Technology As Innovator

Facebook

73.5 million users and growing fastest

What I like about it

1. Mini-Feed is useful in seeing a quick snapshot on the latest happenings within your network without going to several sites to check.
2. The ability to supply how you know a person.
3. Nice applications. Approximately 10% of Facebook applications I’ve tried are interesting and useful while others are not as good.

I think these can be improved

1. Fixed 600 width and non-resizable
2. Non-customizable design
3. No built-in blogging functionality. Blogging can be done with applications such as Live Blog, but we don’t normally depend on addons for such important values like blogs.
4. Tight security: profile only viewable by friends. How do you determine if a profile is your friend or not just by looking at the screen name which can be different from the real name?
5. One account can only join no more than 200 groups. Unlimited is preferred.

Orkut

24.6 million users

What I like about it

1. Simple design, Google philosophy after all
2. Extensible width
3. Ad-free

I think these can be improved

1. Name. Honestly speaking, the Turkish name “Orkut” is very unfamiliar. Just a remark, as the brand name is not supposed to change
2. Very few, if any, extensions

Yahoo! Mash

What I like about it

1. Wider width
2. Larger font
3. Allows profiles to be updated by friends
4. Mini-feed is also supplied

I think these can be improved

1. Check boxes to select friends to add should be provided
2. More group levels
3. Informal language. I am especially not easy with the word “fugly”
4. Profile with non-removable fields such as “What’s most likely playing on my iPod”… Excuse me, can I NOT have an iPod?

MySpace

107 million users. The currently largest site

What I like about it

1. Integrated all-in-one solution that includes social networking, blogging, mail, favorites, forum, movies, events, media

I think these can be improved

1. Inconsistent design
2. Music landing page
3. Spam, including spam invitations, protection
4. Tons of ads

Other notable networking sites

Name	Focus	Number of users (in million)	Comments
Windows Live Spaces	Blogging	120	Really eye-catching glossy design. Powerful blogging support. Try new Microsoft experience!
hi5	General	50	An issue: the letter ‘5′ creates this word “hị” in Vietnamese. hi5 is still nice anyway
bebo	Schools & alumni	34	Nice and neat
friendster	General	50	Friendster is getting old. It needs more innovation.
imeem	Media: Music, Video	16	Possibly the best media site currently. Nice design and convenient upload process. Support tagging
LinkedIn	Business	15	Very professional for business networking purpose
Last.fm	Music	15	Attractive design, especially the logo. However, radio alone is not that fascinating. They could use more of music sharing
Xanga	Blogging	40	The ad on top is a huge barrier to this site’s design. Usability is a little messy

Read more

Wikipedia, List of social networking websites

Mashable, Facebook Hammers MySpace on Almost All Key Features

Techcrunch, Facebook platform

American Class Divisions

Nerdlifestyle, Media restrictions

My choice

Facebook to keep in touch with international friends and English-speaking communities

Yahoo! Mash. Many young Vietnamese users rely on Yahoo! services

for socially musical networking

How about you?

Share your experience here…

Which site do you like best? What you wish your site had offered?

3. ERP System Characteristics

• Modular design comprising many distinct business modules such as financial, manufacturing, accounting, distribution, etc.
• Use centralized common database management system (DBMS)
• The modules are integrated and provide seamless data flow among the modules, increasing operational transparency through standard interfaces
• Flexible and offer best business practices
• Require time-consuming tailoring and configuration setups for integrating with the company’s business functions
• Modules work in real time with online and batch processing capabilities
• Internet-enabled
• Financial and business information is often generated automatically by ERP systems based on data previously entered, without further human instructions
• ERP provides business intelligence tools like Decision Support Systems, Executive Information System, Reporting, Data Mining and Easy Warning Systems for enabling people to make better decision and thus improve their business processes

ERP Series Previous Posts

ERP Series vol 1: ERP Definition & Advantages

Free & Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning Software

1. Definition

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems are software systems for business management, encompassing modules supporting functional areas such as

• Planning
• Manufacturing
• Sales
• Marketing
• Distribution
• Accounting
• Financial
• Human Resource Management
• Project Management
• Inventory Management
• Service and Maintenance
• Transportation, logistics and e-Business

The architecture of the software facilitates transparent integration of modules, providing flow of information between all functions within the enterprise in a consistently visible manner. Corporate computing with ERPs allows companies to implement a single integrated system by replacing or re-engineering their mostly incompatible legacy information systems.

2. Advantages of ERP

Benefit	How to Achieve the Benefit
Reliable information access	Common DBMS, consistent and accurate data, improved reports
Avoid data and operations redundancy	Modules access same data from the central database, avoids multiple data input and update operations
Delivery and cycle time reduction	Minimizes retrieving and reporting delays
Cost reduction	Time savings, improved control by enterprise-wide analysis of organizational decisions
Easy adaptability	Changes in business processes easy to adapt and restructure
Improved scalability	Structured and modular design
Improved maintenance	Vendor-supported long-term contract as part of the system procurement
Global outreach	Extended modules such as CRM and SCM
E-Commerce, e-business	Internet commerce, collaborative culture

ERP Series Previous Posts

Free & Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning Software