The times they are a changing
A recent piece in Investor's Business Daily, "Tech Trends Threaten Trade Shows," examined the impact of the Internet and other technologies on trade shows. One Red Hat executive goes so far as to say that new technologies "have made the old-fashioned spectacle of trade shows obsolete." That may be a stretch, but the main point is valid - companies are using new communication channels to spread their message. When done properly, it can be an excellent way to describe and identify the value of dense software topics like SOA and web services. HP has an online video offering called "Change Artists," a series of interviews with CEOs from HP customers such as Reuters and FedEx. Other companies are beginning to produce podcasts - online audio programs that are easy to produce and very effective for reaching a specific audience. eWeek's October 2 cover story is an excellent starting point if you'd like to know more about podcasts and why they matter to businesses. As is the case with most new technologies, there's no need to rush headlong into these new communication channels. Know that they have great potential - start small - see what works and delivers value - and grow from there - but don't sit on the sidelines.
Posted by John Moran on October 4, 2006 at 4:46 PM
