From angling to VB.net

The free tools that are available to the public over the Internet give people the ability to learn, create, and manage information with tools that offer more options and capabilities than ever before. Tools can be integrated with each other to and can be used to create sites where people can share view points, tips, and information related to anything they choose. Users also have the ability to collaborate with one another and manage content on sites created by companies or by an individual. I use the available tools all the time and have found that people tend to share ideas and tactics with one another in well though out and creative means. It is as if people find useful information online and so when they have something that they can share with the public, they spend time and effort creating a medium that is clear and informative. This is not always the case but often a user can find media that is concise and well prepared. 

Two main pursuits dominate my time; IT and fly fishing. Working in an IT setting and supporting end users creates a need for troubleshooting, collaboration with users and help desk staff, and access to data and software libraries. Many of the problems that end users at the AFD face, which in turn become my problems, require me to consult with others who have had similar problems in order to create a solution. In these situations, the Internet is my main resource. In fact, I only consult other resources about 5% of the time. Representing the majority, the Internet allows me to search for content that others have created in regards to the same or similar problems. Often pages can be found where professionals and others in the IT field discuss problems and solutions. A user can generally find extensive instructions on how to fix problems or how to best diagnose the cause of problems. 

There are many ways that an individual can share information and tactics with others. Individuals can post and respond to questions in a forum, post statements or responses in wikis, and create video or photos to post in a variety of ways to name a few. This variety allows users to find content in a number of forms and can refine searches to return content in the preferred genre. For example, when searching for information on configuring a domain controller and access points I would prefer a document with screen shots and text. When learning how to tie a certain pattern that would be effective for steel head, I prefer video. Because individuals learn differently, the ability to choose how the information will be presented increases the speed of learning and decreases losses in productivity relative to previous methods of gathering information. 

The Internet and the services that are offered within it have become an embedded resource that continues to be refined into an extremely powerful tool. The ability for users to create and manage content not only allows host companies to limit costs and increase profitability, but also cuts out the research and guess work involved in managing content that the public wants. For instance, a company that hosts a website about IT and solutions for problems within the discipline does not need to spend as much time and effort managing and updating content. Users come up with the problems that they encounter, post the problem, post discussions, and post solutions. And they create this content based on good ways to present the information. 

It is hard to imagine the world without the Internet at this point. Even if an individual were to blow the dust off of a card catalog and try to find information, that person would not be able to access even a small portion of the data available in digital form online. Transfer of information and best practices has never been faster or more efficient and the recipient of the benefits are the learner and the problem solver.