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Nope. I'm not dying. (At least not any faster than everyone else as far as I know.) But these are my last thoughts about the 23 Things lessons.
Overall, I enjoyed the lesson series. I'm definitely glad for the structure and motivation provided by this series. I've wanted to try my hand at blogging and learn about Delicious and RSS feeds and wikis for a while now. But it all seemed too overwhelming. These lessons have provided the push I needed. I'm grateful.
I'll be keeping up with several RSS feeds, and I'll probably continue with my blog. I like the opportunity to 'speak' my mind. (I'll see how long that lasts when I know that I no longer have anyone reading it! *grin*) I think I enjoyed GoodReads and YouTube the most. Those lessons were pure fun! The RSS feeds and the Flickr lessons will probably prove the most useful in my professional life.
There are several things I still don't see the appeal of though, like Rollyo or even the online image generators. (Maybe it's because I'm more of a verbal person. I got a kick out of some of the *text* generators I found. *g*)
Wikis are not for me. *makes face* It's not just that they're unstructured, it's mainly that I've spent many, many years in customer service and I've seen how often people destroy things just for the sake of destruction. Plus, I found the wikis I tried to use clunky and unresponsive.
I hope they run another 'discovery exercise' along similar lines. I would *definitely* like to participate. I think I learned a lot, and I enjoyed most of the effort.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Flickr mashups - #6
Well, I tried BeFunky.com that offers to change your photos into artwork. It was astonishingly easy to use, even when I pulled the photos from Flickr. (Intrestingly, I only saw the images I had marked as 'public' in Flickr. So apparently BeFunky didn't have access to my photos which I marked as 'private'.) When I tried to save the resulting image to my computer I failed. My computer couldn't open the resulting saved image. :-( Oddly enough, the image did come through when I attempted to 'share' the image by emailing it to myself.
I looked at Graphita's website, but all I found was a graphic. *shrug* As far as I can tell there's nothing more.
Here's my experiment with ImageChef that allows you to frame your photos. I got a kick out of this site. I'll have to remember this site for future playtime.
I looked at Graphita's website, but all I found was a graphic. *shrug* As far as I can tell there's nothing more.
Here's my experiment with ImageChef that allows you to frame your photos. I got a kick out of this site. I'll have to remember this site for future playtime.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Email I had to share
I got this email from a coworker, and I loved it so much I had to share.
Dear World:
We, the United States of America , your top quality supplier of the ideals of liberty and democracy, would like to apologize for our 2001-2008 interruption in service. The technical fault (known as the "Dabush" virus) that led to this eight-year service outage has been located, and the software responsible was replaced November 4. Early tests of the newly installed program indicate that we are now operating correctly, and we expect it to be fully functional today,January 20. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the outage. We look forward to resuming full service and hope to improve in years to come. We thank you for your patience and understanding,
Sincerely,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Dear World:
We, the United States of America , your top quality supplier of the ideals of liberty and democracy, would like to apologize for our 2001-2008 interruption in service. The technical fault (known as the "Dabush" virus) that led to this eight-year service outage has been located, and the software responsible was replaced November 4. Early tests of the newly installed program indicate that we are now operating correctly, and we expect it to be fully functional today,January 20. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the outage. We look forward to resuming full service and hope to improve in years to come. We thank you for your patience and understanding,
Sincerely,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Mobile Technology - #7
I think almost any prediction I might make about the way mobile technologies like cell phones, wireless Internet, laptops and such will change the way people seek information will look very obvious or very stupid in a very short amount of time.
Cell phones have been touted as a great way to help connect with others. And while some undoubtedly have found that to be true, I'd like to take a moment to complain about one of the effects I've noticed most often. The death of courtesy. People drive down the road determined not to let the traffic interfere with their phone conversation. People in line at the coffee shop get annoyed that the person behind the counter wants them to interrupt their phone conversation to order. Grr.
