New technologies and information technology are making a positive impact on work practices in Ireland
Peter McGuire writes: Networking has exploded in popularity, dominated by websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, which allow individuals to share personal and business information, upload photos, create web-logs(blogs) and much more. Many companies, such as IBM, have developed their own internal networks to increase contact between staff, leading to greater efficiencies.
"Networking", says Mike Roche, chief technology officer with IBM's Dublin software lab, "has become crucial for company's internal operations. It allows IBM staff to communicate with one another," he explains. "We have built our experience with products such as Lotus Notes and developed new networking technologies internally. We've taken our existing expertise and our internal innovations and turned it into a market opportunity."
IBM aims to be an agenda-setter in this market. Lotus Connections was launched in mid-2007 and has become the fastest-selling software product in IBM's history. Used internally and by IBM customers globally, it has a number of useful features,including blogs, forums and community sytems.
The programme includes personal profiles with contact details, office location and informaiton on personal life...users with similar interests can connect with one another.
IBM is currently engaged in collaborations with Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and NUI Galway on research and development projects to build up social computing for personal, organisational and corporate use.
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