This has been one of the most interesting things for me to explore. I'm a fan of Wikipedia already because if you're just looking for some quick information on something and don't necessarily need it to be collegiate-level accurate, Wikipedia's got everything. Surprisingly, the information usually seems to be pretty accurate, despite the fact that anyone on the web can add content. And sometimes, it's handy to use Wikipedia as a springboard to find search terms you can use in more reputable databases.
To be honest, I never knew that a wiki was something independent of Wikipedia. I'd never even heard of a wiki outside of that website. I think that it's a really unique tool, and I'm not sure I've quite organized my thoughts on all the things it can do yet, so bear with me as I talk it out.
At first, it seemed like, to me, that if everyone could just log in and change things, it might as well be a bulletin board, but then I realized that bulletin boards aren't organized to be easily searchable, so that's not really an apt comparison. So it's a website, and that's handy, because the more content you have, the better the site, and opening it up for multiple people to contribute (who might not necessarily do so otherwise due to computer illiteracy) is really handy. Being a part of a team that is attempting to create a library website and worrying frequently about how we will generate content to keep it going, I can see the obvious benefits to having many, many contributors.
However, I can't help but think that, in terms of a library wiki, the content would need to be monitored a bit more carefully than any old wiki out there in cyberspace. Obviously, this could be handled by only allowing the wiki to be edited by librarians, but then you're not allowing your patrons to have much of an involvement in the project. I love how Princeton Public Library's Book Lovers Wiki incorporates reviews from their patrons, but I have to wonder how they monitor their content. Surely, someone must be watching out for cursing, inappropriate commentary, spamming, harassment, etc? And if that's the case, and someone is spending a lot of time making sure propriety is maintained, then wouldn't it be just time-consuming as monitoring a message board or screening every post that goes through?
I don't know. I love the idea of wikis to which patrons can contribute, but I don't understand how it can be done and content-screened without creating a lot of extra work. The whole idea of allowing a bunch of people to contribute is to SAVE yourself time, so policing the site seems like it's a bit counter-intuitive to the point. Overall, though, I think I'm of the opinion that wikis rock.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the Future of Libraries
I decided to break this post up into four different sections, the first three addressing articles I read and the final one discussing my own particular opinions on the subject of the future of technology in libraries.
Away From Icebergs
by Rick Anderson
I don't mind saying it: this article pissed me off, and I'll be glad to explain why. Number one, the whole tone struck me as fairly arrogant...as though this man somehow has his finger on the pulse of libraries all across the nation and what the needs are of librarians and patrons. Statements like, "Our patrons have no such qualms, of course, as the emergence of Web 2.0 demonstrates" are broad generalizations about what patrons are comfortable with, and frankly, I don't agree that patrons ARE so agreeable to web technology. But aside from the overriding tone of "The All-Knowing Library Technology Expert," I had a few more specific issues that got under my skin.
The first "iceberg" that Anderson describes as being a problem for libraries as we move into the future is that "it no longer makes sense to collect information products as if they were hard to get." I read this paragraph once, and then I read it again because I really was certain that this gentleman was suggesting that it would be wise to completely digitize libraries and do away with physical collections completely. But after my reread, it seemed to me that that's what he was trying to argue. ...is he serious? Do away with physical collections completely? It's absolutely insane. It's so insane, it makes me want to rant and jump up and down and wave my arms and yell a lot (possibly throwing in some nonsensical angry noises in there as well).
Has anyone ever tried to read an eBook straight off of your computer? I did. I got through 20 pages and had to quit because I couldn't stand to look at the screen that long. My eyes hurt, it was hard to follow along, and not only that, when I want to read, the last place I want to be is parked in front of a computer. I want to take my book outside and sit under a tree where I can feel the breeze and the sun on my legs. I spend enough time indoors with a keyboard at my fingertips. The last thing I want is to take the one activity that I can do anywhere - reading - and let it chain me to the computer for one more minute than I have to be already. I'm certain I'm not the only person who feels this way. Above and beyond the aesthetic reasons for preferring physical books to electronic books or resources, Mr. Anderson seems to function under the misconception that everyone loves technology! They might not understand it, but if we could just get them to learn how it works, they would fall in love! This is a load of hogwash. I have to wonder when the last time was that he worked the desk in a public library and fielded questions from real patrons running the gamut from young to old, rich to poor, underprivileged to college-educated. Some people simply don't like technology. And I don't blame them. Sometimes I hate it myself. The day libraries go completely digital is the day I stop using them. Technology and progress is fantastic, but how long have books been around? Nothing is better than the feel of a thick book in your hands and the smell of the pages. Getting rid of physical collections is taking the soul out of reading. I'm all for progress, but the thing Mr. Anderson seems to forget is that there's something to be said for tradition as well. We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. It's certainly not good to alienate technologically-savvy patrons by eschewing all computer-based reference service, but we have a responsibility to provide for those who like their information the old-fashioned way as well.
