1 ABCT2103 Topic 4 Personal Publishing on a Global Network.
4. Spam refers to unwanted massages that always come in bulk mail by
unknown senders. What should we do to avoid the spam?
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Explain each type of personal publishing on a global network;
2. Describe the uses of the applications;
3. Identify the differences for each type of personal publishing application;
and
4. Analyse the benefits of personal publishing tools.
INTRODUCTION
In this topic we will explore the sudden emergence of easy Internet
publishing tools in the past few years. We will discuss the concept of each
application and its usage among the new media users.
With the advancement of technology, each of us has the option to become
a content provider as well as be the audience at the same time. The existence
of Web 2.0, which is also known as social media, the blurring of the role of
content providers and audience is rather obvious. Anybody can now publish any
kind of information without background knowledge of the programme. We no longer
have a passive audience where the majority of viewers just read and receive
whatever content that is given.
Online publishing has become easier than before and anyone can now
publish, and disseminate information on a global network without having any
specific training. The wide spread of online publishing activities often create
free and easy access to all sorts of information. New media now offer easy and
nontechnical procedures, usually free, which can be created by anyone.
New media have been used by users to publish their thoughts, respond to
others, post pictures, and share files. This has contributed to the explosion
of online content. It also creates online communities where people interact
with each other in terms of sharing and contributing information in cyberspace.
However, with this technology, we are also exposed to unwanted information, and
spam is one of them.
4.1 INSTANT MESSAGING (IM)
Do you have a Yahoo! Mail account? Have you used the chat application?
Or have you used Yahoo! Messenger? If you have used it, this means that you are
familiar with instant messaging (IM). Because of its convenience, this
application is not just used to communicate with friends and family, but it is
also used widely in businesses.
IM was developed in the 1970s. It allowed users to send text-based
messages to computers linked on the same computer network, typically within the
same building. Today, IMs have additional features besides sending text-based
messages. As a user, we can also see each other by using webcams, or talk
directly for free over the Internet using a microphone and headphones or
loudspeakers. We can also transfer files using this application.
4.1.1 What is IM?
IM is also known as online chat. It is a form of real-time direct
text-based communication between two or more people over the Internet or other
types of networks. This application can be used on personal computers or mobile
communication devices, along with shared software clients. We need an Internet
connection and an IM client to use IM.
This application is a combination of e-mail and chat. E-mail allows
users to communicate with one another, whether the recipient is currently
online or not.
Mail is stored in the recipientÊs mailbox until he retrieves it. When
sending an e-mail, typically you send a message similar to a letter, and then
wait for delivery of your message and an eventual reply. The mail can include
attached files and links to URLs. However, chat is a real-time communication
medium. When we want to chat with someone, the person must be online at the
same time as we are.
This communication does not include file transfer capabilities.
Figure 4.1: Logos of IM applications found on the Internet.
Figure
4.1: Logos of IM applications found on the Internet.
IM offers both the users real-time communication and file sharing. It
works more like a telephone conversation. When we type a message into an IM,
our message is delivered instantly. This allows two people to have a real-time
conversation across the Internet. This process is similar to „chat rooms‰ but
IM is usually between two people rather than a group of people.
IM is really a specialised form of chat between people who know each
other in a friends list (or also known such as buddy list or contacts list).
Both IM users must be online at the same time for IM to fully work. That is why
IM has the ability to allow users to easily check whether a chosen friend,
co-worker or "buddy" is online and then connect through the selected
service.
However, some IM allows messages to be sent to people not currently
„logged on‰ (offline messages). Although IM is known as text-based
communication, many IM software clients now also allow enhanced modes of
communication, such as live voice or video calling. As users, we also can play
video games online with friends and family.
4.1.2 Types of IM
There are many IM clients if we want to use this application. We must
not only consider what kind of client we would like, but who we want to contact
via IM. Generally, there are five types of IM clients that we can choose from:
1. Single-protocol IMs
These clients connect their users often to only one or two networks of
IM users. Its contact is limited to only those respective networks of IM users.
Among the popular IMs in this type is Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Gtalk
(Google Talk), and Yahoo! Messenger.
2. Multi-protocol IMs
With this type of IM, users can connect all IM accounts with one single
chat client. If we have several IM accounts, this type of IM client is more
efficient rather than using several IM clients at once. For example, Digsby is
more than just a multi-protocol IM, but a life application that connects users
to IM clients, social networks, and e-mail.