As far as information seeking goes. . . While I have in fact used my cell phone to call the library in order to ask a question, I think those who own something with an Internet connection of some kind are more likely to seek the information themselves. Let me give you an example. Recently I was visiting with several family members including my parents and an aunt and uncle. We were debating our route home and our time of departure. My father expressed concern about the traffic (since we'd have to travel directly through the *very* large city my aunt and uncle live in) and my uncle promptly whipped out his Blackberry and started checking the local traffic reports. Now, his computer was maybe fifteen away, the TV less than that, but he went straight for his Blackberry. That situation was hardly uncommon. I've been in restaurants with him when someone asks a question and he'll whip out his little device and try to answer the question.
I think the growing prevalence of mobile devices will encourage the growing trend of people seeking the information they wish themselves rather than relying on traditional sources (like libraries). To a certain extent I applaud the idea, but I think most people aren't as information-savvy as they think.
Cell phones have been touted as a great way to help connect with others. And while some undoubtedly have found that to be true, I'd like to take a moment to complain about one of the effects I've noticed most often. The death of courtesy. People drive down the road determined not to let the traffic interfere with their phone conversation. People in line at the coffee shop get annoyed that the person behind the counter wants them to interrupt their phone conversation to order. Grr.
As far as information seeking goes. . . While I have in fact used my cell phone to call the library in order to ask a question, I think those who own something with an Internet connection of some kind are more likely to seek the information themselves. Let me give you an example. Recently I was visiting with several family members including my parents and an aunt and uncle. We were debating our route home and our time of departure. My father expressed concern about the traffic (since we'd have to travel directly through the *very* large city my aunt and uncle live in) and my uncle promptly whipped out his Blackberry and started checking the local traffic reports. Now, his computer was maybe fifteen away, the TV less than that, but he went straight for his Blackberry. That situation was hardly uncommon. I've been in restaurants with him when someone asks a question and he'll whip out his little device and try to answer the question.
I think the growing prevalence of mobile devices will encourage the growing trend of people seeking the information they wish themselves rather than relying on traditional sources (like libraries). To a certain extent I applaud the idea, but I think most people aren't as information-savvy as they think.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Flickr - #5
From my first trip to the Pacific Northwest. I went with some family during the summer. It was a fun trip. Seattle's public transportation system really impressed me. Their library, not so much.
This photo is blogged from Flickr's tool. The Singing Fountain below is embedded in my blog.
Flickr has got some amazing abilities, but it's not very user-friendly. I *really* like the ability to set the privacy options for each photo. Adding tags is probably the easiest function on Flickr. Other than the sometimes confusing link names, the biggest drawback is very predictable. The site can be very slow to load new pages. Considering that manipulation of graphics is the point of the website, this lack of speed is to be expected. I'll *definitely* be using Flickr more now that I've got an account.
This was fun and soothing at the same time. The water patterns changed in time with the music. Considering it was in the mid 90s the water felt pretty nice.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Web 2.0 Awards -- Citysearch - #19
Citysearch won 3rd place in the Web 2.0 awards under "Guide & Reviews". I love the idea of Citysearch, but I'm not overly thrilled with the actual product.
Overall it seems a little clunky. The site is graphics-heavy which results in slow loading. And all of the sponsored results and advertisements are intrusive and can be confusing. (If you're not paying close attention, you can easily confuse the sponsored advertisements with your search results.)
I also lament the inability to search for specific areas of the city. No matter how great a place may be, if it's a twenty-five minute drive from where I live or work I'm not interested in making it my bakery/café/deli/etc.
Of course my favorite aspect are the individual reviews. The editorial reviews, when available, are an excellent complement. The site makes adding a review rather easy, with a combination of multiple choice questions and freehand comments from the reviewer.
*looks up at review* Goodness. I sound like I hate the site. Well, despite the usability drawbacks, I think I'll be using Citysearch regularly from now on. I really, *really* like the local aspects.
Overall it seems a little clunky. The site is graphics-heavy which results in slow loading. And all of the sponsored results and advertisements are intrusive and can be confusing. (If you're not paying close attention, you can easily confuse the sponsored advertisements with your search results.)
I also lament the inability to search for specific areas of the city. No matter how great a place may be, if it's a twenty-five minute drive from where I live or work I'm not interested in making it my bakery/café/deli/etc.
