Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Pageflakes, the BBC and free lunches.
The BBC Internet Blog have for some time been making use of Pageflakes as a tracking tool, using it as a one stop site where they pull together comment and conversation about the BBC. It's quite a good and interesting read. Some of it's a bit parochial, but it is their page. They have made it public, so they must want to share.
It is not only BBC insiders that use the facility, this author is among several who read the flake.
On A Hill has in the past experienced little surges in readership stats when the blog has featured in their Google blog reactions feed.
The BBC are a little upset, concerned, and worried because they have noticed that their PageFlakes page has changed.
New flakes and horror of horrors adverts have appeared.
I went to have a look and have to confess that it took me a while to discover the sponsored flake.
Those of us who spend long periods of time on the Internet do not see adverts. I certainly block them out. They are a nuisance, particularly the flashy ones that vie for attention, but I don't consciously read them.
It may be that they work on me subliminally but I just don't see them. But the fact remains, the BBC sponsored / promoted Pageflakes page is carrying adverts and as we all know the BBC don't do adverts (unless they're advertising their own output).
The BBC are now wondering what's to be done with their Pageflakes page.
I went to look at my Pageflakes, produced as part of a small project I was involved with earlier in the year showcasing Web 2.0 technologies. I also discovered a sponsored flake.
In my case it doesn't matter, my pageflakes were for a small audience (who no longer read the page).
But if my flakes were to be used in the name of the University of Glamorgan, it probably would matter that adverts were appearing on a page linked with our work.
What if I were pulling together environmental feeds and there in the middle of the page appeared an advert for Jaguar cars?
There is no such thing as a free lunch, a free blog, or a free hosted Web 2.0 application.
Recreating the BBC Pageflakes page for private use would not be that difficult for those of us interested in it's content. The feeds could be pulled together on an iGoogle page, in Netvibes, in symbaloo, in SuprGlu, in an ordinary feed reader; the list is endless.
But that's not the point.
If I as a relatively private individual chose to produce a page of feeds related to my interests, say University News Feeds to share with my colleagues I am quite at liberty to use a "free" service such as Pageflakes.
In return I give Pageflakes access to my colleagues, who to Pageflakes are a ready made audience interested in particular topics. But if I then publicise that page to a far wider audience all sorts of problems arise. I wouldn't be at all surprised if such a venture would break some of the University regulations.
The problem faced by the BBC now, is that what was a possibly private internal page of links has been publicised. Perhaps it should have been kept private. Web 2.0 apps are quickly transforming our world but there's always a cost that we don't always see when we come across cutting edge applications.
I guess the BBC Internet Blog shouldn't have an official Pageflakes page.
It is not only BBC insiders that use the facility, this author is among several who read the flake.
On A Hill has in the past experienced little surges in readership stats when the blog has featured in their Google blog reactions feed.
The BBC are a little upset, concerned, and worried because they have noticed that their PageFlakes page has changed.
New flakes and horror of horrors adverts have appeared.
I went to have a look and have to confess that it took me a while to discover the sponsored flake.
Those of us who spend long periods of time on the Internet do not see adverts. I certainly block them out. They are a nuisance, particularly the flashy ones that vie for attention, but I don't consciously read them.
It may be that they work on me subliminally but I just don't see them. But the fact remains, the BBC sponsored / promoted Pageflakes page is carrying adverts and as we all know the BBC don't do adverts (unless they're advertising their own output).
The BBC are now wondering what's to be done with their Pageflakes page.
I went to look at my Pageflakes, produced as part of a small project I was involved with earlier in the year showcasing Web 2.0 technologies. I also discovered a sponsored flake.
In my case it doesn't matter, my pageflakes were for a small audience (who no longer read the page).
But if my flakes were to be used in the name of the University of Glamorgan, it probably would matter that adverts were appearing on a page linked with our work.
What if I were pulling together environmental feeds and there in the middle of the page appeared an advert for Jaguar cars?
There is no such thing as a free lunch, a free blog, or a free hosted Web 2.0 application.
Recreating the BBC Pageflakes page for private use would not be that difficult for those of us interested in it's content. The feeds could be pulled together on an iGoogle page, in Netvibes, in symbaloo, in SuprGlu, in an ordinary feed reader; the list is endless.