3. Web-based IMs
Usually, if we want to use IM we have to sign up for a screen name and
then download and install the client software. However, now we can access free
web chat with all friends and even new people through a single web site such as
AIM Express, Gmail, Meebo, and Yahoo! Mail Messenger.
4. Enterprise IMs
Enterprise IMs offer all the features of IM with the security businesses
need. For instance, Big Ant which has feature-rich, including offline
messaging, web conferencing, file transferring and multi-department
organisation on the contacts list. Compliance to company policies is also
assured with key word filtering, real-time content auditing and extensive IT
supports. A free trial is offered on their website; and a free license
available for up to 10 users. Other enterprising IMs that we can use are
Brosix, AIM Pro, and Spark.
5. Portable IMs
Sometimes we cannot download IMs to computers at work or school because
of administrative controls. With portable IMs, even with the limited access, we
can still access IM clients on a USB flash drive and use it anywhere by
plugging the drive into the computer. One example is Pidgin Portable that
allows support for AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo!,
MSN/Windows Live Messenger, ICQ and Jabber networks. In addition to
offering access to all your favourite IM contacts on one contact list, Pidgin
Portable also supports the Pidgin-Encryption 3.0 and Pidgin-OTR 3.1 plug-ins
for secure communications, regardless of the computer you are using.
Figure 4.2: IM is used to communicate with friends and family.
Figure
4.2: IM is used to communicate with friends and family.
4.2 WEBLOGS (BLOGS)
ACTIVITY 4.1
Do you have a blog? What do you do with your blog? Can you explain what
a blog is? Why is this media used by many people?
Recently weblogs or better known as blogs have become a social
phenomenon to Internet users all around the world. More and more people have a
blog and do blogging. Politicians, reporters, professional writers,
celebrities, educators, and students now have blogs.
Have you noticed that many blogs have been used as alternative media to
mainstream media in order to disseminate news and opinions especially related
to politics? It was used widely after the 9/11 incident and the invasion of
Iraq.
Blogs with these topics received heavy traffic.
Now millions of posts are being written and read by everyone. Blogs can
be written by everybody, there is no need to be a professional writer to write
and publish anything, especially news. Thus, bloggers are often referred to as
„citizen journalists‰.
The first blog was said to have appeared in 1999, and now there are more
than 10 million blogs with various types of content. Blogs usually contain
everything from the common online daily journal to undated news post. This
media gain popularity as a tool in breaking, shaping, and spinning news
stories.
4.2.1 What is a Blog?
A blog is a type of, or part of a website. It is a web application which
contains periodic posts in a common web page. Usually, the most recent post is
the first thing that we see when we visit the blog, followed by the older
posts. The posts are in reverse chronological order and it can be accessible by
any Internet user.
Most blogs are created with special blog-publishing software or tools. A
blog can be described as a regularly updated website with dated posts. It can
also refer to verbs that mean to submit, add or maintain posts or content to a website.
Each piece of content is called an entry and sometimes those posted entries are
called posts. Each posted entry will appear with a date and time. For Daniel
Harris (2008), in order for a certain entry or website to qualify as a blog,
they should be shared, maintained, and used through the Internet. It means the
content of a file or document must be published online. Then we can call it a
blog.
Most of the time a blog refers to an online journal written by one or
more authors called bloggers. Some are updated multiple times a day while
others are rarely updated. All the entries or posts can be read and commented
on, which is the interactive format and important part of many blogs. This
interactive element distinguishes this media from other static websites.
Blogs often originate from a single person, blogger, and the
conversation from their posts. Bloggers have full control of their blogs in
terms of management, creation, and development. Therefore, some blogs can be
read by the invitation of the creators, but many are open to the public.
Bloggers also act as moderators or gatekeepers of their own blog because they
can allow visitors or readers to make comments and then choose to publish it or
otherwise.
Bloggers have full authority over their blog posts, including after it
has been posted. The publication can easily be altered as in writing. The posts
remain in the system as long as it has not been deleted. Any previous posts can
be found in the archives.
Blogs actually evolved from online diaries, where people wrote and
published their personal lives. It is actually an updated component of common
websites. However, the evolution of the tools to facilitate the production and
maintenance of web articles posted made the publishing process feasible to a
much larger group of people.
Blog publishing and blog hosting sites provide editing tools with
web-based interfaces that allow non-programmers to create a blog. With free
sites and free tools, blogging is now easier and cheaper than before. The most
popular and easy to use blog-publishing tool or weblog provider for Malaysians
are Blogspot and Wordpress.
