Google Reader and view your newly shared item. Now that you have gotten this far, follow me and share something.

Until next time...

Monday, July 20, 2009

Date Night: A Wise Investment

The older and more involved we become in our own lives, the easier it is to forget the most basic needs of others. This past weekend, I was made aware of something I suspected for some time. My second child, Dakota, is in need of my attention. Until the birth of my third child, Danica, Dakota was the baby. She received a lot of love from both her mother and I. My oldest child, Darius, is ten and he had it good for about 7 years.

While all the kids need parental love, I realized that each one of my three kids starve for our unwavering attention. As the size of my family grows, I found that I began looking at them as a group, not as individuals. My perception was not intentional, it just happened. Of course, I called them all by name and love them with all that I have, but something was missing. I knew that fact and so did this wise old black woman working in Wal-mart's eyeglass shop.

While my son looked for new spectacles, I was sitting down holding my youngest, Danica. Dakota kept running around the store touching stuff. Finally, I asked her to stand near me until we were ready to leave the store. As she stood near me, she started crying. I suspected it was because I would not let her run free. At some point, Erica took the baby and Dakota found her way on my lap and nuzzled her face into my chest. Surprisingly, she remained relaxed and quiet for the duration of our time in the shop.

The older black lady, who sat at the desk reading a newspaper, looked up from her paper and said, "That's where she wanted to be, with Daddy." That very comment sent my brain into overdrive. I knew middle children acted out because of their need for attention, but it did not dawn on me to actually do something about it. That is until last night.

I decided to take Dakota grocery shopping with me. Do understand I hardly ever take my kids shopping, unless all of them are with me. On occasion, I will take Darius to assist with the bags, but that is it. Last night, I asked Dakota if she wanted to go with me. Happily, she put her shoes on and skipped to the car. It was at that moment that I found myself a bit lost for words.

It was a weird moment for me because here we are just her and I. We sat in the car, alone, which we never do. I felt like it was my first date. I kept looking at her to ensure she was comfortable. Was there too much wind from the window? Was she having a good time? What do I talk about?

After ten minutes or so, the jitters wore off and I just enjoyed our time together. She was a perfect little angel. She never cried and she was very helpful with the groceries. We had a great time singing songs in the store, looking at live lobsters, and laughing aloud. From the looks of things, my three-year-old daughter loved it too. In fact, she gave me a kiss and told me that she loved me. It nearly brought tears to my eyes.

The ride home from the store was quiet. I looked back to find her sleeping in her car seat. Once home, I laid her in her bed and allowed her to finish her afternoon nap.

Later that night, after she awoke, there was a moment, a look perhaps, where she communicated a continued connection. It felt as though she understood that we had our own adventure, separate from adventures we have as a family. It was special because it was our moment together, no competition. It was just us. I loved it!

Today, I am a convert. I finally understand why date nights are so important and appreciate the opportunity to experience it for myself. So, if you are in a similar situation where you have a family, I say take time to share precious moments alone with your loved ones. If you have children, husband/wife, or girlfriend/boyfriend, take each one out individually and enjoy their company. Date night does not require an expensive restaurant or exciting event, but rather a savored moment alone.

Well, that is it. Give date night a try today and let me know how it goes. Until next time...

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Google Reader Reveals Opportunities To Become an Industry Leader

I have been meaning to write another blog entry since Thursday, but I have been surrounded by a ton of distractions. When I write distractions, I mean noise. I have come to understand that I am a writer that needs almost complete silence. I know some can probably write an entire book while watching television and listening to music, I am just not that lucky.

This evening, I would like to spend a few minutes talking about Google Reader. To begin, let me explain that I use Reader as my centralized repository for a diverse group of RSS feeds. While there should be no surprise that I like web technology, I also like information on investing, living green, personal health, organizational behavior, New Edition, and bunch of other unrelated topics.


Wherever I go on the Internet, I seem to find interesting blogs or news sources that help keep me up-to-date. I never realized how much I like being in the know until I stopped reading so much and lost the ability to participate in a number of interesting conversations. Instead of being able to contribute to the conversation, I was trying to play catch up. I did not like the feeling and immediately made a mental note about revisiting my Google Reader.

I am not sure when I first began using Google Reader, but I know it has been several years. I initially used it to test a feed I created for Elizabeth City State University. Early on, my usage was light and I recall my visits were sporadic. For quite some time, I easily had over 1,000+ feeds waiting for my attentive eye. Finally, after fully understanding what I could do with Reader, it found its way into my daily routine.

