After attending a couple of related conferences this past month, Search Engine Strategies, and Computers in Libraries, one of my big take aways about what’s going on in the really big, big picture is that one really good thing that all of these new technologies and user generated content is doing is unleashing our imagination. And that, of course, is a good thing.
I mean, sure we can have (and do experience) information overload, and today we even have “innovation overload” to some degree with our feeling that we have to find and try out all the countless Web 2.0 tools, widgets and applications being developed.
But imagination is something that we really can’t ever have too much of….
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I’m using my own application – Context Organizer – to summarize my reading material. When at a click of a button I see the keywords and the most important sentences – that helps me to quickly decide how useful the information is. In my experience summarization helps with finding specific information in a sea of disparate content and is critical in quickly focusing on the most relevant information. perhaps it can help with innovation too…
Comment by Henry Lewkowicz — April 16, 2008 @ 1:34 am
I also heard the term “imagination age” applied to the current time at the recent (April 24-25) Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds meeting in DC. The meeting focused on Second Life and other virtual worlds, that indeed do both require and inspire imagination. One drawback I see with these “tools” is that it’s really impossible to understand them unless one uses them. Imagination goes only so far. Wikis, blogs etc are somewhat explainable with text and verbiage, virtual worlds must be experienced. My feeble efforts with Second Life have shown me that it’s not quite as easy to utilize as either of those two tools. The main thing I experienced was frustration! It was hard to imagine anything else.
Comment by Susan Fingerman — April 28, 2008 @ 3:13 pm