CIO Recommendations

CIO Recommendations

Using Social Networks for Professional DevelopmentBefore making recommendations regarding the use of social networks for Professional Development, we believe it essential to address three main areas common to these types of networks. This is important to ensure all staff involved has clear understandings of social networks before investigating tools that may be valuable for this purpose.

Issues involved with using social networks for professional development in the workplace.

Goals:

Successful professional development using social networking requires clear goals decidedupon by staff members from all levels. Goals should be evaluated regularly in order to ensure their achievement and relevance. It may be necessary, during such evaluation, to make changes to the goals or the methods being used to reach them, if either are deemed unsuccessful.

Policies and Rules:

These also need to be clear, and a sense of ownership and worth is created when all staff is involved. Rules and policies should be freely available - in hard copy and online form. Providing explicit rules helps maximise productivity and ensures accountability by increasing the likelihood that all employees remain on task, are aware of accepted best practice, expected standards of interaction and communication and personal responsibilities.

Trust:

· Initial training, should occur face-to-face involving members from all company levels allowing trust to be developed amongst staff from the beginning.

· Allowing time for more informal chat between members further develops elements of trust and confidence in all aspects of the network

· Involving all stakeholders in decision making and planning should occur in the initial stages and agreement reached regarding a time line for implementation

· All staff members should have a presence within the network, abide by rules and guidelines and be given the opportunity to comment, share talk and discuss. Doing this encourages collaboration, improves teamwork and demonstrates that everyone is valued.

· Following company policy, a clear distinction should be made between work-based and personal social networks with only members of the company staff joining the network or using appropriate tools if sensitive material is to be discussed. Staff should be acknowledged for using the networks and the achievements they make in Professional Development to help with group momentum.

Support:
· If social networks are to be implemented, reliable technical support must be constantly available to users.

· Support should also include offering of staff training to maximise use of the network and familiarity with it and any supplementary tools being used.Time also needs to be factored in as staff still requires time to access the social network to participate in the professional development or professional discussion

· Differences across the company community should be catered for.
· Items such as
· distance and time zones,
· culture and language
· staff ages
· differing hardware available
· varying broadband speeds need full consideration if social networks are to be used effectively

Security

All measures should be put in place to ensure privacy and security for members of the network and any tasks they are working on. These should be laid down clearly within the company policies

Web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, podcasts and video lectures) used to complement social networks.

A variety of Web 2.0 tools are available to support the use of social networks we have listed some here:
· Blog sites are useful for adding announcements, scheduling meetings, new information or links to websites, uploading documentation - such as course outlines and expectations. Blogs can also be used as a way of keeping track of or up date with a project as it goes through development. Staff members should be encouraged to subscribe to RSS feeds for any of these sites in order to keep up with changes that may occur within them.

· A wiki can be used for collaborative writing of policy documents and submissions.

· Podcasts could be used for delivering tutorials or revising other professional development experiences and allows this to be done by staff members in their own time.

· Video lectures could be used to reach all members of the network and replace face to face meetings with experts when this is difficult in real-time due to distance or availability.

It is important to note that most social networking sites have a selection of Web 2.0 tools available for use.

Developing and sustaining a work-related social network.

To develop, establish and sustain a work related social network for professional development the following needs to be taken into account:

Planning considerations
· Good planning in the initial stages will set the tone for the development of and the ability to sustain the workplace network. Through liaison between working parties decisions are made about goals, professional development, use of personnel and scheduling.

Support Considerations
· Ongoing technical support is required ensuring the smooth running of the network.

· Support with the initial use of software - making sure all staff members have necessary skill in both hardware and software use.

· Setting aside of time for professional development within working hours

· Demonstration of support of the implementations to all workers by company executives.

· Acknowledgement of network members and their skills and achievements and how these will occur.

Budget considerations
· What the company's budget is for the exercise - as this will have bearings on which social networks are implemented as well as their, development and sustenance.

· Costs to the company - as many social networks have extra costs associated with them to increase their functionality, these must be budgeted for.

Security considerations
· Differentiation between work-place and personal use of social networks should be clear

· Policies for which tools are suitable for particular tasks and communication need to be clearly stated and adhered to, with consequences in place for any breaches.

· The company must evaluate Risk vs. Reward - email is quicker than snailmail and has a quicker cyclical turnaround - instant messaging is quicker again yet all methods carry risks of 'leaking' sensitive information.

