COA National Conference 2009- Strategies for Sustaining Success

Internet Technologies: Exploring the Potential

&
Introducing the PQI Network
www.pqinetwork.com

By

Benjamin A. Wilcox, MBA

Planning & Evaluation Analyst

Family Central, Inc.

August 10, 2009

New York City, NY

Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Contents
Professional and Social Networking Sites...................................................................3
Blogs....................................................................................... ...................................5
Online Videos/Presentations.......................................................................................6
Forums and Bulletin Boards............................................................................... .........7
Wikis............................................................................................................... ............8
Chat.................................................................................................................... ........9
Instant Messaging....................................................................................................10
Online Meetings & Webinars.................................................................................. ...11
Remote Access & Virtual Computers........................................................................12
Databases & Surveys, Polls, Quizzes........................................................................13
Audio Broadcasting & RSS feeds..............................................................................14
Professional and Social Networking Sites
First recognized site- 1997 (SixDegrees.com)

Features and Practical Uses

• A web-presence (similar to a website)

• Creation of public/semi-public profile

• Ability to collect a list of users with shared interest

• Provide an opportunity to view/browse list of contacts within the

network

• Meet new people and enable users to make contacts

• Upload photos, videos, music, files

– Ability for others in the network to share, comment and rate

• Messaging

– “Poke”, “What are you doing now”

– Promote stories, events

• Connecting with customers/people in new ways

• Can be specific to certain topics/group related (business, religious

affiliation)

• Information and postings are frequently updated

• Can require members to join to have full access

• Collect donations, conduct fundraisers

• Fun and creative

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires regular updates and adding new content

• Monitoring activity and posts – who becomes a member/friend and

after accepted as a member

• Professional responsibility and liability (teacher-students, patient-

counselors)
 • Guilty by association companies (tax-payer supported), employees,
board members.

• Can compete against company website

• Customization may be limited

• Ads may be required

• Requiring membership to have access to information you want to

share

Practical Applications

• Best for- expansive business, with diverse product, service, and

customer-base with few restrictions on access on access and limited
interest on creating a specific public image and limited public
responsibilities

• Good for entrepreneurs- small start-up businesses with no or limited

functionality website (static/informational site) with limited features
and capabilities without requiring added expense

• Cautionary for- restrictive businesses, with limitations on products,

services, and customer-base with many restrictions/limitations on
who can access and utilize and with a need or desire to
maintain/portray specific image and responsibility to the
public/stakeholders

• Competes against- innovative/ interactive website that can

incorporate network features- users will tend to go to one source
and not your network site and website
Blogs
First recognized in 1997

• Short for "weblog“ coined from the phrase we blog in 1999

• A type of website

• Frequent entries- commentary, events, news, opinions, “press

releases, short stories on particular subjects

• Commonly displayed with most recent first

• Uses text, images, and links to supplement entry

• Enhanced with integrating gadgets or applications – customizable

• Identified by search engines (Google, Bing, Ask, etc)

• Readers can post comments and rate but not edit original entry

• Editing/deleting comments can be made by author but frowned upon

in blogging

• Allowing readers to subscribe and share with others

• Can be set to private (internal business use) or public (promoting

business and services)

• Internally used in business for communications and setting/shaping

company culture

• External business use for marketing, branding and public relations

• Popularity has also given rise to "fake blogs" (a company creates a

fictional blog) as a marketing tool to promote a product/service

• A staple tool for politicians (i.e. Howard Dean)

Online Videos/Presentations

• Sharing information through the internet

• No operating system or software compatibility requirements (all

with an internet can access)

• Upload documents and presentations

• Create an online profile and library of presentations (link back to

website for branding)

• Post to blogs, networks, websites, email (easy for others to share

and distribute)

• View of transitions, music, and narration but may be limited on some

• Edit or enhance uploads- add more features (narration, supporting

video links, photos)

• Link to other shared content video/ presentations

• Used as backup and access for field and traveling staff

• Allow or deny others from downloading, embedding or restrict to

private view only

• Convert presentations as links- reduces emailing as attachment

limitations

• Create presentation “resource library” invite/allow others to have

access- training, educational/ informational purposes

• Identify number of views, downloads, marked as favorites or shared

by other viewers
Forums and Bulletin Boards
First recognized 1996

• Forum, or message board, is an online discussion

• Post messages and comment on other messages

• Consists of a tree like directory structure

• Logically organized into a set of generic topics

• Prefer an open and free discussion

• Word censoring to block inappropriate/undesirable language

• File attachments, links, photos and videos to support discussions

• Polling of comments to solicit feedback

• Private or public settings (internal business communications or

external for customers) and

• Setting of rights and access to member types (guest vs. members

vs. moderators, etc)

• Commonly used for problem-solving, how-to-guides, strategies,

barriers, (internal/ external customer support)

• Postings usually displayed from original to most recent (compare to

newer-to-older with blogs)

• Private messaging among one or many members

• Emoticon or smiley (symbol or picture) used to convey emotional

content

• Subscribing to topics and discussions to receive notifications

without logging back in to learn of new comments or posts to
interested topics
Wikis
Created in 1995

• Named wiki after creator told of "Wiki Wiki" shuttle bus between
airport terminals referencing ‘quick’ mode of transportation while in
Hawaii … and why not called the quick-web

• Invite all users to edit any page or to create new pages by only using
a Web browser