Into a New World of Librarianship
by Michael Stephens
Now this is the type of approach I like to see when it comes to integrating technology into libraries and introducing it to patrons. Stephens offers reasonable and, more than that, human response to using technology to make information more readily available to patrons. His suggestions don't give you the cold, impersonal feeling of everyone clicking away at home to a glowing monitor, finding the information they want. Rather, he talks about using technology as a tool rather than a solution to some supposed problem with the libraries today.
Particularly noteworthy in his article was his mention that librarians should not have technolust and purchase every online resource available but that she should recognize the needs of the community and its patrons and buy software accordingly, staying ahead of the curve and knowing what things might be useful for their particular library.
Another thing I really appreciate about this article is how Stephens doesn't focus simply on the pursuit of information but also the community aspect of Web 2.0. He encourages librarians to establish online communities of patrons where they can discuss, blog, interact, and generally be involved in their library experience rather than just being a button-pusher who selects what they want and waits for the information to pop out of the machine.
To A Temporary Place In Time...
by Wendy Schultz
One thing: I still do not get why libraries getting involved in Second Life is such an all-fire good idea. Someone please explain.
Schultz had me in the beginning of this one, talking about libraries as not being IN communities but being the communities themselves. I dig the idea of libraries being centers where people enjoy going, the same way we like sitting in the big leather chairs at Borders and Barnes & Noble with our grande mocha lattes while quiet music plays in the background. No offense to libraries, but I'd rather hang out there than at a public library because the atmosphere is nicer. So I agreed with her there...up until the point where she started talking about collecting librarian avatars and her foray into the future...
I feel like an old fogie, but...why does technology have to infiltrate everything? I'm of the generation of the personal computers - the first home computers were starting to come out right when I was born, and I've always had a home computer since I was a tiny little kid. But I know when enough is enough and when it's good to embrace things away from the screen.
Maybe I'm feeling grumpy about technology today, but that's my two cents.
Away From Icebergs
by Rick Anderson
I don't mind saying it: this article pissed me off, and I'll be glad to explain why. Number one, the whole tone struck me as fairly arrogant...as though this man somehow has his finger on the pulse of libraries all across the nation and what the needs are of librarians and patrons. Statements like, "Our patrons have no such qualms, of course, as the emergence of Web 2.0 demonstrates" are broad generalizations about what patrons are comfortable with, and frankly, I don't agree that patrons ARE so agreeable to web technology. But aside from the overriding tone of "The All-Knowing Library Technology Expert," I had a few more specific issues that got under my skin.
The first "iceberg" that Anderson describes as being a problem for libraries as we move into the future is that "it no longer makes sense to collect information products as if they were hard to get." I read this paragraph once, and then I read it again because I really was certain that this gentleman was suggesting that it would be wise to completely digitize libraries and do away with physical collections completely. But after my reread, it seemed to me that that's what he was trying to argue. ...is he serious? Do away with physical collections completely? It's absolutely insane. It's so insane, it makes me want to rant and jump up and down and wave my arms and yell a lot (possibly throwing in some nonsensical angry noises in there as well).
Has anyone ever tried to read an eBook straight off of your computer? I did. I got through 20 pages and had to quit because I couldn't stand to look at the screen that long. My eyes hurt, it was hard to follow along, and not only that, when I want to read, the last place I want to be is parked in front of a computer. I want to take my book outside and sit under a tree where I can feel the breeze and the sun on my legs. I spend enough time indoors with a keyboard at my fingertips. The last thing I want is to take the one activity that I can do anywhere - reading - and let it chain me to the computer for one more minute than I have to be already. I'm certain I'm not the only person who feels this way. Above and beyond the aesthetic reasons for preferring physical books to electronic books or resources, Mr. Anderson seems to function under the misconception that everyone loves technology! They might not understand it, but if we could just get them to learn how it works, they would fall in love! This is a load of hogwash. I have to wonder when the last time was that he worked the desk in a public library and fielded questions from real patrons running the gamut from young to old, rich to poor, underprivileged to college-educated. Some people simply don't like technology. And I don't blame them. Sometimes I hate it myself. The day libraries go completely digital is the day I stop using them. Technology and progress is fantastic, but how long have books been around? Nothing is better than the feel of a thick book in your hands and the smell of the pages. Getting rid of physical collections is taking the soul out of reading. I'm all for progress, but the thing Mr. Anderson seems to forget is that there's something to be said for tradition as well. We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. It's certainly not good to alienate technologically-savvy patrons by eschewing all computer-based reference service, but we have a responsibility to provide for those who like their information the old-fashioned way as well.
