Navigating Social Networking and Collaboration Tools

1. American Chemical Society Navigating Social Networking and Collaboration Tools Christine Brennan Schmidt, Product Manager, WSO August 17, 2009

2. Question 1 • How many people belong to a Social Network? American Chemical Society

3. Outline • Social Networking and Collaboration • Typical features • Examine strengths and weaknesses of various services • Not inclusive – examples of various types of tools • Shameless plug for ACS Network American Chemical Society

4. Definitions of “Network” • Noun • a group of transmitting stations linked by wire or microwave relay so that the same program can be broadcast or telecast by all • any netlike combination of filaments, lines, veins, passages, or the like • a system of interrelated buildings, offices, stations, etc., esp. over a large area or throughout a country, territory, region, etc. • an association of individuals having a common interest, formed to provide mutual assistance, helpful information, or the like American Chemical Society

5. The Act of Networking • Verb • to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally, esp. in finding employment or moving to a higher position • to connect to a network • to distribute widely • to organize into a network • to broadcast American Chemical Society

6. Social Networking and Collaboration • Social Networking • definition: the use of a website to connect with people who share personal or professional interests, place of origin, education at a particular school, etc. • Collaborate • To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort • Social Networking and Online Collaboration are not always the same thing • Often Collaboration results from or after Networking, but not all of this is done online American Chemical Society

7. Tools for Social Networking • Current tools are evolving • Started as either a collaboration or a networking tool • Added features of the other so now they are more similar • Usually stronger in one or the other • Difficult to be all things for all people • Question 2 • How many people have participated in online collaboration? American Chemical Society

8. Features • Profiles • Connections • Blogging • Discussion threads • Sharing documents American Chemical Society

9. Profiles • A Profile allow you to: • To show off • To be found • Contains information • Picture • Birthday • Schools • Job (Current and past) • Other • Interests • involvement American Chemical Society

10. Profiles American Chemical Society

11. Connections • Friends = Connections = My Network • Electronic Rolodex • Collect contact information for friends • Usually permission is granted to be a person’s friend • Allows a view into a profile information that is usually hidden from others • Grouping/filtering of friends • Some mechanism to communicate American Chemical Society

12. Connections American Chemical Society

13. Blogging • Allows a posting of some length and regularity to be posted • Has a place for users to comment • It can be a good place to share part of your life (personal) or announce an event (group or business) • Q. How many people here blog American Chemical Society

14. Blog American Chemical Society

15. Blog Use RSS feed to insert into social network American Chemical Society

16. Microblog • A microblog is a shortened blog entry. • See these in places like Twitter or Facebook • Also known as status update American Chemical Society

17. Discussion Threads • Known by many names • Discussions, Discussion Threads, Threaded discussions, forums • Usually a question or provocative thought that calls for a response • Responders usually have to log in • Rating of usefulness American Chemical Society

18. Discussion American Chemical Society

19. Questions • How many people have ever posted to a discussion? • How many in the last month? • In the last week? • How many people read Amazon reviews? • How many have posted there? American Chemical Society

20. Documents • Two types • Uploaded • Can include any format, including video, power point, word, PDF • Usually download to view • Wiki • Create right on the web page • Editing tools – usually very simple • Some allow comparison of version • Some allow rules for collaboration • Both usually allow some sort of commenting or other feedback American Chemical Society

21. Question • How many people use a wiki? • How many have contributed to wiki? American Chemical Society

22. Comparing Wiki documents American Chemical Society

23. Different services • Facebook • LinkedIn • Plaxo • Yammer • CollectiveX • ACS Network American Chemical Society

24. Facebook • Started as a social network for college students • Both social and professional uses • Strengths • Great for networking – find old classmates and coworkers • Easy to pull-in information from other sources • “Wall” is easy place to post information • Microblog – announcements • Third-party applications • Weaknesses • Unfocused audience • Hard to do online collaboration (sharing of documents) American Chemical Society

25. Facebook American Chemical Society

26. Linked In • Started as a place to have a professional profile • Meant for professional networking • Strengths • Professional networking • Find a job/service • Find a candidate/service provider • Recommendations • Discussions and Groups • Weaknesses • Online collaboration American Chemical Society

27. Linked in American Chemical Society

28. Plaxo • A social network • Strengths • Easily pulls in other Web 2.0 activity. • Blogs • Events and Trips • Social Network • Reviews and Wishlists • Tagging sites • Photos • Music and videos • Profile, connections, groups • Weaknesses • Lacks file sharing or other collaboration tools American Chemical Society

29. Plaxo American Chemical Society

30. Yammer • Social network for companies – based on common email address • Strengths • Keep up with colleagues work (Follow people) • Discuss (via reply) • Form Groups (i.e. departments or divisions) • Org chart • Weaknesses • No real sharing of files • Limited via email address American Chemical Society

31. Yammer American Chemical Society

32. CollectiveX • Social Collaboration Community • Operate via “Groupsites” • Strengths • Good for Project Work – team oriented • Calendar • File Sharing • Communicate through discussions, blog, and emails • Subgroups • Cons • Must login – no externally facing pages • Membership based – managing membership • No wiki document – only uploading of documents American Chemical Society

33. CollectiveX American Chemical Society

34. ACS Network • ACS Network and collaboration space for chemical community. • Hybrid networking and collaboration tool • Strengths • Uses ACS ID. Integrated with www.acs.org • Access to chemical community (including local section & division membership) • Groups • Online document sharing – compare wiki documents online • Discussion Thread • Blogs • Weaknesses • Still evolving. Improvements in interface and features coming in 2010, • Better friending and in-system messaging. American Chemical Society

35. Others • Twitter – microblogging via cell-phone texting • Sharepoint – sharing documents online • Delicious.com – tagging of content • Other technologies for collaboration include WebEx, Whiteboard, etc. • MySpace, Flickr ? American Chemical Society

36. Continue this Discussion on the ACS Network https://communities.acs.org/community/national_meetings/technical_program American Chemical Society