Topic 8 Exercise 8.4

Aggregation, syndication and the social engine

a) RSS is an XML application needed for aggregration and syndication, often called a Web "feed".

What is RSS and explain what aggregation and syndication are and how they have changed the nature of the Web. How do you subscribe to an RSS feed? Try some of these RSS enabled sites such as itunes.com and the notions of "swarm" and "stack" at digg.com

b) del.ico.us is a social bookmarking website. What does this mean and what are the advantages for workgroups? Discuss how del.ico.us uses the term "tag" in a different context to what Web publishers would be familiar.

c) How do you see services such as those provided at the GoToWeb20.net site as changing the way that YOU and your future networks operate?

d) Explain how the Elgg social engine works on a Web site where it is installed? Is this the type of application you want on your Web server in the workplace?

a) RSS or Really simple syndication can also be referred to as Rich site summary. RSS is a family of web feed format which is used to publish frequently updated works such as a blog or a video. An RSS document includes full or summarised text in addition to metadata such as publishing dates or authorship. Web Feeds (as RSS documents are commonly referred to) is advantageous to publishers as it allows them to syndicate content automatically. RSS feeds can be read using software called an RSS reader, feed reader or aggregator. An aggregator is client software or a web application which aggregates syndicated web content in a single location to make viewing easier. Syndication is when website material is made available to many other sites. More commonly, web syndication refers to making web feeds available so people can view most recent events that have occurred at the site.

b) Social bookmarking sites such as del.cio.us is a method for users of the internet to share, organise, search and manage bookmarks of web resources. Files themselves are not shared, merely the bookmarks that reference them.

The advantages for workgroups using bookmarking sites is that descriptions may be added to these bookmarks in the form of metadata, so that users can gain an understanding of the content without having to download it themselves, thus wasting time. According to Wikipedia “many social bookmarking services provide web feeds for their list of book marks, including lists organised by tags. This allows subscribers to become aware of new bookmarks as they are saved, shared or tagged by others.

Tags are one word descriptors that you can assign to your bookmark on Delicious to help you better organise and remember them. Similar to keywords, but the user chooses the most appropriate tag to help them remember and access the site with more ease. You have the freedom to assign as many tags as you wish to a bookmark and you have to option of renaming or deleting them at a later date. This makes tagging a lot easier and flexible than trying to fit information into preconceived categories or folders. Users of Delicious also have the freedom to add more than one tag to their bookmark…which is ideal when it falls into several categories.

c) The services provided at gotoweb.20 and similar websites provide access to many other websites from that one page. It would make it easier for workgroups to operate and certainly would be less time consuming that having to trudge through a multitude of other sites to find the relevant information.

d) Elgg is an open source social engine that began in 2004 and powers all kinds of social environments including education, business. Elgg comes with a set of default profile fields which may be extended or completely changed by the site adminstrator. By using Elgg’s powerful widget framework the user is able to choose a bank of available widgets to create full and rich profiles. The Elgg profile gives a good overview of a member of the site, compiling their activity with the site.

I guess this type of search engine would be beneficial in the workplace as it would help employers to keep a track of their employees activities at work, however, personally I wouldn’t like to have my movements tracked so closely.

Topic 8 Exeercise 8.3

Data portability, FOAF and the Semantic Web

1. Begin with the YouTube video at http://www.foaf-project.org/community
2. Like a chain letter, our data seems to move within and between tools like Facebook and Twitter. Is this a good thing?
3. According to http://foaf-project.org/about, the "Friend of a Friend" project or FOAF is described as:

FOAF is a simple technology that makes it easier to share and use information about people and their activities (eg. photos, calendars, weblogs), to transfer information between Web sites, and to automatically extend, merge and re-use it online. The Friend of a Friend (FOAF) project is creating a Web of machine-readable pages describing people, the links between them and they things they create and do.

How does the FOAF tag from part of the Semantic Web and Web Services via social networks?

Q1. I found the video at Youtube an interesting way to get the message across to an audience. The video reminds us about the mundane task of repeatedly filling in the same details about yourself each time you sign up to a social networking site. It would be so much easier if you did not have to go through that process each time. I, in particular found it very frustrating trying to sign up for Second life as for some reason the registration process was not that fond of me. Life would be so much simpler if there was a uniform procedure that just automatically filled out your details allowing the user to get on with the task of simply using the social networking site.

Q2. I think that users of networking sites should be able to take their data with them when they leave a site. I understand by being able to do this businesses cannot send products etc to entice the user back on board, but I think it would encourage networking sites to ensure that the services they provide are up to scratch so users will not want to leave.

Q3: The connection between Social Networking Sites and semantic community portals is strong. The friend of a friend (FOAF) ontology has been used by many social networking sites such as Tribe and it describes member profiles and their relationships. Using FOAF ontology is leading to interoperability between the different standalone social networking sites. This will increase the number of “happy chances” occurring between people who utilise these online worlds by bringing them all together in a universal social network. For this to happen though, according to Wikipedia “more social networking sites will be required to use FOAF, SIOC (Semantically Interlinked Online Communities) and other related ontologies making the data within them distributed and decentralized as opposed to being locked into proprietary sites or applications.

