I am impressed of the power of social media. No for the technology itself, I confess. I am marveled of what human beings can do as soon as they have the access and the know how to use technology.

Today my personal use of social media is limited to these three areas:
1. Research (main topics within technology enhanced learning and games research)
2. Re-connecting with my past
3. Keep myself informed about some actual events

Maybe it sounds not much, those topics, but the amount of information is huge 🙂 But even with these few topics, I can be sure that a new culture is raising strongly, a culture sustain by e-habits independently of the physical location, we are connecting ideas and people.

What I like and attracts me of social media is: I have opportunity to listen individuals in more “personal” basis and with natural language. It is not the demagogic speech, or the news built up to sell. We are talking about real and natural people.

Just to share a bit of what I mean:

Feb. 2010: from Chile’s earthquake:

• f3rq RT @fieritacatalano: RT @briascoi: RT @aschek: Si estás en Chile y tienes WiFi, abre acceso para q otros puedan com. con sus seres queridos #terremotochile half a minute ago from Tweetie

//Translation: “If you are in Chile and you have WiFi, open its access so that others can communicate with their love ones”

• ovario RT @layoli2000: RT @MonikaMDQ: Hoy Twitter sirvió para algo útil. La cruz roja localizó familiares de las víctímas por medio del hastag #terremotochile less than 20 seconds ago from TweetDeck

// Translation: “Today Twitter was useful. The red cross was able to localized family of victims through the hastag…” //

• helua RT @lasseweb20: Qué interesante ver que la información en Twitter y Ustream es 10 veces mejor y actual que lo de CNN #terremotochile

//Translation: “How interesting to see that the information from Twitter and Ustream is 10 times better and actual versus CNN “//

Jan 2010: Foreigners after the earthquake in Haiti:

• RT @carelpedre It’s sad! It’s Been 4 days now and we’re begging for some water on twitter!about 7 hours ago from Twitterrific

• RT @jacquiecharles: 80% of dwntwn PAP gone. ” irony of life is all of the prisoners are out & judges are buried…,” said Michele Montas.

• RT @jacquiecharles: Just left a pregnant woman who’s baby is dead inside her after beam fell. Red cross says mom has 12hrs to live. #Haiti half a minute ago from TweetDeck

• RT @JimCarrey: watching Haitians singing in street, destroyed me. we never get as close to each other as do in these terrible moments #Haiti

• act7286 You know what pisses me off? Our government never does even half as much to help our own people as it’s doing now for #haiti half a minute ago from web

• Who is planning for the survivors? Victims need to start registering their name and lost. Coordination and leadership is cruciAl. 20 minutes ago from Echofon

• many emotions,anger grief, survivors guilt everywhere – why did I survive, why was my house the only one left standing about 21 hours ago from web

Jan 2010: Hatians raising their voice after earthquake in Haiti.

• RT @Haiti2015: 3 sisters – Michaelle, Judith, Roselle Angrand are trapped at : #43 Ruelle Sylvia Avenue Pouplard call: 3554-7314 RT please

• Why organizations feel the need to advertise themselves in this momen of crisis.Could everyone just serve without worrying about recognition

• Who is in charge in Haiti? Yes, it is important to know. Last I check, Haitians should be allowed free passage in their own country.

• @MissionMANNA seriously, some Haitian leadership with a Haitian long term plan. We need international assistance, not control.

• Now they want to focus attention on insecurity, while million are still homeless and suffering. What a shame. Haitians wake up please. about 22 hours ago from Echofon

• It is no time to lead with emotion. We need calm head to prevail, and sound plan to be implemented If not, all these efforts will be a waste 9:51 PM Jan 18th from web

• What is the difference between humanitarian relief and a military invasion? Urgency! How long did it take to invade Bagdad? about 22 hours ago from Echofon

• Ki altenatif “what’s the alternative?”We have to remain strong and build back up from the rubbles.The youth of Haiti are still its best hope

As my focus right now is to finalize my thesis I can’t put much time on this right now :(, unfortunately, but I will :). There is so much ideas and emotions, hopes and frustrations triggered by social media. there are lives and it just deserves my attention and a reflection, which I want to share.

To finalize a photo from the city of Conception, Chile by Astro_Soichi. He is a Japanese astronaut  in duty right now, and he has been sharing his photos on twitter. He is amazing!!!!

Photo source: twitpic Astro_Soichi