Session 15 and Project Thoughts

The end of the semester is always a bit hectic.  This is especially true sometimes for the online classes as projects come to an end and everything seems to come together at exactly the same time.  I enjoyed the two projects I had.  Facebbook was much more fun.  I never was able to figure out the point to Twitter.  So far as I can tell it's just a chance to update a status like you would on Facebook or something similar.  The point of Twitter really eludes me.

The reading this week was interesting as the chapters in the text usually are.  The Epic video was diffferent.  Was anyone else reminded of 1984?  With all of the talk about monopolies and things being controlled by the computers and robots that's why that came to mind for me.  That was one eerie book.  The video was by far less so, but it still had its moments.

I had tried last semester to come up with creative titles.  That really hasn't happened this time and I am sorry for that.  I had hoped to make people smile with them as I had (I hope) before.

Perhaps, I should have used a different post to discuss the  Web 2.0 projects, but the truth is with the semester ending it was much easier for me to combine the posts.  If this was not what I was supposed to do then I apologize.  With regard to the projects I must admit that sometimes they were a challenge.  I never did figure out the point of the social network of Twitter.  Why post an updated status?  If one has something to say would it not be better suited to use a regular blog?  I found it fairly easy to find people to "follow", but I found that for the most part I did not enjoy following them.  I am not speaking of my classmates. but rather of other people that I chose to look into.  I thought I could look at the New York Times using this resource.  There was too much information to make this possible.  I followed the New York Times, a realtor company in Dallas, classmates, and others.  If one does not have a lot to say or can condense their words there is cause for using such a tool.  I do not believe that I will be utilizing this particular technology.  I do see value in this technology. but I suspect that other technologies would be more helpful to me.

Facebook, on the other hand, has many uses.  The drawback to this social network is that because there are so many things that one can do it is easy to get distracted.  With Facebook one can easily keep up with friends and family who do not live in the same area or who are currently in another country.  I most enjoy keeping up with friends and family.  This is especially true of those who I do not get to see very often.  Through Facebook I get to see pictures of cousins and their children that I otherwise would not have the opportunity to see (for example).  There are also a variety of games that one can play and many businesses and organizations have pages as well.  This is a site that I used before the class and will continue to use it after the fact.  I found pages for other libraries, but chose not to friend or like them as doing so could flood my page with information that would overshadow other relevant information.  In addition, why should I do so when I do not necessarily use that library?  I have considered adding the page from my local library, but I have wrestled with whether doing so would be crossing a boundary or not.  As I am still undecided I have not done so yet.  The library I frequent does have a page and uses it to keep patrons up to date as to what activities are available at the library.  For example, what the next movie is and when it will be shown.  Facebook is a way for people to interact and relate on their own schedule.

 The picture is from Wikipedia's article on hot air ballooning.  Since the semester is flying away so quickly and the projects are as time consuming as some hobbies it seemed approrpriate.  You may have noticed that I've pulled my pictures from the Wikipedia site in recent weeks.  I don't have a lot of pictures on my computer and I have found doing this oddly easier than using clip art.  I did not expect that and I'm not sure why that is.

Good luck with finals and such.

Random song

I ran across Brad Paisley's "Online" video today while debating whether or not to add to my post for class.  I would recommend watching that as it seems very apt to our class discussions.  If you do watch it enjoy.  (Personal add on so no pictures).

Thoughts on Week 14

No wiki this week and that is definitely good news.  Otherwise a quiz and as usual a lot of useful interesting material to learn.  I'm still working on various projects for this and other classes.  It has been an adventurous week.  I started this blog yesterday, so don't worry about the date please.  I did get to talk to one of my cousins this week, which was fantastic.  She graduates next month and already has a job lined up.  I'm really proud of her.  This week's chapter focuses on troubleshooting.  This is something that this class is in some ways designed for.  I mean without understanding technology how can we or anyone diagnose the problem?  That sounds both ridiculous and common sense, but that doesn't change the fact that it is still true.  There is a lot of information that this class provides.  I am thankful to have had the opportunity to take it.  The truth is technology is constantly changing and sometimes the problems of yesterday can be the problems of today.



 Above you will see the video "Reach", if it doesn't work the link is also posted.  http://youtu.be/RMs83vY2d34.  The song is sung by Gloria Estefan.  She was fairly popular in the 90's and this song was used for the summer Olympics later that decade.  I hope everyone enjoys.



Above you will find a picture from Wikipedia it's on their page explaining what mountains are.  Since this class has ben at times a challenge, this picture seemed appropriate.  Those of us who are still climbing can feel a great sense of accomplishment coming so far.  Good luck finishing projects and such.