Into a New World of Librarianship
by Michael Stephens
Now this is the type of approach I like to see when it comes to integrating technology into libraries and introducing it to patrons. Stephens offers reasonable and, more than that, human response to using technology to make information more readily available to patrons. His suggestions don't give you the cold, impersonal feeling of everyone clicking away at home to a glowing monitor, finding the information they want. Rather, he talks about using technology as a tool rather than a solution to some supposed problem with the libraries today.
Particularly noteworthy in his article was his mention that librarians should not have technolust and purchase every online resource available but that she should recognize the needs of the community and its patrons and buy software accordingly, staying ahead of the curve and knowing what things might be useful for their particular library.
Another thing I really appreciate about this article is how Stephens doesn't focus simply on the pursuit of information but also the community aspect of Web 2.0. He encourages librarians to establish online communities of patrons where they can discuss, blog, interact, and generally be involved in their library experience rather than just being a button-pusher who selects what they want and waits for the information to pop out of the machine.
To A Temporary Place In Time...
by Wendy Schultz
One thing: I still do not get why libraries getting involved in Second Life is such an all-fire good idea. Someone please explain.
Schultz had me in the beginning of this one, talking about libraries as not being IN communities but being the communities themselves. I dig the idea of libraries being centers where people enjoy going, the same way we like sitting in the big leather chairs at Borders and Barnes & Noble with our grande mocha lattes while quiet music plays in the background. No offense to libraries, but I'd rather hang out there than at a public library because the atmosphere is nicer. So I agreed with her there...up until the point where she started talking about collecting librarian avatars and her foray into the future...
I feel like an old fogie, but...why does technology have to infiltrate everything? I'm of the generation of the personal computers - the first home computers were starting to come out right when I was born, and I've always had a home computer since I was a tiny little kid. But I know when enough is enough and when it's good to embrace things away from the screen.
Maybe I'm feeling grumpy about technology today, but that's my two cents.
Technorati and Tags
I have to admit, Technorati is a lot less intimidating than del.icio.us. I actually kind of liked Technorati (which isn't to say I disliked del.icio.us, but you read my last post and know how it gave me heart palpitations at the sheer size). My favorite thing about Technorati by far is their search capability. I love that you can search for keywords that appear anywhere within a post, tags that are attached to a particular blog entry, or blogs that are simply categorized about one specific subject. It's one of the most handy search features I've come across, and I played around with it for a good long time.
Since Blogger automatically has tags that can be picked up by Technorati, it eliminates the need to really put in the specialized html tags that will allow Technorati to "catch" the post. (I'm still not sure what the proper lingo is here...so it will "ping" Technorati when a new post goes up? No clue.) I'm not sure I like the idea of my blog being registered and made public for the whole world. I've been blogging for a long time, but I've always locked my posts for friends only, so the idea of having a public journal that is easily found via blog search engines like Technorati and Google Blog Search is kind of scary. I suppose if I were publishing a blog that was meant for mass consumption, that would be one thing - I would be glad to have it registered with sites so I could get a lot of traffic. But when it's just me playing around and musing about technology, I don't feel like it's necessary for everybody and their brother to be able to find my blog.
Nevertheless, that's just the way of the internet, I know, and perhaps being online for more than a decade has made me properly suspicious and overly cautious about making myself findable on the internet. I have a huge online presence on many sites, but I know how to protect myself against being searched and found, and I try very hard to keep myself shrouded because there are a lot of crazies out there. My goal is to only allow myself to be seen where and by whom I want to be seen. It takes a lot of diligence, but I think I manage to do it fairly well, and that's one of the primary reasons I don't like having a billion subscriptions to so many different sites. The more subscriptions you have, the harder it is to keep track of them and make sure you don't accidentally have your name or your location somewhere you don't want it to appear. There are plenty of decent people out there surfing the net (not just the crazies), but I'd still rather be safe than sorry.
I'm getting off track though. Technorati is a great site, and I think it's really useful for searching the blogosphere. Easy to use, fun to play with. This was a pretty enjoyable activity.
