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This post has been lurking around in my mind for some time. The motivation to write this post emerges from an inner feeling about the importance of good choice of colors and design in just about everything–course projects, flyers, promotional material, cover of a book, web design and much more. In fact, as I think about it, I realize that I have been trying to say this for quite a while, maybe from an age when I saw some color combinations in a magazine advertisement that were not very appealing (at least to me).  Or maybe, at some point I saw a website that was in no way aesthetically pleasing not only to me but as I later discovered to a number of people in my professional circle.  I certainly feel better as I write this piece in sharing something that many would already know and even have a far better sense of than I do.  However, I am quite sure that there are quite a few others who may appreciate this perspective on aesthetics.

As a start, I will take my readers on a journey through the beautiful Appalachian mountain range in eastern United States. While returning from a conference in South Carolina, I was mesmerized by amazing fall colors as I drove through scenic valleys. Fortunately this was the time of year when fall colors display their magic. At certain points, breathtaking views compelled me to stop the car at any nearest rest area so that I could enjoy and appreciate the beauty of those mountains and most importantly the awe-inspiring fall colors. Such natural beauty, fresh air and unforgettable colors are enough to make any trip memorable and make long drives enjoyable. Pictures in this post may already have caught your attention. These are some that I took using my cell phone. While you enjoy these, let’s try to understand what aesthetics are all about.

What is aesthetic?

Merriam Webster dictionary defines aesthetic as: “of, relating to, or dealing with aesthetics or the beautiful”, “pleasing in appearance“. A person having an aesthetic sense would be the one who recognizes and admires beauty. Moreover, such a person may see harmony in beauty.

So the basic idea behind the word aesthetic is beauty. An important question arising here is that beauty can be relative–what may be beautiful to me, may or may not be beautiful to another person. You may have also heard the famous saying “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. But then there are so many things we see around us that most appreciate. Tress for example, usually have green leaves that change colors as part of their natural cycle. I feel that we all like the way trees are, their color and the inherent beauty in them. The sky also has a nice blue color that is soothing and in the background just fits perfectly well with trees. This  leads us to thinking that whatever is in nature is indeed beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. We often hear words like deep blue sea and sandy white beaches. After all, there is something about blue sea and white sand that attracts people.

So I see beauty in nature as the most aesthetically perfect, as you may also. Nature provides abundant colors that we admire and appreciate. This means that anything that matches the color scheme in nature would also be somewhat beautiful when we make it. Think about how the color scheme in nature inspires artists into making masterpieces.

We may safely conclude that a person having an aesthetic sense would have an eye for appreciating what is already there in nature. That sense of aestheticism would reflect in his/her work and make it appealing. We can enhance beauty in whatever we do by taking inspiration from nature.

I believe that good design matters. Good choice of colors in our work is important because that speaks of our aesthetic sense. I also feel that it is not hard to produce works that are aesthetically pleasing. Nature has abundant examples of beautiful design, wonderful color combinations and a voice saying that yes that’s how it was meant to be. All we have to do is observe with a careful eye and implement what we learn and observe. So next time when you end up designing something as trivial as a power-point presentation, think of how you would see color combinations and design in nature.

I would like to leave you with a video that I had earlier watched. It’s a wonderful depiction of the beauty in nature not only in terms of numbers but also color and design. So sit back, relax and enjoy the wonders of nature!

“Social what?…” Yes, this was the answer I received upon asking a small business owner about social media. Sometimes, sitting in front of computers and being intensively involved with social media may make us out of touch with reality. No doubt social media use has become pervasive, but are some being left out?

In my opinion, most small business may fall in the following three categories:

1. Those who do not know what social media entails and how it could help them.
2. Those who know about social media but have little know-how into implementing a social media strategy.
3. Those who have a social media strategy in place, but due to lack of full understanding of its potential, have not efficiently optimized social media’s implementation.

Why small businesses must embrace social media

In these tough economic times, businesses have to try extra hard to stay afloat. Small businesses in particular face greater challenges from large competitors and possibly a shrinking customer base as the economy passes through a recessionary phase. Social media provides a platform to reach diverse audiences at little or no cost. It indeed provides an ideal mechanism especially for small businesses to reach out to their customers and even expand their market share.