We just need to sign up and set up a weblog account in order to start
blogging. These two weblog providers offer many layout styles and themes to
choose and use. We can also add tools or widgets such as calendar, visitor
counter, and other fun stuff to the blog sites. Besides text, blogs also have
capabilities to insert images, links, and video.
4.2.2 Types of Blogs
When we surf or explore blogs, we can see there are many different types
of blogs. They differ not only in the type of content, but also in the way that
the content is delivered or written. LetÊs explore this in the table below.
Table 4.1: Types of Blogs
Category Focus
By Genre/Topical This type of blog focuses on a particular subject such
as politics,
By Media Type It can be categorised as:
By Device A blog written by mobile devices such as mobile phone or
travel, fashion, technology and recipes.
1. vblog - a blog comprising videos.
2. linklog - a blog comprising links.
3. sketchblog - comprising a portfolio of sketches.
4. tumbleblog - contains shorter post and mixed media type.
5. photoblog - contains photos.
6. moblog - personal device assistant (PDA).
Generally, we can categorise blogs into two types, which are:
1. Personal blogs
This type of blog is an ongoing diary or commentary by an individual. A
personal blog is the most common type of blog. Bloggers use personal blogs as a
way to reflect their life or work, and not just to communicate. There are also
blogs that contain works of fiction by new and upcoming authors. Some blogs
quickly garner an extensive following but usually it is followed by their own
friends.
2. Institutional/Organisational blogs.
This type of blog can be private and it is more suitable for business
purposes. It is written either by company executives or employees hired as
bloggers. It is used to enhance communication purposes in a corporation, or for
marketing, branding or public relation reasons. This type of blog also refers
to blogs owned by clubs and societies to inform members and other interested
parties of clubs and member activities.
Both types of blogs are widely used and have become sites where people
seek for information. It is used by Internet users to discuss and share their
opinion about any topic between the bloggers and their readers.
4.2.3 Use of Blogs
Why do people use blogs? Why do we try to get information by reading the
blogs? There is no single purpose for starting a blog. The motivation varies.
Some use blogs as an alternative to old media, some just use it to inform
like-minded hobbyists about a particular industry. And if we explore some
blogs, there are ramblings, and even incoherent and uninteresting posts.
Generally, blogs offer us:
1. Fresh content ă Many blog content are updated regularly, some are
even updated several times a day. This is what makes the blogs as fresher
websites than non-blog personal sites.
2. Personal content ă Many blogs are like personal, public diaries.
Somebloggers, especially those owned by students, post entries related to their
own lives.
3. Newsy content - Some blogs offer a less personal approach when its
content are full with updated news item or pages from other sites. Some offer
comments on the news or recent hot topics.
Because of that, many people use the blogs for various reasons. Blogs
have been used as useful tools especially for research, reviewing opinions,
exchanging ideas, locating like-minded people, getting support, and also as
entertainment.
Blogs are also used as marketing tools or business strategy especially
for small-size and unknown entrepreneurs.
Through blogging, the bloggers can also make money, for instance by
using Google AdSense, Amazon Associates, PayPerPost, PayPal donation widgets,
and place advertisements on their blogs.
4.3 WIKIS
Wikipedia is one of the popular wikis among the new media users. It
contains online information in many fields contributed by unspecific authors.
Besides Wikipedia, there are other wikis like WikiSpace, WikiMatrix, and
WikiAnswers.
Wikis have been used widely. Teachers use wikis to provide their
students with updated projects and to keep project resources organised in a
single place. Programmers use it for collaborative open source projects in
which any individual may provide new lines of code at any time. Businesses use
wikis to manage theirs and attract new clients.
Educators and students, as well as amateurs and professionals (artists,
writers, collectors), have found wikis useful in expanding community
involvement and interest in their subjects and activities. But what are wikis?
4.3.1 Definition of Wikis
The Wikis concept originated from Ward Cunningham when he released
WikiWikiWeb on the Internet in 1995. His vision was to create the simplest
possible online databases. It was designed to help groups collaborate, share,
and create online content. This concept has been accepted tremendously well
especially because it involves collaboration among people in a shared place.
This means, wiki ownership is shared and distributed among all of its contributing
members.
„Wiki‰ is a Haiwaiian word which means „fast‰. The purpose of a wiki is
to provide fast authoring tools so publishing can be done quickly via the
Internet. Therefore, the content in wikis can be immediately viewed and
commented on.
