| Networking today is vital for business and social | | | | group of friends in a series of short messages. |
| health and well-being. When you are in a network | | | | The longest these micro blogs can be is up to 140 |
| it simply means you are in a group of like-minded | | | | characters long. Some micro bloggers just say to |
| people, interest group or that you share some | | | | their friends what they are doing now. Some |
| other common denominator. | | | | people micro blog what they are going to have |
| Computer Networking: This is where all the wires, | | | | for dinner, while others use the blogosphere for |
| leads, cables and couplings come together in one | | | | less mundane notices. |
| place. If these cables or wireless points didn't join | | | | Politicians even micro-blog to their members what |
| up, they wouldn't be networked. Anyone today | | | | is happening when they are electing a new leader |
| who has a wireless internet connection and more | | | | for their political party! I have seen Tweets to |
| than one computer at home or in the office, all | | | | their followers from Parliamentarians sitting in |
| going through the one router, is networked. The | | | | Parliament and supposedly making important |
| joining point in this instance is the router that is | | | | decisions that will govern our lives. Personally, this |
| the joining point of the network. This is called a | | | | disgusts me as I consider it a self-serving, |
| LAN or Local Area Network. | | | | irresponsible approach to setting new rules for me |
| This LAN is now routed through the router to | | | | to live by. Worse still, is when these people pass |
| your ISP or Internet Service Provider. This now | | | | laws that will cost me and you (the tax payer) |
| forms a WAN or Wider Are Network. If you can | | | | millions or billions of dollars. |
| visualise a group of small spider webs all joining at | | | | This kind of social networking is an unforeseen |
| one point and going outwards to form other small | | | | outcome to the ease in which everyone can |
| webs, you will be able to understand why the | | | | micro blog today so there will no doubt be some |
| Internet is called the World Wide Web. | | | | lines drawn in the sand soon enough. I hope, |
| Social Networking: Years ago it used to mean | | | | anyway. |
| (and in similar fashion still does) your group of | | | | Business Networking: This is still based on what it |
| peers that you socialise with. That is, your drinking | | | | originally was and still is, today. This is where |
| buddies, your girlfriends, your mates, your friends. | | | | business people come together to explore areas |
| Now if you belong to a chess club or a sporting | | | | of common interests and to see where their |
| club, they are your physical social network that | | | | common interests lie. This is why Associations like |
| you as an individual depend on. When we use the | | | | Unions, Master Builders, Master Plumbers, Small |
| term "to depend on", we mean that it is from this | | | | Business Associations etc form a specific group in |
| group of people that you get your persona from | | | | which they invite like-minded, similar or |
| and your sense of self. Your mental health will be | | | | complimentary businesses to join; because they all |
| affected if you have a falling out or disagreement | | | | share some common area of interest that they |
| with this group of people. Your emotional health | | | | can benefit from. |
| will suffer. Everyone needs friends and these are | | | | It is important for all businesses, both on the |
| found in your social network group of friends. | | | | Internet and those that have a physical street |
| This concept has now been extended to include a | | | | address, to join a business network group in their |
| social network of friends and like-minded people | | | | community where they can socialise with like |
| on the internet. It has seen the massive growth | | | | minded people, and get more business from those |
| of social bookmarking sites, and micro blogging | | | | that they in turn can pass business on to. This is |
| sites, so that everyone can "chatter" to their | | | | the basis of a good network. |