An effective social media strategy is all about being active and alive in the minds of current and potential consumers. If they hear about it, they may even buy. Marketers realize the importance of constantly reminding their customer base about the company’s product offerings. Where best to reach customers with a powerful marketing campaign, little capital investment and instant feedback? Social media provides the answer. If so many are spending their time on social media, it naturally makes sense to reach them where they are – on sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Today, its not a choice not to embrace social media. Many large firms already have a strong social media presence. We hear about popular brands on sites like Facebook. It is also common to observe friends in a social circle to “like” the page of a popular brand, personality or organization. Businesses can boast the number of fans the they have on such pages. Such visible popularity further adds to company’s image. There is a dominant element of interactivity where firms reach out to their customers and get a first-hand account of the latest suggestions, concerns etc. A business which is abreast with the latest buzz and keeps a check on the pulse of its fan base is more likely to adapt when needed and better serve its customers. To sum up why social media must be embraced by small firms the following points need consideration by small businesses:

• The need to get noticed and be alive in the minds of the customers
• Hearing from the customers through interactivity afforded by social media
• Saving costs
• Expanding the marketing campaign to a wider base

Integrated Social Media Strategy

As stated earlier, the benefits are immense and need to be realized through an effective social media strategy. So how does a business create an effective social media strategy? It may seem simple but may prove more daunting than commonly understood. Such a strategy is not only about creating a page and having a profile on such sites. Rather, it is a concerted effort that is integrated and builds upon the unique strengths of different mediums. If Facebook can be used to create the organization’s page to update update customers or fans of the latest products, deals and news; a LinkedIn profile can be beneficial in reaching out business partners and professionals. Twitter with its unique micro-blogging potential can reach a different audience in a somewhat unique manner. Similarly, a lot can be done through effective use of video sites such as YouTube. Company events, product launches and marketing campaigns can be best done through a video. The key here is integration. Social media has to be utilized in an integrated way while capitalizing on the unique benefits of each medium.

A critical element of a successful social media strategy is being current and active. A business must never simply create a page and have presence on social media sites. There is a need to constantly update the fan base with the latest. This does not mean that customers be inundated with updates that may seem annoying. A balance must be maintained in which marketing messages may be sent out in a subtle and elegant way.

With power comes responsibility

Social media is no doubt a powerful medium. This power has to be harnessed and used effectively to one’s advantage. The ease with which such messages can be sent to thousands of people in an instant brings with a great deal of responsibility. Any miscalculated move can cost the precious image of a business. Example which explicates this point are here, here, and here. Thus, the intricacies of social media should first be understood and only then should a small business embark on such a route.

Computer mediated communications (CMC) has significantly altered the interaction patterns as we text, voice chat, and video chat with others on a daily basis and even every few minutes. Tweets and status updates help us communicate to wide audiences like never before.  Such proliferation of mass media has been at a global level where people from diverse cultures and languages have adopted the World Wide Web (WWW) for convenient and instant communications.

In addition to the content generated as a result of communication in the form of discussion forum posts, news articles and comments, a plethora of content is being produced all across the world on the Internet. Some may believe that the boundaries between the Internet and the physical world have blurred. Therefore, the Internet is where we all dwell!

Communication via text summons the language skills of respective users. These languages could be any – English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew, Hindi, Swahili, Urdu, Turkish, etc.  Such beautiful languages may have further blossomed via the Internet where so much more communication is taking place at every moment at an international level. As we communicate more, we may without realizing be polishing our respective language skills. On the other hand, the greater use of Internet may inhibit a language from flourishing and gradually may lead to its weakening and ultimate demise at least in the sense of its alphabet. A linguist may surely be able to provide a better idea of the relevant research in this area. Nevertheless, it is not hard to imagine the dynamic of languages in CMC.

