"Armed with a bit of knowledge about what Twitter is all about, share your thoughts on this fast growing online phenomenon."
Maybe I missed something in the translation, because after reading the "About" stuff, I'm still not actually sure I do have any type of knowledge about what Twitter is all about. Actually, there was no translation. When I got the the home page, there were "tweets" scrolling up through the center of my screen. It was a foreign language and I had no idea who any of them were, or what any of them were talking about.
I searched something. I typed in "quilting". I randomly picked a person to further read what they were saying. I couldn't follow any thread of consistent conversation at all - and there was nothing to do with quilting beyond the sentence that my search found - "got two new piercings and am doing some quilting".
So my question back is "why?". And my next question is "what's the point?" I know what the "About" blurb says but honestly, that doesn't really answer those questions in a satisfactory manner either. If I thought that Facebook was narcissistic, this is even more so. And I am way too busy to be following anyone tweeting. I can't see that Twitter has any kind of life-enhancing quality about it whatsoever, and am at a loss to explain why it is so popular. It must be related to the mentality that makes people slow down and rubberneck whilst driving past a car crash.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
CPL 2.0 Library Thing
I had tried out the Google Bookshelves some weeks ago when the homework topic was Google Universe. Library Thing makes the Google Bookshelves look a bit like that box in the corner of the doctor's office - it is much more sophisticated.
After setting up my account I searched for the print book I am currently reading. It is called "The Grasshoper" by an Albertan man Joseph Lothian. It wasn't found on the initial search, even using the ISBN so I expanded the locations that were being searched. This book (or author) didn't appear at all, which I found odd considering I borrowed it from the library and I had to wait some time due to the holds prior to mine. So I manually added the book; filling in as many of the spaces I could. Later when I did a "site" search on "The Grasshopper", it still didn't show up, maybe it needs 24 hours?
Interestingly enough that search generated a list of 158 titles, mostly to do with the fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper". And within that list the title that stuck out was "The Grasshopper and the Ant and other La Fontaine Fables". Now maybe my memory is getting a little shaky in my old age, but I believe that particular moral tale is credited to Aesop, not La Fontaine. Which makes me wonder - how much of the information that is input to Library Thing, is double-checked? Is it credible? Or is it a case of reader beware.
The site was user friendly and easy to navigate. I appreciated that to set up an account I didn't have to give an astonishing amount of vague information - "as a security question in case you forget your password, tell us the name of the book your best man was sneakily reading under his coat after the church service and before the photos."
The amount of information on the site was truely overwhelming, (and what is "zeitgeist" anyway?) At what point does all this information stop being helpful or informative and just become a mass of words to wade through?
I did like the comparisons and other suggested reading. Sometimes I can't think what to read next (more, I don't know what I feel like reading next) and these lists will ensure I am never without a story by my side.
After setting up my account I searched for the print book I am currently reading. It is called "The Grasshoper" by an Albertan man Joseph Lothian. It wasn't found on the initial search, even using the ISBN so I expanded the locations that were being searched. This book (or author) didn't appear at all, which I found odd considering I borrowed it from the library and I had to wait some time due to the holds prior to mine. So I manually added the book; filling in as many of the spaces I could. Later when I did a "site" search on "The Grasshopper", it still didn't show up, maybe it needs 24 hours?
Interestingly enough that search generated a list of 158 titles, mostly to do with the fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper". And within that list the title that stuck out was "The Grasshopper and the Ant and other La Fontaine Fables". Now maybe my memory is getting a little shaky in my old age, but I believe that particular moral tale is credited to Aesop, not La Fontaine. Which makes me wonder - how much of the information that is input to Library Thing, is double-checked? Is it credible? Or is it a case of reader beware.
The site was user friendly and easy to navigate. I appreciated that to set up an account I didn't have to give an astonishing amount of vague information - "as a security question in case you forget your password, tell us the name of the book your best man was sneakily reading under his coat after the church service and before the photos."
