If you have read my past articles, you know that I usually poke fun at my dad about his precious gadgets and geek factor. The truth is, he really understands and embraces technology. One area where this is evident is online through our website and extensive use of social networking sites.

It’s been a little over a year since we launched the Key 360 Rich Media program - I invite you to check it out at ArizonaKey.com and then click on Rich Media Spotlight. It is a sleek, web-based panel that allows you to learn more about our advertisers and cool Arizona locations via text, slideshows, virtual tours, audio tours, mapping, and high definition videos. Unlike many of the smaller images and videos you’ve seen online, these files are full screen. In addition to viewing on your computer, the audio, slideshows, and videos are available in various mobile device formats. This allows you to go to our website, download and sync files, and then play them on your iPhone, Treo, Blackberry, flip phone, iPod or Sony PSP.

It’s so easy to do that even my eight year old brother Jim has a library of Key customers on his Sony PSP. He could watch the Lowell Observatory video and the Out Of Africa slideshow over and over. As for me, I’m particularly fond of the E&J’s Designer Shoe Outlet and Avantí Italian Restaurant videos on my iPhone! There are over 30 panels online complete with Hi-Def videos. And many more are coming... more than a dozen new advertisers are in production.

In an attempt to keep my beloved father hip and happenin’, I have helped him set up accounts on YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook. I recently introduced him to Twitter and may have created a monster!

Do you Tweet? A “tweet” is a short posting on the wildly popular website Twitter. Simplicity has played an important role in Twitter's success. People are eager to connect with other people and Twitter makes that simple. Twitter asks one question, "What are you doing?" Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web. Dad posts interesting tidbits every day that residents and tourists find quite useful - some highlight neat events, others point out savings and coupons, while others highlight advertisers, videos and more.

Although I recommend you view them on our website in high definition, on YouTube we have videos of our rich media customers. Visit our page at youtube.com/arizonakey. We invite you to watch these videos and subscribe. On MySpace, I have posted all my teen articles and photos. Be sure to go to myspace.com/azkeyteens and add me as a friend. If you search under Arizona Key, you can find us on Facebook (facebook.com), where we have uploaded over 600 hundred photos. Give dad a high five or a chest bump on Facebook for me and hit him up - lol :) Lastly, visit twitter.com/arizonakey and follow us - tweet, tweet!

YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter... not bad for a dad. Now I just have to teach him the IM text messaging shortcuts! C U 8r!