Anyone reading this has, unknowingly, missed out on perhaps the most enlightening blog post ever on web 2.0 and the implications for business and society in general. A real wow! moment gone because I lost my WiFi connection as I clicked 'post'.

Actually it is a shame. I tried to capture some of the really interesting stuff that has gone on at this Web 2.0 : Social Tools for Business conference in London while enthused about the whole thing and this post will, however hard I try, not be the same.

It was a small event, and all the better for it. Led superbly by David Gurteen the conference was as much about what the delegates were able to contribute to the days proceedings, in addition to the very high quality speakers that we were treated to. For me IBM's Ian McNairn was a highlight. It was exhilarating to learn how Big Blue have gone about quietly deploying these Web 2.0 type tools in their business - blogs, wiki, RSS, tagging, social bookmarks and the like - and the effect it has had on the workforce. Fascinating, really.

The presentations ranged from how the BBC have employed this technology through to examples of wikis in Law firms and how blogs are becoming central to traditional media firms like The Guardian; An overview of Web 2.0 applications and search technolgies from Phil Bradly and I must mention the hugely entertaining introduction to Virtual Worlds, mostly Second Life, from IBM's MetaVerse Evangelist – what a job title!

Through all of this what did strike me, though I'm not sure this view was shared by many others, was that almost every example [Second Life excluded perhaps], every presentation described how these tools had, in effect, improved, widened and deepened the informal learning resources of those using them. As striking was that no-one thought what they were doing [contributing to a blog or a wiki, finding out who could help them resolve an issue via a Social Network amongst many other activities] was learning at all, however informally or formally.

Many of the arguments used to support a deployment of these technologies bottomed out at their ability to somehow reduce costs and improve efficiencies and that if you don't do this then you're missing out in some undefined way.

I think there's a missed opportunity here.

In my view if you were to install these technologies and support them in the business I'm sure you'd see some improvements in staff productivity, efficiency and perhaps reduce cost associated with data/knowledge duplication for example. What about when everyone has them - like having a website/on-line store in the '90's it was very cutting edge. Now everyone has one and the edge that having the on-line presence has been negated to a large degree surely?

How about looking at the benefits to business in a different light? What if we started to recognise that by participating in the conversations that these tools support then work becomes learning and learning becomes work? As a result the business becomes more innovative, agile and better able to serve it customers. Ian McNairn did a brilliant job of showing us how Big Blue are doing just that. Isn't that a longer term competitive advantage worth aiming for?

Perhaps. Anyway, another very important function of the conference was to remind us all I think that any deployment of these tools needs to take into account the culture and philosophy of the organisation. These tools are social in nature and for strong, centrally controlled organisations, and weak managers this development will not be welcomed or supported. The tools do give a voice to those who previously did not have a voice. This is an important point and underlines the fact that this Web 2.0 thing is not for everyone - yet.

Shouldn't forget to mention that I paid a visit to Skip and Carol at Middlesex' NCWBL too. I'm really looking forward to developing some good projects here - and I think they are too.

Talking of Middlesex - well not really, but the work we're doing with Middlesex gave me something to talk about when I returned to the conference late in the afternoon. I had the pleasure of talking with Serhiy, Senior lecturer (Law and business) at Kingston University. We talked about the Web 2.0 tools and learning/academia and of course I mentioned InTouch. I think (I hope) it had his interest. Serhiy, if you're there and you need some help setting up your students please get in touch.

In summary, a stimulating and enjoyable couple of days. Thanks again to David and UNICOM for their hard work.