Good.is The Data Issue

Since we are starting to transition into Data analysis and networks, I wanted to share this online magazine that I am actually quite obsessed with.  I look at it frequently because it covers all relevant topics of the world (business, culture, education, politics, design, etc.) but reports on all things "GOOD".  They publish a quarterly hard copy of the magazine and Fall 2011 is the Data issue.
The magazine has a lot of infographics, networks, etc. on data they have accumlated for their articles.  I would share it on the blog but since it is a hard copy it is a little hard, so here is the website of all their infographics: http://www.good.is/infographics .  It is quite interesting.
Also, here is the online magazine of the data issue:http://www.good.is/the-data-issue/

Enjoy!

Crowdsourcing/Open Source- the new networks

Networking is widely known as connected and communicating with people to create relationships.  Now networking has transformed with crowdsourcing and open source networks.  People do not need to create relationships face to face, but through online platforms.  Although it does take out the "human" interaction aspect of things, this does allow for conversations to be start globally.  As a potential MIS major this is mainly what I want to be more involved with, the areas of cloud computing, crowdsourcing, and open sources.  I think this will change the way we interact, communicate, and most importantly learn.  It let's people read from other's taking away the barriers of emails.  It gives people across the globe access to ideas and relationships they would never have.

Half Way Done with the Semester

We are about half way done with the semester!
Our Google Adwords project is almost completed and now we are starting to look at networks.
I think this part of class is going to be very interested.
I like looking at data in an informational graphic way, aka Infographics.
I like the visualization and all the data behind the story.
Here is one of my favorite places for infographics http://www.good.is/infographics
Mashable also has a myraid of them: http://mashable.com/follow/topics/mashable-infographics/

I cannot wait to start working with these more!

QR Codes

It's funny that QR codes are becoming so widely used now, when Blackberry has been using them forever.  Blackberry's BBM messenger gives each user a personal QR code so that people can scan and add the person to their message list directly.
After looking through this website of fun ways QR codes are being used, http://www.joelbuckland.com/2010/10/30-interesting-ways-qr-codes-are-being-used/, it seems that they are mainly used in Asian countries.  You will see QR codes along with letter characters of some sort.  Which makes sense since Asia is always technologically advanced compared to the US.   This one is my favorite.  It is a QR code in the form of grafitti with a logo in the middle.  This is something that would catch my attention and show the real creativity of an artist.
I'm planning to use QR codes in this Scavenger Hunt i'm planning for my internship.  Teams will have to scan a QR code at 4-5 locations to get a hint to where items are located.  I'm very excited because QR codes are very mysterious but also a fun guessing game like we had to do to find our homework assignment #3!