In providing professional development experiences for staff, we have found that there is no one 'best' option for the job. However, a 'mashup' of different applications may be the best viable option. In this regard, four social networking tools have been researched to determine the possibility of using these tools to provide professional development experiences for staff. We have listed below, our investigations into these social networks for your consideration:

Skype is software using VOIP(Voice Over Internet Protocol) to allow communication over the internet for free between users who have it installed. Skype allows computers, or other devices to become phones. Calls can also be made to landlines and mobile numbers at minimal cost beginning at 3.1 cents per call. Skype software is free, easy to download, has an interface that is ‘user friendly’, and works across major operating systems and with most computers. It offers features such as instant messaging, one-way screen sharing, file transfer and audio/video conferencing. It would be an excellent tool, as is, for both local and global office communications. If sensitive information is being dealt with and security is to be considered, Skype can be switched through a telephone PBX system which will allow closer monitoring of calls and types of information being exchanged.

Second Life is a multi-user virtual environment where people log into a virtual world and take on virtual personas known as avatars. In the three dimensional environment users interact with each other either by text or audio. There are a variety of useful professional development tools available such as an instant chat facility, audio recording and playback and video and hypermedia presentation software. It is also possible to provide links to blogs, wikis and other internet sites. Second Life requires fast internet connections and up-to-date computers with good video cards and whilst Second Life enables professional development to occur with participants around the globe time zones can become a difficulty if collaboration is required. Setting up a work related Second Life network is very expensive with significant development and running costs.

Facebook is a global networking site where people can connect with others by sending messages and engaging in asynchronous chat. This is an advantage when connecting with people in different time zones. Facebook is relatively simple to use and provides the users with the capabilities of using a variety of different tools such as wikis, blogs and podcasting. In terms of using Facebook for professional development the advantage is that membership to a particular network is by invitation only - this is particularly useful when discussing sensitive issues online. A possible disadvantage of using Facebook for professional development is that employees may be tempted to use the social networking site for personal reasons during work time. To overcome this and to ensure worker productivity is not lost there would have to be a clear set of guidelines that is followed by all employees.

Ning is an online platform for people to create their own social networks around specific interests with their own visual design, choice of features and member data. With that in mind, it is a great starting point for a work-related social network. Its basic features include:

· A blog for each individual member of the Ning.
· A discussion forum.
· A photo upload feature.
· A basic chat room.

Beyond these features, Ning allows its’ network creators to add additional applications to their network that allow them to customise the network more in line with their users’ desires. As of May, 2009 additional applications have been made available to network creators, including wiki creation and TokBox, a live video chat service. By using Google’s OpenSocial API’s Ning has made application creation or porting to Ning easy for developers, turning an already well-rounded Web 2.0 application into the perfect vehicle for a knowledgeable and patient network creator to establish a work-related social network.

Red Pod Meeting 27 October, 2009

I am afraid I was a little late joining the group tonight as I have been very unwell. I was well aware that I needed medical attention (having an asthma attack) but felt I needed to fulfill my part of the assignment before I left!!!! I battled through and really appreciated the support of my fellow RedPod Members and their care and concern that preceeded into the next few days. The document is finally ready to go.......!!!

RedPod Meeting - 26 October 2009

Tonight was the night when the group had planned to get together to make our CIO Recommendations. I must admit this night did not seem at times like it was ever going to happen. I think this assignment has been particularly hard for all of us, not just because we were juggling work, family and study commitments but also because most of the time we were not sure if we were heading in the right direction.

We met tonight using Etherpad (this time it worked) and it was good because we could all share our ideas on the whiteboard colloboratively. There were some issues with Etherpad "dropping out" at times but at least we were able to get the project going.

I liked being able to work colloboratively with the others. Sometimes you know what you want to say but not sure how to word it and it was good to write ideas down on the whiteboard in Etherpad and then ask for suggestions on how to improve it.

I also liked the way how all our group were respectable to one and other and no-one dismissed other people's ideas. Generally speaking, we worked well together and we were able to accomplish the task (although it took several hours tonight and isn't quite finished)

Red Pod Meeting - 17 October, 2009

Tonight Ben was unable to meet with the group and initially it was just Lesley and I. I had not used Wordpress before and had limited experiences setting up a blog or even using one for that matter and Lesley was able to show me how to create pages and link them. I felt a bit silly having to ask how to do it - but was refreshed a little later when Liz came online and asked the same thing. I was very proud that I was able to impart the information that Lesley shared with me onto Liz.

