Technology As Innovator

Overall

Why would I want to use a Vietnamese web service

1. Connection speed, especially for video streaming
2. Local opportunities

What would drive me away

1. Security, including revelation of my account information and spam
2. Careless design
3. Immature communities

Networking

Professional Networking

I’m favoring CyVee because opportunities are real and more closely intact.

LinkedIn is terrific, but opportunities might come at a lower pace.

Social Networking

I’m currently very happy with Facebook.

If faceViet or yobanbe want to get me, they have to provide

1. Professional theme
2. English interface
3. Strong personalization options.

Social News

It’s a pity I prefer utilizing my RSS Reader over social news sites such as Digg. Therefore, no remark just yet.

However, the news sharing platform of CyVee looks nice and could be very useful in promoting company brand like the way Tim of TRG is doing.

Additionally, if Vietnamese service provider can create something like StumbleUpon, it would make a hit and I’ll definitely consider.

Photos Networking

Picasa has everything I need: 1Gb free account, folders, tagging and an uploader.

Is there a local site focusing on photos networking?

Music Networking

I’m enjoying sharing music on imeem. I am more into English songs. I like new age, hard rock and symphony and I’m not sure whether nhacso, Zing mp3 are rich of such genres.

Video Networking

Youtube is absolutely wonderful. I am amazed by its fast connection speed and stability.

Therefore, I don’t have the plan to move to Clip.vn just yet.

Mobile Networking

Has any Vietnamese vendor invest in this area?

Blogging

I am maintaining my different blogs on self-hosted WordPress, Yahoo! 360 and Windows Live Spaces.

If local blogging providers such as ngoisaoblog, blog.com.vn want to attract me, they would have to ensure:

1. High SEO compatibility
2. High security, including spam protection and splog tracking
3. Backup options and standard-compliant import/export functionalities
4. Permalinks

Instant Messaging

My clients in the US are using MSN Messenger. Most of my friends are using Yahoo! Messenger. For conference, Skype is just wonderful.

I don’t feel the urge of switching to Zing chat.

Email

Apart from professional emails on my domain, I use a Gmail account to access Google services and a Yahoo! email to make it easier for my friends.

Any company is investing in providing free email service in Vietnam?

Portal

I use my portal for work purpose and netvibes is still number one.

Zing looks very nice, but I’d rather having something customizable.

e-Commerce

I’m not having a real need of C2C e-Commerce, so no comment on this.

Map

A vote for diadiem, simply because I need to find ways in my local areas.

Entertainment

I’d rather go out playing sports than wandering online, so good luck socvui, hihihehe and so on

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 2 local web services that I utilize are CyVee and diadiem

CyVee give me real local opportunities and diadiem is definitely more useful than its Google counterpart.

For others, if they can bring me real values I’m seeking…

Enjoy this presentation by BJ Fogg. What is your experience in this topic? Please comment…

Tai Tran's Lab: Technology As Innovator

As good as a book index

My summary of the Enneagram, for example, summarizes my knowledge after reading most celebrated books on the topic.

While a summary doesn’t generally provide thorough coverage as a book does, it gives readers an outline of the subject. When the reader have familiarized themselves with topics and terminologies, s/he then can focus on learning what needed.

As good as a trivia

This serious joke on a Marketer is generally considered trivial. However, a seemingly trivial matter, as it often comes from close observation of the world in another angle, may generate innovative ideas, help to spot niche markets or popup interesting surprises.

As good as a fiction

Some articles contain stories; stories tell lives. Articles that tell lives hold metaphors of human values.

This one is a positive guide to help better communication. But more than that, if you read and feel, imagine and think, you will be able to visualize another sophisticated side of the life of some people you have known.

Explore your friends the way you do fiction

As good as a well-established message

When I write about free software, my message is clear: “Use software legally!”

If you want to send a message, write about it and include deep thoughts. The quantity and quality of response you receive proportionate the efforts you spend.

Less is more

My advice for web surfers is not to read more, but to understand more deeply the contents of the articles. If you find yourself not understanding an article you find weirdly interesting, read it again; if you don’t have time to read that many for many times, surf less.

Many articles make up a book

I have read many in-depth blog posts and followed many discussions on Search Engine Optimization. Then just recently I got my hand on a well-written book on SEO. Much to my surprise, most knowledge and insights covered in the book can be found in FREE articles all over the net.

When to refrain from online articles

While valuing the benefits of reading online articles, I don’t encourage replacing reading books with skimming articles though. Articles are scattered, more well-off, many of which contain noises or non-relevant comments. To a beginner in a subject, reading a book cover-to-cover should still be favored, since being able to collect and synthesize scattered knowledge requires information finding and knowledge management skills together with relatively well-formed experience on the (similar) subject.

Another factor should be considered is that “many articles is equivalent a book” can be applied effectively in technology fields where cohesion is within its own logical structure. For social sciences and economics, it is less recommended as reading scattered bits of different schools is an easy way to enter confusion.