The amount of information on the site was truely overwhelming, (and what is "zeitgeist" anyway?) At what point does all this information stop being helpful or informative and just become a mass of words to wade through?
I did like the comparisons and other suggested reading. Sometimes I can't think what to read next (more, I don't know what I feel like reading next) and these lists will ensure I am never without a story by my side.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
CPL 2.0 Online Productivity Tools
Calendars are very important to me! The idea of a calendar system that "makes my life easier" is very appealing - we have 7 hockey schedules in our house. Yes, you read that correctly SEVEN!
We currently use an Outlook calendar, that we sync between 2 computers and 2 Palm Pilots. Our Palms are getting towards the end of their lives now, so we are in the process of "interviewing" other systems as well as the updated Palm. We need a product that will talk to our Outlook calendar, as well as some type of portable device - and I don't really want to go the Blackberry route. I am quite happy to not be available to the world 24/7!
I found the Google calendar site was cluttered for a first time user. The "Overview" was informative, the "Take a Tour" just pointed to the "Overview" page. So in order to set a calendar up, I had to click back and forth through various links. This is obviously a diminishing problem, as the more familiar a user becomes with the product, the easier it is to use.
In order to sync the calendar with Outlook, I would have to download - yipee :-( a seperate product. While I was investgating that, I read the user comments - not good. Many people seemed to have experienced difficulty with the synchronization, some stated that it made a huge mess of their Outlook calendar. With our family's busy schedule, I can't afford to take that risk as we rely so heavily on the calendar.
From what I could see, the only portable device that I could use the Google calendar with, was a mobile phone, which would mean I would need to upgrade my phone and/or plan. Being a mostly-stay-at-home-Mum with a part time job means I have no need to be married to my phone. It isn't on all the time, and I have a pay-as-you-go 10 cents/min plan which currently suits me fine (I spend way less than $20/month) but isn't the most cost-effective way to check my calendar.
I'll answer both the questions this week.
1. No, I can't see online productivity tools replacing purchased products such as Microsoft Office. Computers are becoming more and more portable. A person can carry their own stuff around, I believe there is a diminishing need to access your document from multiple computers.
2. For a calendar product, I need a hybrid! A cross between the traditional and modern. I like to be able to paperclip my drycleaning receipt or my library date due slip to the appropriate page in a daytimer. I like the way a paper calendar allows for quick changes - no logging on or signing in required. I also like being able to turn around with flour or onion all over my hands and see the giant "week at a glance" calendar on the fridge. I like the amount of information I can store in my Outlook calendar - directions to a location, paragraphs "cut and pasted" from emails. And most importantly my husband and I can both make plans and arrangements and not worry about "double-booking" our family.
For any calendar system to work, the whole family has to buy in to it. For example, my husband refuses to write on a paper calendar, so the one posted on the fridge has turned into the "helper of the day" schedule - whose job is it to empty the dishwasher today?
I think the best productivity tool I could wish for, would be a personal secretary!
We currently use an Outlook calendar, that we sync between 2 computers and 2 Palm Pilots. Our Palms are getting towards the end of their lives now, so we are in the process of "interviewing" other systems as well as the updated Palm. We need a product that will talk to our Outlook calendar, as well as some type of portable device - and I don't really want to go the Blackberry route. I am quite happy to not be available to the world 24/7!
I found the Google calendar site was cluttered for a first time user. The "Overview" was informative, the "Take a Tour" just pointed to the "Overview" page. So in order to set a calendar up, I had to click back and forth through various links. This is obviously a diminishing problem, as the more familiar a user becomes with the product, the easier it is to use.
In order to sync the calendar with Outlook, I would have to download - yipee :-( a seperate product. While I was investgating that, I read the user comments - not good. Many people seemed to have experienced difficulty with the synchronization, some stated that it made a huge mess of their Outlook calendar. With our family's busy schedule, I can't afford to take that risk as we rely so heavily on the calendar.