Simply put, wikis refer to an online collaborative writing tool. A wiki
can be said to be a webpage that can be viewed, created, and modified by
anybody with a web browser and access to the Internet. The published content in
wikis can be changed, added and edited anytime by visitors. It also supports
hyperlinks and is typically powered by wiki software.
According to The Wiki Way:
„Open editing has some profound and subtle effects on the wikiÊs usage.
Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site... encourages
democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by nontechnical
users.‰
Therefore, we can define wikis as having the following characteristics:
1. Central location ă The wiki files need to be centrally located to
make it quick and easy to share and to ensure the content is freely available
to all users.
2. Anyone can edit ă Everybody can create, add, or edit the content
without giving up their identity or be an administrator.
3. Easy editing ă Editing the content in a wiki page can be done easily
with a web browser and there is no need for special tools or skills.
4. Simple formatting ă Needed to allow everyone access to it.
5. List of changes ă Every page should have a history page to show all
recent changes.
This publishing tool is also described as a composition system, a
discussion medium, a repository, a mail system, and a tool for collaboration.
This is because wikis allow asynchronous communication and group collaboration
via the Internet. Some wikis may have simple tools to create multimedia
presentations and to incorporate sounds, movies, and pictures.
By using a simple web interface, a community can collaborate on
developing a document or wiki page, no matter where they are located. Wikis can
be openly public where anyone can see the content, or be available to a defined
community within or across organisations. Some wikis allow everyone to view the
content, but only members can edit the content.
4.3.2 Features of Wikis
Wikis have developed fast since its introduction. Several innovations
created have become a part of almost all wiki engines, such as the following:
1. Versioning ă Saving a version of each wiki page so that the previous
version can be referred to.
2. Attaching files ă Allowing files to be attached to the wiki page
3. Backlinks ă Allowing easy browsing of all pages that are linked to
that particular page.
4. Notification of changes ă Alerts are sent when a page has been
changed.
5. Searching ă Offer searching by entering a certain word in wiki pages
6. Printed version ă Creating a printable version that takes of the
navigation page.
Now there are many wikis which can be used as well as created from a
hosted wiki, mostly by open source software. It can be different and before
selecting a particular wiki, it is important for us to consider the following
features:
1. Access control ă Wikis can be „public‰ or „private‰. A public wiki
refers to one that is visible to anyone on the web without having to log in.
Search engines will always identify these pages and include it in their
database. This means we can discover the wikis by searching the web. A private
wiki is only visible to those who have password access to it. It also may be
accessed by those „invited‰ to join it by someone who has password access.
2. Capacity ă Wikis usually support the creation of multiple pages by
multiple authors. This can make it grow quickly in size. There may be
restrictions on how many pages can be created, the length of each page, and the
size of attachment of images and media.
3. Editing features ă Basic word processing features like font, bullets
and simple tables are available in most wikis and are easy to use. Some wikis
add some extra editing and formatting features when you use a fee-based
service.
4. Customisation and skins ă Wikis are typically plain and generic
pages.
Customising the way wikis look is often limited. Self-hosted wikis allow
you to create your own skin, but it needs some technical and web-design
expertise. Free and fee-based wikis often provide limited number of skins in
their wikis.
5. Communication ă Most wikis support some type of embedded
communication among wiki members such as e-mail links to members, discussion
thread, and page comments. The ability to communicate with other members lead
to the success of an online wiki project.
6. Security ă Wikis usually have build-in safety measure to protect
against misuse, including password protection, version control, and version
archiving.
Basically, wikis can be divided into three categories: educational
wikis, social wikis, and corporate wikis. Educational wikis such as the
well-known Wikipedia serve the purpose of educating people through an open and
collaborative publication format. This type of wiki supplies information for
free for any enquiries. It has the ability to adapt and change the available information
to ensure that information is up-to-date and correct.
Social wikis allow people to discuss and publish information about
subjects of interest written by people who have and wish to share their
experiences. Corporate wikis are a useful format for groups or teams that work
in collaborative environments or are starting new projects. Wikis can be used
for storing minutes of meetings, linking sites or creating online
documentations. The open nature of wikis allow the corporate environment to
create an up-to-date living documentation.
4.3.3 The Use of Wikis
Wikis are powerful and flexible collaborative communication tools for
developing content-specific Web sites. It has grown and evolved since people
keep adding material to the sites.
Anybody can use wikis. To use wikis, we just need a few simple steps as
the following:
1. Search for a topic of your interest as you would do in a search
engine.
2. If the topic is there then you can expand on it. If not, you can
create it.