But that's not the point.
If I as a relatively private individual chose to produce a page of feeds related to my interests, say University News Feeds to share with my colleagues I am quite at liberty to use a "free" service such as Pageflakes.
In return I give Pageflakes access to my colleagues, who to Pageflakes are a ready made audience interested in particular topics. But if I then publicise that page to a far wider audience all sorts of problems arise. I wouldn't be at all surprised if such a venture would break some of the University regulations.
The problem faced by the BBC now, is that what was a possibly private internal page of links has been publicised. Perhaps it should have been kept private. Web 2.0 apps are quickly transforming our world but there's always a cost that we don't always see when we come across cutting edge applications.
I guess the BBC Internet Blog shouldn't have an official Pageflakes page.
Powered by ScribeFire.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Obama's World post Wednesday November 5th.
Now the dust has settled it might be time to take a breath and look back at a few interesting bits and pieces.
I've been following Obama on Twitter for a while. On the fifth he sent me and 121,064 others this message.
Newsweek has a fascinating series of articles looking "behind the scenes of the campaign".
Reporters were granted access to "the McCain and Obama" camps on the condition that nothing was published until after election day.
It's hard to imagine that happening here in the UK.
Here's the front page of the New York Times.
Kottke notes that this was only the fifth time the paper used 96.pt. type for it's headline.
There's only one place to go for election pictures. As ever "The Big Picture" has the very best photographs.
An interactive video and a transcript of the President Elect's Victory speech can be found here.
And I've discovered only today that the President Elect has a half sister called Auma, who supports West Ham.
I've added the page to my daily reads (can't see a rss feed anywhere)
Dave Winer's observation on the result. Look what he wrote in 2004!
Look at what Silvio Berlusconi said!
According to the Guardian,
"Later, when he returned to his hotel, Berlusconi said his comment that
Obama was "giovane, bello e abbronzato", "was a big compliment," which
only "imbeciles" would misinterpret, Italy's state news wire Ansa
reported. "If some people don't have a sense of humour, then it's their
problem,'' he said."
Comment from Andrew Sullivan and a reader in the Atlantic.
And finally,
from the future. Go Nanobama!
I've been following Obama on Twitter for a while. On the fifth he sent me and 121,064 others this message.
Newsweek has a fascinating series of articles looking "behind the scenes of the campaign".
Reporters were granted access to "the McCain and Obama" camps on the condition that nothing was published until after election day.
It's hard to imagine that happening here in the UK.
Here's the front page of the New York Times.
Kottke notes that this was only the fifth time the paper used 96.pt. type for it's headline.
There's only one place to go for election pictures. As ever "The Big Picture" has the very best photographs.
An interactive video and a transcript of the President Elect's Victory speech can be found here.
And I've discovered only today that the President Elect has a half sister called Auma, who supports West Ham.
The ever reliable and informed Mashable points us in the direction of Change.gov, where the President Elect's transition team outlines some of the forthcoming agenda.
I've added the page to my daily reads (can't see a rss feed anywhere)
Dave Winer's observation on the result. Look what he wrote in 2004!
Look at what Silvio Berlusconi said!
According to the Guardian,
"Later, when he returned to his hotel, Berlusconi said his comment that
Obama was "giovane, bello e abbronzato", "was a big compliment," which
only "imbeciles" would misinterpret, Italy's state news wire Ansa
reported. "If some people don't have a sense of humour, then it's their
problem,'' he said."
Comment from Andrew Sullivan and a reader in the Atlantic.
And finally,
from the future. Go Nanobama!
Powered by ScribeFire.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Election Stats. !
The CNN site that some of us watched last night received 27 million unique visitors yesterday.
More than five times their normal daily traffic.
Those visitors generated 276 million page views.
Staggering.
via TechCrunch via Twitter
More than five times their normal daily traffic.
Those visitors generated 276 million page views.
Staggering.
via TechCrunch via Twitter
Powered by ScribeFire.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Male or Female?
Interesting.
It recognised me as a male.
I wonder did it read my profile, or analyse the text? LOL.
