Saturday, October 18, 2008
Week 13: Conclusion
23. Give feedback about the program
The 23 Things program is one of the most rewarding and educational experiences I've had this year at work.
Of course I loved doing the "fun" things most of all, but some of them were also the most challenging! (Read "Flickr!).
I think I learned a lot by working my way through the program at my own pace, but I did have to get personal help from the fantastic EIS team members, including Phung, a couple of times along the way. Thanks a lot guys!
"Google Groups" was a very effective way of alerting everyone to updates or extra notes too.
There was more reading to be done than I first thought, so I usually made time on Friday afternoons when things were a bit quiet in the office to tackle the reading and the tasks.
The 23 Things program is a "must" for everyone who owns a computer! A bold statement, but I think it's a valid one.
We're very lucky at VU to have had the benefit of Jenny Cameron's Facebook notes available to us. Pity the millions of Facebook users out there who know nothing about "privacy settings"!
The 23 Things program is one of the most rewarding and educational experiences I've had this year at work.
Of course I loved doing the "fun" things most of all, but some of them were also the most challenging! (Read "Flickr!).
I think I learned a lot by working my way through the program at my own pace, but I did have to get personal help from the fantastic EIS team members, including Phung, a couple of times along the way. Thanks a lot guys!
"Google Groups" was a very effective way of alerting everyone to updates or extra notes too.
There was more reading to be done than I first thought, so I usually made time on Friday afternoons when things were a bit quiet in the office to tackle the reading and the tasks.
The 23 Things program is a "must" for everyone who owns a computer! A bold statement, but I think it's a valid one.
We're very lucky at VU to have had the benefit of Jenny Cameron's Facebook notes available to us. Pity the millions of Facebook users out there who know nothing about "privacy settings"!
How could you draw on what you have learned in 23 Things to help you in your work?
Dood's answer : I think my working life could definitely benefit from employing some of the 23 Things elements. I see that Delicious could be an effective way of keeping up with fields of interest.
Google Reader offers great possibilites via RSS feeds to capture new stuff. What a pity I don't have 30 horus in a day to read everything that's fed to me! I guess it's all about filtering things out, then ditching the crap, or better still.....unsubscribing!
How could the library use the technologies featured in 23 Things to improve its service?
Dood's answer : I think RSS feeds are a real boon. If they aren't being used already for heaps of things, then I'm sure someone could look into this. For example, I know that Lesley is investigating whether it is possible to set up a RSS feed for Janetta for items being received on the VU Author blanket order.
How do you think the 23 Things program could be improved in the future?
Dood's answer : The "here's how" notes (for adding gadgets etc.) were very good, but I think it would be good in the future, to spell out some basic functions for novice bloggers.
For example, I think it would be beneficial to those staring out in the blogosphere to know some basic things like how to edit a blog and how to delete things from a blog.
I found out how to edit by playing around, but at the very start of the program, it was a bit daunting to have a newly cerated blog and not know how to "fix" mistakes.
Oh! another thing, a suggestion to people about "keeping your newly created passwords and logins written down somewhere" would be a good one! I went nuts creating new password and logins for each new "Thing".
Here's a possible solution...... "KeePass" an open source password control manager program.
Do you think you'll keep blogging or keep using any of the other tools you learned about?
Dood's answer : Definitely! I'm not sure I'll have a need for Google Talk since email works perfectly fine for me, but I'll definitley use RSS feeds and look at what I can do with Library Thing and Delicious in the future.
I might even check out "POPTUB" a new video service from Google. It's sort of an "Entertainment Tonight" for the YouTube set.
http://www.youtube.com/user/POPTUB
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Week 12: Communication
Have read the VOIP and Instant messaging Wikipedia articles, but didn't understand all the jargon in the VOIP article.
I'm sure VOIP and IM would offer fantastic communication possibilities for library and other staff within the same organization, or staff in other libraries, or for example staff at a library supplier office. Of course it works best if all "players" are in a similar time zone, espcially if they want to do the "live chat" (either typing or talking), or "web cam" things.
There are other issues to consider of course. Privacy, compatible technology, call etiquette (would we all expect an instant answer because someone was on-line?) etc.
I'd love the communication between staff in or outside organizations to go beyond the "chat" and utilize "web cams", but even I was willing and each user had a web cam and a mic, would someone want to see me?
The Meebo and Skype videos from YouTube were interesting.