Since Blogger automatically has tags that can be picked up by Technorati, it eliminates the need to really put in the specialized html tags that will allow Technorati to "catch" the post. (I'm still not sure what the proper lingo is here...so it will "ping" Technorati when a new post goes up? No clue.) I'm not sure I like the idea of my blog being registered and made public for the whole world. I've been blogging for a long time, but I've always locked my posts for friends only, so the idea of having a public journal that is easily found via blog search engines like Technorati and Google Blog Search is kind of scary. I suppose if I were publishing a blog that was meant for mass consumption, that would be one thing - I would be glad to have it registered with sites so I could get a lot of traffic. But when it's just me playing around and musing about technology, I don't feel like it's necessary for everybody and their brother to be able to find my blog.
Nevertheless, that's just the way of the internet, I know, and perhaps being online for more than a decade has made me properly suspicious and overly cautious about making myself findable on the internet. I have a huge online presence on many sites, but I know how to protect myself against being searched and found, and I try very hard to keep myself shrouded because there are a lot of crazies out there. My goal is to only allow myself to be seen where and by whom I want to be seen. It takes a lot of diligence, but I think I manage to do it fairly well, and that's one of the primary reasons I don't like having a billion subscriptions to so many different sites. The more subscriptions you have, the harder it is to keep track of them and make sure you don't accidentally have your name or your location somewhere you don't want it to appear. There are plenty of decent people out there surfing the net (not just the crazies), but I'd still rather be safe than sorry.
I'm getting off track though. Technorati is a great site, and I think it's really useful for searching the blogosphere. Easy to use, fun to play with. This was a pretty enjoyable activity.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tagging and Del.Icio.Us
Wow, is del.icio.us a huge site. I've explored it once before, and I was a bit overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information that is collected there. I think it is an amazing site and is wildly useful, but I don't have any desire to create an account.
See, my major problem is that, while I love organization, the concept of tagging every neat website I come across seems like a labor of love I don't have enough love to complete. I get this constriction of the chest in panic as I contemplate what a huge task it would be to document and somehow catalogue every website I use and/or find particularly useful. The sheer size of the internet and the daunting task that tagging things into categories entails makes me feel kind of ill. I know once I started tagging, I would be obsessed with tagging everything perfectly. Even tagging on LibraryThing and on this blog makes me a little twitchy. What if I don't have the right tags? What if I tag it in a way I won't remember? Do I have time to create a system of tagging that will make sense to me and prevent me from "losing" websites AND be cohesive somewhat with other people's tagging systems? It's almost enough to give me a panic attack.
That being said, I would definitely use the site. For instance, when I was looking for layouts for the library's WordPress blog, I went to del.icio.us and found a bunch of tags for WordPress layouts, which directed me to some sites with fantastic alternative layouts other than the defaults the site provides. For me, I prefer to think of del.icio.us as a sort of informal catalogue or search engine for the web. It allows you to search very easily and browse through websites others have found helpful on any number of topics, and I do really like that about this site.
To avoid heart palpitations and panic attacks, though, I think I'll avoid creating my own account. Ultimately, I think it will be more useful to me as a reference tool than a personal bookmarking tool.
See, my major problem is that, while I love organization, the concept of tagging every neat website I come across seems like a labor of love I don't have enough love to complete. I get this constriction of the chest in panic as I contemplate what a huge task it would be to document and somehow catalogue every website I use and/or find particularly useful. The sheer size of the internet and the daunting task that tagging things into categories entails makes me feel kind of ill. I know once I started tagging, I would be obsessed with tagging everything perfectly. Even tagging on LibraryThing and on this blog makes me a little twitchy. What if I don't have the right tags? What if I tag it in a way I won't remember? Do I have time to create a system of tagging that will make sense to me and prevent me from "losing" websites AND be cohesive somewhat with other people's tagging systems? It's almost enough to give me a panic attack.
That being said, I would definitely use the site. For instance, when I was looking for layouts for the library's WordPress blog, I went to del.icio.us and found a bunch of tags for WordPress layouts, which directed me to some sites with fantastic alternative layouts other than the defaults the site provides. For me, I prefer to think of del.icio.us as a sort of informal catalogue or search engine for the web. It allows you to search very easily and browse through websites others have found helpful on any number of topics, and I do really like that about this site.
To avoid heart palpitations and panic attacks, though, I think I'll avoid creating my own account. Ultimately, I think it will be more useful to me as a reference tool than a personal bookmarking tool.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Rollyo
This task was easy enough. I thought the Rollyo website was simple to navigate, and it took me less than ten minutes to set up an account and roll my own search engine. Being the predictable person I am, I chose to make my own search engine of reputable music sites.
I can definitely see how this search engine would be useful. It's an easy way to create a tool that allows you to to a very specific search using only sites you are interested in reading. I don't see myself using it regularly because I am such a Google girl and have been for years that I know how to find what I'm looking for using that search engine. A lot of time, what I'm searching for I might not know where to find, so in that case, a broad internet search is what I need. I suppose if I were looking up something very specific on a topic in which I was well-versed, then Rollyo would be very helpful.
