One Widget or Two?

From its earliest days, the Internet was touted as the "information superhighway." No matter what you wanted information about, you could find it on the Web. The only problem was that you had to routinely go out and search for the information; it rarely just came to you.

Advancements in technology have produced an unlikely information superhero: the widget. Once used only as an example in college business courses, the widget has been transformed into a portable piece of code that can go anywhere. When the widget code is placed on a social network site, blog or Web site, it updates continually for an at-a-glance view of information and services.

Here's an example: The NBA has developed widgets that allow basketball enthusiasts to follow all the 2008 NBA Playoff action, get current up-to-date scores, player details and even highlight videos. Instead of visiting the NBA site each time a fan wants this type of information, the widget automatically delivers and updates the content as soon as it becomes available.

Yahoo! too, is in the widget business. The company's widget gallery offers more than 4,000 widgets that work on both Windows and Mac OS. It also has a strong developer community site that provides tools and script libraries to assist widget developers. The result is a simple but effective method for spreading information in a targeted approach almost anywhere in the world.

Although it might seem as if the widget approach is keeping people away from a Web site, widgets actually allow media sites to target specific information to audiences and keep it in front of them at all times. The development of Web "spaces" (think Microsoft Live Spaces) means that people are creating their own little worlds on the Web and, just like the homebody who enjoys the comfort of his own home, aren't leaving them very often. What better way to keep your message in front of that person than with targeted information that displays every time they open their eyes?

Web 2.0 skills such as knowledge of PHP and Javascript developer languages are in high demand for IT pros looking for work in the media industry. The ability to work with Flash technology, too, is key when working with widgets — many of them use graphics, video and animation.

Whatever your media focus, check out widgets. They are fast becoming one of the quickest, easiest ways to share content across the Internet.

Looking for the perfect job for your Web 2.0 skills? Contact Caroline Cepero, Director of Media Staffing at The Connors Group, at 201-537-0029 or by email at caroline@theconnorsgroup.com.