TLC 2.0 / Web 2.0 / 23 Things Course: Wrapup

As yet, none of the web tools I've learned about in this course have significantly changed how I work or what I see as my work goals. What I learned was interesting for the most part, but except for blogs, RSS feeds and YouTube, so far I haven't found the need for any significant use for any of the other tools, even those which have a potential use, like Library Thing and web-based applications (WPA).

Although theoretically useful these web tools have not yet been of any practical use to me yet. Perhaps this will change with time. I can especially see using WPA more since the future of software technology for basic office applications seems to be making it available on the web rather than desktop access. Facebook also looks like it has a lot of potential for the workplace.

I would recommend this course to others as a good introduction to these web technologies. The only criticism I have is that some of the information presented was outdated (the latest updates for most of the material presented on the 23 things page were in 2007). I sometimes had to find my own study materials. Overall though, it was a good course, and I would take similar courses using this method again.

Facebook: My First Look

An interesting technology with a lot of potential in the workplace. So far, I've only scratched the surface of this site, so I can't say how it will effect my work, but from what I've read about the uses of Facebook, it looks promising.

Podcasts

An interesting technology, but thus far one that I've never had much use or need for. Print feeds are more to my liking, and they do not require headphones, whose use at work has the effect of isolating oneshelf from one's surroundings.

RSS podcast feed link: http://www.npr.org/templates/rss/podlayer.php?id=5500502

Web Video Searching & Sharing

Of all the web 2.0 technologies I’ve studied, so far video searching and sharing websites have proven to be one of the most useful in library work. I’ve been using youtube and google video for some time now. It’s a interesting source for personal entertainment (I like the history video clips), but it’s also a good source of information for the reference librarian, if one is careful. For example, if patrons need video sources for a subject for which no conventional video formats (vhs, dvd) are available, youtube or google video may be adequate substitute sources. These sources can also provide tutorial/instructional video material, but care is needed when determining the quality/authority of the video source.

Comments on Some Award-Winning Web 2.0 Sites

The widget, or small application web 2.0 sites, looked interesting, but like many of these kind of web 2.0 sites, they lack sufficient organization for practical library use (or any use, for that matter). What's needed is a website that permits effective access to the type of widget that's needed. Using a search engine usually isn't very efficient.

Some of the other sites looked more useful. In particular, I liked the homepage creation sites and the book management sites.

Web Productivity Application Software

The following was pasted from my first Zoho Writer document (since I couldn't post it directly here because either the software has bugs in it or the instructions given were incorrect).

First zoho writer document. The interface doesn't seem too bad--seems easy to use. The toolbar is similar to MS Word's. The function categories (the line of drop down menus directly above the toolbar) isn't too bad either. Some of the functions are repeated from the toolbar. Zoho Writer is more sophisticated than notepad or wordpad, but compared to most word processing programs, it's pretty much plain vanilla.

There are some significant word processing features missing from Zoho Writer and some bugs as well. There are no tab functions. The Zoho writer's forum says that this omission will be rectified in the future. And as noted above, I wasn't able to post this document to my blog using the directions given. I keep getting a "Can't post to blog: username or password may be incorrect, " even though the username and password I enter are correct.

Oh well. I guess you can't expect too much for something that's free. Which is one of the criticisms I have with these sites: they aren't as good as desktop purchased software. Which brings up another point: I wonder how long these web application programs will remain free of charge? The ones that succeed (presumably because they're easy to use and have a lot of features) will probably turn into fee-based sites, and there will pass one of the key advantages to this 2.0 technology.

I tried out Google Doc word processor, with similar results. I guess I won't be abandoning MS Word anytime soon.

What About Wikis

Wikis show a lot of potential for collaborative authoring, sharing information and coordinating activities. The key factors in the creation and use of wikis:
1. What is the wiki for? What is its purpose, why is there a need for it? This must be carefully thought out.
2. Who is the wiki for? Who is going to use it, and who is going to be allowed to edit it? These questions will be largely determined by question 1.

Wikis, like some of the 23 things in web 2.0, are fine and useful, but I doubt I'll be creating a wiki or even editing one anytime soon; so far it is of not much inmediate use, beyond viewing.

Subject guides, community guides, and internal library wikis seem to be of the most practical use, the key factor being the ease of creating and editing wikis.