The four Intranetizens like to read articles, books and blog posts on a variety of topics – it’s what makes a dull intranet manager interesting.

In this special edition of Interesting Elsewhere, and in celebration of the Paralympics, we have been reading up on all things related to accessibility. We also hope to cover this topic in more detail in the next few months.

Since 1995, Gartner has used the Hype Cycle Model to characterise the over-enthusiasm and subsequent disappointment that typically happens when new technologies are introduced. Every year, Gartner issue a Hype Cycle special report, showing how far along the cycle technologies have moved, helping CIOs to decide if technologies are worth investing in yet.

Their 2012 report, published recently, shows that over the past year big data, 3D printing, activity streams, Internet TV, Near Field Communication (NFC) payment, cloud computing and media tablets have moved quickly through the cycle, and are expected to reach the ‘plateau of productivity’ – the point where benefits are widely demonstrated and accepted – in just a few years.

The four Intranetizens like to read widely on all aspects of intranet management – design, UX, technology, content, strategy, LOLcats – it’s all relevant.

But mostly it’s just a tactic to avoid making eye contact with strangers on public transport while commuting to our day jobs.

We’re regularly asked for advice on choosing the right intranet platform – but given there’s only four of us, we haven’t got experience of the wide range of products out there. So we invited key intranet vendors to answer our questions, to give you a simple way to compare products and features.

Over the past week and half, we’ve had profiles from Thoughtfarmer, Interact, Jive, SmallWorlders, Intranet Connections, Noodle (Vialect) and Plone. Between them they support tens of thousands of intranets, and in turn a wide range of organisations and tasks. But what were the common themes?

The four Intranetizens like to read around on all aspects of intranet management.

Technology, strategy, design, content, UX, innovation – it’s all relevant to intranet practioners.

Here’s a round-up of our favourite reading from the past week. Tell us what’s inspired you this week using the comments below.