Topic 8 Exercise 8.2

The avalanche of applications self-interview

Try an interview with yourself like mine below to extract your own thoughts on the topic. Devise three (3) questions that interest you at this stage and reveal what is one your mind to yourself. Comment on the self-interview experience in your blog.

At this point in time, especially after my relaxing walk I ask myself the following questions:

Am I going to be able to use anything I have learnt during this course in the classroom?

The honest answer to that question at this point of time is no. Most of what I have learnt is at this stage no use to me because I am currently working in a small school where we don’t have access to computers very often. I do believe, however that in the future, that will change and my learning from this unit will be more useful. On the other hand, I have met some lovely people during this course and we have had the opportunity to share and discuss different websites that are useful in the classroom so not all is lost.

How am I going to cope with the workload from this unit and that of my full time teaching?

I am finding that the workload combined with the pressures of my work is getting a bit heavy at times. To be honest, I have been thinking whether or not it is worth continuing this unit considering I am under a lot of stress. (I am moving schools/towns/houses in the next few weeks as well). I have decided the best way to cope with it all is to take little steps, do a little bit each day and do my best. In many ways it is good being under this pressure as I have to utilise strategies to de stress myself. I am getting better at this.

What do I think of the tools for communication that has been introduced during this unit?

I think the hardest thing to keep up with is remembering all the user names and passwords! Can be a bit confusing at times. Some of the tools for communication that I have been introduced to I have really liked….in particular Webex as I see something like that working in a small isolated school like mine where specialist teachers are hard to find. I think the only downside of it is the cost of it… I wasn’t as impressed with Second life…..it took me ages to even get to sign in and when I finally got in I though “what the…” and had no idea what to do! It has been good though getting a feel for all the different types of communication available.

Topic 8 Exercise 8.1

The 30 Minute Walk

Take a break and go for a walk for 15-30 minutes. Like me, you need the exercise, so relax and enjoy the surroundings of your farm or neighborhood, as you need a break from the computer.

Come back to the computer and begin writing a short narrative on the experience. It took me over 200 words to record mine!

Currently living in a small mining community I did not think my surroundings were that exciting or refreshing. In hindsight I am thinking now that maybe I just haven’t taken the time “to smell the roses” so to speak, before now. Anyway, as part of topic 8, I donned my sandshoes and set off for a walk around the area surrounding my home. Out the front of my house, I can only see a main road dotted with lots of “sub standard” mining houses….pretty boring and mundane. Not really enthused by this prospect I set out the back of my house. Initially, I am surrounded by a railway track and a multitude of my next door neighbour’s collection of various machinery……not to be deterred I set off down past the railway track and discover a walking track…..I am wondering if it is safe to go down there by myself but decide to be brave so off I go. I cannot believe I have lived here for 6 years and have never once been down this track, this in itself is a reflection of the busy lifestyle I lead…or maybe a reflection of my laziness (the jury is still out on that one). Anyway, the track is steep and I have to do everything I can to stop myself from sliding down the hill….but I still keep on. I noticed the stillness as I am beginning to walk through bushland…the smell is also prominent. It has been raining and I have heard people say they love the smell of the rain and the bush but had never really considered that before now. I walk for about 10 minutes and I am amazed to come across a small river….it looks a bit wet and soggy so I don’t go to close. Instead I stand there and take in the silence, which is occasionally broken by a bird calling. I reflect on all that is happening in my life at the moment, which includes working my way through this unit. I take a few deep breaths, stand and ponder for a few minutes longer and then off I set again up the steep hill, feeling recharged and ready to steam roll ahead again.

Topic 7 Exercise 7.2

New devices, aged care and people with disabilities

New devices come into being due to market competition. Do a WebQuest research exercise on how features such as voice commands, large letters etc provide access to others or how smart devices connected via bluetooth or WiFi to the Internet improve the nature of caring or improve the lifestyle for those with disabilities or in need of aged care. Here are some examples for my research interests in aged care informatics:

• Worlds smallest LCD screen is 0.27 inches in Diameter
• Smart toilets - that monitor sugar levels for diabetic, - with toilet seat equipped with electrodes that sends a mild electric charge through the user's buttocks, yielding a digital measurement of body-fat ratio;
• swarm robotics and nanotechnology
• robot lawn mowers
• smart homes

Report your key findings (max 250 words)

It is becoming more and more common in today’s society for technological devices to assist those who have some sort of disability or impairment, to enable them to function and have access to technological functions that those without such impairments are able to have access too.

The article “Motor Disabilities – Assistive Technologies” gives a long list of such devices that are available today. Probably, out of all the list the one that I found to be the most interesting was the Eye Tracking Software. As pointed out in the article eye tracking software works by following the movement of the eyes allowing the user to navigate through the web using eye movements only. This eye tracking device is particularly useful for people who have little or even no control over hand movements. Special software that is used in conjunction with the eye tracking software allows the user to also be able to type. According to the article “this type of software can be rather expensive” and I guess that would be a major disadvantage which would stop some users from actually using the technology.