At one point, I had so many feeds that I spent hours trying to get the number of unread items back down to zero. Oh, and do not let me skip a day because then I would have an overwhelming number of feeds that I just end up marking as read.

Today, I know that proper management of feeds is as important as the feed itself. I find that there are originators of news and then there are a ton of feeds that simply regurgitate the news. I found a number of duplicate stories in my Reader and spent way too much time clicking through them. So, it is important to sift through those that simply regurgitate news in search of those feeds that offer original information.

By now, you may have heard that Google Reader offers its users the ability to share feeds with others. Until Thursday, I probably only had one or two friends using Google Reader with any regularity. Because of this, I felt it was a waste of a good feature. Yes, I had Google Reader connected to Friendfeed, but for some reason I never understood how they worked together.

That is until this past week. Thanks to some additional features, we can share, like, comment, follow, and search for people that use Reader. I thought it was an exciting upgrade and something that will move Google closer to seriously competing in the social networking realm.

Personally, I believe Google is aware of Twitter, Facebook, and Friendfeed services and seeks to offer something comparable. I see they are doing it iteratively, which means it will take some time before Google is able to compete openly. Although, I think it is important to note that much of the activity on those sites is the sharing of links. Well, if Google Reader is a major resource for those who share links, doesn't it just make sense to eventually cut out the middleman (Twitter, Facebook, and Friendfeed)? I won't dive too deeply into that now, but I wanted to throw that out there.

My main purpose for this entry is to share an observation with you. Some may know, but I am currently working on my doctoral degree in business. One of the major activities for us students is to read journal articles on a variety of subjects. Additionally, as I slowly work on my dissertation proposal, I am reading articles to keep me abreast of the latest activities and findings within my area of study, which is volunteer commitment in the nonprofit organization. In both my personal, professional, and academic interests, I am constantly reading.

As a result of this habit, I find that I am more aware of the trends, buzz words, and issues affecting various industries. Needless to say, I am very excited about learning new things before the masses do. For those early adopters, we quietly form a bond of understanding and, at times, it leads to opportunity. It could be an opportunity to further my career by getting a jump on the competition. It could be an opportunity to contribute my own skills and talents to the cause. Instead of being a follower or consumer, I am able to transform into leader and contributor. That is a beautiful thing.

In the doctoral program, my dissertation is supposed to contribute something to the literature. My research is supposed to help businesses and individuals do better by releasing information that can assist them. In order to do that, I have to identify a need and be ready to fill it. In business, opportunities for success come to those that see a need and fill it. However, without knowledge and information, how can one make educated decisions or see the future before it happens?

The answer, to me at least, is to read. The more I read the latest blogs, for example, the more I learn about what is relevant today. I can help my company, family, friends, and cohorts by understanding the big picture and making connections in the literature that nobody else sees. It is through this connection and willingness to share that I, and you, can move from a consumer to a contributor. Together, we can transform our role from follower to leader. Will join me on that journey? I hope you will.

Until next time...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Living Light Like James Bond

In the most recent James Bond movie, entitled, "Quantum of Solace," I made a startling discovery. It was during the scene where he picks an apartment lock in search of some hidden information. The scene itself may not be memorable but I guess I see things in the oddest of places. It was at that moment where he takes a set of car keys off the table that it hit me. Where is James Bond's wallet?

It's probably not what the producers and writers intended, but that's where my mind went. While Bond is off saving the world, I'm thinking about the lack of a wallet bulge in his back pocket. Yes, you know the one. Most men carry wallets or some form of a wallet. Typically, we add it to our spare back pockets. Whenever money or a license is in order, we just whip it out. As a result, our favorite pair of jeans earns an unsightly wear on the pocket.

To my surprise, Mr. Bond seemed immune to the pains of carrying such a necessity. Ok, well if he's not carrying a wallet on his caboose than where would he keep it? That question alone only perpetuated further inquiries. The more I looked, the more questions I had. The most obvious of questions is about the location of his cellphone, keys, lock pick, and gun. Most of us leave the gun and lock pick at home, but we are prone to weigh our pants down with other utility items. There are times when I feel very much like Batman. I'm sure if someone could develop a laptop carrying case for the belt, I'd have that too.

