NLab

The Conference Site Has Moved

2008-01-14T13:41:00.000Z

The website for NLab Social Networks Conference has now been moved. Please follow along with current developments at www.nlabnetworks.com.

Thanks.

NLab Social Networks Conference 19/20 June 2008

2008-01-10T11:43:00.000Z

NLab Social Networks Conference
Explore the benefits of social networks for your business
http://www.nlabnetworks.com/
Thursday 19th & Friday 20th June 2008
De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

Registration opens soon with free places for local businesses

What is a social network and how can it generate wealth for your business?
How can social networks increase creativity and why is that important?
How will social networks affect the future of your company?
What can you do right now to benefit your business?

Speakers include

The NLab Social Networks Conference is organised by NLab at De Montfort University, Leicester. NLab was developed in the Faculty of Humanities by Professor Sue Thomas to connect creative businesses with writers and generate pioneering partnerships.

In 2006 NLab ran a series of professional workshops and seminars on blogs, wikis, games and new media writing.

In 2007 NLab was proud to present the first-ever European conference for and about women who read and write blogs.

In 2008 NLab is exploring the power of social networks in business.

Don't want to wait for the June conference? Then come join business people, academics, teachers, public sector workers and managers at CreativeCoffee Club where you can network, exchange ideas and discuss how to foster creativity and innovation. We meet on Wednesdays alternating between London and Leicester. For more information see the CreativeCoffee Club site and Facebook profile.

Funded by HEIF3
NLab was created with funding to De Montfort University from HEIF3, a partnership between HEFCE, the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Funds are awarded to support universities and colleges in their third stream engagement with business and community partners, increasing their capability to respond to the needs of business, public services and the wider community, and to transfer knowledge.

NLab aims to build relationships in:
- Cooperation in Business
- Academia and Business
- Customer and B2B relationship improvements
- Ethics and communications

And to support innovation in:
- Creative communications for innovation
- Blogging for Business
- Opportunities of Web 2.0 and the Long Tail

NLab is affiliated to the Online MA in Creative Writing and New Media and the Production and Research in Transliteracy group at De Montfort University.

Facebook and Generating Wealth for Business

2007-11-27T02:50:00.000Z

This evening Vijay Singh Riyait (of iQUBED), Toby Moores of Sleepydog and Shani Lee (NLab co-ordinator) will be sharing with us tips on using Facebook in business.

From the Facebook event blurb:
"Come along to this introductory event to learn how to use Facebook, a social networking website. Local business people will talk about the benefits they've gained from using social networking, and we'll take you through the process of getting yourself set up. Bring your laptop and register with Facebook on the night!"

Plan:
6:00pm - Registration, Refreshments (yum), networking
6:30pm - Welcome from Prof. Sue Thomas
6:40pm - Toby Moores from Sleepydog
6:55pm - Vijay Ryait from iQubed
7:10pm - Setting up on Facebook with Shani Lee
7:40pm - Questions and Answer session
8:00pm - Close

Sue began with a little introduction to the background of NLab as a way of building links to generate new ideas and business.

Toby is going to talk about what this means in practise.

Sleepydog is in the "content" business.
Even though some things on social networks might not seem to be useful, the fact that they are part of communication makes it interesting.
Facebook is better than linkedin, myspace etc...because it's conversational.

"what is really interesting is the news feed."

The news feed is a little way of getting a glimpse of everybody's day.

It also gives you insight into people. For example Toby didn't know Prof. Bob John liked basketball but now knows thanks to info on Facebook.

Facebook keeps the conversations going,

"it glues us a little closer together."

Trying to understand how people are conversing, how conversations are happening, and what software supports conversations.

Think of the trajectory of an idea...from the conversational end it is so easy for the idea to get lost but if there's a piece missing (video for example) the idea may die, but if someone in the network knows then they might be able to help.

As a business, how might software support the creative process at the conversational end.

For an example, check out the Bob Dylan application on Facebook:

(read techcrunch's post on the app. here)

***

Vijay - how do we bring small businesses into the IOCT and the university environment.

As a small business you really struggle to raise your profile and traditional marketing and pr might not be so well suited. However, with Facebook Vijay has been able to really raise his profile so his business has benefitted in those terms.

Toby asks Vijay - what's the difference between blogging and Facebook?

Vijay - finds more conversations related to his network occur on blogging because of the searchability but that is changing now with Facebook.

Vijay wonders how many people know that Microsoft has bought a stake in Facebook and what is interesting is that they are linking their CRM software to Facebook.

On Facebook people can sign up to your company and companies can make pages for products so that people can sign up to be a fan for each product.

But are certain things more suited to Facebook rather than others? (music was the example Toby gave).

Shani - what's quite interesting about the new business pages, you can sign up to be a fan but you can decide not to have updates. With the groups we don't have that option.

Workshop session - everyone on Facebook!!

Free Help for Business to Generate Wealth Via Facebook

2007-11-20T11:48:00.000Z

De Montfort University is offering free help for companies to boost business by joining the online social network Facebook.

Facebook for Business is an evening event being run to help SMEs generate wealth by social networking at the University's Institute of Creative Technologies on Monday 26 November.

Starting at 6pm, with admission free of charge, Facebook for Business is a two hour workshop open to all, and will include practical demonstrations, getting registered, and talks from local business people.

Book your place by contacting shani.lee@narrativelab.org or 0777 176 0900.

Shani Lee, NLab Coordinator, said: "Businesses that network generate more wealth and at this event local business people will talk about the benefits they've gained from using social networking, and we'll take you through the process of getting yourself set up. Bring your laptop and register with Facebook on the night! Open to newcomers and people not already on Facebook, so please feel free to come along and invite others."

Companies who have joined the Creative Coffee Club in Leicester include NEXT, Sleepydog, iQUBED, Rock Kitchen Harris, Deft Studios, Precision Recruitment, Helen Roscoe Photography, Streetvibe Youth Services, Michael John Design, the LCB Depot, Leicester Council of Faiths and Timberplay Ltd.

CreativeCoffee Club and NLab

2007-11-19T11:46:00.000Z

Leading up to June's conference, NLab and the CreativeCoffee Club are offering weekly meetups and networking events. We aim to provide a place for business people, academics, teachers, public sector workers and managers to network, exchange ideas and discuss how to foster creativity and innovation in the workplace.

Every Wednesday there will be a meeting, alternating between London and Leicester. The CreativeCoffee Club website will also play host to further information on meetings, discussions and ideas.

For a little more about the thinking behind the project read the CreativeCoffee Club Manifesto.

About NLab

2007-11-04T11:15:00.000Z

The NLab Network connects small creative businesses working with new media to generate pioneering partnerships. Network members come together to find out what makes them different from each other, what connects them, and how they can forge new collaborations.

NLab is managed by Professor Sue Thomas working with Research Assistant Jess Laccetti.

NLab was created in 2005 with funding to De Montfort University from HEIF. HEIF is a partnership between the Department of Trade and Industry/Office of Science and Technology (DTI/OST), HEFCE, and the department for Education and Skills (DfES). Funds are awarded to support universities and colleges in their third stream engagement with business and community partners, increasing their capability to respond to the needs of business, public services and the wider community, and to transfer knowledge.

NLab is affiliated to the Online MA in Creative Writing & New Media