RedPod Meeting -

Tonight Lesley and I just met and discussed our progress. I had done some research on Facebook and discussed with Lesley what I had done so far. From speaking with Lesley I had more inspirations on what to write and research so was soon on my way again to find out more information.

RedPod Meeting 3 10 October 2009

We received confirmation back from Ken today that the group was on the right track, which was good news for us all.

Tonight, we discussed ways we have experienced colloborative learning work in the classroom - addressing the advantages and disadvantages.

As decided at an earlier meeting we all were going to "take" one online networking site and do research on it. My task is to research Facebook - I plan to begin looking at relevant sides in the very near future.

Meeting 2 7 October, 2009

At tonight's meeting Ben was able to join us - and we informed him of what we had discussed in the previous meeting and how we thought we would approach it. This brought about a whole set of new questions as to whether or not we were approaching the task correctly, were we answering the questions sufficiently and so on. After what seemed like hours of pondering and discussing it was decided that we should contact our lecturer, Ken, and seek guidance to ensure that we were on the right track. Liz volunteered to be the one to do that.

I have to be honest I am feeling somewhat confused (as I think my whole group may be as well) and not sure what I am meant to be doing or how I am going to achieve it! I am hoping when we receive the response to Liz's questions to Ken we will feel a tad more reassured.

I hope!!!

RedPod Meeting 2 October 09

After the failed Etherpad attempt to meet the group decided that it would be a good idea to try to meet again but this time use Skpe as the online networking tool. We thought Skype might be slightly more reliable and that it was! We had to meet later in the evening because one of our group members is based in Darwin and we needed to accomodate the time difference.

I was a little concerned about our RedPod formation as we have five members, Myself, Lesley, Liz, Ben and Shin. I had not had any previous contact with Shin, nor had I seen her on the CSU Forum, in fact, the only way I learnt of Shin's existence was when the groups were formed and that name was on the list. Nevertheless, not wanting to exclude any of our members from meeting we decided to post our intention to meet on the CSU forum for which, Ben was unable to attend and we did not hear anything once again from Shin.

During this meeting Liz, Lesley and I discussed how we would approach the task. We decided to form a group blog (using wordpress) as a colloborative tool. We also decided to each take one online networking tool each (for example, skype, second life, facebook etc) and using the assignment questions as a guide research that particular networking site and post our findings to the group blog. Lesley kindly offered to set up the group blog.

Having feeling as though we accomplished something tonight we left with plans to meet again in the near future to discuss progress.

Meeting (A) Redpod Group

Shortly after submitting the first assignment for this unit I decided to take the initiative and contact my fellow red group members to set up a meeting to discuss assignment 2.

I posted the idea onto the CSU forum and both Lesley and Liz replied. We decided to meet using Etherpad the following night. When the time came to meet I went to log into Etherpad but found for some reason I couldn't. Thus, I spent a frantic hour trying to work out why I couldn't access Etherpad as well as posting messages on the forum informing my fellow group members why I suggested the meeting and was a no show.

It turned out that the others in the group also had problems with Etherpad as well - so at least that made me feel a bit better. I guess no matter how reliable the person is, sometimes technology can be a tad unreliable.!!

Webex 30 September - 2009

I was very curious to try Webex as it sounded interesting and I hadn't experienced anything like it before.

I received my invitation to join early in the day but found that I was unable to accept the invitation until right before the meeting began. I found this a tad daunting - as my computer is not always the most reliable and I would of liked to of been prepared if anything should not go to plan. Luckily, everything did go to plan and I was able to accept the invitation without any problems.

I had my microphone and earphones set and ready to go, but found I could not hear properly nor could others hear me, thus my microphone and earphones were malfunctioning! This did not seem to be a huge problem as I could still hear without the earphones, but the only problem was I couldn't speak.

I liked how on Webex the person who is facillitating the meeting can "mute" other participants. I sometimes find dialogue during online discussions (particilarly when several people are participating) can run in many different directions and thus can be confusing. The "mute" function helps to overcome that. Similarly, I liked how participants could use the hands up function.

I can see Webex or a program similar to it being advantageous in a remote school similar to the one where I am currently working in. At out school we are often short of specialist teachers and I see (if it wasn't for the financial cost) that we could employ a specialist teacher to instruct classes via Webex, as the students can still see the instructor and vice versa. Of course, in terms of behaviour management there would have to be a teacher physically in the room with the students however, I think this could be something that isolated schools should probably think about considering.

