Blog Technology

I am impressed by the features provided by blogging tools. Sharing information has become quite an easy task compared to complex ways years ago of changing links on websites and uploading files. We are able to focus more on content and less on effort required to publish it. I have been writing content using blogger.com. After I started using wordpress.com to publish new blog, I had a task on my to do list to transfer content from blogger to wordpress. I was thinking that I will have to spend a lot of time doing it. I do remember that wordpress had a utility to import content from other blogs.

Recently I decided to accomplish this and it was all a matter of clicks to import all content from blogger to wordpress. I didn’t loose any content and now all my blog posts are in place. There is no need to switch between two blogs.

Next I wanted to transfer articles I posted earlier on my website to this blog. I wanted to make sure timestamp of the post remains as the day I originally wrote the article. Sure enough, I found that bloggers do provide an option to change timestamp of the post. This was impressive. Now you can see some articles I transferred from 1999 on this blog with an appropriate timestamp.

I know there are lot of other features which make publishing content easier. If you are still using traditional method to maintain a website, it is time you started using a blogging tool. Ask me if you have specific questions but I am sure all bloggers are simple enough to use by everyone and come with easy to use instructions.

At the same time, I also opened up my blog to public. I have kept this blog private so far and now it is open to search engines. I have seen increasing number of visitors that are looking for a specific content dropping by.

Life Transitions

I was reading blog article on managing life transitions.

This article was more elaborate than my earlier article on Tips for Stress Management. It is good to refresh our ideas on stress management once in a while. Whenever you feel you are overwhelmed, a few minutes reminding yourself to slow down will help. You are not alone having a hard time and take it comfort in that. I know it is easier said than done.

Read through the following links at leisure and reflect on them. Take your time and don’t rush through these articles. It is one of the important things in your life to reflect and not an urgent one. Do you need to finish reading this fast so that you can go to the next one? Slow down…. NOW.

Slow Down Therapy
Tips for Stress Management

Technology and Instant Feedback

New internet technologies have made it easier to get feedback. When you write or publish any of your content, you can see its impact in real time. Following are a few examples

• You upload a video on youtube.com and you can track how are are viewing the video and their comments
• You upload a photo on Flickr.com and you can see how may are viewing the photo
• You publish a blog or article. You can see how many hits your post is getting and comments.
• You publish content and provide feeds. You can track how many are reading content through feeds.
• You write an e-mail and send it out. Sometimes you get instantaneous responses or mostly within 1 day if there are reactions to your e-mail.
• You create product links on your website and you can see who is clicking on what link.

Compared to old methods where you write an article, a book or a letter and wait for a long time before you see its impact. How do you react to such instantaneous feedback?

• First of all, it is great to see your work paying off with a few people showing interest in it.
• Second, it is great if you people leave comments. Positive comments gives a boost to your motivation. Negative comments let you know what to improve on.
• Third, if people get inspired by what you do, to attempt a change in their own work, it is a big compliment to you. You feel you are able to make a difference. It brings a sense of purpose to everything you do.
• Fourth, you are able to establish a virtual network of people who share similar interests in a period where it has become difficult to maintain personal contact and relationships

I am impressed by the opportunities being created by technology. I hope this feedback mechanism helps people to bring positive change in themselves and in the society when possible. While the same technology may be used in a wrong way, ultimately it is people who decide what happens with feedback.

What are you doing with instant feedback?

Usability of Blogs

I have been reading usability articles written by Jacob Nielsen for quite a few years now.  As mentioned in my previous blog, I was trying to make my website quality better and I realized I should make blog also of high quality.

I went back to Jacob’s website to search tips and I found article to improve usability of blog. I realized I need to follow some his guidelines in my blog also. You should see these tips incorporate on my blog in future posts.

Link to article Blog Usability by Jacob Nielsen (Link opens in a new window)

Keep Humor in your life

I remember the days when e-mail became popular there was lot of e-mail traffic with jokes. I have only occasionally received good jokes in my inbox. When the stress increases it is better get a nice laugh. One of the writers I have been reading regularly in past few years is Melvin Durai. I have enjoyed reading his humorous articles from events that happened recently interpreted from a different perspective.

If you want to add a little humor to your reading while surfing blogs, I would certainly recommend Melvin’s articles. You can click on any of the links below to read his articles and subscribe to his blog.

Melvin Durai’s website

Funny Columns Blog

Blog: Joel on Software

I have not read this popular book “Joel on Software” yet, but I have been following the blog. I see Joel has very strong opinions and insight into issues business of Software Development.

I would strongly recommend visiting this blog and subscribe to posts.

I recommend reading these specific posts. Two of the posts on related to recruiting great developers. They are a little long articles but worth the time.

Field Guide to Developers
Sorting Resumes

The following article is Advice for Computer Science college students

I am sure you will find this blog useful addition to your watch list. You can join after you read the above articles.

Blog: Robin Sharma

I have started following Robin Sharma’s blog after reading his book: “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”. This was a good book with inspiration to get organized and focus on important things in life.

Robin Sharma’s blog has been very consistent with inspiring messages. If you are interested in getting some inspiration to your blog reader, this is one I will recommend.

Blog Link:

Recommending Blogs

During next few weeks I am going to add links to blogs that I am reading. Blogs I am reading are relevant to my areas of interest and which I have been following for quite sometime. There is consistency in blogs and blogger writes something that adds value to you.

Explore the blogs I recommend and subscribe to them if you like the content. I am going to write specific details on each blog I recommend and point to some content too.

Watch this space!!

Launched Blog

Finally I started creating my own Blog Page. This will be used to convey my thoughts at a shorter frequency instead of waiting for the webpage update. Postings will be on any topic that might interest visitors to my homepage.