Method 4
I signed up for six feeds, but will probably drop some or maybe all of them. Three of the feeds that I signed up for were
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/
http://labs.familysearch.org/blog/
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/o/opera/index.html?
The problem for me is that in signing up for these feeds, I am presented with an overwhelming number of articles that I can read, but don't have the time for. There is a guilt trip associated with seeing all the articles that have come to me, but which I cannot keep up with. I have enough problem feeling guilty about all the books and movies I am not getting to read or watch. Before I signed up for these feeds, I didn't know what I was missing, and wasn't missing it all that much. There were times when I went directly to a blog, to see if there was any earth shattering news, but that was as far as I went. Now all the earth shattering news, and alot that isn't, comes to me whether I want it to or not. Of course, I don't have to read everything, and I haven't. But there is more than enough that interests me, that I can spend quite a bit of work time (not that I would) and time outside of work, reading articles of interest just because they are there. I can see the importance of blogs and newsfeeds coming directy to you. If an organization uses blogs to impart important information to its employees, it would behoove the employees to sign up for automatic feeds of whatever important information the higher-ups wanted to impart. And definitely, if someone has a great interest in something for which there are good blogs or newsfeeds that cover that interest, it would be useful for that person to be able to receive information about it on a continuing basis, rather than having to go out to find the information. So I don't know if I will stay signed in to all the blogs and feeds I signed up for. At least now I know how to subscribe to different sites, if I feel the need to do so in the future.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Method 3
I have logged into Zoho using my gmail account. I will try this, and see if it is better than Google Docs, which I did not like too much, but don't remember why.
Lesson 3: Thoughts on Cloud Computing [written using Zoho Writer]
I am slowly grasping the concept of cloud computing. Much of what is done with a pc can be done by accessing different online programs and doing and completing work via those programs. Word Processing can be achieved with programs such as Google Docs, Zoho Writer, or some other like program. The documents don’t even need to be stored on the pc but can be stored on an offline server, housed who knows where in some part of the world. Personal E-mail, such as that stored in Yahoo mail, was probably among the first applications to be a part of the cloud computing concept. [Thoughts in this paragraph are incomplete. I should think them out more carefully and then rewrite them, but I probably won’t.]
One of the responses to Could You Live in the Clouds said, "If it's on my system, I'm responsible for it and keeping it private, safe and available. If it's on Google's or Microsoft's systems, who's responsible for it? Not that these companies would let my data out in the public, but who can be sure? What happens when the cloud begins costing? Are you willing to pay the price; and can you get your information off if you can't afford it?" These are good questions to be asking, although the answers probably won't become apparent for many years. Only as people, over time, make use of the processes that make up "cloud computing" will more of the problems and positive aspects come to light. Many years ago, I believe it was pre-web Internet, a man gave a talk on what the Internet at the time contained and how it could best be used. He stated in the talk that the information found on the Internet would always be free and available to everyone. As it turned out, that is not the case. But it took several years from the time he made that statement for individuals and entities to start charging for their web information. So who knows what Cloud Computing will look like in a few years. Paying for the right to store files, pictures, e-mail, documents, etc, and other features of Cloud Computing isn't necessarily a bad thing, if there are only a few negative downsides. But it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in a few years.
As for uses in libraries, I don't have enough of a grasp of it all and haven't used the resources enough yet to see the larger picture of how it would be used in libraries on a large scale. In our library, when someone comes in to use the computer for online access, one of the options besides Interent is access to Microsoft Word for those needing a word processor. Online usage is restricted to a limit of an hour per day, which is often not enough time for someone to complete what they are writing. Showing them how to access Google Docs or Zoho Writer would be very helpful for library patrons such as these.
I am trying Zoho Sheet spreadsheet program to keep track of a schedule of events I want to attend. What I am doing is pretty basic, and so far no problems.
Lesson 3: Thoughts on Cloud Computing [written using Zoho Writer]
I am slowly grasping the concept of cloud computing. Much of what is done with a pc can be done by accessing different online programs and doing and completing work via those programs. Word Processing can be achieved with programs such as Google Docs, Zoho Writer, or some other like program. The documents don’t even need to be stored on the pc but can be stored on an offline server, housed who knows where in some part of the world. Personal E-mail, such as that stored in Yahoo mail, was probably among the first applications to be a part of the cloud computing concept. [Thoughts in this paragraph are incomplete. I should think them out more carefully and then rewrite them, but I probably won’t.]