Topic 7 Exercise 7.1

Smart Screen Interface Case Study

Touch screen mobile devices for display and interaction are a growth area. As a case study, summarise how the interface works from your investigations, starting at here.

Discuss a situation where that device improves the display or interaction over any alternative device. Use examples to support your argument (250 words max)

Smart screens or touch screens as they are more commonly referred to, are becoming more and more a part of today’s society.

Touch screens may be considered faster and more efficient to use than other interfaces as users do not need to make way through text to access their needs. Touch screens diminish the needs for manipulating a mouse or using a keyboard which in turn speeds up the use, thus making touch screens more efficient use in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and so on.

When using a touch screen users simply point and touch the icon that they would like to access and through this process they can navigate the system. The ease of using a touch screen is a big draw card for those who may otherwise find it difficult to use a computer. Users select from a clearly defined menu and offers step by step guidance to using the screen.

.http://www.elotouch.com/Solutions/CaseStudies/benefitswp.asp

Topic 6 Exercise 6.3

Trust and Reputation: how is it achieved?

In less that 250 words (one page)

Analyse and comment on other aspects of online trust and reputation (Table 4) that you feel are worth discussing across any TWO online communities. Consider how design for usability, sociability and sustainability can help to foster trust and build a reputation among users especially for pragmatists, conservatives and the skeptics.

Without a doubt trust is an Integral ingredient that is sought for any relationship, including those relationships that are built online, such as those with sites such as Facebook. Facebook is a good tool in the sense that it puts users in touch with people worldwide that they may of otherwise lost contact with – but it has its disadvantages as well and some of those disadvantages are linked with the issue of trust. Recently, it has been reported in the media that there have been cases of bullying associated with facebook. One of the capabilities of facebook is that members can write on other people’s wall. In most cases, but not all, you need to be “friends” with the person to be able to do this. But in the cases of bullying that has recently been reported in the media – some people have placed comments about others that are deemed derogatory and thus have caused distress to others. That is only one example of where trust can be an issue when using a site such as facebook. Some people can “pretend” to what to be a friend on the site when really all they are trying to do is obtain information (such as email addresses) so they can send email to someone encouraging them to buy or endorse certain products.

On the other hand, sites such as the CSU Forum seem to be a lot more trustworthy. I guess this is because unlike facebook where anyone is free to join, on an online community such as the CSU forum members must be enrolled with the university to participate on the site. I guess the bottom line is the world is made up of many different types of characters and when using sites wherein the general public are free to join members should always be a little weary.

Topic 6 Exercise 6.2

Wiki and Moodle Design

1. Visit Moodle.org or ispg.csu.edu.au/Moodle and join it or any similar moodle site that allows public login or that you have already experienced.
2. Get the enrolment key for the ITC510/213 Moodle class from the subject forum post by the Lecturer.
3. Navigate through the system to get a look and feel for the place and try to make forum or blog entry on topic.
4. Using your CSU interact wiki or other wiki experience and your short experience as a Moodle member answer the following.

• What is about the design of the wiki and Moodle that you liked or disliked?
• What features do Wiki and Moodle have in common and what are the differences (eg a Wik, forum and blogtool is also groupware design feature inside a Moodle site)?
• Is the presence of likeable features also a combination of the design tips for usability, sociability and sustainability, as advocated by Preece and Kim in earlier topics?

I was very curious to check out moodle as I hadn’t heard of it let alone used it before. I liked that it that the registration process was relatively painless and in terms of usability moodle looks relatively simple to use. I spent some time just “touring” the site getting a feel for what it is all about. I was not really disappointed at what I discovered. I particularly liked that I could access wikis, blogs, forums and chats all from the one site. These abilities make the site more attractive as I wouldn’t have to have use multiple sites to use a variety of tools.
Unfortunately, my experiences of actually using a Wiki with my students is somewhat limited – but from my studies I have discovered that they too are fairly easy to set up and a good tool for collaboration.

Topic 6 - Exercise 6.1

Design rules and your CSU Forum Experience

Consider all the times you have used a CSU forum in your study in all subjects. Under the 3 headings from table 2, purpose, people and community size, describe in your own words any forum experiences where you not only felt a sense of belonging, worth and satisfaction, but a sense of loss when the forum was closed. If this has never happened to you explain why under the same 3 headings.

Purpose
Using the CSU Forum I have the opportunity to interact with students who are working towards a common goal and thus there purpose for participating in the forum is similar to mine. This common purpose influences the character or tone of the interactions.

People
There is a wide range of people comprised in the forum and despite sharing a common goal they have different experiences and therefore can offer a variety of useful information to the group – making participation worthwhile.

Community Size

Bearing this is mind, interacting with the online community that is the CSU Forum is worthwhile in the sense that we can share ideas, discuss problems and vent frustrations. Even if members of the community do not have solutions to the problems it is satisfying being able to “vent” or discuss issues that other members of the group are more likely to understand.
With the above points in mind, it is fair to say that when interacting on the CSU Forum or indeed, just lurking I do indeed feel a sense of worth and belonging knowing that I am not alone. in my journey.