Future of Networking: Toss Your Business Cards

The Poken device is my latest obsession. After hearing about Poken at a recent media conference, I researched the device for this story and immediately knew I had to have one. And so did my P.I.C. 

The time saved in the networking process will be priceless—once New Yorkers catch on and Poken use becomes as wide-spread on the East Coast as it is in Japan and Europe (or so I hear).

Guess what I'll be giving out this holiday season, friends and colleagues!

Comments

[Vanessa]

Naomi,
Great post! I love your enthusiasm, and agree of course!
Best,
Vanessa

[Sarah]

Interesting. More efficient than sorting through business cards and typing up new contacts in an address book, but I think the real value of networking is talking to new people and this device could detract from the face-to-face interaction. In a way, it is a professional version of speed dating.

We Tweet, and we Poke, but do we actually speak?

[Naomi]

Good point, Sarah, but you still have to be face-to-face to Poken, and I think you still have to be compelled to connect with another person via networking before the decision to exchange information is made, so the device could actually work as an ice breaker and facilitate not only quick transfer of contact info, but a richer face-to-face experience.