Blinkx - a new tool for bloggers and other writers

Do you ever the get the feeling that you are using the same phrase or discussion points again and again in reports, documents and blogs?

What about the feeling that you know you have a specific issue in a document somewhere on your computer, but can’t remember in which one and where?

If the above two questions ring true for you, then take the time to look at Blinkx. It's a free search engine that will simplify the task of writing reports and your other document and posts. It provides a fast and sophisticated search of local documents on your hard drive, your email, newsfeeds, weblogs, video clips and more. According to the Blinkx website, it is not designed to replace current search engines like Google or Yahoo, but is a completely new way to use information on the internet.

It has a slick little toolbar that floats in the upper right-hand corner of your screen and gives you immediate results from these different sources. It works with Google or with other search engines and is certainly growing rapidly.

See the recent article in July 15th Guardian on how this has been developed http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1260983,00.html

Since its low-key launch at the end of July, some 800,000 people have downloaded the technology. Hundreds of thousands more are probably using it after downloading Blinkx from other websites or from CDs cover-mounted on magazines. Kathy Rittweger, Blinkx's founder feels that technology should take care of all the key words and be able to bring all the information to us before we ask; she says "This is about technology serving us."

My thanks go to David St Lawrence http://ripples.typepad.com/
for his original link to Blinkx. David writes:

“From what I have seen so far, Blinkx may be the workaround which allows a writer to access all of his documents as if they were entered in a database. This gives me a huge advantage, because my filing is based on the notion that I need everything spread out where I can locate it easily. The hierarchical approach to filing has never worked for me because I relate things in so many different ways. There are probably more of these "internal/external" search engines coming along, but I will continue to investigate Blinkx until I have a fuller understanding of its capabilities.”

New technological ideas to enhance your information, data and knowledge mobilisation actions at work and at home - brought to you by the KnowledgeWorx team!

Józefa

Use KnowledgeWorx to enable a knowledge-sharing environment in your organisation, just contact us at info@kworx.com

Barbie comes to KM

During some early morning research I stumbled across a great computer software package that brings 'life' to your website from SitePal http://www.sitepal.com

They have developed a programme that produces a computerised 'talking' figure head that ‘speaks’ your own words directly to online visitors. You choose the most appropriate clothes, hair, glasses, jewellery, styling, gender, voice and even the language you want your 'head' to speak. Click on the subtitle above to go directly to the site and use the ‘try now’ button to see for yourself - have fun!

It can sometimes be hard to keep up with everything that IT programmers develop and equally challenging to find uses for them that go beyond the gimmicky and actually enhance our knowledge development and creation practices.

What is so exciting about this latest technology is that is can be used as both a learning and communication tool par excellence! Even my seven-year old daughter is in on the act and loves playing with her own version of electronic 'beauty' customisation http://myscene.everythinggirl.com/games/beauty_studio/beauty_studio.aspx

With youngsters learning this wonderful way to communicate the fantasy world in their minds, online, how long before the blurring of fantasy and reality reaches mystifying heights.

Is this is just another rung in the so-called beginning of the end of (human) f2f communications or the opening of a wonderful door to a world of previously untapped knowledge creation?

Happy playing from the KnowledgeWorx team!

Józefa and David

Use KnowledgeWorx to enable a knowledge-sharing environment in your organisation, just contact us at info@kworx.com

Summer's nearly over before it even got started!

Phew! What a busy summer (somewhat questionable about the summer) we at Kworx have had this year in the UK. Certainly the changeable weather from heatwaves to flash flooding, brought a need for adaptability and flexibility at very short notice to cope with the changing environmental factors. Without these skills and abilities there clearly would have been even more disasterous consequences from the terrible flooding in Devon during August.

Reflecting upon this in a work context, the opportunity to self-manage change can often be denied to the many who are often faced with simply surviving the situations that are thrust upon them. In many cases all that is needed is ‘management permission’ to discuss issues locally and in a way that is relevant to each specific context as well as the opportunity to focus on the anticipated impact and freedom to use local knowledge to help steer through change.

Of course, things that are simple are very often quite difficult to achieve.

The skills needed to work collaboratively at individual and team level need to be refreshed from time to time. When collaboration amongst groups works well - either within known boundaries or across disciplines and sectors - then individuals feel better equipped to cope with change.

Feelings of safety and the willingness to adapt can be achieved by clarifying boundaries in changing situations and by creating space to allow effective networking. This feeling of safety and belonging can lead to better self-motivation, self-awareness and knowledge-sharing three important factors in managing change.

Now for the hard bit - doing it!

Some simple rules to guide collaborative working:

• respect each others views, even if they differ from your own
• allow honesty and openness to emerge at its own pace rather than enforce it
• be non-judgemental about others’ contribution, the wildest ideas can have value and merit
• give equal time to each team member and be inclusive rather than exclusive
• confidentiality – and trust takes time to build, so let it
• ensure you listen to one another, helps when you want to be listened to yourself
• value the collaboration and use the synergy it produces to adapt to changing situations

Good luck from the KnowledgeWorx team!

Józefa and David

Use KnowledgeWorx to enable a knowledge-sharing environment in your organisation, just contact us at info@kworx.com