Of course my favorite aspect are the individual reviews. The editorial reviews, when available, are an excellent complement. The site makes adding a review rather easy, with a combination of multiple choice questions and freehand comments from the reviewer.
*looks up at review* Goodness. I sound like I hate the site. Well, despite the usability drawbacks, I think I'll be using Citysearch regularly from now on. I really, *really* like the local aspects.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Downloadable media - #22
I'm not really a big fan of audiobooks except for longish trips. Even then since my car isn't set up to connect to an MP3 player I'm limited to audiobooks on CD.
After doing some searches it appears that Overdrive has the better collection as far as my personal tastes go. Although Overdrive's music section disappointed me. Except for the classical section I'd never heard of any of the songs or artists.
I'd say Overdrive also has the better user interface. I had to download the Overdrive Media Console (which was easy), but then it required me to update my Windows Media Player for "security reasons". (My first thought? How did Bush manage to seduce my computer?) Still, it walked me through the whole thing pretty well. Although, considering the size of the files, I'd never want to try this with a dial-up connection. Even with a DSL connection, it took quite some time.
I can see the appeal for people who like listening to audiobooks and use a device, like an MP3 player or even their computer. My biggest 'complaint' is that having two providers makes things rather complicated and discouraging for the casual user.
After doing some searches it appears that Overdrive has the better collection as far as my personal tastes go. Although Overdrive's music section disappointed me. Except for the classical section I'd never heard of any of the songs or artists.
I'd say Overdrive also has the better user interface. I had to download the Overdrive Media Console (which was easy), but then it required me to update my Windows Media Player for "security reasons". (My first thought? How did Bush manage to seduce my computer?) Still, it walked me through the whole thing pretty well. Although, considering the size of the files, I'd never want to try this with a dial-up connection. Even with a DSL connection, it took quite some time.
I can see the appeal for people who like listening to audiobooks and use a device, like an MP3 player or even their computer. My biggest 'complaint' is that having two providers makes things rather complicated and discouraging for the casual user.
Podcasting - #21
Podcasts = Verbal Blog
I like the podcasts from NPR. The flexibility in listening to only the shows I wish to listen to when I have time to listen is fantastic. The biggest drawback from my pov is that my car isn't set up for portable music players. Which means I can really only listen on my computer.
While I can see some uses (and fun) for individuals I'm afraid I don't see much application within libraries. While I did find some book review podcasts and other literature-related podcasts, I'd much prefer to read my reviews. (They could be useful for schools or universities. The teacher could create podcasts for supplemental lectures. Or students could create podcasts to supplement their papers.)
I like the podcasts from NPR. The flexibility in listening to only the shows I wish to listen to when I have time to listen is fantastic. The biggest drawback from my pov is that my car isn't set up for portable music players. Which means I can really only listen on my computer.
While I can see some uses (and fun) for individuals I'm afraid I don't see much application within libraries. While I did find some book review podcasts and other literature-related podcasts, I'd much prefer to read my reviews. (They could be useful for schools or universities. The teacher could create podcasts for supplemental lectures. Or students could create podcasts to supplement their papers.)
Friday, January 16, 2009
YouTube - #20
I love this song. It avoids all the political debates and speaks directly to the hearts of those whose loved ones are serving somewhere far away. Like my sister. . .
YouTube is one of the more enjoyable applications we've explored. I've used it many times, mostly for music videos. It's also useful any time you need a visual demonstration of something. (Which, of course, is the use 23 Things has put it to.) And videos could be made of training sessions which would allow staff who couldn't make the original presentation to participate at a later date.
Wiki - #16 & #17
I've already looked at some of the online aps, like Google Docs. I'm thinking a wiki would be useful in a lot of the same situations. (Mostly for group collaborations.)
