Do you have any idea how the internet has changed the way businesses collaborate and create? No? Well here are a few of them

If you’re working in the business world, or in any profession, for that matter, I”m sure that the way that you collaborate and create and work is, in one way or another, affected by the internet. We don’t go to the library anymore as the font of inspiration and as a source of knowledge – we go to search engines and Wikipedia. We share our documents electronically and video conference with someone halfway across the world from our sofa.the way businesses create and collaborate on the web is completely change

The world has gotten a lot flatter and the case is the same when it comes to collaborating. What follows are just a few of the tools that have come about that have completely changed the way that we work, collaborate and create with others.

Google Docs

It may be intrinsically simple, but the concept is mind-blowing. The ability to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations collaboratively, while being able to make live edits to said document (and see them happen) – and chat with the person who is making the changes – that is amazing.

Skype

Skype is another one of those amazingly simple programs which changes the landscape of collaborating so much. Most business, when not conducted face-to-face, was conducted over the phone, and attempting to be creative when on a phone call with a person has many limitations. Unlike meeting with a team face-to-face, it is much more difficult to build off of one anothers ideas simply because you are unable to read their body language and without being able to see a person’s body language, it is often hard to judge a person’s tone.

But with video conferencing made available to the masses through Skype, that all changed. You can now talk to your collaborators and gauge their reactions in real time and not just by their voice – any time, anywhere.

Social Networks

Social networks aren’t just a social platform anymore – and I am including Facebook and Twitter in this, but even more so the niche social platforms and communities (Behance, for example) that are more platforms and vehicles for collaboration than simply a social network.

Even with Facebook and Twitter – think back on your social networking networking day, and think back to how many people “had a quick question” or “just wanted to know what you thought” about such-and-such. Because social networks are, for the most part, instant gratification, people will turn to these platforms when they need some sort of immediate feedback on an idea or a project – and with the massive number of people on any one of the major social networks, they are bound to get a few answers and opinions from people.

Cecila Miles works closely with Brainloop, a company that will create a dataroom for all the documents that you and your company may share with select others but want to keep private otherwise. She hopes that you enjoy the new age of collaboration brought on by the internet as much as she does!

 

img source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/psd/1805374441/

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