In the early 90s, when I was doing some postgraduate training in dermatology at the University of Wales, I “discovered” the possibility of using a CD to consult the Index Medicus. What an innovation compared to the tedious task of searching those big volumes with tiny writing at the medical library! Since then, new technologies have expanded to such an extent that we could never have imagined!

Retrieving information on any topic can comfortably be performed from your desk through your computer. Internet is the big window which allows us to consult Medline, Google Academic, Ebsco or a specific journal such as Allergy. But, as Chrysanthi Skevaki was pointing out in the previous editorial, other tools such as e-learning have also emerged, EAACI being one of the pioneers.

But the new media have reached even further, and social networks are meeting medical science. Although some physicians are still skeptical, many others are embracing these “instant” information sources. Some healthcare professional exclusive networks are developing, but also ordinary platforms such as Facebook or Twitter are being used by societies and individuals to communicate.

How fast and how far does the content of a scientific meeting reach? Some decades ago it would have been confined to the minds of the attendees to that meeting. In the best scenario, proceedings might have been available later in some journal. Ten years ago, participants could have blogged their discussions and experiences. Now we can even twitter! Early this year, during a symposium about education issues in USA, participants were encouraged to post comments about the discussion through Twitter, and the feeds were projected on the screen. Outsiders started to follow the thread, and in the end, many good ideas were recorded. Search #hackedu in Twitter, and you will find that new tweets are still appearing! User-generated content is, and will be, an everyday way of communication. Real-time conversation, instant links and groups of followers are characteristics that will be present in platforms generating from now on, in order to customize our communication channels.

So now, with all these facts in mind, EAACI will have to face how to manage all this tools. We don’t want to overload you with information, but we would like to provide you with the best! Therefore, in the next months, we will start renewing our communication platforms, starting with an updated website. Also, EAACI has started a Facebook page, although its scope needs to be further defined. But surprises will follow, and we expect to further improve interaction among our members! Web 2.0 will deliver the best EAACI 2.0!