Also, it sounds petty, but one of the big detractors for Rollyo for me is the interface. I really dislike the way the search results page looks, and even though function should come before aesthetics, I still like Google's interface better than Rollyo's. It's easier to read a list of links and abstracts on a page that is visually pleasing than it is to read them on a page that is harder to look at or not as visually organized or professional-looking. This is more of a personal preference, though, so I'm sure there are a lot of people who wouldn't mind the look of the Rollyo site at all.
Overall, it's a really spiffy concept, but I just don't think I'd use it much. The more I continue doing this 23 Things program, the more I wonder...how many online accounts can a person really have and use every day?
I can definitely see how this search engine would be useful. It's an easy way to create a tool that allows you to to a very specific search using only sites you are interested in reading. I don't see myself using it regularly because I am such a Google girl and have been for years that I know how to find what I'm looking for using that search engine. A lot of time, what I'm searching for I might not know where to find, so in that case, a broad internet search is what I need. I suppose if I were looking up something very specific on a topic in which I was well-versed, then Rollyo would be very helpful.
Also, it sounds petty, but one of the big detractors for Rollyo for me is the interface. I really dislike the way the search results page looks, and even though function should come before aesthetics, I still like Google's interface better than Rollyo's. It's easier to read a list of links and abstracts on a page that is visually pleasing than it is to read them on a page that is harder to look at or not as visually organized or professional-looking. This is more of a personal preference, though, so I'm sure there are a lot of people who wouldn't mind the look of the Rollyo site at all.
Overall, it's a really spiffy concept, but I just don't think I'd use it much. The more I continue doing this 23 Things program, the more I wonder...how many online accounts can a person really have and use every day?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
LibraryThing
I feel like I'm getting off easy this week, and not just because it's a play week. I already have a LibraryThing account, and I use it religiously! I've got almost 500 books in my catalogue already! I'm a member of the Librarians Who LibraryThing group and participate in discussions there a lot. I also try to get involved in a lot of other groups there that discuss topics I'm interested in. Recently, I've gotten involved with the Early Reviewers group as well because I love reading new things that come out and am usually opinionated and verbose enough to offer a few hundred words on any given topic. Also, free books! Who could turn that down?
The thing I love best about LibraryThing is that it gives you a free digital way to organize all the books in your home library. I don't use the call numbers they provide, but I do make use of their tagging system. I sometimes forget what I have on my shelves, so the ability to log on and search for a specific title or author is very handy in preventing me from purchasing titles twice. In addition, I like being able to group my books with tags when I can't always group them together physically on my shelves. I can't look at my physical bookshelf and see all the books on feminist literature I have, but I can click on my "feminist" tag on LibraryThing and have a handy list of everything I consider to fit into that category.
Anyone who's worked with me knows that I'm a bit neurotic, a bit overeager to organize things, and LibraryThing appeals to me in some deep, core way...all via technology. I ♥ LibraryThing.
You can see the widget I created using LT's Beta Widget Instructions for LiveJournal and MySpace widgets on my journal. I like that you can be very specific in your customizing when you create it yourself. Just click it to visit my profile!
The thing I love best about LibraryThing is that it gives you a free digital way to organize all the books in your home library. I don't use the call numbers they provide, but I do make use of their tagging system. I sometimes forget what I have on my shelves, so the ability to log on and search for a specific title or author is very handy in preventing me from purchasing titles twice. In addition, I like being able to group my books with tags when I can't always group them together physically on my shelves. I can't look at my physical bookshelf and see all the books on feminist literature I have, but I can click on my "feminist" tag on LibraryThing and have a handy list of everything I consider to fit into that category.
Anyone who's worked with me knows that I'm a bit neurotic, a bit overeager to organize things, and LibraryThing appeals to me in some deep, core way...all via technology. I ♥ LibraryThing.
You can see the widget I created using LT's Beta Widget Instructions for LiveJournal and MySpace widgets on my journal. I like that you can be very specific in your customizing when you create it yourself. Just click it to visit my profile!
Online Image Generators
It's official. I am in love with The Generator Blog. I spent a good three hours playing around on there and following links to all sorts of fun stuff. I can't imagine who has enough time to hunt down all of these online toys and post about them, but I'm sure glad someone does. I already posted my Meez character the other day, but I thought that in the spirit of the great communal love of The Simpsons, I should immortalize myself as a resident of Springfield using the Simpsons Avatar Generator. I didn't come out looking TOO accurate, but the fact that I can have a fist on my shirt amuses me because one of my favorite albums of late has been Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins, and on that album, there is a song called "Rise Up With Fists!!!" (exclamation marks included in the song title). So the shirt makes me laugh because I can at least be a Jenny Lewis fan in Springfield.
