A few interesting uses of Twitter

People are always telling me that they just don't understand the facination with Twitter. What's the big deal? Do you really want to know what someone is doing 24/7? Twitter can do a lot more than you might expect and there are plently of practical and fun uses for Twitter.

A PC magazine articule listed some of these of the pratical uses such as Twitter Witness = Twitness "turns something solitary like TV watching into an interactive, shared experience", Breaking News, Communication, Feedback, Crowd-sourcing, Informal Polling, Public Address System, Sales and Marketing and Tweet Ups aka "Meet Ups".

I prefer some of the less pratical uses like when I need to flip a coin and I don't have any change? Well there is an app for that: http://jazzychad.net/rollthedice/ Sometimes I just want to talk like a pirate? http://postlikeapirate.com/twitter.php

There are also useful apps out there too This one tweets you when yout package moves. Just enter a FedEx or UPS tracking number. https://twitter.com/TrackThis When I am late for work and need realtime traffic updates? http://www.commuterfeed.com/ Here are some services allows you to enter reminders and will tweet you so you don't forget: http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/ http://twitter.com/timer

Twitter has devious uses as well. There are even DUI Check point Tweets. (http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/0110/698397.html)

Twitter can be valuable tool if you make the most out of it.

Precocity: "Logan's Run" Syndrome In Programming

I just turned 40. If you are old like me please stop reading now.

I just read an articule on Slashdot and I am realizing that my days as a programmer could be numbered! Apparently many hiring managers tend to look at resumes with an eye for youth. Older workers are often described as "over qualified" when they really mean that they are too old. (forced retirement) Here is another articule on the topic about an old guy with a bunch of certifications and degrees that can't find a job. (age discrimination). yawn.... heard that before. But I have just realized that the issue appears to be more complex than just age discrimination.

There are good programmers and bad ones and age doesn't really seem to be a factor in my mind. I don't necessarly even equate creativity with youth either. Malcolm Gladwell wrote and article about about why we equate genius with precocity and the jist of it is that there is such a thing as a "Late Bloomer". Older programmers also have experience on their side.

HOWEVER, I think these hiring managers may being unwittingly on to something here. The youth of today have never know a world without technology. Its second nature to them. "They've grown up immersed in digital technologies and there's evidence they're being affected in ways unheard of before computers and the Web. And their parents -- sometimes called Digital Immigrants -- are still getting accustomed to their hyperconnected world." (natives)

I was born on the cusp of this techological revolution. To be honest I sometimes feel like an "immigrant" in this brave new world. I am not sure if this world is better or worse than the old one but it sure is different. We are entering the next phase of human evolution and if old people like me don't learn to evole with it we are going to get left behind in a hurry. (Human 2.0)

FRONTLINE: digital_nation Life on the Vitual Frontier

This was a great program! Frontine explored some of the implications of living in a world consumed by technology and the impact that this constant connectivity may have on future generations.

One segement showed how IBM employees collaborate in virtual worlds. I never would have thought of using Second Life as a tool collaboration but it seems to work. Take a look inside a meeting in Second Life.

The implcations on education are just as intriguing. Ever heard of Netiquette?
how to educate children for the digital age

This is a must see for anyone interested in Technology. If you have a chance watch these interviews.