This brings us to look into a situation where bilinguals may mix certain words between languages. For example, a person who speaks both English and Swahili, may start mixing words inadvertently while communicating with someone who is also a similar bilingual. Lets take this a step forward. Imagine a person who speaks and writes good English and has Urdu has his/her first language. As you may be aware, Urdu is a language that has an alphabet similar to Farsi/Arabic. It is written in the opposite direction from English – right to left, and thus having different alphabets from English. Therefore, just to avoid the hassle of having an Urdu/Arabic/Farsi keyboard, the person may simply use the English alphabets to communicate with another person online. Although the language when read may sound like Urdu, but is written in the English alphabets. This has given rise to a widely observed phenomena among Urdu speakers especially using the Internet to write in Roman Urdu.

Roman Urdu is thus the name used for the Urdu language written with the Roman or Latin alphabet. Although opposed by traditional Urdu lovers who read and write Urdu in the Arabic/Farsi alphabet, Roman Urdu has taken root in a somewhat unorganized manner especially online and it also seems quite popular and pervasive among the Urdu conversant youth. A number of factors may explain the rise of Roman Urdu (or maybe another language having a similar fate):

• Lack of patronage for the language by a governing authority  – While a language may be very popular among the masses of a country, until it is loved, promoted and implemented in day-to-day workings, it is very probable that such a language would lose steam and get neglected to an extent that a newer generation may be entirely unaware of its literature, its proper use and even its writing. This issue gets exacerbated with the widespread use of CMC in a an alternative language such as English by the educated youth who communicate frequently online. Even when they communicate in Urdu online, it is only to the extent to the way it is spoken while writing is completely based on a foreign alphabet.
• Technological impediments– Another reason that relates to the above mentioned point is the lack of technological resources that would make possible the use of a language in the online world. The common non-availability of a simple keyboards in the language that is being affected would naturally result in its discouragement. In addition, the non-availability of a standardized Unicode font for a language that has a unique alphabet would not make possible its writing in the online world, except in picture format. For example, a majority of Urdu websites online for a long time did not have text-based websites leading to the use of picture-based text that would not be searchable in any search engine.
• The will and determination of the people who speak the language – A language cannot be strong and living until those who communicate in it really care for its full and efficient use. Constant text-based communication online in an alphabet that is foreign to the majority of its people would not only widen the digital divide for its people but also impede in the full development and advancement of the language. Nevertheless, Roman Urdu is being widely used in a somewhat confused and non-standard format.
• An example of a print advertisement from the state owned telecom operator PTCL where the use of Roman Urdu is evident.Role of media – It is also interesting to note the impact of popular media in this domain. Advertisements on billboards, television, and print newspapers all point to the increase in the use of Roman Urdu. Thus, in addition to the popular use of Roman Urdu text by internet savvy youth, advertisements and media organizations are also speeding the process of eventual demise of the original Arabic/Farsi based Urdu script. Mobile based communication is also not behind in this phenomena.  SMS via cell phones is quite popular in Urdu understanding and speaking populace. This avenue further propels the use of Roman Urdu as most cell phones do not have an Urdu keyboard. Being low-cost and convenient, such SMS messages are widely exchanged between friends, relatives and acquaintances. A majority of cell-phone based communication thus takes place in Roman Urdu.

It can thus be concluded how among other factors, media has the potential to greatly affect a language. Another argument also holds great weight. A language is only valuable when people use it to communicate. Power to the people who would decide whether they want to do away with a language or its alphabet and the entire culture, history and ethos attached to it.  People actually determine the growth and use of a language in its true form but at the same time, technology based communication plays a vital role in shaping the use of a language. What is also quite visible is that the advent of the Internet has indeed brought about a revolution whose dynamics are still being understood and further explored.

I remember hearing that choosing a good program to organize research material comes in handy. Cannot agree more; however, choosing a decent program did not seem easy (at least for me). Sometimes back, a former student asked me about the same issue – which program would be ideal for him? Maybe I do have an answer now but not then.

A few years ago I myself was faced with the same question but the choice available was limited. Therefore, I chose the easier way (which instead proved to be harder) and continued with what I was doing, organizing references manually (literally writing by hand all references on paper and then typing them in Word), which was quite time consuming.