It recognised me as a male.
I wonder did it read my profile, or analyse the text? LOL.
Powered by ScribeFire.
Friday, October 31, 2008
My First Tweet
This is a lovely idea.
I'd forgotten that My First Tweet was such a magical moment.
It shows I must have been a late adopter.
I'd forgotten that My First Tweet was such a magical moment.
It shows I must have been a late adopter.
Powered by ScribeFire.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The American Presidential Debates
There is an extraordinary video on BoingBoing.
Who says politics isn't spontaneous?
Or that politicians can't dance.
Who says politics isn't spontaneous?
Or that politicians can't dance.
Powered by ScribeFire.
On Obama and Inclusivity.
Driven by my friend Datblogu's interest in this video, I've spent a little more time on Obama's website.
There can be no doubt that Obama works hard to be inclusive.
He has prepared and made available text, video and sound messages aimed at the many different communities and ethnic groups to be found in the United States.
I'm going to list in alphabetical order the people he aims to connect with here :-
It all seems a bit clinical to me, or am I being too cynical?
My eye was drawn to the Sportsmen, curious as to where the sportswomen were?
I am so dull!
Sport in the USA is not quite the same as sport here.
Obama speaks to the sportsmen.
There can be no doubt that Obama works hard to be inclusive.
He has prepared and made available text, video and sound messages aimed at the many different communities and ethnic groups to be found in the United States.
I'm going to list in alphabetical order the people he aims to connect with here :-
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
African Americans
Americans Abroad
Americans with Disabilities
Arab Americans
European and Mediterranean Americans
Environmentalists
First Americans
Generation Obama
Jewish Americans
Kids
Labor
Latinos
LGBT
People of Faith
Republicans
Rural Americans
Seniors
Small Business
Sportsmen
Students
Veterans and Military Families
Women.
African Americans
Americans Abroad
Americans with Disabilities
Arab Americans
European and Mediterranean Americans
Environmentalists
First Americans
Generation Obama
Jewish Americans
Kids
Labor
Latinos
LGBT
People of Faith
Republicans
Rural Americans
Seniors
Small Business
Sportsmen
Students
Veterans and Military Families
Women.
It all seems a bit clinical to me, or am I being too cynical?
My eye was drawn to the Sportsmen, curious as to where the sportswomen were?
I am so dull!
Sport in the USA is not quite the same as sport here.
Obama speaks to the sportsmen.
“I am very mindful of the fact that sportsmen in America may have gone hunting with their fathers, their grandfathers, their mothers, their grandmothers, and that this is part of a tradition and a way of life that has to be preserved. And there's nothing that I will do as president of the United States that will in any way encroach on the ability of sportsmen to continue that tradition.”No mention of animal rights then :)
Friday, October 24, 2008
Digital Inclusion, Get on Line and Digital Champions
It would appear that today is "National Get Online Day'
Did you know that?
I didn't.
I discovered about today online, surfing the net, drifting in the flow of information and knowledge that streams across my computer screen.
I've been taking an interest in Twitter, investigating a range of Twitter tools and watching Political Twitter activity. I've been watching is called HMGOV, "an unofficial service of official news feeds from UK Government". I'm one of 161 people following this feed which to date has issued 10, 473 updates! I don't know who provides this service, or how. I guess it's a mash up of some kind, taking government news feeds and tweeting them.
It makes for interesting reading, BUT to be honest the output is overpowering. It is one of those feeds that may just need to be culled :)
Earlier today I noticed the following tweet :-
#WalesOffice Paul Murphy unveils new role of Digital Champion: A new high-profile Digital Champ.. http://twurl.nl/rj4rty
Following that link I discovered all sorts of interesting facts.
Paul Murphy is the Minister for Digital Inclusion, who intends to appoint a Digital Champion as part of the Government's Digital Inclusion agenda.
Do you suppose the Champion might become known as Cyberman or Cyberwoman?
The job description is a bit vague, in fact I don't think it's written yet.
They'd like a Champion but don't know what he / she should do.