The guys from "Elastic Illusion" gave a very funky overview of how to create a Skype account and how to star chating or talking using Skype. It seems pretty easy.
"Rich" told me all about Meebo, despite his self chatter through out the 4.33 minute show. Meebo looks pretty interesting, but would I want to sign in to all of my IM provider at once? Let me think about that!
I haven't had any experience with Meebo, but see a bit about it on the Meebo site. http://www.meebo.com/
Meebo is a new communications and media company that's re-writing the way people have conversations and communicate on the Web. We provide instant messaging and group chat to over 35 million people at meebo.com and via partner sites across the Web. At meebo.com, millions of people every month keep in touch with friends on an any IM network (AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk and Gmail, ICQ and Jabber) and chat with people in Meebo Rooms. Meebo also enables live communication integrated into any website with Meebo Rooms, Meebo Community IM (coming soon!), and Meebo Me. Meebo is the Web's live communication platform - instant messaging from absolutely anywhere, no downloads or installs required, and free.
Have installed Google Talk on my iGoogle page using the "Add stuff" button, and I've added the widget to my blog.
With a bit of fuss and bother, have managed to add Monica to my call list and we've had a chat on Google Talk! It was very easy to add the "talk" thing to the iGoogle page.
My friends in Zaandam ( Netherlands) have been on and on at me to download Skype so we can chat though! I've resisted so far because I'm happy with Windows Live Messenger, and the thought of another login and password to remember is sort of doing my head in!
I like WLM though, and it's very easy to use, even my dad can manage to chat to me! He's in Bendigo, and we chat quite often, and best of all it's free, there are no long distance phone call charges. My dad likes the chat feature because he's a slow typist, and he "talks" quicker than he can type!
Things can get a bit "hairy" when there's a lot of traffic on the line, because he's on a pre-paid dial up bigpond account and I've got broadband, so we just go back to "typing" when the things go bad. I guess that's what's called "jitter"!
My nieces and I usually chat with the web cam on, it's a lot of fun, but I hate it when they "swallow the camera"..... Yuk!
I do like the "off line" feature offered by WLM, it gives me a chance to send a message to someone if they're off line.
I usually make myself appear "off line" unless I want to talk to someone. Sometimes I just can't be bothered!
I have a Gmail account at home, so I chat to a friend in Brisbane every now and then, but there's no option of a web cam which is a pity. Maybe in a new release?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Week 11: Podcasts
21. Find and listen to a Podcast or two
Have listened to a podcast from the BBC's "Culture shock" series, broadcast on 12/10/08. Added
the podcast series from the BBC Global Arts and Entertainment to my to Google Reader.
Listened to ABC radio National "Breakfast" individual stories and added a feed to Google Reader, and to my home pc. Was easy to click on to one of the broadcasts and listen to it. Showed length in minutes and seconds which was great.
Listened to it at work and had to load "Real Player 11" first! Oh well..... will come in handy for other podcasts in the future!
What I liked about the pod was that the BBC displayed how long the broadcast was (Duration: 26 mins 29 secs) so I had an idea how long I'd be listening for.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w0bttwlt
Podcast was interesing and featured a new start up company in Canada called "Fonolo" which helps people by simplifying automated answering systems.
http://fonolo.com/
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/story.html?id=22fdf57b-440d-45fe-99f7-49cfc2d12459
The other part of the pod was about "ReCAPTCHA" a program that uses the "wasted time" people people spend when figuring out those little authentication boxes that usually come as part of a new account set up on the web. Often these are a jumble of letters and numbers.
ReCAPTCHA time is harnessed for digitizing old books, eg. like the Google project.
Definition of CAPTCHA below.
“Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart” (those little picturegrams that are added to logins to).
http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/08/14/recapturing-public-domain-texts-with-recaptcha/
Listened to a National Geographic Traveller Magazine's "Walks of a Lifetime" series about Sydney. Had a choice of about 25 cities.
Had no indication of how long the program was but bar showed me "% loaded". A time would have been better, as per the BBC podcast.
Got terribly carried away in the National Geographic site by making my own animal movie (video mashup). Saved it somewhere, but not sure where! Can't share it at the moment!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/walks.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/filmmaker.html
Have listened to a podcast from the BBC's "Culture shock" series, broadcast on 12/10/08. Added
the podcast series from the BBC Global Arts and Entertainment to my to Google Reader.