From what I could see, the only portable device that I could use the Google calendar with, was a mobile phone, which would mean I would need to upgrade my phone and/or plan. Being a mostly-stay-at-home-Mum with a part time job means I have no need to be married to my phone. It isn't on all the time, and I have a pay-as-you-go 10 cents/min plan which currently suits me fine (I spend way less than $20/month) but isn't the most cost-effective way to check my calendar.
I'll answer both the questions this week.
1. No, I can't see online productivity tools replacing purchased products such as Microsoft Office. Computers are becoming more and more portable. A person can carry their own stuff around, I believe there is a diminishing need to access your document from multiple computers.
2. For a calendar product, I need a hybrid! A cross between the traditional and modern. I like to be able to paperclip my drycleaning receipt or my library date due slip to the appropriate page in a daytimer. I like the way a paper calendar allows for quick changes - no logging on or signing in required. I also like being able to turn around with flour or onion all over my hands and see the giant "week at a glance" calendar on the fridge. I like the amount of information I can store in my Outlook calendar - directions to a location, paragraphs "cut and pasted" from emails. And most importantly my husband and I can both make plans and arrangements and not worry about "double-booking" our family.
For any calendar system to work, the whole family has to buy in to it. For example, my husband refuses to write on a paper calendar, so the one posted on the fridge has turned into the "helper of the day" schedule - whose job is it to empty the dishwasher today?
I think the best productivity tool I could wish for, would be a personal secretary!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
CPL 2.0 YouTube and Flickr
The reflection question of the week was regarding the quality and entertainment value of YouTube and Flickr.
I had never tried Flickr before, I found it perfectly easy to use to search for pictures. I typed in "sunset" and up popped many sunset pictures. I typed in "quilts" and then had a slideshow scrolling across my screen. Fun I guess, but then I had to sit there and watch it when really I should have been vacuuming something!
I assume that once an image is posted to Flickr it is free from any copyrights and can be used in a power point, for example. I didn't try to use the pictures in any of my own applications, nor did I try and put my own pictures into Flickr - I barely know how to get them off the camera!
YouTube. Although I have met some people who use YouTube for video blogging, to me it has been only a form of entertainment in the past. However, I recently used it as a research tool.
I am a Grade 8 piano student and. I recently discovered errors in the Royal Conservatory study book. When I contacted Frederick Harris, the publisher of the books, the reply was "yes" there are errors "just download the correct version from our website". However, the only thing to download from their website is a catalogue of purchasable items. After emailing back and forth, and being told I probably just need to "scroll down a bit", I gave up on the publishing company.
Off to the music store, where I found the song ("Jane's Song" by Christopher Norton) in a different publication. I was able to confirm my suspicions regarding the print error and make the correction in my own book. Now I just needed a correct audio copy of the song. I copied the download code from the front of the Connections book, but was unable to make it work when I returned home.
Next step - YouTube. I searched for the song title and was able to pull up video of various people playing this piece. By watching and listening to these clips, I was able to confirm the key change that occurs in the middle of the printed version of this song, but is not played correctly in the purchased CD that accompanies the Conservatory book.
My piano teacher was able to make the download code work, but unfortunately the downloaded songs are "play along" pieces with different accompaniaments. So I am still lacking the "plain Jane's Song" to help me with my practice.
The Conservatory curriculum only changes every 5 - 7 years, and this is the new one. Surely when Frederick Harris reprints the books they will correct any errors. I have set the music store to work on this question, and as I'm not planning to take my exam until next year I have time to wait for the answer!
I had never tried Flickr before, I found it perfectly easy to use to search for pictures. I typed in "sunset" and up popped many sunset pictures. I typed in "quilts" and then had a slideshow scrolling across my screen. Fun I guess, but then I had to sit there and watch it when really I should have been vacuuming something!
I assume that once an image is posted to Flickr it is free from any copyrights and can be used in a power point, for example. I didn't try to use the pictures in any of my own applications, nor did I try and put my own pictures into Flickr - I barely know how to get them off the camera!