Week 13

This week has been fairly easy so far as this class goes, which means I should have finished this earlier, but I didn't and it's dated the day I started this blog.  Something seems very off about that.  I mean there's usually so much to get done and there is.  Anyway, I am confused by the session 11-14 projects.  I mean are we supposed to do one of the projects all the projects or none of the projects?  I am sorry for throwing this out so late, but better late than never right?  The two projects are going ok and I have gotten in touch with my group.  This week we ke  ep missing each other, but that's scheduling more than anything.  I admit I am just as guilty, so far as that goes.  To the members of my group, I do apologize for that and hopefully we'll be better able to communicate this week.  I was glad to see that there wasn't a quiz this week.  I must admit the hardest of those quizzes was the connector quiz.  I am still amazed I passed that one.  All in all, it's been a good week.  I think I'm on track.  I hope so.  I decided an appropriate picture would be the Staples Easy button, but it may not cooperate with me.  It didn't unfortunately because that would have been very appropriate.  I found this beautiful lake picture and decided that the peace it brought was a good fit.  The picture is from Wikipedia's article about lake Baikal, which I admit I haven't read yet.  All right, so this post is a bit of a ramble.  Good luck to everyone in the final weeks of the semester.

Week 12

This week has been more relaxed than some.  That's been a relief. I've been able to go back into my post and edit it.  It's dated the 5th because that's the day I started it.  I was happy to realize that this week's reading was something I was somewhat familiar with.  I was also able to wish a cousin of mine happy birthday which was great.

Websites are very useful to libraries, but they can be a challenge as well.  How does one know what to put on the site?  After all, it's impossible to please everyone, but it's important to do so for the majority. Of course that's assuming it's possible.  It seems as though the more technology is available and the easier it's supposed to make life the harder it seems to come.

file://localhost/Users/davidferrell/Desktop/Paddle%20Boat%20on%20Lake.jpg (This may not work) it's a picture of a paddleboat on a lake.  It's one of the pictures  you're supposed to download in the CINS 100 class Intro to Computers.  I chose the picture because this week was relaxing and fit the beautiful weather we've been having.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter or enjoys the holiday weekend.

Web 2.0 Chapter 13

My apologies for this I realized I had put my post in draft instead of posting it.  It had been a long week.

The chapter for this week was very interesting I found.  I am very familiar with many of the technologies discussed.  Skype for instance I am familiar with and have enjoyed when I get the chance to use it.  I had a cousin who went to Spain last semester and that was the only way I had to communicate with her.   Unfortunately, in that case the time difference more than technology made it difficult to take advantage of that opportunity.  However, I do know that her mother really appreciated the opportunity of communicating with her this easily as she had never been this far from home before and the two are close.  I am thankful that the opportunity was available to her that would not have been even a few years ago.

I did not enjoy looking at Second Life.  While the concept is sound and intriguing in practice I found it to be cumbersome and confusing.  I had trouble moving around and performing basic tasks.  Now, I admit I am not perhaps as technologically savy as I perhaps ought to be, but I'm not exactly a slouch either.  So far as the digital divide is concerned, I am somewhere in the middle.  I know a lot, but I also have a lot to learn.  This is even more the case with the Web 2.0 technology.  So much new technology or updates to current technology has come out that it at times is difficult for me to keep up.  I feel like a blank page lost and when I find that picture I will be adding it or something like it.

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I found a picture of an airplane on wikipedia's page about airplanes.  One can travel and learn at the same time, especially  now with the seeming ease of the Internet.  I was trying to capture the concept for distance learning.  I added this picture after the original post, but I hope everyone likes it anyway.

Week 9

This week we looked at Skype and other Web 2.0 projects.  It was the start of other projects as well.  This week was a challenge.  It was easier in some ways than others.  There was a lot of terminology to remember and the truth is I'll be taking the quiz after I work on this blog and my responses to the discussion board.  I apologize to everyone for such a late response.  The week got away from me.  I like skype.  I enjoyed using it.  It's difficult sometimes to stay connected with people.  The Internet makes the process easier, but who knows what to disclose and what not to.file://localhost/Users/davidferrell/Documents/Susie/School/General/Computer%20Classes/101/Word/Horse%20and%20Rider.jpg Ok I just tried to paste a horse and rider picture that's used for CINS 101, but this galloping western seems appropriate as the semester gallops to completion.  I'll have to play with the graphics a bit, but the picture will come.

Good luck to all for the rest of the semester.