One of the responses to Could You Live in the Clouds said, "If it's on my system, I'm responsible for it and keeping it private, safe and available. If it's on Google's or Microsoft's systems, who's responsible for it? Not that these companies would let my data out in the public, but who can be sure? What happens when the cloud begins costing? Are you willing to pay the price; and can you get your information off if you can't afford it?" These are good questions to be asking, although the answers probably won't become apparent for many years. Only as people, over time, make use of the processes that make up "cloud computing" will more of the problems and positive aspects come to light. Many years ago, I believe it was pre-web Internet, a man gave a talk on what the Internet at the time contained and how it could best be used. He stated in the talk that the information found on the Internet would always be free and available to everyone. As it turned out, that is not the case. But it took several years from the time he made that statement for individuals and entities to start charging for their web information. So who knows what Cloud Computing will look like in a few years. Paying for the right to store files, pictures, e-mail, documents, etc, and other features of Cloud Computing isn't necessarily a bad thing, if there are only a few negative downsides. But it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in a few years.
As for uses in libraries, I don't have enough of a grasp of it all and haven't used the resources enough yet to see the larger picture of how it would be used in libraries on a large scale. In our library, when someone comes in to use the computer for online access, one of the options besides Interent is access to Microsoft Word for those needing a word processor. Online usage is restricted to a limit of an hour per day, which is often not enough time for someone to complete what they are writing. Showing them how to access Google Docs or Zoho Writer would be very helpful for library patrons such as these.
I am trying Zoho Sheet spreadsheet program to keep track of a schedule of events I want to attend. What I am doing is pretty basic, and so far no problems.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Methods 1 and 2
12 Ways to 2 Step
Lesson 1:
Web 2.0 is not a standard. It will have a profound effect on our lives, personally, socially, and for libraries.
After just reading the first few pages of the article by Stephen Abram, I feel overwhelmed by the new Web 2.0 technologies that are out there, but which I haven’t used. And I am not someone who is afraid of technology. This online learning process (12 Ways to 2 Step) will I’m sure be useful in helping me become somewhat more familiar with some of the aspects of Web 2.0.
It is hard for me to understand how, as Abram says, “plain intranets and plain HTML Web sites are fast becoming old stuff, so last century”, when these are still processes I use on a daily basis, both personally and at work. When I am asked to understand the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, my brain fogs up.
Stephen Abram video: You learn by doing. Starting a blog will help you understand blogs, starting a Facebook page will help to understand Facebook, etc. Using an RSS aggregator will help you understand it better.
Beth Evans article on The Consumer as Producer was not convincing. As she pointed out, there is a big difference between a museum asking the public to submit content, and a library asking the public to do the same or become involved in some other aspect of the library’s daily workings. Her examples of how libraries can ask the public to submit content to the library did not seem pursuasive.
Professor Wesch’s YouTube video on the Machine is Us/ing Us was interesting. I watched it twice, pausing it several times the second time around to try to grasp what he was talking about. In addition, the video on Professor Wesch Explaining “the Machine is Us/ing Us” also was interesting and helpful.
Lesson 1:
Web 2.0 is not a standard. It will have a profound effect on our lives, personally, socially, and for libraries.
After just reading the first few pages of the article by Stephen Abram, I feel overwhelmed by the new Web 2.0 technologies that are out there, but which I haven’t used. And I am not someone who is afraid of technology. This online learning process (12 Ways to 2 Step) will I’m sure be useful in helping me become somewhat more familiar with some of the aspects of Web 2.0.
It is hard for me to understand how, as Abram says, “plain intranets and plain HTML Web sites are fast becoming old stuff, so last century”, when these are still processes I use on a daily basis, both personally and at work. When I am asked to understand the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, my brain fogs up.
Stephen Abram video: You learn by doing. Starting a blog will help you understand blogs, starting a Facebook page will help to understand Facebook, etc. Using an RSS aggregator will help you understand it better.
Beth Evans article on The Consumer as Producer was not convincing. As she pointed out, there is a big difference between a museum asking the public to submit content, and a library asking the public to do the same or become involved in some other aspect of the library’s daily workings. Her examples of how libraries can ask the public to submit content to the library did not seem pursuasive.
Professor Wesch’s YouTube video on the Machine is Us/ing Us was interesting. I watched it twice, pausing it several times the second time around to try to grasp what he was talking about. In addition, the video on Professor Wesch Explaining “the Machine is Us/ing Us” also was interesting and helpful.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Test Post: Met in HD
The 2009-2010 Met in HD season will start October 10 with the live performance of Tosca being transmitted to movie theaters around the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)