Lessons from the Scene: The Digital Communication Age We Know Information by Stanley Leary

 

 by Stanley Leary

 
 
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Technology is paramount to business growth. As a company grows larger, it is essential with today’s narrow margins to have systems in place for a controlled sustained growth.
 
Today computers are taking on a new role in corporate world. Computers are no longer only for bean counters. We use them to connect with people in the same room, or all over the world.
 
Early on computers replaced the typewriter. During the 80s email and the Internet entered the work place. In 1993 the World Wide Web changed business, as well as almost everything else, forever. Now, in addition to an email address we have URL addresses, blogs, and social media pages like Facebook.
 
Change today is moving at a rapid rate. Newspapers and other traditional ways of communication are losing their subscription base. People no longer watch the evening news or pick up a paper, they just go to the web at their convenience. They are seeing what their social network of friends have found and recommended and finding things they recommend to their circle of friends.
 
Google makes it possible to navigate through millions of websites to locate information through their search engines. It uses sophisticated algorithms to help organize more relevant pages first on the list. 
 
Progressive companies are learning how the web can help solve their communication problems. It is no longer necessary or even practical to gather around a table all the people needed to insure those who must know understand a product, procedure or pricing.
 
Companies need fast, reliable ways share ideas throughout their infrastructure. Many companies have introduced intranets that are like the Internet, but are in-house only and closed to the public. 
 
Many have hired Google to help them with tools for their company where they can share documents, calendars, spreadsheets and more within their project teams. Not only can one Google the World Wide Web, but one could search the company website as well. Google is a new noun and verb in our English language.
 
Many years ago the newspaper industry recognized the ability of fine photographs to draw the readers into a story. Even today the top-slot for a newspaper photo is on the front-page above the fold. 
 
The WashingtonPost.com, NewYorkTimes.com, Google and many other corporations use visuals to communicate (and grab a reader). Unlike the printed page video, audio, multimedia, and solutions like virtual reality, are used to communicate in company web sites and e.Newsletters.
 
The printing press stories could communicate to larger audiences. The radio opened up audiences to hearing the stories and then TV helped us to go globally.
 
The printed page let the audience interact with information at their leisure whereas radio and TV were real time. When an audience saw or listened was in the control of the networks. Not until tape recorders and VCRs were we able to change radio and TV to something you could record and watch later.
 
Blogging allows communication to be interactive. Comments posted on a blog allow interaction with the information.
 
I have been blogging for a few years through my own blog and the Rising Black Star blog. I began producing multimedia packages (combining still images with audio). This is a powerful means of communication that can reach people on an emotional level. Examples can be found on my website under Multimedia section.
 
Lately I have even been shooting Sphere Panoramic Photos (360 degree) – it is a whole new way of looking at things! These new mediums are what helped me to communicate more effectively with my audiences than ever before.
 
Most of you are familiar with my photography; however, you may not be aware that I design websites for clients’ as well as offer workshops teaching company staff members a variety of visual communication skills and the combining of visual means of communication for the web.
 
Using the latest interactive photography techniques, designing websites, teaching and helping companies with strategy has helped me to be today’s storyteller around the campfire—a campfire with the world sitting around it.