My concern is that unlike 007 we have developed a habit of needing too much stuff. In this case, the word "stuff" not only describes items we carry on our bodies but also the stuff we keep at home. To take it a step further, what about the emotional "stuff" we acquire over the years and refuse to drop?

There is a sense of freedom and 'stress-less-ness' when we learn to let go of the extra utilities in our lives. While it may seem unnecessary, learn to relax and release. Specifically, learn to disengage from the things in our lives and travel light.

To begin, take a look at your key chain. Are all those keys, miniature swipe cards, and antibacterial spray really necessary? Instead of looking like a janitor with a key for everything, seek to carry only those items you use every day.

Another example is to look at your wallet or purse. Similar to the key chain, remove everything in your wallet that you do not use daily. Everything else either gets thrown away or stored for later use. If you're really lucky, you won't even need a wallet because a money clip may suffice.

In our lives, seek to remove the dead weight that keeps us down. From an emotional stance, the constant weight of stress can affect our overall health and vitality. For the physical world, a clean and organized space makes life much easier to live. If it's good enough for Bond, it ought to be good enough for us.

Until next time...

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Write Before You Speak

As a child, I remember hearing adults tell us to think before we speak. This was their way of preparing us for the future. They learned through personal experiences that children often say inappropriate things at the most inopportune times. Even as adults, we may still allow things to escape our lips. Depending upon our emotional state, it may not come out exactly as planned.

Writing is not only a therapeutic remedy for stress or a creative outlet, but it also provides the brain a chance to develop ones stance on current issues. Think about it, have you ever been at work, or home, and felt compelled to speak and then realized afterward that it was not a good idea? Well, next time, try writing it out first.

I know, this is not a cure for cancer, but it is a way to fine tune your thoughts before anyone actually hears it. Why does that matter? Quite simply, once you say something you can never get it back. So, it becomes even more important to choose our words wisely.

Blogging is quickly becoming a place where I can spend my energy perfecting and exploring my thoughts before they actually become words. The advantage then becomes a more polished colloquial. For you, it may be a journal, poem, or song, but wherever it is, give writing a try before you share it with the world.

Until next time...

The Power of the Pen

I hear the pen is mightier than the sword. Based on real life examples, I believe this to be true. Politicians create law with the power to affect nations. Poems, stories, and songs have limitless reign over our hearts and minds. To the creator of these words comes great influence.

My mother used to say that we are what we eat. This is true for food, but this also includes the ideas we consume through books, movies, and even blogs. Since the very first time I set a pen to paper, I realized how influential words were. It is exciting to experience but even more fulfilling to know that ideas, created in the far corners of the mind, can help others find answers to problems and hope for the hopeless.

I realize, like Peter Parker (Spider-Man), that with great power comes great responsibility. For as long as I have the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences with you, I will remain cognizant that these words can either build or destroy. Knowing me the way I do, I would much rather help build and encourage others than to destroy. So, I come to you this morning and thank you for reading. I am honored to know that you find value in these posts and, as a result, I will seek to bring my very best each and every day.

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled program. Until next time...

Monday, July 13, 2009

We Be Scrummin'

"We be Scrummin'" is a play on Ice Cube's song "We Be Clubbin" mixed with the agile methodology known as Scrum. Now into our 24th Sprint, the Web Services team, at North Carolina Central University, is getting good at knocking out complex projects. With this blog entry, I would like to introduce you to Scrum.

It was nearly a year ago that we began using Scrum. I don't remember exactly how I fell upon it, but I remember we were getting slammed at work. The priorities were changing on a daily basis and we never had enough time to develop plans. As soon as we begin one project, the CIO was asking about the status of another. I was frustrated.

The appeal of agile, more specifically Scrum, was the short planning phase and the absence of a written document. The time we would have spent planning was time used to develop. At first, I couldn't believe my eyes. How was it possible?

The more I read up on Scrum and XP (Extreme Programming), the more I realized it could work for us. No, we don't develop software, but we do create dynamic web applications. The following day, I found a book entitled, "Scrum and XP from the Trenches." What a great book. The author,
Henrik Kniberg, spelled out the process of doing Scrum. From the planning sessions to the retrospective, it was all in there. I love it and highly recommend you read it.

Ok, ok, ok, what is Scrum? Scrum is simply a project management method. Instead of the traditional way (planning, pre-production, production, testing, review), we jump right in to the project and review our progress every two weeks. That is a very simplified answer, but that's Scrum in a nutshell.

