23 Things. What I think?

I found doing the 23 things project challenging and rewarding. For example I find some web 2.0 technogies such as 'Encore' play an important part in helping students and academics access books a lot easier and quicker than the traditional catalogue. However I personally found that some other technologies such a Wiki, Delicious and Blogger are not so important. I like the idea of recording things in a traditional diary.

I don't think I will be using many of the 23 things in the future but I do appreciate their role and enjoyment they must bring to certain people in our community. I find that technologies such as 'Facebook', 'My Space' etc are tools that to some extent have taken away the natural and traditional way of meeting or communicaring with people. I hear too many complaints from parents and teachers that the Y generation spend too much time using these types of technologies to communicate with their friends. As a consequence many young people often neglect other important facets of their lives such as excercise, they lack of ability to socialise with people on a one to one basis.

Webbased Communication tools.

I invited Peter Ring to chat with me via 'Google talk'. I haven't had a chance to chat with him yet but I am hoping I can chat with him when we find some time.

I think communication tools like 'Google talk' or 'MSN' would be very useful in the Library environment, for example a student can ask a reference query and a Librarian will be able to respond immedietly.

Podcast

Today I learned how to access Podcasts and linked them to my Google Reader. I linked the ABC Lateline video podcast to my Google Feeder. I have watched several LateLine programs until now.

Mr. Bean Library

Youtube Mr. Bean Library

I think YouTube is one of the most entertaining communication tools I have encountered. I especially like looking at aeroplanes taking off and landing.

Below is the link to the Mr.Bean Library youtube clip.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=RyDY0hiMZy8

Wiki

I found placing a photo of my cousins parrots on Wiki a very enjoyable exercise. Its certainly a great tool to share photos amongst your friends, colleagues, overseas relatives etc.

It took me a while to resize the photo but it was a worthwhile experience.

Library 2.0 Experience

I find that web 2.0 technogies are a great internet tools. For example I find that 'Encore' is a tool that many students, academics and Librarians find it easier and quicker to find information than using the traditional catalogue. In my opinion 'Encore' performs as a one stop shop giving you access to such information as the most recently added titles of a particular subject, search tags etc. Although the catalogue provides you with similar information, I find that it takes a lot longer to seek out the information.

Other Web 2.0 technologies that I also find can be useful in communicating with students and academics is youtube, facebook, My space. The VU VC has been using Facebook to communicate with students and staff.

delicious

I am not sure what to think about 'delicious'. I can see the value and interest some people may get out of sharing sites via a book mark managing tool. I must admit that I found some interesting Commercial Airliner sites book marked by other people and I might just surprise my self one day and become a 'delicious' user and bookmark a few sites to share with others.

At present I think I am happy using "My Favourites" tool to book mark my favourate sites.

IGoogle Home Page

Today I set up IGoogle home page. On my home page I set up an artists theme and added a few gadgets i.e news, politics, from the main menu. I even used the "Add Stuff" facility to search for some gadgets that I am interested in i.e pictures of Greece; Google Map Search etc.

I think that this is a very useful tool because I was able to access all my favourate Google products on one page. In my opinion I see IGoogle as a one stop shop where I am able to access news headlines, information on the latest films etc without having to go into these site invidually.

Google Book Search and Google Scholar

Today I used Google Book Search. Although some academics have alerted me to this search engine I have never used it until now. I think its a great search engine and I will definetly be using it from now on as a selection tool to purchase books to support courses run at City Flinders.
I will also be alerting students to this search engine so they can access fulltext books to support their assignments. I am also very impressed with the search limiter that allows you only to view full text books.

I have used Google Schollar on many ocassions and find that its an excellent tool to use to find schorally information such as peer reviewed journal articles. Recently I attended a workshop on searching Google and Google Schollar effectively.

Google Docs

Today I learned about sharing documents , files etc via Google Docs. I shared a document with Peter Ring.

I remember some time ago at one of the Library staff meetings Professor Richard Carter talked about the univerity should implement a system in place where documents can be mounted on a database and shared by the University community.

Google Maps

I have used Google Maps on many ocassions and I think that its a fabulous tool. Recently I used Google maps to see what condition my parents property is in and that no one has fed their prized olive trees to their goats.

My Space

I just had a look at some of the Libraries around the world that are using My Space aimed at teenagers i.e Alameda County Library. I found their Zombie youtube clip a bit over the top but I supose like every other organisation, Libararies have also got to market themselves to stay relevant. Therefore in my opinion My Space and Face Book are not only a cheap and effective way to socialise with people around the world but also market yourself or your organisation.

I have also just set up a Facebook account. I hacve set up my Facebook account under the name Zun Trip. I tried to find some high school friends who may be on Facebook but to no avail. I will keep trying.

I did not add any photos or take a webcam to be part of my Facebook because althoughI think its a good way for people to socialise with each other I personally don't think its a tool that I will be using in the future. I am currently happy with just catching up with my current friends and socialising face to face. I find it inpersonal socialising via screens.

Subscribe to some Blogs

Today I learned to search and subscribe to blogs.

I found a blog via Google Blog Search. I will try searching for a blog via Technorati some other time. The blog I selected (via Google Blog Search) and subscribed to is a Law Librarian Blog in the US. http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/.

I subscribed to the above blog using FeedBlitz is which is a provider of RSS and blog email marketing, newsletter and subscription services.

I like the the RSS services that are now offered by many sites because not only do they save you time by not needing to visit each site individually but I also find its a good way to stay informed by retrieving the latest content from sites you are interested in i.e news, web blogs and other online publuishers etc.

Digg

Today I registered with Digg.
I think that Digg is a good social networking tool if you want to share news with others around the world and comment on each others news. However I personally think that its not my prefered way to access news plus the only news stories that get to the first page are the ones that have been given the most votes. I still prefer the old newspaper.


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