[sustran] Google+ as possible support for international collaboration on carsharing.

[eric britton]

Subject: Testing Google+  as possible support for international
collaboration and exchange on carsharing.

 

Here is the proposal.  In brief: to invite a certain number of you who are
game for this sort of thing to test with me and others interested the
possible usefulness of putting the "circle" concept of Google+ to work for
our good cause.

 

I am still fairly early on my learning curve on this, but from what I can
see I think it could become a winner for us. If we can get it up and working
properly, it should, I believe, be more focused and useful than the other
social media options. I also much like the idea of using it for group
videoconferences in support of specific projects or events. In addition I
feel that their circle concept is going to be far more efficient and less
useless disruptive than the other social media. 

 

To get a feel for how it works, you might have a look at
http://www.google.com/+/demo/. To come to our Google+ page for the World
Carshare circle, try https://plus.google.com/stream/circles/p122e9e20ad77b52
. 

 

But also a cautionary note: This networking approach is, as we all know, a
very delicate business, dangerous even at worst.  One is constantly
challenged by trying to find the fine line between communication and
intrusion, creativity and wastefulness, and from what I understand from my
own experience with this in recent years, the only answer to that once you
have something up and going is eternal vigilance.  But still, in the case of
this new approach I do think it is worth at least a try.

 

A final word on chatting in these circles. For my part I prefer that we
intrude on each other's time with moderation.  The people here have shown in
the past that there are responsive to useful information but are not so
happy with personal remarks and chat-like calls of their time. So lightly
lightly.

 

Hope to hear from you on this and that it will serve you and all of us well.
Getting carsharing into the place we need it in our societies is not a one
man job. 

 

Team work!