• No downloads, software or add-ons required

• Many are open to alteration by the general public without

registering for accounts

• No specific structure or designed

• Seeks to involve visitors in an ongoing process of creation and

collaboration that constantly changes the sites landscape

• A basic database for creating, browsing, and searching through

information- Wikipedia is most well-known wiki

• A record of edits available to the author/admin to recover earlier

versions

• Can be easily tampered with inaccuracies posted for long periods in

large wikis

• Other users can correct inaccurate or malicious content

• Can assign specific rights and access (i.e. providing anyone to edit a
page but granting certain rights to others that can create a new
page)

• Add photos, files, videos and links to support or enhance discussions

• Can create private (internal use only) or set public access

• Internal use for business - reduce emails and individuals compiling

collected information on single document by granting access to
users to provide appropriate expertise as needed
Chat
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) 1988

• Simplest version - text to people in the same chat-room in real-time

• Newer platforms provide text and voice messaging simultaneously

• Newer programs also enable file sharing, audio, webcams and

displaying/sending photos

• Chat with couple of people but still see what others in the room are
discussing

• Different types of chats- from open (discuss anything), topic-focused

(only discuss a particular topic) moderated (featured speaker
leading the discussion)

• Set as private or public

• No need to download or join a network to chat

• Can have moderators (maintain order, ban/dismiss inappropriate

users

• Used for formal/informal meetings

• Communicate with experts, authors, scientists, business community,

etc

• Share ideas quickly regardless of distance

• Brainstorming between peers, students and colleagues

• Collaboration on projects/tasks

• Can set anonymity for users

• Comparisons to email- can join later and still access earlier

comments, not a strain on mail servers

• Businesses utilize email and then switch to chat feature for certain
discussions

• Some programs allows for printing/saving of chats for meeting

minutes and reference
Instant Messaging

• Similar to chat programs which also allow:

– sending e-mail and exchanging files

• Some work through downloaded software programs or through

internet accounts

• Message program runs in the background – user receives message

alters once others post a comment/message

• Notified when visitors, members or friends are online (prompt

instant one-on-one chats)

• Some programs may require each user to use the same program

• Some provide ability to access multiple accounts from one source

(email, network site, contact response form, etc)

• Providing Chat or IM on website:

– Increase "stickiness" (viewers stay on site longer/more often)

• Many are hosted allowing alteration of settings/customization:

– layout, font size and colors, logos, etc

• Average user may not realize the chat is not part of company
website

• Some may display ads

• Hosting services supply the platform and perform any required

maintenance and upgrades
Online Meetings & Webinars

Online Meetings

• Internet connections between one or many users

• May require downloading of software or application

• Many provide features:

– View documents, presentations, desktops or internet of

“meeting organizer”

– Drawling tools and pointers

– Changing of presenter, mouse and keyboard controls

• Reduces need for travel, allows all participants to be at own

workstation, access to files, emails, data, etc

• Reduces follow-up tasks (all can make or agree to changes during

the meeting)

• Ability to record meeting and invite others as needed

Webinars

• Similar to online meetings but integrates video feed (webcam) of

presenter(s)

• Most incorporate “white boards” and chat features

• Event can usually be recorded

• Interested members can register through interface before the

webinar and receive reminders prior to event beginning
Remote Access & Virtual Computers

Remote Access

• May require IT infrastructure and network settings

• Provides access to another work station (office from home) with

access to most desktop functions, files, email, etc

• Some locally installed or permission specific software may not be

accessible

• Flexibility for staff to have access to work documents and resources

from other locations

• Free remote access clients available for Macs and Linux users to
access Windows computers

• Reduces required physical work space, energy, promotes

productivity and assists IT with upgrades and technical assistance

Virtual Computers

• A computer on the internet- files, email, photos, music, desktop

applications and programs

• Reduces computer cost, licensing fees, access from anywhere, no (or

little) internal IT requirements (budget or staff)

• Dependent on internet connection for any access

• Staff dependency to undertake necessary backup

• Great as backup, reduction of hard-drive space, information wanting

but not needing (pack-rats)
Databases & Surveys, Polls, Quizzes

Databases

• Online collection of data/informational resources

• Virtual files, contacts, photos, music, etc

• Many users can access simultaneously from any computer – no read

only access issues

• Can assign rights and privileges, revert back to earlier versions

• Export/import with spreadsheet software programs for backup and

access if no internet connection

• Built-in search features- quick and easy navigation, sorting, and

filtering of data

• Adjustable security features and many provide source coding for IT

staff to integrate with company infrastructure without creating new
database systems from scratch

Surveys, Polls & Quizzes

• Make open or private and customize look, logic, layout, and end
action (thank you, close, send to specific website, etc)

• Options to embed on company website, network site, blog or send as

an email

• Receive notifications and track access

• Make anonymous- solicit demographic information, emails of

interested participants

• Include photos, links, videos to make interactive

• Most export to spreadsheet software, convert into graphs/charts and

PDF files

• Restrict to one response per computer or create kiosk system for

repeated users (registration events, trainings, lobbies, etc)
Audio Broadcasting & RSS feeds

Audio Broadcasting

• Upload, record live, edit audio trainings, meetings, education,

motivational presentations/events, etc.

• Grant access to members, attendees or people/parties that could not

attend originally

• Listen from internet connection, download to computer, listening

devices, burn to CDs, convert as link and develop audio library

RSS feeds

• Subscribe to feeds for related news, information updates that

provide support to mission, products and services

• Create feeds for members- news, events, stories, etc for interested
parties to receive updates from you without requiring emailing of
information

• Creates a single source for interested feeds- no need to revisit

individual web/network sites

• No need to send large email blast to recipients