Beeps and Whistles

Week 2: Zamzar

2010-05-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

Zamzar is a handy tool and great for customers and staff. I love the four step, simple conversion box right on the front page ... no clicking around trying to figure out what to do next. No need to read through an instruction page before jumping right in.

I think before recommending it to mr or ms public, it would be good to warn them that it's not suitable to use for sensitive documents (like court documents, a passport/birth certificate copy). According to their privacy policy, they delete the originally uploaded file as soon as it's converted, but the converted file remains on their servers and is accessible by them.

Week 1: Here we go again!

2010-04-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

I just had some fun reading over some of my posts from the first round of web 2.0. It's interesting seeing how fast things have changed in the web world since then. E-books are now taking a fair share of the market (overseas at least ... still waiting here). AOL announced last week they are either going to sell or shut down Bebo entirely.

Blogging is still a big part of the web, but what has really taken off since 2008 is the whole micro-blogging thing: blogs made up of one sentence updates, like twitter or a facebook status. I guess that says something about the modern attention span. I suppose longer blog posts require some skill on the part of the writer to maintain people's interest, where as micro blogging is more accessible. Even if you've just learnt to string two words together, you can still tweet.

A Manukau Libraries public blog would be a great idea, I think. I envision it as being something updated once a week from different locations around the organization. So one week we'd have a post from cataloging, and the next from Mangere Bridge library, for example. It would work like a Captain's logbook ... a record of our thoughts and feelings and interesting observations. What I think would not work would be some kind of PR or marketing blog which is all about advertising our greatness to customers with no personal element behind it. The most successful blogs tend to be the most opinionated ones.

Week 23: Final Thoughts

2008-09-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time on the internet, but I still learnt a lot out of this course. It gave me a reason to explore websites I would never have looked at before. My favourite parts of the course were the various videos explaining the concepts. A lot of them were very well done.

It's definitely been a worth while exercise. Time for Web 3.0 and 4.0 now ...

Week 9: Ebooks

2008-08-24T18:20:00.001-07:00

The ebook ... it is supposed to do for the publishing industry what mp3s and youtube have done for the music and television. Yet it hasn't happened. Not yet, anyway. They are certainly growing in popularity, and, according to Wikipedia, are apparently very popular in Japan.

I love websites like Project Gutenburg. Sometimes you just want to look up a particular scene in a classic novel, or confirm a particular quote. Archives of classic ebooks like this make this task as simple as doing an internet search.

Ebook readers are already starting to address the common concerns that prevent people from embracing ebooks - the number one drawback being that reading off a screen isn't as easy as reading off the printed page. But a library of ebooks has the potential to hold millions and millions of books in the space of a single library shelf. Perhaps the benefits outweight any potential drawbacks.

Week 9: Podcasts

2008-08-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

The podcast I choose is Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for better writing. This is a great podcast if you're interested in learning more about grammar, whether for fun or professional purposes.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

The RSS feed is http://www.qdnow.com/grammar.xml, which I've added to my bloglines account.

Podcasts are like a magazine, except you listen to them rather than read them. Another way to think of them is as an audio blog. This means you can catch up on them while you're driving or doing the housework. MP3 players can be synced with a PC to automatically download new podcasts when they become available, meaning you don't even have to take the time to download new podcast episodes onto your mp3 player or pc. For libraries, they can be used to deploy information to staff in an interesting format, much like blogging.

Week 9: YouTube

2008-08-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

I present the Barack Roll:

This alone is why YouTube is one of the best things on the web.
I've seen YouTube improve a lot over the years. It used to be hard to find the videos you were looking for, but they've improved their search engine (possibly after being bought by Google).
In a library context, YouTube can be used to deliver information and content in a way that's accessible and interesting. Imagine a tour of the library video on YouTube? A guide to the Learn.net? Librarians making videos to introduce themselves to the customers? The possibilities are endless.

Week 8: Discovering Web 2.0 tools

2008-08-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

I chose colorblender.com for my tool:

http://colorblender.com/

I was thinking about using backpack - http://www.backpackit.com/ - but I changed my mind after I saw this on their front page.

Quote:
"No "computer guy" required. It's easy. Sign up in 30 seconds!"

Computer guy. Uh huh. What about computer girls? Yes, there are women who work in IT. Women also have the vote now. Get with it, backpack.

Anyway, enough feminism. Back to colorblender. Very fun. I loved the random blend feature. I think this would be great whenever people are designing documents/brochures/websites for the library and need help choosing matching colors.

Week 8: Online Productivity

2008-08-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of speculation that desktop based software will soon vanish in favour of online apps like zoho writer. Before that happens, I think internet connections need to be more reliable and more portable. There's always that worry that if you have a document stored online, there will be a time when you need to access it but don't have an internet connection.

I enjoyed using zoho writer, although it does need a fast internet connection and would probably have worked quicker in firefox than IE 6. It has a surprising amount of features. I liked the fact that you can back up your online docs on your harddrive easily.

