Facebook
Ever have doubts that the Internet is being used by manufacturers? Ever think that your own Web site isn't used for "serious" research - like, for instance, customers looking for you to make things for them or do business?
Take a look at some of the largest work groups established on Facebook. (Yeah, I said Facebook.) Names of the companies are accompanied by the total members in that group.
- Shell Oil - 7,335
- General Electric - 9,024
- Vodafone - 7,438
- Intel - 8,157
- Apple - 8,729
If these guys are using
Facebook to network amongst themselves, do ya think they might be using the Web to look for you?
PikiWiki
Here's another free collaboration tool that manufacturers and engineers may find useful.
PikiWiki lets you create and manage a Web page by dragging & dropping all kinds of files into it - documents, poser points, video, images, whatever. But the best part is whoever you invite can come in and do the same thing. While this tool looks and smells a little childish in its approach, the concept can help you work more effectively long-distance.
Just don't let your colleagues see this on your machine, or you might not live it down for a while.