“The post of Digital Champion will be independent of Government, but
will work closely with myself as Minister for Digital Inclusion, the
Cabinet Committee and the cross-Government Digital Inclusion Team. The
Champion will work as a high-profile public figure who can raise the
profile of this agenda, gaining support from industry, the third and
public sectors, plus central and local government, whilst maintaining
their independence.
No ones chatting there yet, but it's only been there two days ......
PS.
Paul Murphy can be found here and here.
Somehow I sort of thought that the Minister for Digital Inclusion might have had a news feeds, or a range of digital media, or a Twitter feed.
Perhaps the Minister should follow the Foreign Office.
Did you know that?
I didn't.
I discovered about today online, surfing the net, drifting in the flow of information and knowledge that streams across my computer screen.
I've been taking an interest in Twitter, investigating a range of Twitter tools and watching Political Twitter activity. I've been watching is called HMGOV, "an unofficial service of official news feeds from UK Government". I'm one of 161 people following this feed which to date has issued 10, 473 updates! I don't know who provides this service, or how. I guess it's a mash up of some kind, taking government news feeds and tweeting them.
It makes for interesting reading, BUT to be honest the output is overpowering. It is one of those feeds that may just need to be culled :)
Earlier today I noticed the following tweet :-
#WalesOffice Paul Murphy unveils new role of Digital Champion: A new high-profile Digital Champ.. http://twurl.nl/rj4rty
Following that link I discovered all sorts of interesting facts.
Paul Murphy is the Minister for Digital Inclusion, who intends to appoint a Digital Champion as part of the Government's Digital Inclusion agenda.
Do you suppose the Champion might become known as Cyberman or Cyberwoman?
The job description is a bit vague, in fact I don't think it's written yet.
They'd like a Champion but don't know what he / she should do.
“The post of Digital Champion will be independent of Government, but
will work closely with myself as Minister for Digital Inclusion, the
Cabinet Committee and the cross-Government Digital Inclusion Team. The
Champion will work as a high-profile public figure who can raise the
profile of this agenda, gaining support from industry, the third and
public sectors, plus central and local government, whilst maintaining
their independence.
“The exact role and responsibilities of the Champion are not yet
agreed, that is why we are asking people to respond to this
consultation to help us shape our plans for the future. We are eager to
hear people’s views on how this new post can work most effectively, and
indeed to suggest individuals or organisations to fulfil this role.”
No ones chatting there yet, but it's only been there two days ......
PS.
Paul Murphy can be found here and here.
Somehow I sort of thought that the Minister for Digital Inclusion might have had a news feeds, or a range of digital media, or a Twitter feed.
Perhaps the Minister should follow the Foreign Office.
Powered by ScribeFire.
Monday, October 20, 2008
What it Says on the Tin.
The Brokers with Hands on their Faces Blog.
Only on the Internet.
(via Boing Boing)
Only on the Internet.
(via Boing Boing)
Powered by ScribeFire.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
On Life after death?
A fascinating article on Mashable caught my eye.
It's title seems surreal but it's a question that deserves some serious thought.
"What Happens to Our Social Profiles After We Die?"
I've all sorts of questions in my mind ........
It's title seems surreal but it's a question that deserves some serious thought.
"What Happens to Our Social Profiles After We Die?"
I've all sorts of questions in my mind ........
Powered by ScribeFire.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Changes at Google?
Somehow I don't think this is a good thing.
"Google is in the content production business."
Powered by ScribeFire.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
On Education Applications, Ipods, Iphones and Stanford.
As was widely predicted the introduction of third party applications (via Apple's ITunes store) has enhanced the appeal of the iPod and iPhone. No longer is the iPhone a strictly walled garden. In the same way that gadgets can be placed on the iGoogle desktops, or widgets can be placed on the Mac dashboard, applications can now be placed on both the iPod touch and iPhone.
Applications are neatly filed in the iTunes store under a range of nineteen categories.
The filing system is not that helpful but it is enhanced by the customary "New", "What's Hot" and "Staff Favourites" sections. Eager browsers may also find themselves attracted by the "Top Paid Apps" and "Top Free Apps". Reviews of the applications are provided to help in app choice but as ever "Caveat emptor" should be the eager shoppers motto.