3. Then you leave it in Wiki for further contributions from you or
others.
4. You can always come back to edit and enhance the content.
5. You can always review and update.
Since wikis can be use by anybody and does not require special technical
knowledge, it has recently been used as a pedagogical tool·student involvement,
group activities, and so on. Since wikis reside on the Internet, students can
access and participate from any location, provided they have Internet access.
From an instructional technology perspective, wikis allow faculty and students
to engage in collaborative activities that might not be possible in a
classroom. Their flexibility will encourage broader adoption·by both students
and faculty.
Wikis have now become important as a place to find information and share
knowledge among online communities because it has several advantages, such as
the following:
1. Knowledge Sharing to Improve Products and Outcomes
Wikis take advantage of the wisdom of the crowds. Through simple and
open editing features, wikis encourage users to add and edit content, making it
easy to improve products as people add their knowledge. Wikis can be used to
collectively identify issues, problems, and solutions and develop products and
outcomes.
2. Working Together Across Boundaries
Wikis can foster collaboration and break down barriers to collaboration,
such as employees who work at different locations and have different access to
technology. Wikis can help bring greater continuity and cohesiveness to
communities that are fragmented or within organisational silos.
3. Engagement
Wikis are so simple to use that it is much easier for others to
contribute to the product or solution. They may be government employees working
on a project or the public helping the government develop a product or solve a
problem. Wikis may be the one tool that can be used to get more public input
into governance.
4. Transparency
The shared knowledge of a community is available to all members, which
builds trust. Every change on a wiki page is recorded and viewable. Wikis make
visible changes made by every member, along with the date and membersÊ names.
The community determines who can contribute and view content.
ACTIVITY 4.2
Wikis have many advantages to the users. However, some educational
institutions prohibit their student from using wikis, including Wikipedia, as
reference. In your opinion, why is this happening?
4.4 PODCASTS
In the digital age, online publishing is not only limited to text-based,
but it also includes media such as sound. Recording and dissemination of sound
programmes become easier now and it can be published on global networks and
shared with larger groups of people. This recording and dissemination of sound
is known as podcasting.
What is the difference between podcasts and ordinary downloadable audio
files?
Downloadable files have been an Internet capability since a decade ago.
There must be more to these audio files which have grown and become a major
phenomenon lately.
4.4.1 What is Podcast?
A podcast is a series of digital media files·music, interviews,
talks·that are released episodically. This new media is often downloaded
through the web. It also refers to delivering audio content to iPods and other
portable media players, so that it can be listened to at the user's
convenience.
The main benefit of podcasting is that listeners can sync content to
their media player and take it with them to listen whenever they want to. As
podcasts are typically saved in MP3 format, they can also be listened to by
using any computer.
The term „podcasting‰ was popularised by media entrepreneur and former
MTV VJ, Adam Curry. The „pod‰ comes from iPod, which was the device that was
originally used to hear the podcasts. The word „casting‰ comes from
broadcasting which refers to the widespread casting or dissemination of first
sound by radio.
Subscription Subscription is handled through RSS (Real Simple
Syndication).
Episodic Podcasts are recurring shows and many of them adapt the format
of Detachable Podcasts can be played on any MP3-compatible device. This means
Can listen whenever you want. Can target niche audience
Table 4.2: Characteristic of Podcasts
Using the variety of available applications or websites, you can be
assured that every episode of a podcast will automatically be delivered to your
computer as soon as it is available. There is no need for you to remember to
check a podcast website to see if a new episode has been uploaded.
radio. The
subscription is done to get a full instalment of episodes.
that you can listen to podcasts while on the go and not only at your
desk.
Unlike terrestrial radio which requires you to tune in at a specific
time
for your favourite program, podcasts gives you the flexibility of
listening at any convenient time.
Podcasts can be used as an alternative medium to reach the targeted
audience whereas radio has a broader and unspecified audience. It is easier to
attract sponsors and advertisers with the specific or niche audience .
Podcasts are now easily available on any computer and can be used in
cars too. It is also available via Bluetooth connections to your phone. For
John Levinson, podcasts and radio are becoming one and the same. The
differentiation between both is that radio programmes are professionally
produced, whereas podcasts can be made and be disseminated by anyone.