I think a wiki would be more useful for library staff as they assemble the thing they're creating for library patrons. (For example, while they are in the process of creating a subject guide or writing a grant proposal. I'd think once the group has 'finished' their document they probably wouldn't want patrons to come along and re-write it. *shrug* I guess it would depend on what they were creating, but. . . )
After using both I think I like Google Docs better. You have more control over the content and who can change the content. (And I'm a bit of a control freak.) But mostly I dislike the appearance of wikis. (I find them ugly and somewhat dysfunctional. Or maybe it's just the one I was trying to use. *shrug*)
At any rate I added my library's name and my blog's name to the plcmclearning wiki sandbox. Sort of an 'I was here' mark.
I think a wiki would be more useful for library staff as they assemble the thing they're creating for library patrons. (For example, while they are in the process of creating a subject guide or writing a grant proposal. I'd think once the group has 'finished' their document they probably wouldn't want patrons to come along and re-write it. *shrug* I guess it would depend on what they were creating, but. . . )
After using both I think I like Google Docs better. You have more control over the content and who can change the content. (And I'm a bit of a control freak.) But mostly I dislike the appearance of wikis. (I find them ugly and somewhat dysfunctional. Or maybe it's just the one I was trying to use. *shrug*)
At any rate I added my library's name and my blog's name to the plcmclearning wiki sandbox. Sort of an 'I was here' mark.
Del.icio.us - #13
I really like the portability aspect of Delicious' setup. I work with multiple computers at work and I use a lot of different websites. So the ability to bookmark a web page once and have it apply everywhere could be very convenient. And I can see where the sharing could be helpful.
On the other hand, when it comes to my personal interests I'm not as wild about sharing everything. Although I *did* notice the user has the option to 'not share'. (Which kinda defeats a big chunk of the purpose, but I like the option.) And the import feature made it really easy to copy my bookmarked favorites from my computer to Delicious.
As far as using other people's tags. . . .The sheer number is more than a little overwhelming.
I'm not sure if I'll start using it regularly. It's got possibilities so we'll see. . .
On the other hand, when it comes to my personal interests I'm not as wild about sharing everything. Although I *did* notice the user has the option to 'not share'. (Which kinda defeats a big chunk of the purpose, but I like the option.) And the import feature made it really easy to copy my bookmarked favorites from my computer to Delicious.
As far as using other people's tags. . . .The sheer number is more than a little overwhelming.
I'm not sure if I'll start using it regularly. It's got possibilities so we'll see. . .
Google Docs - #18
*looks down* Well, as you can see I've got the basic idea down, but my execution could use a little work. *snicker* Apparently Google Docs automatically creates the document on standard letter size paper, and when I publish the document to my blog (with the main post area considerably smaller) the results are less than optimal. Oops.
I can see where online apps would be very helpful to small or informal organizations. A large organization or company (like the place I work for) will undoubtedly offer desktop applications to their employees. But for a small organization, like a church, or an informal group like the local writing group, Google Docs has tremendous potential. (Even a large company could find it useful for small temporary work groups. Individuals could work on the documents from Google Docs instead of swapping the documents around and hoping that everyone's working from the same version.)
I can definitely see myself using Google Docs specifically in the future for some group projects. I like this lesson's application.
I can see where online apps would be very helpful to small or informal organizations. A large organization or company (like the place I work for) will undoubtedly offer desktop applications to their employees. But for a small organization, like a church, or an informal group like the local writing group, Google Docs has tremendous potential. (Even a large company could find it useful for small temporary work groups. Individuals could work on the documents from Google Docs instead of swapping the documents around and hoping that everyone's working from the same version.)
I can definitely see myself using Google Docs specifically in the future for some group projects. I like this lesson's application.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Web 2.0 & Library 2.0 - #15
There is a, perhaps unavoidable, underlying assumption in all of these perspectives I'm reading about Library 2.0.
Assumption: That all users can and will prefer to use online/electronic/computer-based services.
That assumption is wrong. (It's probably something most public librarians who work directly with the public are aware of, but I think it's worth reminding people of.)
Michael Stephens asserts that the Librarian 2.0 "controls technolust" and does not subscribe to technology for technologies sake. I like that idea. While I also like his assertion that the "Librarian 2.0 makes good, yet fast decisions" I see no sign of that happening in some systems. Probably most systems, since most libraries are part of large governmental bodies and governments love bureaucracy.
