|
|
||
|
|
Finding a Foothold in the Digital Frontier: A Book Review | |
By: Sam Grothe
July 1998
The Digital Frontier: Job & Opportunity Finder,
1st Edition
Don Altman
$19.95 paperback
ISBN 0-9639161-1-4
Moon Lake Media
Futurists, pundits and guidance counselors everywhere are rushing to define the emerging industries and job trends in our new digital revolution.
In fact, Don Altman, a two-time Emmy Award winning TV and documentary writer, multimedia producer, and co-creator of an on-line interactive comic strip believes we are already in the second wave of the digital revolution: "Now that these digital tools exist, the next wave demands people who can apply them to virtually every aspect of business and personal life."
Altman's new book, "The Digital Frontier: Job and Opportunity Finder," wants us to know what the future holds for tomorrow's jobs, today -- jobs for "cyber cops," electronic publishers, videoconferencing, virtual reality photographers and virtual set designers.
Anyone can see the progress of our digital prowess, since it's measured by anything possessing a computer chip, the book says.
Today's graphic artist, for instance, at corporations like Microsoft or American Online now has the dubious distinction of being called a "multimedia designer." Yesterday's executives are now being called "managers of technical evangelism" or "vice president of cool."
The "digital frontier" is boundless and still needs a lot of exploring, but if you want to be a pioneer in search of new territories and opportunities you've got to have the right skills and foresight to make it, Altman says.
Altman paints a broad overview of emerging opportunities and the skills need for those jobs in the first section of the book, interspersed with fascinating statistics and predictions.
For example, by the year 2,000 there are anticipated to be 550 million Internet users alone, which begs the questions: What will be the hottest emerging world markets? (All bets are on the Asian markets of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Indonesia.) What digital-related job sectors are expected to grow, and by what percent? (Hint: Count on technicians, health diagnosing and treating, computer and mathematical scientists, and, yes, even writers, artists and entertainers.)
Those are just a few of the kinds of questions Altman's book answers with credible sources. But, what seems most impressive about Altman's envisioned "digital frontier" is its vast open prairies, where any brave settler has the chance of becoming a successful infopreneur.
If you are the kind of person who is intimidated by the thought of the coming merging of multimedia and interactive workplaces, don't lose heart. Altman believes there is no one single way of retooling for the future. He provides some excellent case studies of how people have made it work for them and created jobs for others.
"The Digital Frontier" provides some in-depth industry snapshots and job descriptions for new opportunities in areas like advertising and marketing, creative services, online and communication services.
Learn what "multimedia mapping" is all about, or what an "interactive writer" does. How does being a "game tester" sound as a new occupation. (It's now a crucial job for software and development companies.) Aspiring lawyers might want to read the job description of an "electronic rights specialist," or if your into searching the most arcane stuff on the net "cyber researching" might be right up your alley.
The Networking Resource Guide (Section II of Altman's book) is a handy reference listing 300 key contacts for online job searches, job placement, associations, publications, and job training.
"This book is designed for students, entrepreneurs, home-based workers, and even seasoned workforce veterans who want to take advantage of the new trends and opportunities rapidly reshaping our world," says Altman.
A vital companion to Altman's book is his Digital Jobs Report web site (http://www.originalvision.com), which gives some average salary ranges for emerging jobs and updates not in the book.
"The Digital Frontier" is a down to Earth roadmap for anyone interested in new job trends.
© Reprinted with permission by the Boulder County Business Report, all rights reserved.
|