Already Looking Towards Next Season Many of you know I am a wannabe computer geek (Do you think the four monitors on my desk gave it away?). So it was very exciting for me to be recently invited by Bob Considine, proprietor of PaddlePro, to preview his Web 2.0 enabled site that is expected to debut over the summer. At first, I admit, I looked at the sample web pages and said, “What did you do? Everything looks the same as it has for the last seven years.” Then as I studied the monitor I realized the subtle, but technically challenging, changes that had been made. After criticizing PaddlePro earlier this season for never giving itself a makeover (My Serve, PTN Volume 6 Issue 1), I am happy to say that the site is evolving through the use of technology. PaddlePro started the move towards Web 2.0 technology earlier this season when the site’s platform tennis court database was integrated into Google Maps, showing satellite views and giving directions. Going forward interactivity will be the name of the game. All the sample pages I viewed had a new “leave a comment” capability. Again much like the “big boys,” CNN, MSNBC, and Fox, readers can comment on articles and stories. Even the Proshop will allow users to post product ratings and feedback much like what users of Amazon.com have come to expect. Worried about profanity, I was assured that comments throughout the site will be fully moderated just like the major news organizations and large consumer retail sites. In addition, all the sample pages added “share” capability. Viewers can pass along information to their Facebook, My Space, and Twitter accounts. While I am not proficient with these new fangled communications venues, my children and the young professionals in my office live in these web environments. Soon too will platform. These are not all of the under-the-hood changes that are upcoming. While not everyone in the platform community will make use of these second generation web tools, PaddlePro is certainly staying ahead of the technology curve.
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