The list of Education Apps makes for interesting reading. At present it consists of fourteen pages, each carrying twenty one apps! Some of these are free, some are lite (demo versions with limited features) and some cost. The cheapest are 59p, the most expensive I have noticed to date are £23.99.
As I browsed through the store two Ed Apps caught my eye.
A company called Modality Inc provide "Zollinger's Atlas of Surgical Operation, Gastrointestinal: Upper", which is described as;
Here is a company working to embrace the use of mobile technology in teaching and learning. "Modality, we make small screens smarter, The Titles you Trust on the Screens you Love" have a developing range of titles for medical students and professionals. Also they seem to be preparing to release Cliffs Notes which I remember from my days of studying literature. Impressive stuff. Think how many teenagers / young people / students have ipods/ iphones. If the applications are as good as they appear to be, think of the market!
The second application that caught my eye, was a free one. I came across the 8.4MB of code that is "iStanford" an application that slipped into the store on October 4th.
The application description says;
It continues.......
It was the wrong question.
The questions we need to ask are
What's to be done?
Applications are neatly filed in the iTunes store under a range of nineteen categories.
The filing system is not that helpful but it is enhanced by the customary "New", "What's Hot" and "Staff Favourites" sections. Eager browsers may also find themselves attracted by the "Top Paid Apps" and "Top Free Apps". Reviews of the applications are provided to help in app choice but as ever "Caveat emptor" should be the eager shoppers motto.
The list of Education Apps makes for interesting reading. At present it consists of fourteen pages, each carrying twenty one apps! Some of these are free, some are lite (demo versions with limited features) and some cost. The cheapest are 59p, the most expensive I have noticed to date are £23.99.
As I browsed through the store two Ed Apps caught my eye.
A company called Modality Inc provide "Zollinger's Atlas of Surgical Operation, Gastrointestinal: Upper", which is described as;
"The classic guide to general surgery procedures ... now available for the iPhone and iPod touch ...... Using the intuitive iPhone interface, you can navigate through detailed images with the flick of a finger, pinch to zoom, and tap to read easy to follow instructions for each procedure" !I am so tempted to purchase one of Modality's products just to see what it looks like.
Here is a company working to embrace the use of mobile technology in teaching and learning. "Modality, we make small screens smarter, The Titles you Trust on the Screens you Love" have a developing range of titles for medical students and professionals. Also they seem to be preparing to release Cliffs Notes which I remember from my days of studying literature. Impressive stuff. Think how many teenagers / young people / students have ipods/ iphones. If the applications are as good as they appear to be, think of the market!
The second application that caught my eye, was a free one. I came across the 8.4MB of code that is "iStanford" an application that slipped into the store on October 4th.
The application description says;
"iStanford is Stanford University in the palm of your hand.
Search the Stanford directory, search campus map, find and bookmark courses, and get scores, schedules, and news for all Stanford varsity athletics teams. All from your Iphone or iPod touch"
It continues.......
"Coming soonThis I have downloaded, and explored and it is an impressive application. Having explored the Stanford app I searched the web and discovered the following (in no particular order)
Register for classes, View your course and grade history (this and previous terms), View your University balance, past statements and transaction history, Login to view private Stanford information"
- Stanford University IT Services sell the Apple iPhone.
- The iStanford app was produced by TerriblyCleverDesign a student owned development company at Stanford.
- This fall / Autumn in the UK Stanford University are running a taught course / module entitled iPhone Application Programming.
- All of this seems to have been made possible by the iPhone Developer University Program (USA only)
It was the wrong question.
The questions we need to ask are
- What applications are we building in the UK for our students?
- What applications are our students building for themselves?
- How quickly could we in the UK introduce a course like the iPhone Programming Course at Stanford?
What's to be done?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
On Photographs.
Writing on his blog Nicholas Carr reminds us of what he calls the "expansiveness of today's web"
Facebook engineers have announced what they describe as "a really cool milestone"
Facebook users (and that's probably you and me) have uploaded 10 billion digital photographs to the site!
Furthermore it appears that Facebook stores four images sizes for each photograph so they must be storing 40 billion files.
Some users of Facebook might wonder about whom those photographs belong.