At NCCU, we use Rally to keep track of all our projects. Rally is a web-based tool made for teams that use agile. The term “agile” describes project management methods similar to Scrum. Each time we receive new projects, we immediately add them to Rally’s backlog (project list).

At the beginning of our two-week Sprint, which is a blocked out time period used solely for projects, we review our backlog and select user stories (projects). Based upon the number of team members and total days of work (typically 10 days in two weeks), we can determine the number of user stories to choose. Our backlog is in priority order, so the most important user story is at the top and the least important is at the bottom. When selecting user stories for our Sprint, we start at the top (highest priority) and go down from there. The person responsible for setting priority is the Product Owner. This person can be a manager, director, or even president. Whoever this person is, they must have control over team priorities.

Once the user stories have been selected, the team reviews the description and creates tasks in support of the project. The development team has the sole responsibility of determining how long it will take to complete a user story, as they will be held accountable for finishing according to plan.

After sign-off by the team, the two-week Sprint begins. Each morning, the team gets together for 15 minutes to discuss the status of the Sprint. Each team member should answer three questions: a) What did you do yesterday?, b) What will you have done today?, and c) Are there any impediments? Did I mention that we're standing during this time? Yes, it helps keep the meetings short. The advantage of meeting each morning is to bring focus and alignment amongst the team. This time also helps flush out any known issues or opportunities.

One of the major changes we had to make during the early stages of Scrum was to get the team out of their cubicles and share a common area. We call this co-location. Additionally, the members break into pairs, where applicable, and work from a single computer. One person drives, using a keyboard, and the other engages through peer programming. This method decreases errors in the code and provides a better product.

At the end of a sprint, the team schedules a demonstration. We gather all of the decision makers associated with the project and highlight the changes we made during the past 10 days. At this point, we are open for feedback. Any suggestions or comments are immediately recorded and used during our next sprint. The benefit of doing this is client feedback during the process, not after. Through personal experience, I have found that clients don't really know what they want until they see it. The demonstration allows them to interact with the web site and make adjustments.

For the team, there is still a Sprint Retrospective. In this step, the team gets together and answers three questions: a) What went right during this Sprint? b) What could we have done better?, and c) What actions can we take in the future to be better? Based on the number of action items, we vote on three priority changes and incorporate those suggestions in the next sprint.

Scrum changed the way we do business. It has increased my team's morale and made completing projects much easier with support from our customers. If you haven't taken a look at Scrum, I would highly recommend you do. If I can help in any way, please let me know.

Until next time...

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Tools for Twitter

Since my adoption of Twitter, I have used a number of different tools to manage my tweeting habits. In this entry, I would like to share some of those tools with you.

Twitter
Most people, including myself, began using Twitter through the Twitter home page. Clearly, Twitter provides the basic tools one needs to post an update, read someone else's activity, and interact with friends. Simple steps like reply, direct message, and save as favorite come standard on the Twitter site. Recently, Twitter added a search bar and trending topics. In the past, we had to go elsewhere to find that information. Overall, one can do a good job of keeping up with friends through the Twitter site alone.

Tweetdeck
Tweetdeck is a serious tool for more advanced Twitter users. If you have only a few friends that you follow, you may wish to use something lighter, like the Twitter web site. Tweetdeck, I believe, is for those heavy users that follow thousands or hundreds of thousands of people. Following a large number increases the velocity of updates running across your screen. After a while, it can easily become visual noise.

With Tweetdeck you can place people you follow into groups. Say you have family or friends that are on Twitter and it is important you keep up with their posts. The simple solution is to create a family and friend group, which is typically a much smaller number than your overall list. As a result, the feed will move much slower across your screen, allowing you to digest the transmission.

A group is just one feature. I am particularly fond of key word searches. With key word searches, you type in a word and Tweetdeck will return every post that is currently using that term. So, if "Transformers" is the word, then anyone on Twitter using "Transformers" will show up in that feed.

Quickly, I use the term feed to describe a column within Tweetdeck. What makes Tweetdeck so powerful is the ability to have a number of columns open at the same time. Imagine having 10 conversations with different groups of people about 10 different topics. It can be quite overwhelming for newbies, but it's a must have for Twitter power users. Trust me, if my computer could handle the load, I would still use it today.

