Web 2.0 to a Grandfather

My grandmothers and grandfathers have all passed away - and before computers really even came on the scene.  I think that this exercise is a bit easier when you imagine speaking to a specific person, so I chose my father (who is also a grandfather) and who struggles to understand just what it is I'm doing in this program.

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So, Dad, you have a computer and you send and receive emails through the Internet (online).  You have also purchased things online. That's about the extent, right?

Web 2.0 takes this to a more interactive level.  These sites, or platforms, or applications allow you to communicate and share information with people all over the world.  With a site like Pinterest, you can trade recipes for deviled eggs - even though we both know you already have the best!  With a site like Foursquare, you could find out which of your friends are where when you're tailgating at the Clemson games. Scott and his friends are running their fantasy multi-ball league with Google Docs, which basically means that each multi-ball participant has access to spreadsheets that each can update (no more emailing around copies of the same document and trying to keep track of the correct version) at the same time.

With Twitter, you can "follow" your favorite sports commentators and be the first to find out about trades, injuries, or anything else.  And if you'd join Facebook, I wouldn't have to email you separately all those pictures of your grandkids - and you'd get to see all the sweet comments other people make about them.

All of this can happen on your computer with your current Internet settings.  But if you want information even more quickly, and when you're away from your desk, you could always get a smartphone...

But that's another conversation -