Week 9: #21 Podcasts, Smodcasts!

I am excited to learn podcasting. I don't know that I have enough time to really delve into making my own podcast now....but I think I have learned the basics to know where to begin. I had no idea how to make my own MP3 file. I don't own an ipod or MP3 player so my knowledge on podcasts and mp3's was very limited. (it took me a long time to give up cassettes for CD's too). My husband and daughter are now interested in it as well.

I checked out several podcasts including movie/book reviews, homeschool, news and bible study. I found one homeschool site that will be a great addition to our homeschool lessons. I added several podcasts to my bloglines account.

I do wonder about the authority of some of the podcasts. But it is an interesting way to get information and put information out.

I don't know if I used the directories right or not. I wish some gave more information. But all in all, using a search I found podcasts that were interesting, informative, entertaining etc.

Week 9: #20 Discover YouTube and other video sharing sites

I enjoy YouTube. There's always something interesting to watch. My kids love the Banana Phone videos. My daughter watches Hannah Montana clips. My husband, daughter and I look up videos of people playing various piano versions of songs--particularly Simon and Garfunkel songs. It is a great way to send video for friends to see across the country or world. I've used it to look up movie previews, watch a comedian act. You can even get how to videos for home repair.

As for library use, the videos used in this exercise have either been entertaining or informative or both. I can see the library using it to train employees, teach patrons to use the library catalog etc.

Week 8: #19 Web-based Apps: They're not just for desktops

Zoho writer seems to offer a lot of great features. For the most part it seems fairly easy changing text background, adding in photos etc. Not sure how to use them all. Just doing trial and error mostly. Publishing this to my blog is a breeze. I can see several benefits especially where I'd like to share info. but not sure about security. How safe is it? If I create a phone list or important document is it out there for anyone to grab?? For casual communications I could blog or email with similar features.

Week 8: #18 Social Networking: Making friends in the comfort of your own home

I am familiar with the social networking sites though I don't use most of them. The only one I take part in is LinkedIn. It is one of the few ways I keep up with people from my previous career News/Broadcast and my PR contacts since I still freelance producer/write.

I have several friends who use MySpace. Interestingly, most of them have teens. I think their teens actually got them hooked. It scares me to put info out their like they do even if I can keep my info on private. Not to mention, it seem like just one more thing to keep up with since I already use email and the telephone to talk to people. I don't know how people find the time.

I'd just recently been introduced to Facebook by coworkers before this exercise came up. Again, not sure if it is something I'd ever do but it is fun, interesting and even scary reading some of the sites on both My Space and Facebook. Lets you see who's loose in this world. HA.

I thought the ratemyspace site was interesting. Don't know that I'd participate myself but I enjoyed looking through the SPACES to see how people decorated, what their gardens looked like etc.

Week 7: #17 Blog About Technology

I love that this activity came up about the time the server went down. What are the odds? When it comes to technology, I'd describe it as something you can't live with and you can't live without. Without technology we wouldn't have so many things (e-mail, HD tvs, digital cameras, cell phones, CD's just to name a few more recent techno advances.) But with technological advances come growing pains(and shelling out more money).

I think I might have been one of the last to switch from cassettes to CD's. While sound quality may be better on CD's, they can get scratched easily and if you step on one ... you'll probably get two shiny half circles you can't use. And, what do you do about your investment in cassettes?
Now there's IPODS/MP3s--I haven't ventured there yet.
Cell phones...where's the signal? But I know people who look like they have a phone growing out of their ear.
Computers...is your server working? dial up or cable. How fast is fast? I find myself getting impatient with my computer because it isn't "thinking" fast enough.
DVD's--Love them...hate them. Rent one or check one out after 100 other people have and you may or may not get to actually watch it.
And, what about my investment in VHS tapes? My kids could open their own store.
Plus, buy one DVD player and a few weeks later new DVD's come out that your DVD player can't read. Myself, I have a VHS/DVD recorder combo that quit working exactly 1 yr after I paid $300 for it. Never got to dub the VHS to DVD like I'd wanted.
Now people even scrapbook onto DVD's and CD's and store their photos...still scares me some. What if the DVD gets scratched or broken...then you have no photos.
I think to some degree technology has just helped us live FASTER. Do everything faster.
Now we are about to be forced practically to switch to digital TV by 2009. Again, what about the tv's I have..that still work??

But I'd have withdrawals if I couldn't e-mail. I enjoy shopping online from time to time. I do research via the internet. I like being able to see the picture I just took on my digital camera...and delete those that didn't turn out. ETC. ETC.

So again, can't live with it...can't live without it.

--Left comment on BareFootBloggers Blog

Week 7: #16 So what's in a wiki?

I felt really silly after reading this weeks activity. When I read we were learning about wiki's I thought it meant Wikipedia. I didn't realize wiki was an actual word with a meaning. You learn something new everyday. As for the value of wikis, I like the idea of a favorite book wiki to get someone else's viewpoint before you try a book. I can see a product review wiki being useful. I didn't realize information on Wikipedia could be changed. I don't use it regularly but I know people who do use it for information. I'm just not sure now about the trust worthiness of the information.

Week 6 #15 Library 2.0 and Web 2.0

I like the idea of the library keeping up with the times. I believe it will be a great help to patrons--especially adults and college students. I know I personally search for my books via the libary's website and often place holds before coming in, I try to take advantage of e-book downloads and search other libraries. However, I will say I like the "old fashioned" library as well. My kids love coming in to search through the books. It's like a trip to the candy store. Plus, I know a lot of patrons come in just to use our computers. So, I guess I like the additional services it provides but wouldn't want to see the physical libary disappear.