Archive for the 'Internet' Category

Evolution

Published on 27 January 2009 in change, toys, Internet and technology. 8 Comments

Ever have those sorts of conversations, where, as you say your words out loud, you realise that you are articulating thoughts you have never spoken out loud to others?

I had one of those conversations the other day, when I was talking with Teresa, and I said that I am no longer particularly interested in all those bright and shiny new tools that are out there. I used to be, but these days I find that while I still keep a vague eye open for new things, I don’t care to rush out and play with new toys very much any more. (You will note I haven’t really written in depth about new toys here for a long long time.) I am more interested in learning about how the tools are evolving, and how our use of the tools is evolving. I would rather motivate colleagues, and get them interested and informed and start them doing things, and try to facilitate the right environment and support for them to continue to explore and learn all about these tools, than to do this myself.

When I think about it, I suppose it’s fair enough, really, seeing as I have been playing with a lot of these things for a while now - since 2005 - and it makes sense that my interests too have changed. Looking at the tools I use I realise that I have been using most of them for years:

  • blogging. I have been blogging since mid-2005. I started by being super-skeptical and quickly realised what A Big Thing all this is (Web 2.0, Social Media, call it what you will). I still enjoy blogging, but mainly as a writing exercise.
  • RSS. My absolute favourite, the bestest, most amazingest tool of them all. Started off using Bloglines in 2005, gradually migrated to Google Reader. Without my RSS aggregator I would be lost - it is essential for my continued learning.
  • Twitter. Would you believe I have had my Twitter account since November 2006? It was pretty frustrating back then, because hardly anyone used it - but look at it now. As Chris Corrigan says: “Hooray for Twitter.” I learn a lot from Twitter.
  • Flickr. Have had an account since early 2005, too, I think. I can still remember how fun and compelling I found it back then. Got a paid account not long after discovering it.
  • LibraryThing. My personal library would be nothing without you, LibraryThing. I am a proud life member and have had my account since 14 September 2005.
  • Facebook. Have had an account on Facebook for a long time too, way back in the days where you had to have a .edu email account to be able to create an account there. I go through phases with FB and don’t think I am super active there but I check it at least once a day and have been enjoying the fact that I have friends there from many different language communities. I don’t think I can express quite how much it completes me to be able to communicate with others in the languages I speak. (Corny, I know…)

There are others tools and services*, of course, but these are the ones that have really made my life easier. I expect I will continue to use them for as long as they do. (Assuming they continue, of course.)

What about you? Has your interest in this whole hoo-ha changed at all? Assuming you have (had) an interest, of course. What continues to interest you?

I am glad I had this conversation. Thanks Teresa!

* E.g. FriendFeed, Google Docs, Twine, GoodReads, Last.fm, etc.

Genderanalyzer

Published on 2 December 2008 in meme, fun and Internet. 8 Comments

Apparently there are strong indications that I, the writer of this blog, am male. 95% even!

I wonder what algorithms they used to come up with this? (Go here if you want to work out your gender.)

It’s funny that I should do this this morning, as I’m getting DISCed today. I never know quite how seriously to take such assessments. I answer the questionnaires as honestly as I can, but sometimes the questions are hard to interpret. Also, what if I’m having an off day when I do one of these things?

I actually did DISC not long ago, when I was part of another team. I cannot remember what my “diagnosis” was at the time. Should I check? I wonder if my result today will be different.

I usually try not to think about them too much and just go along with the process. The results can be interesting, I guess, but I usually forget about them and just get on with things. Some years ago, for instance, I did the Myers-Briggs test (also at work), and was found to be an ISFJ. Apart from having mixed feelings at being in the same company as Mother Teresa and George Bush snr, I don’t know if I’ve done much with the analysis.

RSS: Do you use it?

Published on 1 December 2008 in RSS readers, RSS, Internet and technology. 10 Comments

Is RSS Mainstream? (Via Steven Cohen)

I have a simple, unscientific test for determining if a web service or product has crossed over into the mainstream: I ask my friends and family — most of whom are not very geeky and generally represent average technology users, in my opinion — if they’re using the service. If they are, then its mainstream. If they’ve at least heard of it, then the service is heading toward the mainstream. Facebook is mainstream. Gmail is mainstream. Twitter is headed in that direction. RSS though, according to my test, is not.

I’ll have to do this test with family members next time I see them, but I can already guess their responses - they’re likely to not even know what RSS is.

I’ve been using an RSS reader since 2005 and can’t imagine life without it. Most of my professional reading is delivered to my desktop via RSS - thanks to RSS I no longer have to put up with flame wars and difficult-to-follow threads on email lists (I only subscribe to ONE email list, and it’s not a discussion list). I keep up with hundreds of interesting people using RSS, and can’t begin to quantify how much I have learned using this tool. I’d have to say that RSS is the one tool I can’t do without.

What about you, dear reader? Do you use RSS, and if so what is your choice of reader? Do you actually visit this blog, or do you read it via RSS?