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Web 101

Third Edition

by Wendy G. Lehnert & Richard L. Kopec

Modified by Linda Kenney

2/5/08

Chapter 4:Web 2.0

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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

Learning Objectives

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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)

Web 2.0 technology

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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

People Taking Charge

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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/

Taking Charge (cont.)

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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

Taking Charge (cont.)

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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

Blogs

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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.

Blogs (cont.)

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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

Blogs (cont.)

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Social Networks Online communities are quite common:

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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?

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

RSS

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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

RSS (cont.)

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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

Viewing RSS content:

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Firefox includes an integrated RSS client

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Feedreader is a standalone RSS client

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QuickTime™ and aGraphics decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

RSS (cont.)

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

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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

Podcasting

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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

Wikis

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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 suspectSome users deliberately post malicious,

erroneous content

Wikis

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Some wiki sites now require user registration (wikipedia).

Users may be blocked from contributing when violating rules.

Other sites may include content review staff.

Wikis

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wikipedia most visible example

http://www.wikipedia.org/

Wikis

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Other examples: wikibooks wikispecies Wiktionary PBwiki

Wikis

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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

Discussion Groups

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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.

Discussion Groups

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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 )

Discussion Groups

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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/

Message Boards

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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

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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

Web-based Discussion Groups “warnings”

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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

Usenet Newsgroups

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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)

Usenet Newsgroups

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The newsgroups are organized in a hierarchy Names are read from left to right From the broadcast name to the successive

subcategories

Usenet Newsgroups

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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.

Mailing Lists (listserves)

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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

Mailing Lists

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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

Mailing Lists

Listserv examples

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http://www.theteachersguide.com/listservs.html

http://www.gwu.edu/~greenu/tryit.html

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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”

Google Earth

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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

Google Earth http://earth.google.com/

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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

Google Earth

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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)

Google Earth

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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

Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging

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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

Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging

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Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging

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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)

Internet Relay Chat, Web-based Chat and Instant Messaging