I’m sure many of you know cases of true “web2.0″ examples. Places where people share information and knowledge with the whole world.
Well for me they are like the first settlers, communities that are setting the example of what the Web will, in my opinion, eventually become: mankind’s collective super-computer network with every built-in software you might need, storing every piece of data you enter. All we’ll need is a screen, a keyboard, some pointer device and Internet connection. Take Google Docs for example - a perfectly acceptable “office tools” suite, fully functional and free.
And of course, it can only happen with the People’s goodwill. With the sharing of information. Share, share, share. If you have it in digital, tag it and share it.
Those of us who are fortunate enough to have an Internet connection now have so much information on our hands, we don’t know how to handle it. And many don’t realize it yet. Although it is right there, at your reach, as a sign of the spirit of generosity and constructiveness the web is meant to represent.
Special thanks for MIT, for releasing OCW (MIT OpenCouseWare). Free lecture notes, exams, and videos from MIT with no registration required. Information from over 1.800 courses available for me and you. Dig in and take all the knowledge you can.
MIT is a member of the Open CourseWare Consortium.
Many universities also post presentations on iTunes U. It’s a great way to expand your base of knowledge for free (well, subsidized by taxes, gifting, and tuition).
How we navigate, use, and reuse information in the age of push button publishing is a great concern for information professionals (librarians, etc.) and represents a huge opportunity for businesses. For more information about how librarians can help, check out Brave New World. (Disclosure: Yep, it’s my blog ;)