Secret service goes online

A number of people have been asking me about the business value of blogging, social networking sites and other online tools. Last week The Financial Times ran a front-page story which shows that not only businesses but also the public sector understand the benefits of digital communications: US intelligence agencies will launch a portal modelled on social networking sites!

No, government secrets will not be available to the general public. The US intelligence units plan to have an internal communications tool similar in its architecture to Facebook and MySpace, the two most popular social networking websites. This is an obvious acknowledgement that social sites have business application even in such areas as secret service.

The Financial Times reports that the new tool, A-Space, (AgentSpace? AnalystSpace?) will help share information among all the 16 US intelligence agencies. It will be a kind of MySpace for secret service officers. No doubt, this move is not greeted by all spies and secret agents as it involves the risk of sensible information being taken over by counter-intelligence and disclosure of undercover agents. Well, these guys should know better in what kind of business they are and what risks that involves. :)

Interestingly, the chief executives of MySpace and Facebook have been invited to participate at a conference in September to discuss the new system to be launched by the American intelligence in December.

I'd like to participate at such a conference. At least to meet the two guys, not to mention the curiosity of seeing American 007's in flesh. :)

Scottish police info box, Edinburgh, April 2007. Photo by Giedrius CP

First life, second life

I am amazed how computer-literate my teenage nieces are. Each time I meet them and ask them about the use of PC and the internet, I realise that we represent two totally different generations - "digital natives" (them) and "digital aliens" (me).

The way these two generations use e-tools and perceive two realities - online and offline - are extremely different. As a rule, "digital natives" view both realities as almost equivalent. They connect, chat and communicate with each other online extensively and these activities (the virtual world) have become an inseparable part of their lives. Meanwhile, for "digital aliens" like myself, online tools are merely a means to agree on the place and time of meeting with friends and colleagues in the real world.

The habits of "digital aliens" however change towards increasing digitalisation. Social-networking websites become popular not only with teenagers but with grown-ups too. For personal contacts and use, you may sign up with MySpace, the biggest social site, or Facebook, the second largest but apparently currently the "hottest" social network. There are a number of other social networks on the web, either of national reach or "multinationals".

Social networks may also be used for business purposes. The Economist, the business weekly, confirms that such websites do have business uses, including marketing opportunities. For example, I use LinkedIn, an online network for professionals, which has over 10 million users.

You may ask: why should one "waste" time on any of those social networks? Well, first, it is a fast and cost-effective way of maintaining contacts with your friends or colleagues, who may not necessarily be reachable by car.:) Second, it's a means of making new business contacts. I've used LinkedIn for such purposes and it has worked for me.

Of course, if you spend too much time online and get the feeling that the whole afternoon or evening has disappared, it's time for you to ask yourself: "Do I have a fulfilling first life?".

Manhattan network, New York City, July 2006. Photo by Giedrius CP

We will Skype you

I've never been an IT-minded person. But it's amazing how IT communications can change one's lifestyle: over the last 7 months my work and leisure time has been heavily digitalised. I've become quite a web animal and use a variety of online tools to communicate and keep in touch for both personal and business purposes.

Moreover, I've become a kind of blogging ambassador. I made presentations on the business case of blogging already twice - in Lithuania and in Belgium. The speed of IT communications seems to speed up human activity and radically change modern life and society.

A few years ago, when I was with the global business advisory firm, more and more of my friends turned to using MSN Messenger, an instant messaging service. At first I was surprised that they could afford to chat over MSN and do some work, simultaneously (I most probably wasn't good at multi-tasking). But later on I felt left out - it seemed like everyone would connect via MSN during the office hours to discuss evening plans or exchange news of the day.

At some point I decided to catch up with my friends and... install the MSN Messenger on the office computer (although I wasn't sure it was the right thing to do). I followed rather simple installation instructions and - here I am! - I have the magic software on my work PC. I was pleased with myself - installed the thing correctly with no external help!:)

It all looked ok until I tried to sign in. I tried once, it didn't work. I tried twice, it didn't work. I restarted the computer, but it still didn't work. MSN was there, looked perfectly ok but didn't work. Then I decided to turn for help to the firm's IT department...

When the IT guy heard what my IT issue was, he smiled at me and said: "You may uninstall it. Because it won't work. Because the servers wouldn't allow." He was a nice guy and didn't tell me off that it was against the strict IT policy of the firm to install and use such software.

I now use a number of e-tools extensively but sensibly, ie try not to abuse them. They help save time and - no less importantly - money! The way they eliminate physical distances and enable us communicate in various forms (voice, chat, live video), continues to surprise me.

Do you Skype? Get in touch with me: giedriuscp.

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