My Web 2.0 Journey
June 2009 Pointe Innovation Magazine Column by Heath Hall

I have to admit that I wasn’t sure if social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter would fit my lifestyle or not. After all, there are so many ways to communicate now that I often feel exhausted. However, what I didn’t know until recently was that these sites are building populations surpassing those of many countries.

My son started communicating on Facebook with his grandmother a few months ago, so I decided to launch my own “Web 2.0” journey, and what I found was an amazing new online world.

Along the journey I reconnected with friends that I haven’t seen in more than 20 years, kept track of our family activities, and viewed pictures and videos of birthday parties, anniversary celebrations and Christmas morning activities from all over the country. This journey has transformed my everyday life, connecting the past with the present and building towards the future.

I am not alone. According to a March report by Nielsen Research, two-thirds of the planet’s internet population is visiting social networking sites. Mobile phone companies are also rolling-out easy ways to access social networking sites. According to Nielsen, 735,000 unique visitors accessed Twitter in January through their mobile phones and spending an average of 7 minutes on the site.

Social networking is perhaps one of the fastest growing aspects of our online society. And, the data suggest it will keep growing:



Why are people so excited about social networking, or as it’s called the new “Cocktail Party?” Seventy-five percent of users say it is a good way to keep in touch with family and friends; 55 percent say it is an efficient way to express their views, to meet people with similar interests and even date.

I suppose the above data speaks for itself and answers my question as to why public servants, retail store owners and organizations are among my friends on Facebook. I believe it is safe to say that social networking is going to continue to grow well into the next decade and will provide new opportunities for chief marketing officers to tell us about their products.

There are more than three billion people under the age of 25 on this planet and they are the ones who will drive the success of “Web 2.0.” Just as importantly, they will decide what the future of “Web 3.0” holds.

Nothing stays the same. Not so long ago, email, text messages and websites changed the way we do business and stay in touch with our family, friends, colleagues and customers. Now, social networking presents us with yet another approach to managing our personal and professional lives.

As always, please contact me with story ideas or comments. Thank you for reading Pointe Innovation Magazine; it is our pleasure to bring you the latest and greatest in innovation and technology. If you have missed an issue, you may read some of our past articles at www.mta.ms.

 

  

 

     
 

 

New Technology Could Stop Pancreatic Cancer View the Press Release here.

Alliance Wants to Spur Investment Dollars View the Sun Herald Article here.

Ablitech Receives Additional Investment View the Press Release here.

Hattiesburg-Based Company Eyeing Ways to Stop Bladder Cancer View the Press Release here.

Rex Baker Executive Director, Gateway Rescue Mission, 48, Brandon View the Clarion Ledger Article here.

Was a white supremacist murdered for propositioning a black man? View the CNN Video here.

Richard Barrett Murder Suspect Could Face Death Penalty. View the story here.

Court of Appeals Judge Donna Barnes Announces Bid for Re-Election. View the Press Release here.

Pointe Innovation Releases Spring 2010 issue. View the cover here.

Mississippi Business Journal: Ablitech relocates to The Garden. View the article here.

The Clarion Ledger - Prospectives: SUNDAY MORNING WITH - Michael Guest, district attorney, Madison and Rankin counties. View the article here.

DA Guest: Jackson Man Found Guilty of Two Counts of Armed Robbery and One Count of House Burglary. District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that a Madison County jury found Avery Neyland guilty of two counts of armed robbery and one count of house burglary for his role in the crimes at the Sunchase Apartment Complex. View the press release here.

SMG Completes DA Guest Video. View the video here.

10th Annual Conference on High Technology video. View the video here.

DA Michael Guest's Think Again Program. View the signs here.

DA Michael Guest: Pearl Murderer Found Guilty; Receives Life in Prison Following a Two-Day Trial. View the press release here.

Cliff Cox Radio Spots. Hear the new Cliff Cox radio spots here.

CNN: Hughes Trial. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announces the guilty verdict returned to Carla Hughes for the murder of Avis Banks. Click here to find out more.

MTA President Pens Book. MTA President Dr. Randy Goldsmith's new book, The Guardian Angel: Every Entrepreneur Needs One is now available. View the cover here.

Rankin Record: DA Michael Guest is Tough on Crime. Story in the May 21, 2009 issue of Rankin Record. View article clipping here.

DA Guest: Canton Man Sentenced to 15 years for stealing $50 from 67-year-old-victim. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Marcus Donell Sims of Canton was sentenced to serve 15 years in the state penitentiary for the robbery of a 67-year-old-man. View press release here.

SamarionSolution Installed in Covington Retirement Community. Samarion Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Rodgers announced today that the SamarionSolution has been installed in the Christwood retirement community in Covington, Louisiana. View press release here.

Samarion Announces Partnership with Adesta. Samarion announced today it has entered into an agreement with Nebraska-based Adesta for the nationwide installation of the SamarionSolution in long-term care and acute care facilities. View press release here.

DA Guest: Billy Ray Corkern Pleads Guilty to Murder. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Billy Ray Corkern pled guilty to murder in the August 2008 death of Robert Clemons. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison. View press release here.

Randy “Bubba” Pierce. Chancery Court Judge and former State Legislator Randy “Bubba” Pierce of Leakesville announced today that he will be a candidate for the Mississippi Supreme Court; District 2, Place 2 in November. View press release here.

DA Guest: Walter Tard Found Guilty. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that a Madison County jury found Walter Tard guilty of the armed robbery of the Drury Inn in Ridgeland. View press release here.

Cliff Cox for Sheriff. Cliff Cox, former commander of the Natchez-Adams County Metro Narcotics Unit, announces candidacy for Adams County sheriff. View more info here.

MTA releases Fall 2009 Issue of PIM. View the cover here.

Alzheimer's Foundation of America and Samarion Form Strategic Alliance. Alliance to enhance care for individuals with dementia. View more info here.

DA Guest: Jimmy Lee Fisher, Jr. Receives Maximum Sentence. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Jimmy Lee Fisher, Jr. of Madison received the maximum 15-year sentence for robbery through a plea agreement. View press release here.

Keeping Children Safe on the Internet. Spring 2009 column for Pointe Innovation magazine by Heath Hall. Read the column here.

My Web 2.0 Journey. Summer 2009 column for Pointe Innovation magazine by Heath Hall. Read the column here.

My Ten-Year Journey through Innovation. Fall 2009 column for Pointe Innovation magazine by Heath Hall. Read the column here.

The First SamarionSolution Installed in Lake Charles Alzheimer’s Facility. Samarion CEO Mark Rodgers announced that The Guardian House Alzheimer Care Facility in Lake Charles, La., has adopted the SamarionSolution. View press release here.

Preventing falls in nursing homes. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and non-fatal injuries. Now, a cutting edge fall prevention system is helping nursing home residents maintain optimal health. View more info here.