Week 12 - Web 101

This week we were asked to discuss the future of the Internet and what we would imagine the Internet would be like in five years time.

In five years time, I would imagine search engines and the like will become that much faster, and perhaps we would be able to get the right answers instead of a multitude of wrong answers. Machines would fire up instantly ready to work (or play). I would hope that the windows platform would for once, be stable and perfect on the first release.

Scientifically, I think there will be more of a difference in five years. Already major changes have come about by using computers and highly sophisticated software. I was at the dentist just this week, and they used a machine to build a porcelain filling! The dentist put a gadget against my tooth and pressed a few buttons and actually built the filling in 3d!! Then she left to go to another room to get it and bring it back! I knew things were getting better, but I never believed a filling could be so much fun!! So on that note, I can see the likes of dentures being designed on a computer, getting rid of the ill fitting, ugly, just plain wrong dentures that people are being forced to wear today.

Personally after studying this unit, I think in five years time, Google will not have much more to say about me than it does today. I will be more careful as to not disclose anything I do not want to be reminded of in the future. I was already painfully aware of digital footprints and the like, but knowing just how well the Internet remembers every little thing you do in some way, I will not be taking chances.
Of course if I become fabulously famous then I will rethink that ;P

Week 10 - Web 101

This week, we were asked to go 'ego surfing' using Google, Blindsearch and Spezify.

- How did you go? Were you comfortable with the results, did you find information or images that surprised you?

- How were the search engines different? How might the presentation of information alter its impact or meaning?

- Would you be comfortable with an employer or employee searching for you? What about your family members?

Finally - are you happy that you have created a 'hub' to control your online profile and hopefully for shadow - if not, do you intend to create one?

Share your thoughts and experiences your digital shadow under this thread. As always, these questions a starting point of your conversation and you are welcome to add other threads relevant to the topic.

As usual running behind, I had tried to cover as much as I could in a short space of time. Google, I knew of, and my domain name does come up quite easily which is good seeing as I have had my website for almost 6 years I think. Strangely I have never heard of Blindsearch or Spezify. Searching for my real name was an eye opener. Most of what I have read on the discussion board seemed to be how surprised they were to find just how much information was freely available about themselves, well I had to go to page two, to find anything, and so far just about my tiny bit of art on cornucopia. Skip to the next page, and there is my twitter profile..and that was it. My facebook page does not show up, well not for me so perhaps I have set the profile page to not be found.. who knows. I did not realise just how many of me there were in the world, especially in the US. I wonder just how many of us, really have this name, and not just adopting 'Billie' because they did not like their real first name? Adjusting the results to just Australia did bring the real me up (I was starting to worry I had gotten lost). My fundraising profile for Little Heroes came up first followed by some strangers and then some links to my craft entries on others blogs.

In Blindsearch I did not come up at all, and Spezify was just annoying and useless.. maybe it was just me, but I doubt I would ever try Spezify again. 

I cannot say I was uncomfortable, as I did not find anything that affected me in any way, I was surprised at how little there was out there but I am sure if I dug a few pages further, I might find something. My guess is, using nicknames is the reason behind my anonymity. 

As for the difference between search engines, well good old Google was set out in a way I knew and have used for years. The other two were totally new to me. Blindsearch appeared at first to be a place holder for an expired or yet to be built domain. Spezify, I just do not know what to say, it was confusing, busy, and pretty much useless. How does my name have any thing to do with Doctor Who (David Tennant)?

I am not shy on the web, nor am I right out there. I like where I am, neither naughty nor nice. My shadow is perhaps still catching up with me.

Week 9 - Web101

Have decided that real life uni has to be a lot easier than online. Other than a facebook group which are a fantastic bunch of nuts, I feel I am left floundering. I do not get the questions without a heap of drama. Why can't the questions be straight forward? Perhaps they are and it is just me... who knows.
The essay is due on Friday morning, and all I have are some scrappy notes. Although in saying that, someone posted something about the same topic I am doing and it has given me some ideas. Not bad seeing as we have had about 4 weeks to do the essay and here I am scrambling in the last week :(.
Listening to music from Greys Anatomy trying to get some focus... come on brain, you can do it!
Have decided that for my web presence, I am going to build a whole new website for my pixel site. I was given the go ahead as long as I do not change anything. So this 'should' be a piece of cake. We have to have 3 nodes and some other fancy words that I will have to google to find out what it means. My old pixel site has about 300 nodes, so coming up with 3 is no problem.

Edit: Finally finished my essay and handed it in late last night. Have a feeling I did not stay on track, but I did do the referencing the right way.. or did I? I checked and rechecked, so I hope I did not miss anything. 