Levinson (2009: 154) defines podcasts as follows:
„It is an audio or audio-visual programme that you can get for free over
the web. Its advantage is that the podcast comes straight from the podcaster
and does not have to meet whatever the requirement of radio and television
broadcast producers. This means that the podcast can be more original and
idiosyncratic; the podcast does not have to attract numbers of listeners or
viewers in order to continue.‰
Podcasting gives an individual the power to communicate. There is no
working within „the system‰. We do not need a fancy studio. Everyone can be the
podcaster and their podcast can reach a more geographically diverse audience
than a radio station with no transmitter, satellites, and regulations.
4.4.2 How is a Podcast Made?
The way a podcast is created depends on the toolkits that usually come
in the form of software.
ACTIVITY 4.3
Podcasts are now being used for many reasons and in many fields, not
just for the entertainment industry. Discuss the use of podcasts in the
following areas:
1. Education;
2. News;
3. Publicity and marketing; and
4. Politics.
You just need the following items to produce a podcast:
1. Microphone;
2. Podcast mixer and recorder;
3. Sound card; and an
4. Audio software.
The first podcast that was developed concentrated on producing voice or
audio files. However, with the development of technology, more and more
software packages exist as a respond to the growing demand from the public.
With the new software, you can enhance your podcasts by incorporating images
and videos on the audio file.
Generally, to produce a podcast you just need a microphone and a
sound-recording programme. Sound-recording programmes can be purchased or found
for free (for instance Audacity) on the web. However, recording a podcast that
sounds good takes a little talent. Any mistake can be edited with ease and free
programmes can be used to improve voice quality.
Podcasts vary in length, from a few minutes to a few hours long. The
longer the podcast, the bigger the file required to store it and more bandwidth
needed to disseminate the podcast on the web. Recordings can be stored in
different formats, either in uncompressed WAV file or highly compressed MP3s.
Once recorded, the podcast has to be uploaded on the web, from which it can be
disseminated to the world.
4.4.3 The Advantages of Podcasts
Podcasting began to be popular with the public in late 2004. Podcast
directories like iTunes, Podcast Alley, Yahoo!Podcast, and The Network Podcast
list thousands of podcast episodes produced by thousands of individuals. In
2006, a podcast community emerged and created the „Podcast Yellow Pages‰. They
also have a community called Blubrry which has rapidly developed into an online
place where podcasters and listeners can meet, interact and learn from each
other.
Podcasts offer several advantages. Generally, the advantages of podcast
are as follows:
(a) Automatic
Podcasts can be downloadable, automatically, on your computer. Once you
have a podcast that you listen to or watch regularly, you can simply subscribe
to the feed. With a simple software called a podcatcher (such as Apple iTunes),
each new show listed in the feed will be downloaded automatically to your
computer or portable media player. You do not need to search for it on the
Internet as the podcast will come to you.
(b) Easy to control
The listener has full control of podcasting. Because you control your
list of subscriptions, if you no longer want to receive the show you can just
unsubscribe yourself from the podcast feed.
(c) Portable
Podcasts usually use MP3 files which are audio and video files encoded
specifically for use on the web and portable devices. With MP3 file format, the
sizes of the files are relatively smaller. So they are perfect for downloading
from the Internet and transferring to a portable media player.
You can also burn the MP3 file as an audio CD to take it anywhere and
share it with anyone.
(d) Always available
Podcasts are also known as radio and television on-demand, time-shifted
to fit to your schedule. You do not have to worry about missing your favourite
show because it will be in your hard drive or portable media player, whenever
you want it.
ACTIVITY 4.4
Online publishing on global networks like blogs, wikis, and podcasts
have many advantages, but there are also disadvantages.
1. Discuss the disadvantages of blogs, wikis, and podcast.
2. Content in online publishing sometimes raises issues regarding
intellectual property and copyright. What is your opinion on this? Discuss it.
4.5 PERSONAL BUSINESS ONLINE
With the introduction of Web 2.0, anyone can easily publish and interact
directly with the audience. Because of this, many of these applications have
been used for personal business online. This new media technology is not
limited only to big companies with money and expertise in their field.
There are various tools or applications to be used to do this personal
business online. Among them are as the following:
(a) Weblogs
More and more individuals use personal blogs for business purposes.
Blogs not only act as online journals or diaries anymore, but it has become an
important supplement to a business online strategy. It acts as a new
communication channel with audiences where blogs have been used to engage in
direct dialogue with customers by using a "comments" feature that
allows visitors to post remarks. So, we can use blogs to connect with consumers
on a personal level and keep them visiting a blog regularly.
