Well, Web 2.0 is over, and likely so are the updates to this blog. It's been swell.
Gotta say I like LibraryThing and am pleased with how easy Wikipedia is to edit.
Also, for me (and really, who else counts?), RSS feeds and Tweeting are wastes of time.
Gotta dash now. Facebook is waiting for me. Cheers!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Web 2.0 - Week Eleven - further thoughts
I really have to say that requiring me to restrict the number of characters I use in a Twitter update to only 144 is a serious pain in the a
Web 2.0 - Week Eleven
Today's reflection, all about Twits and Twittering: Armed with a bit of knowledge about what Twitter is all about, share your thoughts on this fast growing online phenomenon.
Okay, we've gone from totally cool (LibraryThing) to total waste of time and bytes. Yeah, I know I'm probably in the minority, but I really don't care what got caught between Ashton Kutcher's teeth this morning. The searching aspect may be neat, but given that you get 99.99% hits that are of no consequence, who the aich-ee-double-hockey-sticks cares?
As for updates as to people I do care about, well, Facebook does a much nicer job of this.
Armed with a bit of knowledge about what Twitter is all about, share your thoughts on this fast growing online phenomenon.
All the power and my blessings to those who enjoy it. It ain't my cup of tea. Having explored it today more than I ever have in the past, my opinion ain't changin'.
Okay, we've gone from totally cool (LibraryThing) to total waste of time and bytes. Yeah, I know I'm probably in the minority, but I really don't care what got caught between Ashton Kutcher's teeth this morning. The searching aspect may be neat, but given that you get 99.99% hits that are of no consequence, who the aich-ee-double-hockey-sticks cares?
As for updates as to people I do care about, well, Facebook does a much nicer job of this.
Armed with a bit of knowledge about what Twitter is all about, share your thoughts on this fast growing online phenomenon.
All the power and my blessings to those who enjoy it. It ain't my cup of tea. Having explored it today more than I ever have in the past, my opinion ain't changin'.
Web 2.0 - Week Ten
Week Ten already? It feels like I just posted for weeks eight and nine, and I'm sure the next couple will just fly by! :)
So the topic we're concerning ourselves with today is: LibraryThing!
Now... this is something I really knew nothing about. I had heard about it but beyond knowing it existed, really didn't know much else.
Question: Do you see any practical applications for LibraryThing either at home or at work? Will you start using this site?
I have decided I love it! Yes, I will definitely be using it. I've been looking for a quick, convenient way to catalogue my books at home, and this totally fits the bill! Very simple, easy to use and convenient for my home use. I don't see any immediate applications for work (Symphony still has it beat)... but you never know. :)
It's something I'm gonna be recommending far and wide. Thanks for letting me know about this!
PS... Welcome Kari! Thanks for helping to lead the charge!
So the topic we're concerning ourselves with today is: LibraryThing!
Now... this is something I really knew nothing about. I had heard about it but beyond knowing it existed, really didn't know much else.
Question: Do you see any practical applications for LibraryThing either at home or at work? Will you start using this site?
I have decided I love it! Yes, I will definitely be using it. I've been looking for a quick, convenient way to catalogue my books at home, and this totally fits the bill! Very simple, easy to use and convenient for my home use. I don't see any immediate applications for work (Symphony still has it beat)... but you never know. :)
It's something I'm gonna be recommending far and wide. Thanks for letting me know about this!
PS... Welcome Kari! Thanks for helping to lead the charge!
Web 2.0 - Week Nine
Online Productivity Tools....
This time, I'll focus on Google once again, because I'm an avid user of Google Calendar and have used Google Docs.
This week's reflection: Do you see yourself using these tools or will you stick to more traditional methods. If you were to use one of these tools regularly, which would it be and why?
Google Calendar has replaced my daytimer. The reason I've totally embraced it is because I live and die by my Blackberry, and it will automatically sync up with Google Calendar. GC is easier to use and update at work or on my home laptop, but on the go I will update my life on the Blackberry, and am confident that GC is automatically up to date.
Google Docs I tend to use less, as I have the Microsoft Office products available to me. That said, it has been useful for its centralized storage abilities, particularly when more people than I alone are working on a document.
This time, I'll focus on Google once again, because I'm an avid user of Google Calendar and have used Google Docs.
