As a kid, I can remember dreading the summer of election year when I knew my parents and grandparents would be glued to the television. It seemed to me that it went on for a month. All I could think about was… “When are those people going to stop talking?”

It’s not just for televisions and newspapers anymore. Never before have Americans been so easily connected to the goings on at the Democratic and Republican conventions or the campaigns in general.  The Republicans are calling it a “convention without walls.” The Democrats will have a comparable arrangement this week for their convention in Charlotte.

In fact, both parties have released smartphone apps that give voters a direct connection to the conventions and campaigns: http://my.democrats.org/page/content/iphone2010/ and http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/rnc-launches-mobile-convention-app/

The 2012 presidential campaign has put a whole new face on the conventions through social media elements that allow anyone to get involved, anytime, with up to the minute happenings and lots of ways to make your voice heard.

Dedicated social media teams have replaced the outsourced web vendors that handled all the facets of Internet connections in 2008.  The extraordinary shift in social media over the past four years has opened up a whole new world…with new strategies for reaching all Americans. Most importantly, it’s made it much more fun to watch what’s happening.

Both parties can control their messaging and communicate their key issues directly. Gone are the days of relying on the networks to get their position out.

Having a conversation with the American voters is an effective way to reach them and get their feedback. Americans are now really involved in what’s happening with this election. We no longer have to rely on the television.  And for that, my grandkids thank you.