Digsby
For the longest time, I was in love with Digsby. Digsby, like Tweetdeck, is a downloadable application that runs locally (on your computer). Unlike Tweetdeck, Digsby not only pulls your Twitter feeds, but it can also pull updates from Facebook, instant messengers, and e-mail. Having this tool means you can check one location for all of your social networking needs. This is very handy for busy people.

Yoono
Currently, Yoono is my favorite desktop/laptop application for managing Twitter. Similar to Digsby, Yoono pulls updates from Twitter, Facebook, Friendfeed, e-mail, instant messengers, and even RSS Readers. What I like about Yoono, over Digsby, is the user interface and its ability to do nearly everything within the sidebar. Note: Yoono is a Firefox add-on, therefore it runs within the Firefox browser. When in use, Yoono opens up within Firefox as a sidebar. It's very cool and something I highly recommend.

UberTwitter
For those on a Blackberry, UberTwitter is the only tool I use. It is light, quick, and built with a ton of useful Twitter features. Outside of the basic tools, UberTwitter makes it easy to retweet updates, take/send pictures, send direct messages, read profiles, and manage followers. These are just a few of the perks.

Additionally, it is important to note that Twitter really comes alive when used on a smart mobile phone. Why? Because people don't solely exist on a computer. With a smart mobile phone, friends post updates and interact while at movies, mall, church, meetings, and social gatherings. Yes, it is like that. So, if you have a smart phone and not using it to interact on Twitter, do it now. I kid you not, it will change the way you look at Twitter.

CoTweet
This is such a new tool that I am still exploring the interface. In short, CoTweet allows you to manage up to six Twitter accounts or allow multiple people to tweet from just one account. When would this be handy, you ask. Well, companies like to use Twitter as a marketing/networking tool. Until recently, only one person could use the Twitter account, unless you shared the username and password. Being logged in under the company name meant you could not simultaneously remain logged in to your own account.

Today, CoTweet allows you to remain logged into your account as well as five other accounts. Also, multiple users could tweet from the single company account. This is such an exciting update that now my Web Services team can interact with followers from our business account (@nccuwebservices).

TwitterFeed
For those individuals or companies providing RSS feeds, TwitterFeed is a tool that automatically reads your feeds and posts them on Twitter. At North Carolina Central University (NCCU), both Public Relations and Web Services share news through an RSS feed. Personally, I offer a feed through my blog and if you're on Blogspot or Wordpress, you have one too. Once set up, it is really a hands-free approach to syndicating your content on Twitter.

Well, that's all I have for now. Yes, there are tons of really cool and helpful tools out there for Twitter, but these are the ones I use (or have used) most of the time. If you get nothing else out of this, I encourage you to begin using Twitter on your smart phone today.

Until next time...

Friday, July 10, 2009

Up Against the Wal-marts


Up Against the Wal-marts is a story about the mom and pop stores of America and their fight against Wal-mart. According to the book, written by Don Taylor and Jeanne Smalling Archer, the smaller company goes out of business because of the larger and seriously dominant retail chain. It's a sad story but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Similarly, my Web Services team at North Carolina Central University faces its own giant. Today, that giant's name is CampusEAI. If you recall a previous entry entitled, "MyCampus vs. MyEOL: War of the Campus Portals," I spoke about an upcoming battle. Well, that day has come.

It began around 1:30 pm and most of the decision makers from ITS were in the room. Each of us awaited the appearance from the CIO, who held the instructions for the conference call. During this time, I felt confident in our work and believed we would come out of this call scathed but victorious. Boy, was I wrong.

From the moment CampusEAI representatives began talking, I felt an uneasiness and invisible weight creep its way onto my shoulders. I knew that after two hours, we would have a better picture of what this consortium was really made of, but it would also be two hours of selling the product. Not that I lacked confidence in our MyEOL solution, but this company was ready to throw everything they had at us. From the look on people's faces in the meeting, their campaign was working.

With each new feature they showed, we were running out of competitive ammunition. Then, like Kobe overtaking Jordan, CampusEAI walked us down and turned on the nitro. It was a very humbling experience. They came into our house and ran circles around us with a well-crafted product and related support. Did I mention they are willing to give it to us for only $30k a year, with minimal work on our part? How can we say no to that?

Following the meeting, a number of us got together. Some saw little value. Others agreed that MyCampus was a good product. Personally, my loyalty is with MyEOL, but I also recognize a superior product when I see one.