Week 7: Social Networking

2008-08-12T01:54:00.000-07:00

I had a look around at the examples this week, but I didn't explore in too much detail because social networking is already very familiar to me. Although my generation is the one before the Bebo generation, I think most of the people I know have either a Bebo or a Facebook page. There are some people who refuse to get one, much like how there are always people who refused to get a telephone or a television.

I guess they are probably the ultimate examples of websites that collect in depth marketing information on their users, but the service they provide in exchange is very valuable. Imagine if you actually received a bill each month for your social networking site ... like receiving a bill for listing in the white pages or having a landline.

Having a library on a social networking site is a great idea. You can advertise events, have an instant database of interested community members, and receive direct comments about the service being provided. You can run polls on any subject you want (not just on clothing or hairstyle choices, like you normally see on Bebo).

As for my favourite social networking site, I think Bebo has the edge over Facebook for me. Only because Facebook has all those annoying apps that people constantly want you to sign up for.

I really liked the way the Hennepin County Library facebook page had a widget to search their catalogue. Very cool. Perhaps the best thing about libraries on social networking sites is it shows that they are making an effort to engage with the new generation. Social Networking is pretty significant in people's lives when they start calling an entire generation 'the Bebo generation'.

Week 6: Library 2.0

2008-08-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed the video that related to this week's topic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

At the end, it talks about the age of digitisation meaning that we'll have to rethink a few things, like copyright, authorship and commerce. The idea of Library 2.0 is that the concept of the library itself will need to be rethought.

There's a big conflict in the music and movie industry right now over copyright and the internet. The problem is that our whole economy only works when an object is limited in supply. No one makes money off air or sunlight, but they do from water. Once upon a time, a particular music recording was limited in supply. But digitisation, the internet, and the web 2.0 concept of file sharing has meant that a music track can be reproduced millions of times every second. Attempts by the industry to shut down this copyright infringement is largely futile.

The same thing could very easily happen with books. The only reason it hasn't already is because no one has found a digital replacement for the printed paper book that has gained widespread appeal. The new e-book readers may one day do this. When they do, it is easy to see a world where any book you wish to read can be downloaded free and illegally from the internet in seconds.

The only thing stopping this change is the economy, so perhaps it is the economy which needs to change. A world where all books are available free and immediately to anyone who has a computer and internet connection isn't a bad thing. But what motivation would authors have to write books in a world where there is no paycheque? Personal satisfaction? How would people find the time when they have to work another fulltime job to support themselves financially?

If all those problems were solved, I can see the library becoming a virtual place ... perhaps the building will be replaced with a website gateway. Shelving, issuing, dealing with returns ... all these tasks will be a thing of the past, but people will still be needed to perform new jobs that haven't been invented yet. Or perhaps the old jobs, but just in different forms.

Week 6: Technorati

2008-08-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

I found the front page of technorati a bit full on at first glance. There was stuff to read everywhere. I gradually found my way around. I tried a few searches for things, but I found that google's blog search tool

Google Blog Search

seemed to give better results. I think whether to search by tags, blogs or posts depends on how obscure the information you're looking for is. Like if you're searching for something very specific, searching by posts is best. Only use blogs if you want to read an entire blog on a particular subject.

The popular part was fun. I found a really funny Obama video which I know Kelly will appreciate.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4

Week 6: Del.icio.us

2008-08-11T23:47:00.000-07:00

The cool thing about Del.icio.us is it means you don't need to bother backing up your bookmarks when you buy a new computer. I've lost my browser bookmarks several times due to changing computers/formatting harddrives and forgetting to back them up.

It's also quite good as a directory of popular websites. You can find the most popular websites on any particular subject.

The main drawback of it that I can see, is that you're giving a lot of information about your interests to a corporation who will be using it to construct marketing information. Although, in return, you do get a free bookmarking service.

Week 5: Playing around with PBWiki

2008-08-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

PB Wiki was easy to use. Like the video said, as long as you remember the edit and save buttons, you're set. I added some of my favourite movies, books, tv shows and added in my blog. I wondered what happens if two people edit the wiki at exactly the same time. Does the universe implode?

Week 5: Wikis

2008-08-11T20:14:00.001-07:00

Wikis are pretty darn cool. Imagine if every piece of information that anyone knew in the entire world was written down on a single website? That's Wikipedia's goal, to be the sum total of all human knowledge. Awesome.

I can see so many uses for Wikis in the workplace. Anything which requires a procedure manual should be done as a Wiki. No one wants to leaf through a giant brick sized manual trying to find which button to push on Millennium. Imagine if all you had to do was type a single search word into the Millennium Wiki? Users could share their tips and tricks.

I can also see it working well as a staff directory. Everyone could update their own page, and add as much or as little information as they choose.

Week 4: Technology Post

2008-08-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

For my technology post, I'm going to run through what I think are the top five most pointless pieces of technology, and the top five most useful. These are in no particular order.