YouTube. Although I have met some people who use YouTube for video blogging, to me it has been only a form of entertainment in the past. However, I recently used it as a research tool.
I am a Grade 8 piano student and. I recently discovered errors in the Royal Conservatory study book. When I contacted Frederick Harris, the publisher of the books, the reply was "yes" there are errors "just download the correct version from our website". However, the only thing to download from their website is a catalogue of purchasable items. After emailing back and forth, and being told I probably just need to "scroll down a bit", I gave up on the publishing company.
Off to the music store, where I found the song ("Jane's Song" by Christopher Norton) in a different publication. I was able to confirm my suspicions regarding the print error and make the correction in my own book. Now I just needed a correct audio copy of the song. I copied the download code from the front of the Connections book, but was unable to make it work when I returned home.
Next step - YouTube. I searched for the song title and was able to pull up video of various people playing this piece. By watching and listening to these clips, I was able to confirm the key change that occurs in the middle of the printed version of this song, but is not played correctly in the purchased CD that accompanies the Conservatory book.
My piano teacher was able to make the download code work, but unfortunately the downloaded songs are "play along" pieces with different accompaniaments. So I am still lacking the "plain Jane's Song" to help me with my practice.
The Conservatory curriculum only changes every 5 - 7 years, and this is the new one. Surely when Frederick Harris reprints the books they will correct any errors. I have set the music store to work on this question, and as I'm not planning to take my exam until next year I have time to wait for the answer!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
CPL 2.0 - RSS Feeds
I didn't have too much trouble setting up the RSS feeds using a bloglines account, however I still have not managed to get the "notifier" working correctly. I ended up just ditching it, and putting a shortcut icon on my (computer at home) desktop that links straight into the logged-in bloglines account. Not very secure but fine with me given who uses that particular computer at home.
My preference would be to have an email arrive in my inbox at the same time each day, so I'm not sure if that's possible.
It is quite neat to be able to keep up to date with newspapers from "home" (New Zealand) but strange that the news was always one day ahead!
If not careful this too, could be an immense time waster. Do I really need to sit down and log on to a computer just to be given a new "word of the day?"
My preference would be to have an email arrive in my inbox at the same time each day, so I'm not sure if that's possible.
It is quite neat to be able to keep up to date with newspapers from "home" (New Zealand) but strange that the news was always one day ahead!
If not careful this too, could be an immense time waster. Do I really need to sit down and log on to a computer just to be given a new "word of the day?"
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
CPL 2.0 Google Universe
It's not a "time waster" my husband said, it's a "time consumer".
I had enjoyed poking around in the Google Universe, and before I knew it - a looooot of time had elapsed! I eventually settled on creating some Bookshelves using Google Books.
What do I Like?
Google Books seems to be about so much more than just the Bookshelves, but that is what I have played with most. It's neat how the list you create includes a cover picture and a small synopsis. Also, you can choose to share your Bookshelf with others if you like, or just keep it to yourself.
What do I Dislike?
It would be nice to be able to "drag" the books from one shelf to another. It would also be nice to be able to have a book on two different Bookshelves. For example I am currently reading "Dumb Witness" by Agatha Christie. I would like it to be in both the "Reading Now" shelf, and also the "Agatha Christie" shelf that I created.
Would I Recommend this Product?
I would recommend that any book lover play around with this product, and I will continue to "interview" it. However, keeping a "list of books I've read" for my own interest, I think that a simple Word document is the fastest and easiest recording method. The Bookshelves are a great way to share. Also as well as being a lover of books to read and peruse, I'm also a lover of blank books to write lists in. And journals made with fancy paper and beautiful covers that can be carried around and touched, with pages that turn.
Now, if Google made some type of recipe organising product I would be very happy!
I had enjoyed poking around in the Google Universe, and before I knew it - a looooot of time had elapsed! I eventually settled on creating some Bookshelves using Google Books.
What do I Like?