This week's reflection: Do you see yourself using these tools or will you stick to more traditional methods. If you were to use one of these tools regularly, which would it be and why?
Google Calendar has replaced my daytimer. The reason I've totally embraced it is because I live and die by my Blackberry, and it will automatically sync up with Google Calendar. GC is easier to use and update at work or on my home laptop, but on the go I will update my life on the Blackberry, and am confident that GC is automatically up to date.
Google Docs I tend to use less, as I have the Microsoft Office products available to me. That said, it has been useful for its centralized storage abilities, particularly when more people than I alone are working on a document.
Web 2.0 - Week Eight
Flickr and YouTube... This week's reflection:
Comment on the quality, entertainment value, or usefulness of the content on these sites.
I'm not a huge user of Flickr - I have never been one for posting my own photos (except every now and then on Facebook) and not one for scrolling through others'. That said, I have found it helpful to hunt for images for various purposes. It is an amazing archive, but one I tend to go to only after checking out Google images.
YouTube is another matter altogether. :) I'm an avid user of YouTube both for entertainment and research/information purposes. Some of the recent things I've been up to on YouTube - practicing my Spanish listening skills by watching episodes of the Mexican versions of the TV shows "Wipeout" ("Resbalon") and "The Amazing Race en Discovery Channel"). Also checking out old favourites like the literal version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
Comment on the quality, entertainment value, or usefulness of the content on these sites.
I'm not a huge user of Flickr - I have never been one for posting my own photos (except every now and then on Facebook) and not one for scrolling through others'. That said, I have found it helpful to hunt for images for various purposes. It is an amazing archive, but one I tend to go to only after checking out Google images.
YouTube is another matter altogether. :) I'm an avid user of YouTube both for entertainment and research/information purposes. Some of the recent things I've been up to on YouTube - practicing my Spanish listening skills by watching episodes of the Mexican versions of the TV shows "Wipeout" ("Resbalon") and "The Amazing Race en Discovery Channel"). Also checking out old favourites like the literal version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
Friday, April 30, 2010
Web 2.0 - Week Seven
RSS feeds - what a waste of time. :)
Not a huge fan of blogs at the best of times, sadly. There's only one that I follow regularly (not counting the CPL Web 2.0 blog and this one) - and thus consolidating them into one site does nothing for me. I'd much rather read them in the form that God and the blogger intended them to be read.
That said, it's good to know more about RSS and what it can do - it's a valuable service for bloggees more active than myself. And our job is all about sharing knowledge, isn't it?
Questions of the Week:
Were you able to successfully set up your RSS feed? -- Yup. Easy peasy.
If not, where did you run into problems? -- No problems.
If you were successful, does this make information-gathering more convenient for you? -- Nope. See above.
Not a huge fan of blogs at the best of times, sadly. There's only one that I follow regularly (not counting the CPL Web 2.0 blog and this one) - and thus consolidating them into one site does nothing for me. I'd much rather read them in the form that God and the blogger intended them to be read.
That said, it's good to know more about RSS and what it can do - it's a valuable service for bloggees more active than myself. And our job is all about sharing knowledge, isn't it?
Questions of the Week:
Were you able to successfully set up your RSS feed? -- Yup. Easy peasy.
If not, where did you run into problems? -- No problems.
If you were successful, does this make information-gathering more convenient for you? -- Nope. See above.
Web 2.0 - Week Six
Google Week!
Okay, so I'm fairly familiar with Google, but it's always nice to see how dynamic the services they offer are and how they're continuously updating existing services and offering new ones.
I'll talk quickly about how they've done each of the above.
One thing of which I was unaware until a colleague pointed it out was that they've incorporated "street view" (with which I 'm familiar from Google Earth) into Google Maps. Nice to be able to take a virtual walk down almost any street.
One other service that was new to me until a month or two ago was "Sketchup" - an architectural type program that allows for the design and layout of homes and buildings. It works very well for set design for theatre projects - giving an all angles view of sets and stage area.
What's to like about Google products? The ease and accessibility primarily. I don't use gmail, but I might eventually have to succumb....
What do I dislike? Not a heck of a lot. :) - except for a niggling concern that "big brother is watching me...." And yes, I'd recommend Google products to friends and colleagues. The price is right.