The answer to that question will be found in the Facebook Terms of Use.
I have to confess that I don't understand the terms ....... which say
"You are solely responsible for the photos, profiles (including your
name, image, and likeness), messages, notes, text, information, music,
video, advertisements, listings, and other content that you upload,
publish or display (hereinafter, "post") on or through the Service or
the Site, or transmit to or share with other users (collectively the
"User Content"). You may not post, transmit, or share User Content on
the Site or Service that you did not create or that you do not have
permission to post. You understand and agree that the Company may, but
is not obligated to, review the Site and may delete or remove (without
notice) any Site Content or User Content in its sole discretion, for
any reason or no reason, including User Content that in the sole
judgment of the Company violates this Agreement or the Facebook Code of Conduct,
or which might be offensive, illegal, or that might violate the rights,
harm, or threaten the safety of users or others. You are solely
responsible at your sole cost and expense for creating backup copies
and replacing any User Content you post or store on the Site or provide
to the Company.
When you post User Content to the Site, you authorise and direct us
to make such copies thereof as we deem necessary in order to facilitate
the posting and storage of the User Content on the Site. By posting
User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you
represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company
an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid,
worldwide licence (with the right to sublicence) to use, copy, publicly
perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in
part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial,
advertising, or otherwise, on or in connection with the Site or the
promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into
other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorise sublicences
of the foregoing. You may remove your User Content from the Site at any
time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the licence granted
above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the
Company may retain archived copies of your User Content. Facebook does
not assert any ownership over your User Content; rather, as between us
and you, subject to the rights granted to us in these Terms, you retain
full ownership of all of your User Content and any intellectual
property rights or other proprietary rights associated with your User
Content."
Understand?
Facebook engineers have announced what they describe as "a really cool milestone"
Facebook users (and that's probably you and me) have uploaded 10 billion digital photographs to the site!
Furthermore it appears that Facebook stores four images sizes for each photograph so they must be storing 40 billion files.
Some users of Facebook might wonder about whom those photographs belong.
The answer to that question will be found in the Facebook Terms of Use.
I have to confess that I don't understand the terms ....... which say
"You are solely responsible for the photos, profiles (including your
name, image, and likeness), messages, notes, text, information, music,
video, advertisements, listings, and other content that you upload,
publish or display (hereinafter, "post") on or through the Service or
the Site, or transmit to or share with other users (collectively the
"User Content"). You may not post, transmit, or share User Content on
the Site or Service that you did not create or that you do not have
permission to post. You understand and agree that the Company may, but
is not obligated to, review the Site and may delete or remove (without
notice) any Site Content or User Content in its sole discretion, for
any reason or no reason, including User Content that in the sole
judgment of the Company violates this Agreement or the Facebook Code of Conduct,
or which might be offensive, illegal, or that might violate the rights,
harm, or threaten the safety of users or others. You are solely
responsible at your sole cost and expense for creating backup copies
and replacing any User Content you post or store on the Site or provide
to the Company.
When you post User Content to the Site, you authorise and direct us
to make such copies thereof as we deem necessary in order to facilitate
the posting and storage of the User Content on the Site. By posting
User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you
represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company
an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid,
worldwide licence (with the right to sublicence) to use, copy, publicly
perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in
part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial,
advertising, or otherwise, on or in connection with the Site or the
promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into
other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorise sublicences
of the foregoing. You may remove your User Content from the Site at any
time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the licence granted
above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the
Company may retain archived copies of your User Content. Facebook does
not assert any ownership over your User Content; rather, as between us
and you, subject to the rights granted to us in these Terms, you retain
full ownership of all of your User Content and any intellectual
property rights or other proprietary rights associated with your User
Content."
Understand?
Powered by ScribeFire.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
On Middle Age.
I guess I'm middle aged, so this report brings me so much joy!
"For middle aged and older people at least, using the internet helps boost brain power,"
.......
"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."
I think I knew that!
BUT
The report "suggested that newcomers to the web had not quite grasped
the strategies needed to successfully carry out a web search."
Which means there is work to be done in developing digital literacy?
"For middle aged and older people at least, using the internet helps boost brain power,"
.......