Week7 - 101

Finally got my results back for assignment one 8.5 out of 15. At first I was happy because its a pass, but then got very mad at myself for the stupid mistakes. Referencing, we all know in the bibliography its set out in alphabetical order, so why did I put it in a numbered order, and worse, I did not number it, I just assumed the person reading my paper would know that the first reference, was the first in the bibliography... *slap forehead DUH*. I also cut down the words due to the word count being only 750, and I lost marks due to the fact that I did not include enough information. Thankfully grammar and composition etc was fine, so I did learn something that stuck in SSK12 lol.
I do not think it helps, the fact that I felt I 'knew it all' before starting the unit. Not meaning I am being big headed, but I have already done two years of cert 4 in IT prior to this, but too long ago to count as anything. Plus the fact I have my own websites, domain names and the like, but the problem popped out when I realised that I do not know the terminology for my so called experience.
Now facing my essay which I finally decided it would be about Facebook, along with hundreds of other students quite likely to choose the same topic. Thankfully now I have an assessment back with very helpful comments, it gives me something to work on so I can hopefully produce an essay worth reading!
Oh and I found out for my web presence, I can use pixelling as my theme which is good as I am a pixeller from way back. So now to choose a new look website so I can dedicate it to my web presence. Pretty happy about that.... at the moment

Week 6 - Web101

Another Week Gone.. or is it two? - Web101
I now have a matter of days, in which to hand in an essay.
Choose one Web 2.0 platform discussed during module two and analyse the extent to which this platform has changed, and/or has the potential to change, the way people communicate and collaborate.
In all honesty, I had never heard of Web 2.0 before starting this unit. From what I have learnt already, it is to do with the interaction a person has with certain websites. Facebook for instance, where you can change the outcome of a page and share with others, without the need to be a web designer or a geek. Where you can play graphic rich games, altering the page as you go... ugh, something like that.

Week 5 - Web101

Week Five - Web101
I knew this would happen, I forgot to update in at least two weeks, this is not good, because I need the reflections to work on later on for the important end work.
So far we have gone into Wiki, Blogging (of course), working out the differences between the Internet and the World Wide Web, Web 2.0 ( which until now, I did not know existed, I just took it all for granted) and RSS, something I never subscribe to and to be honest, I have no interest in RSS at all.
I found it really hard to put into words, the relationship of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Yes, I know what it is, and yes, I know the difference between the two, but to find the words and not dribble like a gibberish monkey when it comes to putting the right words in... I found that hard!
The Internet is the back bone of the web, a bit like the phone line most people have, without the phone line, the telephone will not work, but that doesnt mean that the phone line can not be used for other purposes.. well thats my view on what the Internet is, it is a lot of phone lines connecting lots of houses and businesses, and as long as the houses and businesses have the right equipment on the end of that line, they can make calls. Simple eh?
Blogging, well I have never had a blog before. I have and still own my own website (have not updated in a while, my pixel muse took long service leave) www.billeebear.com. I have managed forums and am a member in more forums than I can remember!
I handed in my first assignment for Web101, and I really do not know how I went. I know the subject matter well, but putting it into words that make sense, well, thats another matter entirely.

A Learning Portfolio - Web101

Week Two - Web101
Ok, well I have already forgotten to update my blog, I can't say I am surprised, this is normal for me :P
Not sure if I am enjoying Web101 or not. I thought I would have just taken to it like a fish to water, seeing as I have spent the last 10 or so years in front of a stupid monitor. But no, I think the layout of the course is a bit confusing. The work seems ok, well I have nothing marked, so who knows, I think its ok though. I get lost easily, and then something else will catch my eye... ooh sparkly.. brb

Week One - Web101

Already the end of the first week, and I must admit I am off to a slow start.  I had every intention of diving in and getting ahead of the workload, now it seems I will be catching up!

Web101 - I decided on this unit because of how much time I sit in front of a computer, I figured I may as well learn a bit more about the things that keeps me entertained for so many hours a day.
We are supposed to use parts of our learning portfolio in an assignment, so I am hoping that I remember to keep this thing updated, or else I am going to be in trouble!

This weeks assignment:

1. What is the Internet?
2. What is the World Wide Web?
3. What is the relationship between the World Wide Web and the Internet?
4. What are three purported differences between the World Wide Web as it first emerged, and the more recent Web 2.0?
5. What is RSS and why is it significant to Web 2.0?

Why is it, that when I sign up for things, that I think it will be easy, or at least something I can get my teeth into and actually enjoy doing the work?
Since this is my third unit, I have learnt that spelling, grammar etc is extremely important to have correct, as of course, this is uni level (duh) and I know once my mind is in gear, that I can just sit down and do what is needed... but where is the starting point? Why do I find it so hard to actually start at the right spot?
One thing we did this week, that was quite interesting, was to check up on our usernames with a site called (www.namechk.com). It was fascinating to see just how many places that I have joined and forgotten! I also noted one or two of these sites have one of my usernames (Auscot, a name I made up by combining Aussie and Scottish) and neither are actually mine!
This site is invaluable if you are looking to join any of the sites on the page, you will not have to waste so much time in trying to come up with a unique username, as you just type in the one name, and it will automatically go through all the listings and tell you whether or not the name is available. It also gives you the chance to use the name for your own domain, if it is available. Also worth noting, you do not want to use a name that may be a trademark infringement.. no no no.

Well tonight is Sunday night and I have done quite a lot of work between Web 101 and another unit at RMIT which is fun because I am learning to use Flash.  I have realised that although I thought I knew the net, inside and out, I really do not know much at all. Yes I know how it works, but the technical jargon... ugh! Have you ever heard of Web 2.0? I havent until this week, and to be honest, I do not really understand it. I think perhaps it has snuck in the back door without me noticing. I understand where it is to do with user interaction, such as Facebook and the games, where what I write, has an affect on the outcome on the page I am reading. Thats about it.... night night Ü