Social Media

A social networking framework provides a means for people with common interests, or people who are concerned with the interests and activities of other users, to share ideas and content. Social networks have created a powerful new way to communicate. They are mostly web-based services that provide a platform through which to interact using e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, discussion boards and sharing user-generated videos and images.

Mindgrub recently partnered with social networking provider KickApps, which is quickly becoming the go-to consulting firm by implementing their framework for new clients and projects.

Download and listen to Todd Marks give a case study on implementing social media into the Voice of America's website from the Harnessing the Power of Social Media in Government and Interest summit sponsored by Clickability and KickApps, held December 11, 2008 in Washington, DC.

Voice of America (VOA) is the official broadcasting service of the United States federal government. They broadcast in over 50 languages via satellite, FM, AM and through the Internet in streaming and downloadable formats. VOA envisioned a central online location to offer information and establish a social community about the U.S. presidential election process, specifically targeting an international audience. Through a partnership with Spencer & Marks, Mindgrub became the lead technical development firm offering a full life-cycle approach from wireframes, to building out the HTML/CSS, and integrating the KickApps social networking framework.

In a joint partnership with the University of Maryland, Mindgrub recently launched the beta version of a new portal called EdInfo, which focuses on a community of collaborators on eLearning models and new online education formats. EdInfo focuses on providing leadership direction for teachers branching out into the contemporary classroom so that they can enhance the eLearning teaching and learning experience for teachers and students alike by using the Internet to facilitate the production and absorption of knowledge.