I also got a kick out of FD Toys' Badge Maker on the Flickr site. Yes, it's official: I am a huge geek because I made the following graphic.
But come on...you know you laughed. My avatar is in the last post, so you can check it out there. This was a fun exercise. It was nice to play a bit after the technical complications of the Bloglines activity.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
MERLIN and Library-Related Blogs and Feeds
Hm. I think I ended up lumping all of this into thing 8 by accident because I already explored the feed search engines and news feeds when I created my Bloglines account, and I discussed a lot of how I felt regarding the usefulness and the ease of finding new feeds to subscribe to in that previous entry.
However, I did have an interesting experience looking through the gaming, avatars, and virtual worlds link. Am I the only person who finds the concept of Second Life disturbing in the extreme? My real life is complicated enough; why would I want the added responsibility of trying to maintain a second me somewhere else. Who wants to play a game in which you have to go to work? If I were going to create a fake self, all I'd want to do with my fake self was sit on the beach listening to music, sipping margaritas, and reading books all day. I wouldn't be going to the library to research jobs or other things...that's a real life activity. I also have a major problem with the fact that people are spending real money to purchase fake places. It just seems mind-bogglingly scary. I'm a pretty big internet addict, but even I have to raise my eyebrows when I look at Second Life and go...wow, don't you people have anything better to do with your time? Wouldn't your effort be better spent trying to improve your REAL life? Creepy.
I also made a Meez because I think avatar generators are fun. I'm not adhering to library dress code in this one, so I guess we'll have to assume this is Patron Shannon instead of Librarian Shannon:
However, I did have an interesting experience looking through the gaming, avatars, and virtual worlds link. Am I the only person who finds the concept of Second Life disturbing in the extreme? My real life is complicated enough; why would I want the added responsibility of trying to maintain a second me somewhere else. Who wants to play a game in which you have to go to work? If I were going to create a fake self, all I'd want to do with my fake self was sit on the beach listening to music, sipping margaritas, and reading books all day. I wouldn't be going to the library to research jobs or other things...that's a real life activity. I also have a major problem with the fact that people are spending real money to purchase fake places. It just seems mind-bogglingly scary. I'm a pretty big internet addict, but even I have to raise my eyebrows when I look at Second Life and go...wow, don't you people have anything better to do with your time? Wouldn't your effort be better spent trying to improve your REAL life? Creepy.
I also made a Meez because I think avatar generators are fun. I'm not adhering to library dress code in this one, so I guess we'll have to assume this is Patron Shannon instead of Librarian Shannon:
Friday, July 13, 2007
RSS Feeds and Bloglines
This week's activity involving RSS feeds and feed readers was really informative for me. I troll around the internet all the time, but I've never experimented with either of these features in the past. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about Bloglines. I know that I think RSS feeds are amazingly handy when you want to collect information in an easy-to-read format, and I think that Bloglines is a fantastic concept with a useful purpose, but it's so clunky.
I found myself clicking all around Bloglines trying to find the best way of navigating it because there was just...so much there. I'm not sure I ever really discovered the most effective way to search for RSS feeds on the site; I bumbled around awkwardly and gravitated toward lists like the 200 Most Popular Feeds. Overall, it seemed as though the website was too dense with links and tabs and information; even for someone as familiar with the internet and technology as I am, I sometimes spent several minutes trying to figure out exactly what I was doing. I found it easier to go to the website, copy the address and paste it into the feed reader than to search for feeds on Bloglines. The feed search engines, the names of which now escape me, were also handy. My frustration with the Bloglines site could be because I'm unfamiliar with the service, but at the same time, it should be sort of user-friendly for all the newcomers to the website, particularly if RSS Feeds are gaining in popularity and being exposed to a lot of new users.
I set up a Bloglines account, and I love all the feeds I signed up for, but I'm wondering how often I'm actually going to use it. Perhaps if I'm having a slow morning on the desk, I might pop over to check on what's new, but for the most part, it seems...extraneous for me. I'm not a habitual blog reader, so I don't really have a problem checking the few sites I keep up with on a regular basis. Not only that, I use Google Alerts, which allows me to have weekly, daily, or up-to-the-minute updates on any topic sent right to my email inbox. I have them set up for several different topics, and once a day, I get a few comprehensive newsletters with abstracts and links to articles dealing with the subjects for which I've set up alerts. It's fast and easy and thorough, and it doesn't require any extra accounts or clients anywhere to use it. All you need is your regular email address. It's still in its beta testing phase right now, but it works like a dream.