While it can be used for any type of business, small businesses may gain
more benefit from it because blogs offer little-known small businesses name
recognition, and the chance to boost traffic. That is why blogs are now used
for personal businesses which are usually conducted from the ownersÊ
residences.
This new media are used as virtual shops and marketing tools for various
kinds of businesses such as accessories, fabrics, shawls, graphic design
services, homemade cookies, etc. They post images and details of the products
for their customers viewing.
To make an order, customers just need to fill in an online form and wait
for the response from the owner of the blogs. The orders will usually be sent
to the customerÊs e-mail and payment can be done via credit card or fund
transfer. The product that has been ordered will be posted to the costomer as
soon as the payment is made.
(b) Online forum
Online forums, also known as Internet forums and message boards are
online discussion sites. People who participate in online forums may form a
social bond and form interest groups for topics that were discussed.
An online forum can be a good place to find a group of users with the
same demand. Therefore, some Internet users use online forums including online
directories such as Mesra.net, Cari.com, Carigold.com to promote their personal
business online. Some of them use this as a marketing tool for sales of
second-hand products while others sell new items.
Online forums or online directories are typically divided into categories
in order for users to easily find any information. This also enables direct
communication for any enquiries.
(c) Online social networking
With more and more people using online social networks such as Facebook
and Twitter, it has become a potential marketplace for businesses and
marketers. These social media are full of prospects and leading information
spot for sales and marketing because it is a place for like-minded people who
share the same interests.
Online social networks also encourage collaboration and can replace
intranets, while promoting a non-email conversation channel. Therefore, social
networking is great at building relationships, growing communities, serving an
audience, and helping people to find business. The trick with social networking
is to get people to like or trust you. It can also be used to improve your
relationships with existing and past customers.
The social networks sometimes can be used with blogs in a marketing
strategy. Social networks are used to attract and gather the customers and then
the blog will use it as a sales tool where they can make their selection and
order. For instance, Hijab G.A.R.D.E.N and Patricia Boutique use Facebook as
customer services, promotion, and sale tools for their businesses.
These two online businesses attract end-users as their main customer and
they supply the product in small quantities at affordable prices.
Some social networks also offer online advertising to the users.
Facebook, for example, allows their members to create an advertisement for the
product or business and place it at the sidebar. This can be an effective tool
where people can click on it when they see it each time they sign on the
account. Social networking has been used as platforms that engages and empowers
its customers with the opportunity to communicate with the business. Their
network becomes wider because this type of social media will always spread from
friend to friend.
4.6 BLOGROLLS AND FILTERING THE WEB
Previously, there were a few bloggers and they were linked to one
another. With the introduction of easily used blog sites such as Wordpress,
blogsphere are now growing rapidly. More and more people use blogs. We, as
users, have many options to pick and follow certain blogs that suit our
interests.
With hundreds of million of blogs, how do we find a newly launched blog
or interesting blogs that we want? This is the importance of blogrolls in
weblogs. It is provided by bloggers, usually in the blogÊs sidebar (depending
on the blog template layout).
A blogroll is a list of links to the blogs that a particular blogger
likes and recommends to the readers. Sometimes bloggers divide their blogrolls
into categories. The blogroll can be set up based on each blogger's personal
preferences, and it can be updated at any time.
Blogrolls can be a powerful tool that leads to increased traffic. That
is why bloggers should make their existence visible on related sites in their
niche. If they can get their blogÊs link listed on other blogs, it means that
other people who read those blogs might notice the link, follow it and start
reading their blog too Blogrolls are linked to publicity and exposure across
the blogosphere. It can become a good networking tool. It can give added
benefit if the blogger thinks that his readers can benefit from and enjoy. This
is one of the ways as to how each blog can be shared and read by potential
readers.
With the explosion of millions of blogs and other new media applications
including social media, we are now exposed to too much information that is
spreading widely on the global network. However, not all information are useful
and some of the information are inappropriate to us, especially to children or
underaged users. Therefore, Internet filters and web content filters are used
especially in our home computers.
Institutions or organisations also filter the web to control the
browsing capabilities of their staff on the network. They can even assign
certain restrictions to certain computers and certain individuals with the help
of these filters. You can even go so far as to put restrictions on browsing
capabilities on a timer to ensure that employees can still access sites that
they want to access, except during office hours where productivity is needed.
Filtering the web can be implemented in many different ways, namely by a
software programme on a personal computer or by servers providing Internet
access. Generally there are four types of filters that can be used, such as:
1. Client-side filters: This type of filter is installed as software on
your computer. This filter can be customised to meet a family's needs. This
filter can only be disabled by someone with the password.
