[Note from the Editor: Although this article was originally written on Nov. 24th, 2008 by Alex Trusca, our new contributing author, I thought it had a strong relevance with today's global happenings. I can't help but think of how Iranians have used something as simple as Twitter, a seemingly superficial microblogging service, to effectively disseminate information that was critical to this recent Iranian uprising.

This article is reprinted here from The Social Verdict.]

The high-speed transfer of information in today’s world is a determining factor for technological improvements, business undertakings, and day-to-day communications. Many a time, this rapid yet necessary transfer of information can have broad consequences ranging from making or breaking business deals to the saving of lives in the farthest corners of the world. The “knowledge is power” truism is more relevant than ever in today’s cohesive social structure as more and more people are starved for varying sorts of information. People realize its substantial potential and appreciate the advantages of knowing as opposed to the downsides of being left in the dark.

One of the most important skills taught today is teaching people where to find key information. Most higher learning institutions have turned their focus towards turning out students with this important transferable skill as we have reached the stage where there is too much information to be taught during a degree. With increasing specialization across all fields, the depth and quantity of information has increased dramatically within the last few decades ensuring that the most important skill graduates require is the ability to know where to look, rather than know without looking. Of course, value is still placed on knowing facts and basics of all professions but with the amount of opinion and research in all fields, it is now more important to be able to know where to find what you need and find it quickly. It is this skill that has become a defining job requirement and the difference maker in the careers of many professionals.

That is why it is essential for one to know where the information needed is potentially located. However, to do that one will need to be aware of the many sources of information out there. Also, a basic understanding of global events and how information is processed is essential. Conventional (i.e.: books, encyclopaedias, journals, etc) and alternative (i.e.: search engines, wikis, social networks, etc) sources of information and knowledge are becoming increasingly diversified and specialised to meet ever-changing needs. An adept ability to effectively search both mediums requires much practice and practical ability. Such ability is garnered through constant updates about world events, which helps build a fundamental underpinning of key concepts in our world. This foundation of understanding, which includes knowledge about politics, economics, and social issues, is vital to the effective application of any information.

Information, while great on its own, is even more powerful when applied to real-world situations and adapted in such ways to provide solutions to problems. That is the most common application of all information; it is analyzed and digested so it can be used as part of solutions to potential or actual problems. It is this application that produces real-time results in today’s world. The use of information and knowledge from the simplest to the most complex problems has produced the solutions to many of yesterday’s problems and this reoccurring trend is what produces the highly yearned technological advancement our world craves. A great example of this is the stock market. Information, and lots of it, is always relayed quickly and people who act on this fastest and efficiently end up with the biggest wins. Just like the stock market, it is the management of information that is a defining factor in how significant it can be. Hence, it is evident that progress in today’s world is based on the application of information and the quicker it can be found, processed and effectively applied, the faster new technology, studies, and results appear.

Now, it is amply clear how critical a role information plays in today’s world. That is why we need to learn skills that help us find information as well as know the best ways to apply it. In order to do that, we need to constantly be updated about world events as well as have a fundamental understanding of factors that influence those events. Elementary knowledge about politics, economics, technology, and a variety of social issues is essential in ensuring that innovating applications for new and vast amounts of information is found. Not everyone needs to be an expert in all fields and always up-to-date about all happenings in the world. That is not what I preach or suggest is a practical way towards living a fulfilled life. However, I do suggest it is imperative that some information about world events as well as basic knowledge about social issues, the two stepping stones towards developing the skills required to be successful in the 21st century, are vital to developing social awareness.

[© The Social Verdict, 2008. Reprinted with permission from The Social Verdict and by permission of its author.]