In adopting CampusEAI's MyCampus, it requires a paradigm shift in how we view our contributions to the state and students of NCCU. Quietly, I hear the Chancellor say we are not in the web development business. Then, I recall a statement by GE's former CEO Jack Welch who said that a company should strive to be the best in an industry or get out all together. Web Services is not equipped to be the best web developers in the world, but rather to support the education of our students. This means we shouldn't spend so much time developing applications but rather seek to acquire the best solutions.

It's a tough pill to swallow. Being a self-taught web developer with a "can do" attitude towards life, it's an admission of defeat to buy a solution that we can easily build ourselves. Unfortunately, I also realize that my team cannot do everything. We are limited in number, time, and resources. The needs of our campus outweigh our single-handed ability to serve them all.

So, what does that mean? It means that we need to reinvent ourselves. We need to look at how we can provide the best service to the campus. I believe that is by overseeing the web infrastructure, but not necessarily doing it all ourselves.

If we were building an e-mail client for the campus, would it make sense to compete against Gmail? Absolutely not! We don't have the time or resources to offer a better product for free. So too, then, is our reality with CampusEAI. They provide a better product for an amazing price. My team and I would be fooling ourselves to think we could compete against a giant with resources spanning the globe.

While the situation may appear clear-cut, do understand that I am a little shaken. The foundation on which my team has worked these past few years has been tested. Change is coming. Today, I see us as administrators or managers of the web, not necessarily the builders of it. It’s a sad story, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I'd love to hear your feedback and stories. Until next time...


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Thursday, July 9, 2009

What's all the Hubbub with Twitter?

Close friends will probably tell you that I stay on Twitter. Tis true, although I'm sure I could do even more. With guys like Robert Scoble, Wayne Sutton, Louis Gray, and Zee, who appear to be online 24 hours a day, I am barely scratching the surface.

Today, I would like to spend some time writing about Twitter and my fascination with it. In a recent Facebook conversation, I ran into a group of people that equated Twitter to the Black Plague of 1347. Ok, not really THE plague, but it was clear these individuals disliked the idea behind microblogging. One or two admitted they didn't understand the fundamental concept of Twitter, so for you, Cousin Amanda, I dedicate this entry.

Like many of you, I first heard about Twitter from a friend, or was it something I read. Sorry, doesn't matter. Knowing me the way I do, I immediately signed up to see what the all the hype was about. I recall viewing the tutorial that described Twitter and how best to use it. My initial idea was to use Twitter as a single method of updating all my friends and family with what I was doing. At this point, I was using e-mail and text messaging a lot. I tired of repeatedly writing the same things over and over, so Twitter seemed like a perfect solution.

It didn't take long to figure out that none of my friends or family had any plans of actually using Twitter, so posting to it seemed like a waste of clever and humorous updates. As a result, I returned to the usual e-mail, texting, and Facebook. I even remember thinking to myself, why would anyone really care what I eat, watch, or do throughout the day. It's boring.

Things changed for me after I dug deeper into reading technology and web related blogs. I noticed that many of the leading personalities were using Twitter to communicate with each other. I thought to myself, "How fascinating!"

Immediately, I returned to my old Twitter account, which lay dormant for quite some time. I began making connections with known bloggers and forcing my closest friends to follow me. When necessary, I can be fairly convincing. At that moment, the sales pitch focused on Twitter. If that didn't work, I would just bully them into submission (sorry, sis!).

It didn’t take long to realize that simply reading was not enough. No, I had to begin contributing. The more I shared, the more people responded. Of course, I made certain to respond to other people as well. Doing so made the interaction much more enjoyable.

Soon, I was "tweeting" left and right. I talked about what I ate, watched, did, and heard. I remember thinking that I need to be an equal opportunity tweeter, so I spread my topics around. One moment I might talk about business, web development, movies, quotes, news, and then back to more personal things. I realized that by doing this I had a nice variety of followers who looked for me to share random thoughts and hyperlinks.

For a moment, I fell into the mimic mode, copying what I saw other popular people do. They seemed to share links and news a lot. So, I followed suit. I jumped online and began posting links to everything I read. For a while, it looked like I was taking over people's computer screens. This was even truer after I connected Facebook to Twitter.