Listened to ABC radio National "Breakfast" individual stories and added a feed to Google Reader, and to my home pc. Was easy to click on to one of the broadcasts and listen to it. Showed length in minutes and seconds which was great.
Listened to it at work and had to load "Real Player 11" first! Oh well..... will come in handy for other podcasts in the future!
What I liked about the pod was that the BBC displayed how long the broadcast was (Duration: 26 mins 29 secs) so I had an idea how long I'd be listening for.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w0bttwlt
Podcast was interesing and featured a new start up company in Canada called "Fonolo" which helps people by simplifying automated answering systems.
http://fonolo.com/
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/story.html?id=22fdf57b-440d-45fe-99f7-49cfc2d12459
The other part of the pod was about "ReCAPTCHA" a program that uses the "wasted time" people people spend when figuring out those little authentication boxes that usually come as part of a new account set up on the web. Often these are a jumble of letters and numbers.
ReCAPTCHA time is harnessed for digitizing old books, eg. like the Google project.
Definition of CAPTCHA below.
“Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart” (those little picturegrams that are added to logins to).
http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/08/14/recapturing-public-domain-texts-with-recaptcha/
Listened to a National Geographic Traveller Magazine's "Walks of a Lifetime" series about Sydney. Had a choice of about 25 cities.
Had no indication of how long the program was but bar showed me "% loaded". A time would have been better, as per the BBC podcast.
Got terribly carried away in the National Geographic site by making my own animal movie (video mashup). Saved it somewhere, but not sure where! Can't share it at the moment!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/walks.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/filmmaker.html
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Week 10: Wikis and video sharing
20. Watch YouTube videos people have made about libraries
Here's an interesting video from YouTube about RFID. It's around 2.5 minutes long and gives a very simple overview of how RFID works in the University of Oklahoma. It was filmed in 2007.
It's not perfect, and some of the images a bit "fuzzy", but it gives a quick and simple overview of the RFID principle, how it relates to single items, and how easy it is for clients to check out items.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yEES8k8I2z0
I just love YouTube. It's so addictive though! I usually just watch it for fun at home, but I have to watch my monthly MB allocation credits because I'm only on a 400 MB per month plan. Too much YouTubing is not good in one go!
I use it to check out the latest video clips of songs, mainly because I want to see if the "CD" is worth buying. Often there are film clips of all songs on a CD. I guess I like the concept of a "picture paints a thousand words", so give me something to watch any day over straight text!
Here's an interesting video from YouTube about RFID. It's around 2.5 minutes long and gives a very simple overview of how RFID works in the University of Oklahoma. It was filmed in 2007.
It's not perfect, and some of the images a bit "fuzzy", but it gives a quick and simple overview of the RFID principle, how it relates to single items, and how easy it is for clients to check out items.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yEES8k8I2z0
I just love YouTube. It's so addictive though! I usually just watch it for fun at home, but I have to watch my monthly MB allocation credits because I'm only on a 400 MB per month plan. Too much YouTubing is not good in one go!
I use it to check out the latest video clips of songs, mainly because I want to see if the "CD" is worth buying. Often there are film clips of all songs on a CD. I guess I like the concept of a "picture paints a thousand words", so give me something to watch any day over straight text!
Week 10: Wikis and video sharing
19. Put a photo of your pet on the wiki
Was working from home so didn't have MS photo manager, had to make do with a photo from Google. Logged into the VU Wiki and found the pets page and managed to add my photo that I saved to the desktop. Had a look at the properties of the photo first to check, and size was reasonable compared to others already posted. The first attempt to take something from "My Pictures" failed because the photo was huge (1.33 mb!). Might have a play with MS photo manager at work.
I like the "collaborative" concept of wikis, but I guess I need to reassess my concept of "control". Basicaslly, I'll have to give in and "go with the flow" because there is no control!
Was working from home so didn't have MS photo manager, had to make do with a photo from Google. Logged into the VU Wiki and found the pets page and managed to add my photo that I saved to the desktop. Had a look at the properties of the photo first to check, and size was reasonable compared to others already posted. The first attempt to take something from "My Pictures" failed because the photo was huge (1.33 mb!). Might have a play with MS photo manager at work.
I like the "collaborative" concept of wikis, but I guess I need to reassess my concept of "control". Basicaslly, I'll have to give in and "go with the flow" because there is no control!
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