"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."
I think I knew that!
BUT
The report "suggested that newcomers to the web had not quite grasped
the strategies needed to successfully carry out a web search."
Which means there is work to be done in developing digital literacy?
Powered by ScribeFire.
Oh to still live in Whitchurch! (and play with next generation Broadband)
I used to live in Whitchurch, owned my first house there, just round the corner from the exchange!
Oh to be living there now.
Oh to be living there now.
Powered by ScribeFire.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The iPhone, YouTube and the Guardian.
It's difficult not to be impressed by YouTube and there is no doubt that the iPhone is the perfect tool for watching YouTube videos.
As I type I am watching Diana Vickers from Saturday's X factor, here on my Mac and on the iPhone!
The iPhone experience is better, the interface is simpler, there's less clutter, no distracting text or comments, nothing but the video.
Sometimes less is more.
Back in the summer Ajexh Pataly wrote a piece in Guardian pointing to some great pieces of film to be found inside YouTube.
The list provoked further discussion about copyright as some clips were posted by fans, not the owners of the copyright material.
I'm just going to watch them while I can.
At the time two clips in particular caught my attention.
James Brown signing with Pavorotti! and Stravinsky conducting the Firebird.
Just magic!
As I type I am watching Diana Vickers from Saturday's X factor, here on my Mac and on the iPhone!
The iPhone experience is better, the interface is simpler, there's less clutter, no distracting text or comments, nothing but the video.
Sometimes less is more.
Back in the summer Ajexh Pataly wrote a piece in Guardian pointing to some great pieces of film to be found inside YouTube.
The list provoked further discussion about copyright as some clips were posted by fans, not the owners of the copyright material.
I'm just going to watch them while I can.
At the time two clips in particular caught my attention.
James Brown signing with Pavorotti! and Stravinsky conducting the Firebird.
Just magic!
Powered by ScribeFire.
Web 2.0, City Academies and Money
Criticisms made of Web 2.0 facilities often run along the lines of "What happens if the company you are using goes bust, turns off it's servers, starts to charge, loses interest, sells your details to the highest bidder etc. etc."
Well take a little look at what's happening to this City Academy.
"Governors reassured parents that it was "business as usual for all
students" and said reports about Amey's involvement should not give
cause for concern."
Ha!
They've been saying that about banks of late.
Now I know that a Web 2.0 type services provider and a City Academy are not really the same kind of beast ..... but what would happen if Google put up their prices or started to charge for something that many of us might have to come to depend on.
Where are my digital photographs stored? Where are my blogs backed up? Where is my address book? My college emails? My pieces of collaborative writing?
Time to think about my backing up policy!
Well take a little look at what's happening to this City Academy.
"Governors reassured parents that it was "business as usual for all
students" and said reports about Amey's involvement should not give
cause for concern."
Ha!
They've been saying that about banks of late.
Now I know that a Web 2.0 type services provider and a City Academy are not really the same kind of beast ..... but what would happen if Google put up their prices or started to charge for something that many of us might have to come to depend on.
Where are my digital photographs stored? Where are my blogs backed up? Where is my address book? My college emails? My pieces of collaborative writing?
Time to think about my backing up policy!
Powered by ScribeFire.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Ivory Towers
I came across this earlier.
"Sometimes, it’s worth flashing a bit of a public reminder that even
though it seems like lots of us are deeply passionate about this space,
most folks don’t exactly understand what we’re talking about. That’s
because technically, they don’t need what we do to make money and go on
with their lives. They’re happy. Take a cab ride and ask them about
Twitter. Ask the folks at the grocery store if they’re on LinkedIn.
Check and see whether anyone at the local pizza place has a blog."
We should all remember it
"Sometimes, it’s worth flashing a bit of a public reminder that even
though it seems like lots of us are deeply passionate about this space,
most folks don’t exactly understand what we’re talking about. That’s
because technically, they don’t need what we do to make money and go on
with their lives. They’re happy. Take a cab ride and ask them about
Twitter. Ask the folks at the grocery store if they’re on LinkedIn.
Check and see whether anyone at the local pizza place has a blog."
We should all remember it
Powered by ScribeFire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)