Chapter 4: Web 2.0

1. Chapter 4:Web 2.0 Web 101 Third Edition by Wendy G. Lehnert & Richard L. Kopec Modified by Linda Kenney 2/5/08

2. Learning Objectives • Learn how to blog and find blogs. • Learn how to find and participate in social networks. • Learn about RSS and podcasting • Learn about wikis • Learn about discussion groups • Learn about chat rooms and instant messaging • Explore the psychology of chat rooms • Learn about Google Earth

3. Web 2.0 technology • People are the key component of Web 2.0 • People contribute content in various ways • Video files (YouTube) • Social Networking (MySpace, FaceBook) • Audio files (podcasts) • Personal commentary (blogs, online forums) • Scholarly information (wikipedia)

4. People Taking Charge • Web 2.0 services support the formation of virtual communities, that is people interacting with each other via the internet • Privacy may be an issue in online communities • Some groups’ logs are archived to Web pages • Law enforcement may be able to gather group correspondence from the hosting ISP • Some groups are private, but none can guarantee complete privacy

5. Taking Charge (cont.) • If you are concerned about privacy, you can use an anonymous remailer. • An anonymous remailer is an e-mail account that safeguards your real identity. • The service is operated outside the US. • It is like a Swiss bank account for online communications. • Some anonymous remailers are free; other are not. • http://www.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/E-mail/Anonymous_Mailers/

6. Taking Charge (cont.) • Having a general understanding of the visibility of your communications is important. • You never know who may see your communications: • Corporate data collection operations • Your boss (or prospective boss) • Your significant other

7. Blogs • Weblog - online equivalent of a diary or personal journal • Requires the use of a blog service provider like http://www.blogger.com • Or, service often packaged with membership in a social network

8. Blogs (cont.) • Blogging and personal safety tips: • Blog anonymously, use an alias • Limit your audience using access control tools, if provided • Don’t write anything you may come to regret later, especially those nasty comments about your boss, coworkers, or neighbors! • Observe good grammar.

9. Blogs (cont.) • Never reveal confidential information • No unlawful posts (libel, harrassment, threats, etc.) • Don’t encourage criminal activity • Read and observe your service provider’s Terms of Service

10. Social Networks • Online communities are quite common:

11. Social Networks (cont.) • Most social networks are open to all • But, some social networks are restricted • Some social networks may support a common interest • Require a profile • What info might be in a profile?

12. Social Networks (cont.) • FTC recommendations for social network participation: • Learn how members may control contact with others • Restrict access to information you post to known friends • Never post information that could be used to locate you • Choose a login name that has no obvious connection to you

13. Social Networks (cont.) • Remember that posted information cannot be recalled! • Consider not posting your photo • Avoid flirting with strangers online • Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet you in person • Trust your gut if you have suspicions

14. Virtual communities are not risk-free • Consider carefully, then exercise extreme caution when changing virtual relationships into real ones • Physically meeting “virtual friends” has resulted in evidence of personal misrepresentation, physical assault, and worse • Also, marriage has resulted from meetings.

15. RSS • Acronym has various interpretations: • Really Simple Syndication is the interpretation most commonly used • A Web 2.0 server technology that allows users to “syndicate” their posted material • Uses XML to create an RSS file generally of “headlines” for your website. • Headline syndication does not deal with the full text of articles, it is simply about syndicating an automatically updating list of headlines, with each headline being a link to the item that it refers to on the publishers website.

16. RSS (cont.) • Syndicated content is “polled” by an RSS client • RSS clients display a time ordered list of publications featuring new or updated content • Similar to a bookmark, except for the time ordering of the syndicated content • RSS feeds are updated dynamically

17. Viewing RSS content: • RSS clients (aka Aggregators) can be • standalone applications (FeedReader), • A browser feature or add-on (IE v7+, Firefox 1.5+) • Web site aggregator services (NewsGator Online) • Add-ons to older browser or mail clients

18. Firefox includes an integrated RSS client

19. Feedreader is a standalone RSS client

20. RSS (cont.) • Many Web sites (and browsers) now include RSS feed support • Look for these icons in/near the URL field:

21. Podcasting • Syndicated audio content originally known as a podcast. • Originally, an audio broadcast (aka Webcast) on the Internet using streaming technology • Streaming technology designed to view/listen to files (video/audio) as they are being transmitted. • These files can be recorded for later viewing and/or listening. • Apple’s iPod/iTunes supports podcasts • See separate podcast PowerPoint

22. Wikis • Wiki: server software that provides the capability to create and edit Web page content using any Web Browser. • Uses database technology to store organize, retrieve content on demand. • Web 2.0 philosophy is central - content is provided directly by the users. • Wiki staff primarily provides server support, not content

23. Wikis • User contribution of content both a strength and a weakness - • Any user can post • Any user can edit • Can assemble vast array of information rapidly • But content verification also a user task  Content is suspect Some users deliberately post malicious, erroneous content

24. Wikis • Some wiki sites now require user registration (wikipedia). • Users may be blocked from contributing when violating rules. • Other sites may include content review staff.