Yes, I received the occasional "dude, don't you ever sleep?" comment, but it didn't stop me from sharing. In fact, I gained a huge following because of it. Well, it was sort of a combination between sharing good information, Mr. Tweet, and following everyone. Quick note, following everyone resulted in pure chaos. I had so many tweets flowing across my screen that I couldn’t keep up with those I cared about most. Much later, I decided to strip the large number of people I follow in an effort to increase interaction between a few. Yes, it caused a loss in numbers but I’m happy with my decision.

Anyway, after reading another article on common types of Twitter users, I found that I was progressing through a number of types. Some of them I liked and others were more annoying. I didn't want to appear annoying so I slacked off with the number of news articles I shared.

Also during this time, I found a bunch of great resources to accommodate my extensive Twitter usage. I used Tweetdeck, Digsby, and later Peoplebrowsr. Each one had its benefits, but they also gobbled up my computer's memory. It got so bad that I just uninstalled them all and returned to the Twitter web site. I was a little disappointed in the lack of tools, but at least it didn't lock up every hour.

The lesson I gained from using those tools is that people talk shop online. Many think Twitter is only for mindless chatter, but there are a number of good connections you can find online. I often learn about the latest web trends and world news as it happens, remember the terrorists in Dubai? Well, trapped hotel guests tweeted their positions and the positions of the terrorists to law enforcement officers while the world watched. That was incredible.

Since that time, I have increased my support of Twitter. I have attempted to attract friends at work and home to join the fun. Today, they too are realizing how enjoyable Twitter can be. How do I know? They all get this blank stare on their face and type frantically. It’s hilarious! Now, if you have a smart phone (i.e. Blackberry, iPhone, etc.) then it gets even better because folks are taking pictures, video, and tweeting throughout the day.

Another quick story, I went to a Triangle Tweetup in Durham, NC a few months ago. Essentially, this is an event where Twitter users within a geographic area get together in-person. We put our Twitter usernames (@damondnollan) on a nametag and walk around to meet old online friends or get acquainted with the new. The event was a blast and I learned that online conversation is cool, but it only enhances the connection we have offline.

There is so much more I could say about Twitter and the supporting web applications, but I'll save those for another day. For now, if you haven't done so already, take this opportunity to stop by Twitter.com and create an account. Be sure to look me up and follow me.

Remember, Twitter is only a tool. The real fun begins when you seek to connect with others in a new way. I look forward to seeing you online.

Until next time...

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

MyCampus vs. MyEOL: War of the Campus Portals


When I woke up this morning, everything was calm. Looking at my calendar, it appears to be a relatively easy day. That was until I received a reminder about a meeting with CampusEAI. Immediately, a sinking feeling fell over me. There is work to be done and so little time to do it.

Let me explain. A few months back, my CIO submitted a $1.2 million grant to the CampusEAI Consortium for support of a campus portal. To the best of my knowledge, he became aware of the consortium during a conference. When he came back from the conference, he asked that I look into submitting a grant application. The offer sounded good, at first. The more I read into the offer, the more I realized the solution would essentially negate our existing homegrown system, MyEOL.

MyEOL, built by NCCU Web Services with Adobe Coldfusion, is the existing campus portal. For the past two years, the team worked to develop MyEOL into a solution that would serve our current and future needs. The most notable selling points are targeted announcements, single sign-on, and role-based access to web resources. As the manager of Web Services, I am very proud of what the team has produced, but concerned that CampusEAI's MyCampus will change things.

A few weeks ago, I learned that North Carolina Central University (NCCU) secured a partial grant and, should we accept, will receive hardware and services in the amount of $1.2 million. That sounds impressive, huh? That's part of the problem.

Either today or tomorrow, I have to provide a case in support or against the CampusEAI grant. The CIO added that if we are against it, we had better have a good reason. That is where the fun begins.

On one hand, I have a personal interest in supporting MyEOL. The portal is ours and we built it from the ground up. However, I have a responsibility to the campus and state to base my perspective on what is best for the campus. At this point in the investigation, MyEOL already does most of what CampusEAI claims it can do. For those few things MyEOL does not do, we can add with time.

One of my developers asked if the difference between CampusEAI and MyEOL is worth the amount NCCU is responsible for paying each year? My response is that it is not. However, the $1.2 million grant would look good on anyone's resume, but is it worth that amount?

As you can see, I have a serious task set before me. How do I weigh the value added benefits of this grant against the benefits of our existing homegrown system? With a $1.2 million offer on the table, my response will have to be quite compelling.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Until next time...

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Damond L. Nollan, M.B.A.

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