With all the love for researching new ideas I was facing a dilemma again. With the increased number of readings, it was no more easy to organize the references manually. My favorite pastime (welcome to Ph.D. work) had made me increasingly overwhelmed with organizing hundreds of articles and citations that I had read and stored on my hard drive. There had to be a way of efficiently organizing this information. I was often worried about creating a bibliography at the end of a paper in APA format with zero defects.  It became a challenge to write all the citations again and search for articles that I already knew about. With a range of research areas I was working on, it often became hard to keep all the data organized. I had a feeling I was not the only one.

So I decided to figure this out sooner than later. I inquired about the best research organization software that was available.  Always being on the look for something new and better, I often asked colleagues what they were using. There are of course lots of research organization software or browser plug-ins out there but some may be costly and with a busy schedule, learning them can prove to be a task in itself.

So which program to choose? Endnote, Endnote Web, Zotero, Citeulike, Mendeley, RefWorks or some other software? Making a choice seemed like a great challenge and rightly so. Anyone in the same situation can be concerned about the choice of research organization software available. Once one is familiarized with the program, would a need arise to change to a different one? Would the program of choosing be compatible across different platforms (Mac & Win)? Which software is being used most commonly by most people at least in that university? Would there be at a disadvantage if the open-source program is used instead of something off the shelf? Too many questions and very little time.

In such a situation, a start can be made by specifying the needs. Ease of use and program user-friendliness is definitely on the list. Plus, something that is platform independent would be nice. In addition, If a computer crashes, you would not want to lose all your work. Therefore, a web-based software (or something that regularly backs up online) would be a good choice. The ability to take notes related to the articles, storing and linking the PDF’s,  creating citations and bibliographies, all greatly add to the overall positive experience. Most importantly, if it is free that would be an added advantage.

A simple search on Google directed me to this article which somewhat make the choice easier. Another useful link I stumbled upon is this. It shows a table highlighting bibliographic management tools that have been recommended by libraries of top 10 US universities.

I had heard many good things about Zotero and it was also free! So I gave it a try and started organizing my research better. Zotero did seem to be a good software that matched my wish list to a great extent. Plus, I am a great proponent of open source programs (especially for students), so this fit in well with that ideal too.

I like many others would highly recommend using a research organization software. It is worth the time and effort to organize references and take notes. Not only does it save time later on, it also makes researching much less demanding and fun.

“Find enough clever things to say, and you’re a Prime Minister; write them down and you’re a Shakespeare”. George Bernard Shaw

Many do not realize the benefits that ensue from effective student writing and yes even blogging. Especially in technology related programs, where one is acquainted with a myriad of online tools of expression, writing online takes a center stage. Some may already have blogs (learn more about blogs here) or personal websites. Others already write well as part of their educational career, however, a vast number of students do need help with writing effectively.

There are a range of benefits of writing and developing its habit is worth the effort. Not only can one express oneself more effectively but it is also beneficial when one wants to get across a point effectively.

Having taught undergraduate and graduate courses for a few years, I have always emphasized the need to embrace the online world and take maximum benefit of the different functionalities to self-represent, write, and actively engage in being part of the web revolution.

Realizing the importance of writing and most importantly academic writing for graduate students and others alike, I recently delivered a presentation on this topic.

The presentation was delivered at a session in MSU Simply Speaking Toastmasters club in October 2009. Although you would not be able to view the details that I presented verbally, the slides would give you a general idea of the message I tried to convey to the audience.

In particular, I emphasized the importance of academic writing. I view the practice of academic writing as an ideal way to express creativity. Everyone has certain talents and creative ideas that are better expressed rather than hidden in memory. Not only does a person express creativity but also achieve self-confidence and a synthesis of ideas that have the potential to lead to betterment of oneself and the society in general. Writing is an art, a great talent that comes with practice. The only and the best way to write well is through practice. I also encourage encourage educators in schools to encourage writing at an early stage. This positive habit can be instilled from a early age. But if you haven’t started writing and blogging about what you feel interested in, now is the time. Remember, its never too late!