Overall, I guess Bloglines is cool; RSS feeds are definitely handy. I'm just not sure how much I'll actually use it. If I were more of a newshound, I would find the service wildly useful and to be a huge timesaver, but for someone who is only a sometime-blog follower, I don't see it becoming a staple in my technological diet.
I found myself clicking all around Bloglines trying to find the best way of navigating it because there was just...so much there. I'm not sure I ever really discovered the most effective way to search for RSS feeds on the site; I bumbled around awkwardly and gravitated toward lists like the 200 Most Popular Feeds. Overall, it seemed as though the website was too dense with links and tabs and information; even for someone as familiar with the internet and technology as I am, I sometimes spent several minutes trying to figure out exactly what I was doing. I found it easier to go to the website, copy the address and paste it into the feed reader than to search for feeds on Bloglines. The feed search engines, the names of which now escape me, were also handy. My frustration with the Bloglines site could be because I'm unfamiliar with the service, but at the same time, it should be sort of user-friendly for all the newcomers to the website, particularly if RSS Feeds are gaining in popularity and being exposed to a lot of new users.
I set up a Bloglines account, and I love all the feeds I signed up for, but I'm wondering how often I'm actually going to use it. Perhaps if I'm having a slow morning on the desk, I might pop over to check on what's new, but for the most part, it seems...extraneous for me. I'm not a habitual blog reader, so I don't really have a problem checking the few sites I keep up with on a regular basis. Not only that, I use Google Alerts, which allows me to have weekly, daily, or up-to-the-minute updates on any topic sent right to my email inbox. I have them set up for several different topics, and once a day, I get a few comprehensive newsletters with abstracts and links to articles dealing with the subjects for which I've set up alerts. It's fast and easy and thorough, and it doesn't require any extra accounts or clients anywhere to use it. All you need is your regular email address. It's still in its beta testing phase right now, but it works like a dream.
Overall, I guess Bloglines is cool; RSS feeds are definitely handy. I'm just not sure how much I'll actually use it. If I were more of a newshound, I would find the service wildly useful and to be a huge timesaver, but for someone who is only a sometime-blog follower, I don't see it becoming a staple in my technological diet.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Random Praise For Technology
So part of our assignment this week is to post about some form of technology, anything at all. I'm going to tackle the omnipresent MySpace for this post. Now, MySpace offers a ton of features, most centrally the ability to engage in social networking - either keeping in touch with old friends or making new ones. That's not the feature that interests me most though.
The best thing about MySpace, in my humble opinion, is what it is doing for music. These days, in the music industry, it's nearly impossible for small artists to get recognized and signed to labels because major corporations are buying up all the distributors. You've got your Sony/BMG and your WEA and your Warner, and they all own the publishing rights to labels all the way down the chain, from the big ones like Verve to the little ones like Saddle Creek. Radio moguls like the ubiquitous and heavy-handed ClearChannel control the airwaves and play songs for cash. (You may have heard of this. It's called Payola, and you can find more information about it here and here.)
Well, for a girl with as eclectic tastes as mine, this is really infurating. The last thing I want to hear when I turn on the radio in my car is the same stupid song by the same stupid band who is all over MTV and everything else within my ear- or eye-shot. I don't even like Britney Spears, but I know all the lyrics to her songs. Why? Because they're crammed down my throat against my will via any means possible.
But I digress. This wasn't intended to be a rant on the state of the music business these days, although it is relevant to my praise for MySpace. People like me who feel like they can't rely on mainstream media to provide music that makes their ears happy have to go underground to indie labels, digging through recommendations and websites and indie music mags to find things that we think are quality. When you're on a hunt for truly good music, it doesn't matter if only 12 people have heard of a band. If you like them and you managed to connect with their music in this big, wide world, you've achieved something fantastic. And if you're lucky, you can talk to fans of that band and find other musicians that they've discovered that you might like as well. (As a side note, I once read a quote that said, "All knowledge is contained within fandom. This is either very good for fandom or very bad for knowledge." I think it's good for both. There's no greater motivator than love for a sound or artist to encourage people to dig up all the facts they can.)
That's why MySpace is an amazing thing for people who are interested in finding music that is "outside the box." Thanks to the fact that everyone and their dog has a MySpace page, including musicians who are trying to make their way in this world, you can find and listen to just about any artist that's out there these days. The streaming audio that is provided on each band's page allows potential fans to sample the artists' work before buying, which is massively important when scouting out new music to add to your collection. It's easy for artists to upload songs, and they can make them available for download or just streaming. They can upload videos, photographs, tour dates, newsletters, and all types of information. Basically, MySpace offers them their own free webspace where they can advertise their band even if they have no web design skills whatsoever.
