The conversation with a co-worker was simple enough. Knowing that I’m more than a digital-dabbler, she posed the question, “where do you go to keep up to date on the latest in digital”. I rattled off a few resources then said I’ll send you a list.

When I really started pondering it, the list [...]]]>

The conversation with a co-worker was simple enough. Knowing that I’m more than a digital-dabbler, she posed the question, “where do you go to keep up to date on the latest in digital”. I rattled off a few resources then said I’ll send you a list.

When I really started pondering it, the list just kept growing and growing.

It includes online publications, websites, blogs, people. I’ll detail a number of them here in a future post for your reference.

But, the more I thought about it, the more I kept coming back to the simplest of answers. When asked the question “where do you go to keep up to date on the latest in digital?” What I should have said then and am definitely saying now is, “I go to the latest in digital.”

You can read and intellectually digest all you want around the latest digital developments (and I certainly encourage you to do so), but the real learning, the intimate knowledge, the true understanding comes from actually using these tools.  Trying them on for size, going through the growing pains of determining what they can and can’t do, seeing how they connect, what happens in the background, coming up with your own ideas on how to improve them or finding new uses for them is where the real learning happens.

I wholeheartedly believe that to gain a real understanding (and vast appreciation for) digital tools you have to jump in, roll up your sleeves, observe a little, play a lot and learn even more. Like most things in life, you can only learn so much from sitting on the sidelines.

So, if you want to learn the digital basics on through to the latest in digital developments, you’re going to have to “do digital”.

Questions of the day:

What digital tools have you tried lately? What have been your observations? What would you recommend trying and why?

I think this practice is helping to make me a better photographer (even though everything is shot on my iPhone [...]]]> I’ve experimented with a couple of other blogging platforms have been participating in Project 365 (actually 366 this year) photoblogging on Specular Highlights. I’ve been taking a photo a day and haven’t missed one yet!

I think this practice is helping to make me a better photographer (even though everything is shot on my iPhone 4) and it’s allowed me to experiment with a variety of photo apps that add another dimension of creativity to the image.

Here’s a few that I use…

I must admit that my favourite, by far, is Camera+. There’s a reason they call it “the ultimate photo app”.

If there are any more project 365-ers out there, I’d love to hear from  you. And, see your photos of course!

Questions of the day?

What photo apps do you use? recommend?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are you as cooperative or as collaborative as you could be?

How well have you embraced enabling technologies?

Rheingold discusses the technologies of COOPERATION & SHARING economies. He hypothesizes that if in the past, new forms of cooperation created new forms of wealth we may be moving into [...]]]> Are you part of a smart mob?

Are you as cooperative or as collaborative as you could be?

How well have you embraced enabling technologies?

Rheingold discusses the technologies of COOPERATION & SHARING economies. He hypothesizes that if in the past, new forms of cooperation created new forms of wealth we may be moving into yet another economic form that is significantly different …

Are you prepared?

Take 20 minutes, have a listen, ponder the possibilities, then think about your answer.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Howard Rheingold on Collaboration

Question of the day

If your answer is “no, you’re not prepared”, what are you going to do about it?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There it was. In print. The brochure arrived.The annual event that I look forward to year after year.

Finally in 2010, after 20 years of membership in the association, I’m achieving a milestone. I’m on the agenda for the 2010 IABC Word Conference, taking place in my home city of Toronto. I won’t be [...]]]>

There it was. In print. The brochure arrived.The annual event that I look forward to year after year.

Finally in 2010, after 20 years of membership in the association, I’m achieving a milestone. I’m on the agenda for the 2010 IABC Word Conference, taking place in my home city of Toronto. I won’t be playing the role of sage on stage. I won’t be at the microphone talking at an audience for an hour. Instead, I’ll be joining three others in facilitating a conversation.  An approach that I think is far more fun!

I’m both honoured and excited to join an international crew Bryan Person from Texas, Jeremy Schulz from Arizona and Christopher Swan from California in facilitating a three hour Unconference Session, entitled Emerging Communication Channels

Beyond a love for warmer climates, we all share sense for what’s possible, a passion for marketing and communications, an interest in social media, and an obvious infatuation with technology and new ideas. It was these that brought us together at last year’s IABC World Conference. The four of us first met online through the conversations that took place through the outtathegate campaign. That was the start of a great collaborative experience. We continued  our conversations long after the 2009 conference, brainstormed some ideas and then pitched a few to IABC for this year and… tada…this session was the result.

I think this is a prime example of how a conversation between strangers with something in common, backed by the power of social media can lead to an incredible exchange of ideas and the creation of something wonderful.

Just how wonderful? You’ll have to be part of our unconference session to find out!

We’d be honoured if you join our conversation…