Google Books seems to be about so much more than just the Bookshelves, but that is what I have played with most. It's neat how the list you create includes a cover picture and a small synopsis. Also, you can choose to share your Bookshelf with others if you like, or just keep it to yourself.
What do I Dislike?
It would be nice to be able to "drag" the books from one shelf to another. It would also be nice to be able to have a book on two different Bookshelves. For example I am currently reading "Dumb Witness" by Agatha Christie. I would like it to be in both the "Reading Now" shelf, and also the "Agatha Christie" shelf that I created.
Would I Recommend this Product?
I would recommend that any book lover play around with this product, and I will continue to "interview" it. However, keeping a "list of books I've read" for my own interest, I think that a simple Word document is the fastest and easiest recording method. The Bookshelves are a great way to share. Also as well as being a lover of books to read and peruse, I'm also a lover of blank books to write lists in. And journals made with fancy paper and beautiful covers that can be carried around and touched, with pages that turn.
Now, if Google made some type of recipe organising product I would be very happy!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
CPL 2.0 Facebook
"Is Facebook useful or a time waster?"
I was quite amazed when I first set up my Facebook account - a whole screen of "suggested friends" were suddenly displayed. A little spooky to think that this "entity" has wormed its way into my address book or email list.
I told my 15 and 13 year old sons that they had to be my "friends". Quelle horreur! My 13 year old however, did eventually acquiese and promptly sent out a message to all his friends - "keep it clean guys, my Mum's on Facebook!" He took on the role of teacher and showed me all the important things such as how to use the emotional weather report.
It could be quite the time waster - using all the little applications. In fact I'm quite keen to set up a map showing the places I've been.
It could also be useful, as the following example shows.
I just wanted to have a few friends to begin with - no point in showing off how naiive I am to the entire world. I selected my younger brother (who lives in Australia) and sent him a friend request. This is a fellow who apparantly finds it difficult to write a letter, pick up a telephone or sign on and send an email. Within the hour he had "accepted" my request, and while I was having my lesson with my son, my brother initiated a conversation via the little chat thingy.
My brother said he likes Facebook because he can just read what people have been up to. I confirmed with my teacher, "So, people just write what they're having for dinner and what their plans are for tomorrow, and then others read it?"
"Yup" he said. "And then they can comment on it, if they want to."
So, people - your "friends", can keep in touch with you, without having to actually resort to having a conversation, or any sort of dialogue in fact! Hmmmm.
Well, if that's what it takes to "keep in touch" with my family, I guess I'll keep trying it out!
I was quite amazed when I first set up my Facebook account - a whole screen of "suggested friends" were suddenly displayed. A little spooky to think that this "entity" has wormed its way into my address book or email list.
I told my 15 and 13 year old sons that they had to be my "friends". Quelle horreur! My 13 year old however, did eventually acquiese and promptly sent out a message to all his friends - "keep it clean guys, my Mum's on Facebook!" He took on the role of teacher and showed me all the important things such as how to use the emotional weather report.
It could be quite the time waster - using all the little applications. In fact I'm quite keen to set up a map showing the places I've been.
It could also be useful, as the following example shows.
I just wanted to have a few friends to begin with - no point in showing off how naiive I am to the entire world. I selected my younger brother (who lives in Australia) and sent him a friend request. This is a fellow who apparantly finds it difficult to write a letter, pick up a telephone or sign on and send an email. Within the hour he had "accepted" my request, and while I was having my lesson with my son, my brother initiated a conversation via the little chat thingy.
My brother said he likes Facebook because he can just read what people have been up to. I confirmed with my teacher, "So, people just write what they're having for dinner and what their plans are for tomorrow, and then others read it?"
"Yup" he said. "And then they can comment on it, if they want to."
So, people - your "friends", can keep in touch with you, without having to actually resort to having a conversation, or any sort of dialogue in fact! Hmmmm.
Well, if that's what it takes to "keep in touch" with my family, I guess I'll keep trying it out!
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