I remember back in the day, when we were first introduced to the Internet in South Africa in the early 90′s, things seemed so much simpler back then. You had a website (or a single page, if you were lucky) that you could put up for the world to see – well the world, back then being your friends and family who saw it on your PC screen, as it would take about a year to be indexed, if at all!

Well that was Web 1.0, today we’re bombarded with Web 2.0! Interacting with people, social networking, rich media – where do you start, where do you go? Nowdays you not only have to keep your website updated, but your blog, your professional networking profile and your social networking profile. Nevermind all the emails you have to wade through, and don’t get me even started on SPAM!

How do you communicate with people online? Before, it was just email. Then tools like PowWow and ICQ appeared and we had an easier and instant way of communicating with people all over the world. Add, audio, video teleconferencing and it’s like you’re there! Heck, even surgeons are training and consulting using these kinds of tools today! What will it be like 2 to 3 generations from now? Will we be born with microchips embedded in our brains, already linked up to the super highway (well, except for in SA where we’re still about 5 to 10 years behind everyone else)?

I went for my orientation session at the new company yesterday, after lunch, and found it interesting to learn how they do things, who does what, and what’s important to them – people! One of the main reasons I signed up with them. I can’t understand how companies (big ones too!) don’t focus on their people, their most valuable resource. But I digress…

Later that afternoon we had a socialising session with drinks and snacks and I got to meet quite a few people - nice, friendly and easy to talk to people. I’m quite excited about starting there in a week’s time! I was chatting to a colleague – mutual friend of another friend of mine – who also has a child (a son, who will be two at the end of this year) and it was interesting how quickly a topic of conversation can focus on children when the parties chatting have kids.

Even later on in the evening I was at home and I gave another friend (and ex-colleague) of mine a call, who’d just become a father on Monday, and the majority of our 40-minute conversation was… you guessed it, kids! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I just find it interesting. I guess it stems from the fact that as a parent, you’re really proud of what you had a part in creating. Even our local DJ (who recently became a dad) finds it intriguing. He echos the same thoughts as I have about kids, so instead of repeating myself you can read further what he has to say.