In the past, if a friend recommended a band to me, the only way I had of listening to them was to either A - hope they had a website with streaming audio set up (not easy for bands who are just starting out and aren't web savvy) or B - have my friend upload a song for me to download (i.e. file sharing). Now, if a friend asks me, "Have you heard this new band out of Columbus?" and I haven't, all I have to do is go to MySpace, search for their name, and listen to whatever they have up on their page. And if I really like them, I can add their song to my personal profile so everyone who visits my page can hear my new find too.
It's really an amazing phenomenon for music. While Amazon offers you the ability to listen to 30-second samples of songs, sometimes that isn't enough to decide if you really like a band or not. Plus, their player can be clunky and annoying, while MySpace just streams automatically without having to open up a special player or make use of your computer's Windows Media Player.
MySpace may be a lot of things -- annoying, ad-laden, filled with skeezy people who treat it like a dating service, addictively time-consuming, rife with petty drama -- but for me, its most redeeming feature is the fact that it has allowed bands to advertise themselves and put their music out there for all of us who don't want to listen to what the ad execs tell us we should. Viva la resistance!
The best thing about MySpace, in my humble opinion, is what it is doing for music. These days, in the music industry, it's nearly impossible for small artists to get recognized and signed to labels because major corporations are buying up all the distributors. You've got your Sony/BMG and your WEA and your Warner, and they all own the publishing rights to labels all the way down the chain, from the big ones like Verve to the little ones like Saddle Creek. Radio moguls like the ubiquitous and heavy-handed ClearChannel control the airwaves and play songs for cash. (You may have heard of this. It's called Payola, and you can find more information about it here and here.)
Well, for a girl with as eclectic tastes as mine, this is really infurating. The last thing I want to hear when I turn on the radio in my car is the same stupid song by the same stupid band who is all over MTV and everything else within my ear- or eye-shot. I don't even like Britney Spears, but I know all the lyrics to her songs. Why? Because they're crammed down my throat against my will via any means possible.
But I digress. This wasn't intended to be a rant on the state of the music business these days, although it is relevant to my praise for MySpace. People like me who feel like they can't rely on mainstream media to provide music that makes their ears happy have to go underground to indie labels, digging through recommendations and websites and indie music mags to find things that we think are quality. When you're on a hunt for truly good music, it doesn't matter if only 12 people have heard of a band. If you like them and you managed to connect with their music in this big, wide world, you've achieved something fantastic. And if you're lucky, you can talk to fans of that band and find other musicians that they've discovered that you might like as well. (As a side note, I once read a quote that said, "All knowledge is contained within fandom. This is either very good for fandom or very bad for knowledge." I think it's good for both. There's no greater motivator than love for a sound or artist to encourage people to dig up all the facts they can.)
That's why MySpace is an amazing thing for people who are interested in finding music that is "outside the box." Thanks to the fact that everyone and their dog has a MySpace page, including musicians who are trying to make their way in this world, you can find and listen to just about any artist that's out there these days. The streaming audio that is provided on each band's page allows potential fans to sample the artists' work before buying, which is massively important when scouting out new music to add to your collection. It's easy for artists to upload songs, and they can make them available for download or just streaming. They can upload videos, photographs, tour dates, newsletters, and all types of information. Basically, MySpace offers them their own free webspace where they can advertise their band even if they have no web design skills whatsoever.
In the past, if a friend recommended a band to me, the only way I had of listening to them was to either A - hope they had a website with streaming audio set up (not easy for bands who are just starting out and aren't web savvy) or B - have my friend upload a song for me to download (i.e. file sharing). Now, if a friend asks me, "Have you heard this new band out of Columbus?" and I haven't, all I have to do is go to MySpace, search for their name, and listen to whatever they have up on their page. And if I really like them, I can add their song to my personal profile so everyone who visits my page can hear my new find too.
It's really an amazing phenomenon for music. While Amazon offers you the ability to listen to 30-second samples of songs, sometimes that isn't enough to decide if you really like a band or not. Plus, their player can be clunky and annoying, while MySpace just streams automatically without having to open up a special player or make use of your computer's Windows Media Player.
MySpace may be a lot of things -- annoying, ad-laden, filled with skeezy people who treat it like a dating service, addictively time-consuming, rife with petty drama -- but for me, its most redeeming feature is the fact that it has allowed bands to advertise themselves and put their music out there for all of us who don't want to listen to what the ad execs tell us we should. Viva la resistance!
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