2. Content-limited (or filtered) ISPs: Content-limited (or filtered)
ISPs are Internet service providers that offer access to only a set portion of
Internet content.
Anyone who subscribes to this type of service is subjected to the same
type of restrictions. These types of filters are especially designed for children.
It offers web pages that have been carefully reviewed multiple times and
assessed for their appropriateness and safety. Content, entertainment, and
education are key aspects as well. There are strict rules for those who break
chat room and bulletin board rules. Those who break the rules are uninvited.
Email and instant messages can only be received from specified parties.
3. Server filter-sides: These servers are in demand and are very useful
in institutional settings. Some examples include schools or library systems.
All users are subject to the access policy defined by the institution. The
filtering comes from the institutions’ ISPs directly or from the institution
itself. The filtering can be customised. A school district's high school
library can have a different filtering profile than the district's junior high
school library.
4. Search-engine filters: Many search engines, such as Google and Alta
Vista offer users the option of turning on a safety filter. When this safety
filter is activated, it filters out the inappropriate links from all of the
search results. If one knows the actual URL of a website that features sexual
explicit or 18 + content, they have the ability to access it without using a
search engine.
Engines like Lycos, Yahoo, and Bing offer juvenile-oriented versions of
their engines that permit only children friendly websites.
ACTIVITY 4.5
Not everybody agrees with the filtering of the web. Some of the Internet
users raise the issue of filtering as a control of free content especially when
it is used in the government sectors for their employees. What do you think of
this issue? In your opinion, why do some people disapprove of filtering the
web?
4.7 DATA AND SPAM
With the advancement of network technology, we are now exposed to
various types of data and information. The technology becomes easier to use for
everyone and we can create any data and information, then disseminate to
everybody else in the global network.
New media gives power and control to the user to select useful data for
their own purposes. The content provider can provide or offer any kinds of
information to huge audiences. And this data can be found easily in global
networks like the Internet.
However, sometimes we receive unwanted data or spam which is also called
unwanted electronic junk mail. Most of spam are commercial advertising
generated by marketing firms that collected from mailing lists, chat rooms,
membership application, ISPÊs public directories, and websites. Some of the
spam are scams. It is very popular on the Internet because it is easy to create
and is cheap, and it is also difficult to track down the creators.
Spam is „flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in
an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to
receive it‰ (spam.abuse.net). Spam started to become a problem when the
Internet was opened up to the general public in the mid-1990s. It grew
exponentially over the following years, and today composes some 80 to 85% of
all the e-mail in the world.
We always think of spam in the form of e-mail, but it also exists in
other media like instant messaging, Usenet newsgroup, web search engine, blogs,
wikis, online classified ads, and Internet forum. Some of us may have received
junk mail that try to get us to download a virus, reveals our bank account
number, or send in money or products that we will never receive.
To protect or avoid spam, especially in e-mail accounts, the easiest way
is to turn spam filters on. The filters will block the spam and other unwanted
e-mails. However, sometimes it will block e-mail messages that we want. We can
also use spam-fighting software which generally offers more capabilities than
the filters that come together with the e-mail software. Among them are
SpamKiller, Spam Exterminater, and Spam Buster.
x Instant Messaging, or IM, is a form of real-time direct text-based communication
between two or more people over the Internet or other type of networks.
x A blog is a web application which contains periodic posts in a common
web page.
x There are many different types of blogs, but we can generally
categorise blogs into two types: personal blogs and organisational blogs.
x Blogs offer us fresh content, personal content and newsworthy content.
x Wikis refer to an online collaborative writing tool.
x A wiki is a webpage that can be viewed, created, and modified by anybody
with the web browser and access to the Internet.
x A podcast is a series of digital media files·music, interviews,
talks·that are released episodically.
Blogs
Filters
Instant messaging
On-line publishing
Podcast
Spam
Wikis
1. What do you understand by
(a) Instant messaging
(b) Wikis
(c) Weblogs
(d) Podcasts
(e) Spam
2. What are the advantages of podcasts?
3. There are a few types of filters. State and discuss each of it.
1. Discuss the difference between e-mail and IMs.
2. Weblogs or blogs are also seen as online daily journals at the
beginning of its introduction. The reason for using the blog is not just as
on-line daily journal anymore. Now, more and more people began to use this
application for many purposes. Discuss.
3. Wikis have been used widely in education among the students and the
teachers. Why? Give your opinions.
No comments:
Post a Comment