25. Wikis • wikipedia most visible example • http://www.wikipedia.org/

26. Wikis • Other examples: • wikibooks • wikispecies • Wiktionary • PBwiki

27. Discussion Groups • Forums where people can share information with each other via the Internet. • Various forms exist: • Message Board (aka Forum) • Web-based Mailing List • Usenet • E-mail Mailing List

28. Discussion Groups • Posts to the various discussion groups should follow netiquette guidelines: • Keep the message short. • Be sure that your topic is relevant to the list. • Send personal messages to individuals, not to the list. • Clearly separate facts from opinions. • Try to avoid insulting anyone. • Include your full name and e-mail address in your signature. • Do not include e-mail attachments. • Do not use an autoreply if you’re active on any mailing lists.

29. Discussion Groups • Netspeak may be used in messages to convey common aspects of communication • LOL: Laugh Out Loud • ROFL: Rolling on the Floor Laughing • Some of these abbreviations are used to soften potentially offending content. • Examples include: • FWIW: For What it’s Worth • IMHO: In My Humble Opinion (http://www.noslang.com/articles.php )

30. Message Boards • Permits posting messages on a variety of board-theme topics. • Anyone can contribute. • May or may not require registration • Examples include: • Voting polls • Opinion surveys • Topical discussion boards • Product review forums • http://messages.yahoo.com/

31. Web-based Mailing List • When you subscribe to a Web-based mailing list, you can set delivery options • Messages can be e-mailed to you • Messages can be viewed over the Web • You can set privacy controls too • Most groups are open to the public

32. Web-based Discussion Groups “warnings” • Be careful when you are looking for information in a message board • People may misrepresent themselves or their institution online • People may post misinformation • Always verify information • Be especially careful when getting technical, medical and legal advice

33. Usenet Newsgroups • Usenet newsgroups are the oldest collection of message boards on the Internet • The groups are public, and are separated into a variety of topics • The newsgroups are organized in a large hierarchy, utilizing the Network News Transport Protocol • A message posted to a newsgroup is called an article

34. Usenet Newsgroups • Similar to an e-mail message, each article contains a header • To read and post articles, a news reader client was originally required • Some browsers contain a news reader, but the best way is to access Google Groups (http://groups.google.com/ ) • Usenet newsgroups are constantly being added (and some are removed)

35. Usenet Newsgroups • The newsgroups are organized in a hierarchy • Names are read from left to right • From the broadcast name to the successive subcategories

36. Mailing Lists (listserves) • A mailing list is a forum where people use e-mail messages to share information with each other. • A mailing list generally has a particular subject area that is discussed. • Mailing lists vary in size in terms of the number of subscribers. • Some mailing lists are private while others are open for anyone to join. • Communication is generally in plain text.

37. Mailing Lists • Joining a mailing list = subscription • To subscribe, send an email to automated list server software (aka listserv) • Mailing lists have two delivery options • Regular list subscription: each list posting is sent to you as a separate e-mail • Digest subscription: a number of postings are collected and e-mailed to you as one e-mail message

38. Mailing Lists • When working with a mailing list, you need to be aware of 2 e-mail addresses • List command address: used to interact with the list server software (e.g. subscribe and unsubscribe) • List distribution address: used to post a message to everyone on the list

39. Listserv examples http://www.theteachersguide.com/listservs.html http://www.gwu.edu/~greenu/tryit.html

40. Google Earth • A Web 2.0 application • Capable of displaying images of the Earth’s surface • Allows viewing, searching, and sharing information about the Earth • Can be used to find specific locations, provide travel directions, create virtual “tours”

41. Google Earth http://earth.google.com/ • Not quite a wiki - • Includes database of assembled images of the Earth • Users can zoom in and out • Image resolution ranges from 6”/pixel and up • Landmarks, buildings, even people (in some cases) can be identified

42. Google Earth • Individual locations and buildings can be labeled • Streets, cities, and various other points of interest can be labeled • Users can add their own labels, known as placemarks • User placemarks can be “published” • Must join the Google Earth Community to publish bookmarks and tours

43. Google Earth • The Google Earth Community supports discussion groups and allows users to post their tours • Tours are written in KML (Keyhole Markup Language) • May be saved in a compressed format (.kml or .kmz files)

44. Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging • Communication in real-time is also possible on the Internet • Internet Relay Chat (IRC) • Predates the web • Relies on IRC servers • Users connect to the server with an IRC client and tune into available channels • Different IRC channels cover different topics

45. Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging • Web-based Chat • Requires a JavaScript-enabled browser • The chat rooms may discuss a particular topic • Some chats are even scheduled • Some people have chat rooms on their web pages • Some companies offer customer support through chat rooms

46. Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging

47. Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging • Instant Messaging • Is a hybrid between IRC and Web-based chat • Requires a client to participate • You can find chats that are ongoing or start your own chat (even a private one) • Can even share files • If you want to chat with someone, then you both must be on the same network (ICQ or AOL’s Instant Messenger)