June 30
Skype
I have had mainly very good experiences using Skype, a software which allows people to communicate using voice like telephones. I have used it on a number of occasions when discussing software with overseas publishers.
In the use, I did fine, that occasionally the site would be down or that the sound would deteriorate. It is possible to message people through the site, which helped a lot in these situations.
Generally I consider it a very useful software which saves on the cost of phone calls over long distances, whether they are between countries or towns in Australia. The requirement is that both people who want to communicate have a computer where sound is accessible and a working internet connection.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Second life
June 30
Second life is a virtual world, launched in 2003, accessible on the internet.
People who join the site are called residents and can communicate with each other through human looking objects called avatars. The website contains 3D modelling tools, which allow residents to create shapes and then use scripting language to add textures, such as clothing to the objects, whether they are in human form or not.
I understand from talking to users of Second life that there is quite a learning curcve to get the tools working properly but that it is a very creative space where people can develop the space they want in this world.
Saw the Ohio Uni ad for their Second life campus which was attractive due to people flying and walking through walls etc.
Second life is a virtual world, launched in 2003, accessible on the internet.
People who join the site are called residents and can communicate with each other through human looking objects called avatars. The website contains 3D modelling tools, which allow residents to create shapes and then use scripting language to add textures, such as clothing to the objects, whether they are in human form or not.
I understand from talking to users of Second life that there is quite a learning curcve to get the tools working properly but that it is a very creative space where people can develop the space they want in this world.
Saw the Ohio Uni ad for their Second life campus which was attractive due to people flying and walking through walls etc.
June 30
Facebook
I have been a member of Facebook since the start of this year and find it most useful for keeping up-to-date with friends who are living far away from me, ie overseas.
I'm not a very regular user, but it has been nice when old school friends get in touch. Find it unusual to be contacted by people who I don't know at all!
There's lots of space for photos and comments, which you can write on friends "walls".
I have been a member of Facebook since the start of this year and find it most useful for keeping up-to-date with friends who are living far away from me, ie overseas.
I'm not a very regular user, but it has been nice when old school friends get in touch. Find it unusual to be contacted by people who I don't know at all!
There's lots of space for photos and comments, which you can write on friends "walls".
June 30
Drupal
Drupal is a free, open-source content management system and allows groups to create a social-enabled website. It can be described as My Space or Facebook type social network and has been used successfully in educational environments.
Libraries are using Drupal for library websites, staff intranets, collaboration and communities of interest. eg scholarly interaction on the topic of ethics in the use of bibliographic data.
Drupal
Drupal is a free, open-source content management system and allows groups to create a social-enabled website. It can be described as My Space or Facebook type social network and has been used successfully in educational environments.
Libraries are using Drupal for library websites, staff intranets, collaboration and communities of interest. eg scholarly interaction on the topic of ethics in the use of bibliographic data.
RSS and newsreaders
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication”
An RSS feed is a file that has information useful for delivering regularly updated information over the web. RSS feeds began when popular blog services started building features on their software that automatically generated these xml. files containing the latest additions to a website's content.
Websites such as Bloglines, which I used to set up some RSS feeds of news websites are aggregators which let us view many feeds on one web page.
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders? It is the timesaving fuction I like the most. I can get an overview of the news headlines all over the world without clicking into different sites.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?
For work I can keep abreast of news around Victoria ready for when I visit to do audits or training in different towns. I can also keep up-to-date with my personal interestsusing the RSS feeds.
How might Vicnet use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
Give each member of the Vicnet team a relevant topic to set up feeds on and ask for reports back at staff meetings or set up a wiki where all can update the topics.
Please note, I did look for the "Share" button to share my bloglines URL but could not find it on my bloglines page.
An RSS feed is a file that has information useful for delivering regularly updated information over the web. RSS feeds began when popular blog services started building features on their software that automatically generated these xml. files containing the latest additions to a website's content.
Websites such as Bloglines, which I used to set up some RSS feeds of news websites are aggregators which let us view many feeds on one web page.
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders? It is the timesaving fuction I like the most. I can get an overview of the news headlines all over the world without clicking into different sites.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?
For work I can keep abreast of news around Victoria ready for when I visit to do audits or training in different towns. I can also keep up-to-date with my personal interestsusing the RSS feeds.
How might Vicnet use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
Give each member of the Vicnet team a relevant topic to set up feeds on and ask for reports back at staff meetings or set up a wiki where all can update the topics.
Please note, I did look for the "Share" button to share my bloglines URL but could not find it on my bloglines page.
Mind maps and Flow charts
June 30
Mind Maps
I think that mind maps are extremely useful for people when trying to oganise the relationship between concepts. They are most helpful for group brainstorming sessions and individual demonstraions of concepts. Of course, it does depend on the person, but sometimes I find detailed mind maps overwhelming to look at if there is not a person there who can explain the process used to develop them. If there is, mind maps are a great way for grasping a quick visual understanding. I used Mindmeister for my mind maps. It was easy to use, the trial version was a bit lacking in tools, but that is an encouragement to purchase the more sophisticated versions.
Flowcharts
Flowcharts are better, I believe for displaying more specific information. For example, I used flowcharts in my other work to demonstrate the steps in a process, so that other people can learn it. I found Gliffy a very clear an easy tool for flowchart development.
Overall I recommend mind maps for people to develop more complex understandings of multiple relationships and flow charts for imparting clear and specific instructions to others.
Mind Maps
I think that mind maps are extremely useful for people when trying to oganise the relationship between concepts. They are most helpful for group brainstorming sessions and individual demonstraions of concepts. Of course, it does depend on the person, but sometimes I find detailed mind maps overwhelming to look at if there is not a person there who can explain the process used to develop them. If there is, mind maps are a great way for grasping a quick visual understanding. I used Mindmeister for my mind maps. It was easy to use, the trial version was a bit lacking in tools, but that is an encouragement to purchase the more sophisticated versions.
Flowcharts
Flowcharts are better, I believe for displaying more specific information. For example, I used flowcharts in my other work to demonstrate the steps in a process, so that other people can learn it. I found Gliffy a very clear an easy tool for flowchart development.
Overall I recommend mind maps for people to develop more complex understandings of multiple relationships and flow charts for imparting clear and specific instructions to others.
Letterpop
June 30
A useful website which provides templates for newsletters and a drag and drop facility to import pictures. The 293 templates give amazing choice. A bit miffed that some I chose were not as editable as I would have liked.
I developed a newsletter on the Leaning Tower of Pisa called "I'm still standing" and published it for others to see.
A useful website which provides templates for newsletters and a drag and drop facility to import pictures. The 293 templates give amazing choice. A bit miffed that some I chose were not as editable as I would have liked.
I developed a newsletter on the Leaning Tower of Pisa called "I'm still standing" and published it for others to see.
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