I'm not so enamored of his idea of Librarian 2.0 as a trendspotter. Librarians could easily spend all their time looking for and adapting to trends without accomplishing anything else. Plus, I'm not convinced libraries should adapt to trends. Trends are ephemeral and most people never adapt to any specific trend. Libraries should adapt/adopt/conform to accepted, customary practices.
Michael's complete thoughts on Librarian 2.0 can be found here: http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/3.htm
I also like Rick Anderson's insistence that we move away from systems that require users to educate themselves on using the system. (http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/2.htm) But I don't think we should completely discount 'research skills' as he calls them. Actually, I believe they become more important as the total sum of knowledge grows and the percentage of knowledge available to everyone grows.
The actual skills and methods of 'research skills' will, and should, change as our ways of organizing and storing knowledge changes. But, the ability to figure out what you need, find something, evaluate its relevance and authority, and then put it into context in relation to all the other bits of things you found will only grow more important.
Assumption: That all users can and will prefer to use online/electronic/computer-based services.
That assumption is wrong. (It's probably something most public librarians who work directly with the public are aware of, but I think it's worth reminding people of.)
Michael Stephens asserts that the Librarian 2.0 "controls technolust" and does not subscribe to technology for technologies sake. I like that idea. While I also like his assertion that the "Librarian 2.0 makes good, yet fast decisions" I see no sign of that happening in some systems. Probably most systems, since most libraries are part of large governmental bodies and governments love bureaucracy.
I'm not so enamored of his idea of Librarian 2.0 as a trendspotter. Librarians could easily spend all their time looking for and adapting to trends without accomplishing anything else. Plus, I'm not convinced libraries should adapt to trends. Trends are ephemeral and most people never adapt to any specific trend. Libraries should adapt/adopt/conform to accepted, customary practices.
Michael's complete thoughts on Librarian 2.0 can be found here: http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/3.htm
I also like Rick Anderson's insistence that we move away from systems that require users to educate themselves on using the system. (http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/2.htm) But I don't think we should completely discount 'research skills' as he calls them. Actually, I believe they become more important as the total sum of knowledge grows and the percentage of knowledge available to everyone grows.
The actual skills and methods of 'research skills' will, and should, change as our ways of organizing and storing knowledge changes. But, the ability to figure out what you need, find something, evaluate its relevance and authority, and then put it into context in relation to all the other bits of things you found will only grow more important.
Technorati - #14
Oh, my. When I search Technorati tags for the tag I'm supposed to use for this post, I only found 11 results.
Either I'm searching in the wrong way, or the others participating in this project are having as much trouble with some of the lessons as I am.
I'm all in favor of organization and aggregation that assists people in finding information. And the site seems to be well-organized. I like the flexibility in searching for your term solely in the tags or anywhere in the post. And the watchlist allowing you to essentially save your search is a good idea.
I don't think I'll use Technorati much because I don't really enjoy reading blogs unless I know the blogger personally.
Either I'm searching in the wrong way, or the others participating in this project are having as much trouble with some of the lessons as I am.
I'm all in favor of organization and aggregation that assists people in finding information. And the site seems to be well-organized. I like the flexibility in searching for your term solely in the tags or anywhere in the post. And the watchlist allowing you to essentially save your search is a good idea.
I don't think I'll use Technorati much because I don't really enjoy reading blogs unless I know the blogger personally.
My own search engine -- #12
I can see, theoretically at least, the possible uses for this technology. Instead of searching each site individually you create a customized search that looks at specific websites for types of searches you conduct regularly. *However*, it's only useful for searches you repeat often. (Or at least many searches on the same topic.) Most of my searches are unique, and I'm rarely aware of more than a handful of sites that I'll trust for each topic. I sincerely doubt I'll ever use Rollyo again.
Anyway, to prove I did in fact look at the sucker here's my San Antonio news search.
Anyway, to prove I did in fact look at the sucker here's my San Antonio news search.
Online Image Generators -- #10
*looks up* As you can probably see I've met with some limited success when it comes to manipulating images online. I guess I can see the attraction, but I'm not finding the results worth the effort. Maybe it's just because I'm not very funny. The map's from fd's Flickr Toys. I couldn't figure out LetterJames at all.