Pointless:

1. Heated towel rails. Pointless because of the power they waste. Considering most people are only using a towel for about two minutes a day, I don't think having a warm towel is really worth it. Towels can be dried out in the sun during the day.

2. Digital photo frames. Again, power wasters. The best way to view and store digital photos is on a photo sharing website. That way friends and family around the world can view them, and they aren't wasting power when no one is staring at them.

3. MP3 players powered via AAA batteries. Actually, just about anything powered via an AAA battery. Those things aren't cheap.

4. Escalators and travelators. If you require disabled access, these things can be dangerous, so most people stick to the elevator. If you don't, there's no reason why people can't walk up a ramp or stairs. A non-moving ramp is also much easier for someone with a walking stick.

5. Electronic typewriters. People who were that resistant to computers continued using classic typewriters. Those who weren't, used a computer. So the electronic typewriter came and went.

Useful:

1. The wheel. Showing no signs of becoming unpopular.

2. The electric light. Better than using candles.

3. Computers. They're slowly taking over the world.

4. The telephone. Although annoying at times, it's hard to imagine life without it.

5. The book. Enough said.

Week 4: Mashups

2008-07-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, this trading card generator is one of the coolest mashups ever. Enough said.

Week 4: Flickr

2008-07-28T17:08:00.001-07:00

Artoo Mailbox
Originally uploaded by StartedByAMouse

I know some of you have wondered what happened to my career after the last Star Wars movie. I've found working as a mailbox to be a rewarding experience.

Week 3: Rollyo

2008-07-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

I made a rollyo search engine for New Zealand news websites.

http://rollyo.com/natz2d2/new_zealand_news_sources/

So you can search all the major national news sources in one go. Cool, huh?

Check out this piece of information in their privacy policy:

"We may use information about you for our own internal purposes, such as to estimate our audience size, measure aggregate traffic patterns as well as to understand demographic, customer interest, and other trends among our users. We may outsource these tasks and disclose personal information about you to third parties, provided the use and disclosure of your personal information by these third parties is restricted to performance of such tasks."

So Rollyo is basically a front for collecting marketing information about its users and passing it on to advertising companies. I wonder how much money they're making off this venture?

Week 3: Library Thing

2008-07-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Library Thing. Wouldn't it be scary if you loaded on a hundred books and found someone on the other side of the world owned the exact same hundred books?

I was curious about what library thing did with this knowledge of my book collection. This is what they say in their privacy terms.

"LibraryThing will not sell any personally-identifiable information to any third party. This would be evil, and we are not evil."

The Empire used to say the same thing. Although it was ruled by Sith Lords ...
I guess if Library Thing was evil it wouldn't have a name like Library Thing. It would be called 'The Death Star Library Eliminator'.

"LibraryThing allows "private" libraries—libraries that others can't see. We promise to try hard to maintain this privacy. As a beta application and a wiggly one, we cannot give an absolute 100% guarantee of privacy. After all, even Amazon had a day when all their "anonymous" reviewers were exposed. (Many turned out to be the authors themselves, of course.)"

Really?! Authors review their own books on amazon.com? I never knew this. Wouldn't it be really messed up if you reviewed your own book and gave it a terrible review?

"LibraryThing will not cooperate with US law enforcement unless compelled to do so. If you are using LibraryThing from a foreign country with an oppressive government, LibraryThing urges you not to put yourself at risk. We certainly promise never to open up an office in China and actively filter sensitive political information and rat out dissidents, such as Yahoo does. Shame on them."

Good to know. Thank you, Library Thing.

Week 3: Image Generators

2008-07-20T21:16:00.001-07:00

Why don't we put signs like this all over Manukau City?

http://www.addletters.com/road-highway-blue-generator.htm

Here's a fun image generator link. The lightsaber simulator:

http://www.guerrestellari.it/slas.html

Week 2: RSS

2008-07-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Kelly wanted to know where Threepio was. Unfortunately, all this Web 2.0 stuff caused his processor to overload, and he self-destructed. I am working on welding him back together, but between blogging and RSSing, a droid doesn't have much time left over. I have to say that finding feeds was a time consuming task because I kept stopping to read them.

What surprised me about this week's task was how many websites actually had RSS feeds. If your website doesn't have one, you're obviously completely out of the loop. I must create an RSS feed for the Manukau Libraries new books pages as soon as possible!

Here is a link to my bloglines blog:

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/natz2d2

Week 1: Blogs

2008-06-30T16:58:00.001-07:00

Deep Beeps about Blogs - the window to the soul

A fascinating thing about blogs is the fact that they are often anonymous. Under the safety of this anonymity, people will share their most intimate and honest thoughts. I once heard it said that the most intimate writing is the most universal. That, I think, is the greatest appeal of blogs. They continually remind us that no matter how far removed someone's life is from our own, on the deepest level we are all far more alike than we realize.