Topic 10 Exercise 10.1

Social Networks Case Study

Social network analysis of our weekly meetings and blogs




Since we have a fine collection of artefacts from our own learning community in this subject, use the references to guide your directions AND figure 1 on mapping the social network as a set of nodes, follow these steps (HINT - don't pick too small or too big an extract)


What to do:


Who is following who? Examine the blogs in your POD and work out the map of followers/following relationship.


Assign each person a letter in the same order as they appear in the dialogue as a, b, c, etc.

1. For your chosen extract, draw the social network diagram and build the same matrix of 0 and 1's as per figure 1.


2. Describe any patterns of people's interactions that you discover. (I am forcing you to think here)


3. If you were to repeat this analysis on another set of blogs from another POD, would you find the same patterns?


4. Why or Why not (HINT - changes in context and process may be just some variables to consider)


5. Support your opinion with any of the reference provided or with others you find.

A= Mel

B= Liz

C = Lesley

D= Ben

E – Shin

The data that was used for the purpose of this question was taken from a Redpod group meeting. As is the case with all Redpod meetings the conversation flowed steadily – but it is not always on topic. Despite this, the group are very forthcoming with discussing their successes as well as challenges. Everyone seems to be happy to support others to overcome these challenges.

While I know that our meetings with the Redpod members are relatively fruitful and full of discussion I do not feel this is reflected in either of the above diagrams. While I guess it shows we all interacted with each other it does not indicate much about the tone of the conversation, nor does it detail the depth of the conversation. I think upon reflecting on the discussions I have had as part of this online journey I have discovered that I am pretty much a follower and a peacemaker.

I do not think that the results would be the same in another set of blogs from another POD because my the roles may differ in a different situation. As pointed out by Valdis Krebs “organization charts prescribes that work and information flow in a hierarchy, but network mapping reveals (they) actually flow through a vast web of informal channels.

Reference http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000006.php

Topic 9 Exercise 9.2

Research and Evaluation in Government 2.0

Ever since our state and federal politicialns began using tools like Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook, the 'mashup' of social networking with politics was inevitable. Now all over the world there are summits on Government 2.0 in Australia, The Gruen Report is due in late 2009. Here is an interesting audio to explain about Parpicipatory democracy, Web 2.0 and the Government 2.0 Taskforce

1. Summarise the use of

Wiki drafts of papers for public discussion and

Twitter in Government

2. Did you see yourself as a supporter of Government 2.0? If so how did you benefit? If not then explain why. Consider the Gov 2.0 taskforce site at http://gov2.net.au/ and the conference at http://www.gov2.com.au

Wikis are designed to be a collaborative tool used to gather information. Some businesses are beginning to use wikis as drafts of public discussion. Users are requested to review information and where they deem it appropriate add relevant information. The information gathered on the Wiki usually includes specific challenges, issues and innovations. Staff usually post the wikis for review, comment and to seek additional content. Staff will then usually incorporate edits, comments and additions as appropriate and develop a final draft which is then submitted to members. Similarly, Twitter is being used in Government - for example both members of the public and government officials can use twitter as a place for discussion

Reference: http://www.sacog.org/calendar/2008/11/03/grpa/pdf/09-RUCS%20Wiki.pdf

In all honesty, prior to this course I hadn’t even heard of Government 2.0 – so it is very difficult to contribute an opinion. I have heard of a task force and have seen some articles about this – but because of my limited knowledge would find it difficult to offer any sort of worthwhile opinion.

Topic 9 Exercise 9.1

Is Social Networking A Business Model?

Join the site called linkedin.com and set up your "business" profile. While many businesses use social networking sites of buy islands in virtual worlds, some argue that there use is not a model for doing business.

What are the arguments for and against social networking being classified as a business model?

As suggested I joined the LinkedIn website and was intrigued to find what it was all about. Although I find it hard to see the relevance a website like this would have with me in my current situation, I can see the benefits for others. In particular, being able to set up a slide show to be shown in another location would be ideal.

As pointed out by Wikipedia “social networks connect people at a low cost, this can be beneficial for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to expand their contact bases” Companies also have the option of using social networks to advertise their businesses in the forms of banners and text ads.

A distinct disadvantage of using a site such as LinkedIn. Is that users can become so absorbed that they do not click on the banners and text ads for businesses. The other distinct disadvantage would be that it does not seem that advertisers can tell if their target group has been reached.

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.