Okay, so I'm fairly familiar with Google, but it's always nice to see how dynamic the services they offer are and how they're continuously updating existing services and offering new ones.
I'll talk quickly about how they've done each of the above.
One thing of which I was unaware until a colleague pointed it out was that they've incorporated "street view" (with which I 'm familiar from Google Earth) into Google Maps. Nice to be able to take a virtual walk down almost any street.
One other service that was new to me until a month or two ago was "Sketchup" - an architectural type program that allows for the design and layout of homes and buildings. It works very well for set design for theatre projects - giving an all angles view of sets and stage area.
What's to like about Google products? The ease and accessibility primarily. I don't use gmail, but I might eventually have to succumb....
What do I dislike? Not a heck of a lot. :) - except for a niggling concern that "big brother is watching me...." And yes, I'd recommend Google products to friends and colleagues. The price is right.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Web 2.0 - Week Five
Facebook week. I coulda slept through this one.
I'm an avid Facebook user and have been a fan of the Calgary Public Library's Facebook pages since forever.
This week's reflection question: For you, is Facebook useful or a time-waster?
Definitely useful. Helps me keep up with people I wouldn't have the chance to to so with otherwise. Also very helpful from a promotional perspective. With theatre productions, no better way to get the word out. Also, easily allows me to email people whose email addresses I don't have on hand.
And it's a great time-waster. :p
I'm an avid Facebook user and have been a fan of the Calgary Public Library's Facebook pages since forever.
This week's reflection question: For you, is Facebook useful or a time-waster?
Definitely useful. Helps me keep up with people I wouldn't have the chance to to so with otherwise. Also very helpful from a promotional perspective. With theatre productions, no better way to get the word out. Also, easily allows me to email people whose email addresses I don't have on hand.
And it's a great time-waster. :p
Web 2.0 - Week Four
Wikipedia Week in Web 2.0land
Question of the week: How easy or difficult was it to find articles that needed editing? Were the errors you found factual or grammar/spelling?
It was actually kinda tough finding an article that needed editing. Wikipedia has some good information. That said, I chose an article that I could add to, rather than simply correcting. I did correct a punctuation error and rephrased an awkward sentence. More exciting was adding a few more paragraphs to the article and adding a citation. I've never done this before and it was surprisingly easy.
Question of the week: How easy or difficult was it to find articles that needed editing? Were the errors you found factual or grammar/spelling?
It was actually kinda tough finding an article that needed editing. Wikipedia has some good information. That said, I chose an article that I could add to, rather than simply correcting. I did correct a punctuation error and rephrased an awkward sentence. More exciting was adding a few more paragraphs to the article and adding a citation. I've never done this before and it was surprisingly easy.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Web 2.0 - Week Three
In response to this week's reflection question: "How comfortable are you using Best Websites, after this practice? Do you have any tips for using Best Websites on Delicious?"
So ... Delicious really isn't all that delicious, for the most part. Despite its cumbersome nature and impossibility to maintain, I do feel somewhat nostalgic for the old CPL Best Websites. Ah, well - progress is a cruel mistress at times.
Anyhow, as long as one can follow the direct links on Delicious, all is pretty well. I've used it very successfully to provide, for example, Citizenship information for new Canadians.
However, I have concerns with the opportunity to search, particularly if you do not realize the lack of authority that is involved when you do search. As a general rule, sadly, I'd rather search with Google.
So ... Delicious really isn't all that delicious, for the most part. Despite its cumbersome nature and impossibility to maintain, I do feel somewhat nostalgic for the old CPL Best Websites. Ah, well - progress is a cruel mistress at times.
Anyhow, as long as one can follow the direct links on Delicious, all is pretty well. I've used it very successfully to provide, for example, Citizenship information for new Canadians.
However, I have concerns with the opportunity to search, particularly if you do not realize the lack of authority that is involved when you do search. As a general rule, sadly, I'd rather search with Google.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Web 2.0 - Week Two
Which aspect of Web 2.0 are you the most intrigued (or scared) by?
None of it particularly scares me. I look forward to the section on updating Wikipedia, though. That could be a fun process I've never gone through before.
PS - Check out my favourite blog at www.newsfromme.com!
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