My street sign's from Street Sign Generator. So, I didn't find an image generator that I liked. But, I did find at least one text generator I liked. And the R2D2 Translator was kinda fun. Just make sure you have your speakers on. http://www.r2d2translator.com/
According to the Elvish Name Generator my true name is Idril Anwamanë. *bounces excitedly* Cool! I shall no longer answer to my human name. If you would like to learn your Elvish name the generator can be found at, http://www.chriswetherell.com/elf/ (You can also learn your hobbit name, but since I'm not a hobbit, I didn't bother. *grin*)
Goodreads - #11
I've been using Goodreads for a while. A friend named Jessica was after me for months to try it, and once another friend started singing its praises I gave in and gave it a shot. I love it, and now I feel kinda stupid for dragging my feet about it. *sheepish grin*
Goodreads allows me to follow what my friends are reading and to show off what I'm reading. I really like the ability to tag titles by placing them on as many bookshelves as I want. This organizational structure allows me to look back at my reading when I'm trying to remember a title or when I want to recommend a certain type of book to someone else. Goodreads also allows me to track books that I *want* to read. *sigh* And considering how quickly I seem to accumulate new and interesting titles I need the help!
Goodreads allows me to follow what my friends are reading and to show off what I'm reading. I really like the ability to tag titles by placing them on as many bookshelves as I want. This organizational structure allows me to look back at my reading when I'm trying to remember a title or when I want to recommend a certain type of book to someone else. Goodreads also allows me to track books that I *want* to read. *sigh* And considering how quickly I seem to accumulate new and interesting titles I need the help!
RSS Feeds -- #9
I'm more likely to use RSS feeds for work-related stuff than personal because I'm much more interested in pinpoint information in my professional world than during my personal time. When I'm at home I don't mind cruising multiple websites searching for something new. Plus, I've got a lot more sites I'm attempting to keep up with for work than at home. (Oh my! There's a lot of sites and sources I should be keeping up with professionally speaking. If I actually did keep up with all of them though, I wouldn't have time to actually do my job! *grin*)
Since I'm using Google Reader (as opposed to the newest IE or something) the easiest way to add feeds is by searching through Google Reader's 'add a feed' option or copying the feed address from the website I want to add.
Since I'm using Google Reader (as opposed to the newest IE or something) the easiest way to add feeds is by searching through Google Reader's 'add a feed' option or copying the feed address from the website I want to add.
RSS Feeds
I like the concept of RSS Feeds. (When I'm building web pages for work I *really* like them so I can include updated information. For example, a web page about gardening in south Texas with water saving plants can include the daily reading of the well for the Edwards Aquifer, reminding people of how close water restrictions are.) But my main email account doesn't work with RSS feeds. :-( That complicates things.
I created a Gmail account, and a Gmail reader, but now I have another place I have to remember to check. I've had my main email account for years, so everyone knows that account and I don't really want to switch. *snicker* Listen to me whine about what amounts to an embarrassment of riches. I guess I just need to get into the habit of checking. I do wish Google would let me delete the individual entries to the feed. I understand they believe their search makes it easy to find specific posts, but I find it cluttered.
I like Seattle Public Library's Shelf Talk. It's usually interesting, fairly short and they try to make it light. I *love* Unshelved -- the daily cartoon about working in a library. It's funny and for anyone who's ever worked in public service.
I created a Gmail account, and a Gmail reader, but now I have another place I have to remember to check. I've had my main email account for years, so everyone knows that account and I don't really want to switch. *snicker* Listen to me whine about what amounts to an embarrassment of riches. I guess I just need to get into the habit of checking. I do wish Google would let me delete the individual entries to the feed. I understand they believe their search makes it easy to find specific posts, but I find it cluttered.
I like Seattle Public Library's Shelf Talk. It's usually interesting, fairly short and they try to make it light. I *love* Unshelved -- the daily cartoon about working in a library. It's funny and for anyone who's ever worked in public service.
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