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Monday, January 7, 2008
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Thing #23
Well, I have arrived at the end of our journey, which is of course really just the beginning! It has been a productive and interesting journey with both useful and not as useful tools. There is something to all of this Web 2.0, and it keeps eolving into easier and easier formats for the regular person who is not familiar with computer languages and software.
Facebook is more than I expected and that is because from the moment I signed on, I was linked to 5 or 6 people I knew from the networks I'm in: FAU, USF and the globe! That is, I met a colleague from one of my classes this Fall; I was psyched to be found by my most favorite library professor, Kathleen de la Pena McCook, and another favorite professor at FAU, Dr. Jennifer Begergal. And a woman from Canada with my exact name said hi to me. Then I was quickly hooked up to two freshman college students I'm working with at FAU,as interns in the Student Sierra Club. To finish off my initiation with Facebook, I found my niece on there, so I had to send her a message.
I then was invited to join an ALA group on Web 2.0 by Dr. McCook. I feel like I have a whole new way of getting in touch with people all over the globe, and be amazed at how small the planet really is.
Facebook is more than I expected and that is because from the moment I signed on, I was linked to 5 or 6 people I knew from the networks I'm in: FAU, USF and the globe! That is, I met a colleague from one of my classes this Fall; I was psyched to be found by my most favorite library professor, Kathleen de la Pena McCook, and another favorite professor at FAU, Dr. Jennifer Begergal. And a woman from Canada with my exact name said hi to me. Then I was quickly hooked up to two freshman college students I'm working with at FAU,as interns in the Student Sierra Club. To finish off my initiation with Facebook, I found my niece on there, so I had to send her a message.
I then was invited to join an ALA group on Web 2.0 by Dr. McCook. I feel like I have a whole new way of getting in touch with people all over the globe, and be amazed at how small the planet really is.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Thing #22: Overdrive Audiobooks
Overdrive is a database with which I have gradually been familiarizing myself. I started using it earlier in the year, and now that there is a guided digital media tour, I found myself able to grasp more of its features. I may be wrong, but I think that the guided media tour is a new feature on the Overdrive database, one which all customers who are interested in using it should watch a few times over.
The Overdrive Transfer Wizard is very helpful for anyone wanting to download titles onto their MP3 player or other campatible listening device. It's very visual and less bound by text-based only instructions. To me, this enhances and increases the userability for our customers.
Once I downloaded a title to play, I was impressed by the interativity of the listening process. There are newly added features such as thebookmark feature and the icon for "resuming from furthest played part." I like the latter especially and want to know if it will save until the next time I open up the book. I have this question about the bookmarking feature as well.
The audio quality is perfect and the Windows Media Player interface is clear, clean and intuitive. I can see use of this database by customers using their PCs with speakers as well as at the workplace with headphones, and at home or at leisure with an MP3 player and headsets.
Also, the audio speed icon feature (normal, fast, faster) was useful, too, as sometimes "skimming" a book is a useful technique.
The Overdrive Transfer Wizard is very helpful for anyone wanting to download titles onto their MP3 player or other campatible listening device. It's very visual and less bound by text-based only instructions. To me, this enhances and increases the userability for our customers.
Once I downloaded a title to play, I was impressed by the interativity of the listening process. There are newly added features such as thebookmark feature and the icon for "resuming from furthest played part." I like the latter especially and want to know if it will save until the next time I open up the book. I have this question about the bookmarking feature as well.
The audio quality is perfect and the Windows Media Player interface is clear, clean and intuitive. I can see use of this database by customers using their PCs with speakers as well as at the workplace with headphones, and at home or at leisure with an MP3 player and headsets.
Also, the audio speed icon feature (normal, fast, faster) was useful, too, as sometimes "skimming" a book is a useful technique.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thing 21: Podcasting I Really Like
I first searched Podcast Alley directory and then downloaded the Juice podcast aggregator. I listened to a top-rated "Vegan Freak" radio podcasted show at home using my Windows Media player for this exercise. I have friends who are vegan and I have been exposed to their cooking and eat anything that they prepare because it is so healthy. I differ with some of their philosophy in some ways, but I learned more about how challenging it is among your friends and associates to be wholly vegan. I also learned how "sustainable" and ecofriendly it is to live this way, and the podcast feeds could be a real virtual community of supporters for anyone making this lifestyle decision.
I signed up for a Spanish language podcast feed, which will only be useful if I make it a habit of visiting my bloglines account...but learning Spanish can become more doable if I just logon to my Bloglines while I'm working at home on my computer. I am still a strong proponent of reading print newspapers and magazines, yet I'm sure I'll explore more now that I am more aware of the blogoshere.
Here's my updated blogroll:
I signed up for a Spanish language podcast feed, which will only be useful if I make it a habit of visiting my bloglines account...but learning Spanish can become more doable if I just logon to my Bloglines while I'm working at home on my computer. I am still a strong proponent of reading print newspapers and magazines, yet I'm sure I'll explore more now that I am more aware of the blogoshere.
Here's my updated blogroll:
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Web 2.0 Video: Check it OUT!
I had a ball watching this video--the beginning is really good. I had no trouble posting it after I read the post script remarks at the end of this week's Week 8 Thing #20-21. Plus Debby's coaching last week gave me lots of mileage to be able to jump this hurdle. Try it and see!
Monday, December 10, 2007
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