Module Five Task

Information Ecology

We define an information ecology to be a system of people, practices, values and technologies in a particular local environment.  In information ecologies, the spotlight is not on technology, but on human activities that are served by technology (Nardi & Day, 1999).

I have long believed that the description of the internet as groups of connected computers was a slightly skewed one.  By not acknowledging the people behind those computers does not do the internet justice.  So to find a metaphor to describe my thoughts was, to use another metaphor, a wonderful lightbulb moment.

I also like that it carries on the “nature” metaphor of the surfing the web, working in the cloud, etc.

But just like in many other systems, there are the haves and the have nots – and in this ecosystem there are the information rich and the information poor (I would also argue that there are the techno rich and techno poor as well).

I came across this wonderful site in my travels called FAT (Feminist Approach to Technology) which is an organisation that is committed to empowering women through technology.  I also saw an inspiring news story where the Indian government had placed computers in villages especially for children to learn how to use them (with yellow awnings in place at just the right height to discourage adults from using the terminals :)).   It will be these types of organisations and initiatives that help address the imbalance between the haves and the have nots.

There should be a place for everyone in the Information Ecosystem, mainstream and alternative, a closed system is a dead system. 

Module Four Tasks – Boolean Searching

As the copernicus task became optional, I decided to get creative and came up with my own task by merging the search engine and the boolean searching tasks.  I used google and dogpile and performed the following parameters in both search engines:

• constructing identity
• constructing and identity
• constructing +identity

(if you recognise the phrases, then yes I am multi-tasking ;))

The top 5 hits were recorded from each search and out of 30 search results only 6 were unique.  The old saying “seek and ye shall find” might need to be changed to “seek and ye shall find the same thing over and over unless you start to think outside the box!”.

Google search - “constructing identity”

Hits: 334,000

The construction of identity

Constructing Identity through Social Interaction: Developmentally ...

Constructing Identity By Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon

Media Use in Identity Construction

A Storied Career: Storytelling and Constructing Identity Archives

Google boolean search - “constructing and identity”

Hits: 3,720,000

Constructing Identity through Social Interaction: Developmentally ...

Constructing Identity By Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon

Amazon.com: Gendered Talk at Work: Constructing Gender Identity ...

Constructing Patrician Identity- Palaces and Tombs in Renaissance ...

Wiley::Gendered Talk at Work: Constructing Gender Identity Through ...

Google implied boolean search - “constructing +identity”

Hits: 321,000

The construction of identity

Constructing Identity through Social Interaction: Developmentally ...

Identity Construction with Cross-cultural Experience of Japanese ...

Constructing Identity By Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon

Media Use in Identity Construction

Dogpile search - “constructing identity”

The Best kids Name labels

The construction of identity

Constructing Identity through Social Interaction: Developmentally ...

Virtual products Enhancing identity construction and communication in ...

Identity Construction with Cross-cultural Experience of Japanese ...

Dogpile boolean search - “constructing and identity”

The Best kids Name labels

Constructing Identity through Social Interaction: Developmentally ...

Civil Religion and American Exceptionalism: Constructing national ...

Constructing Creative Identity

Wiley::Gendered Talk at Work: Constructing Gender Identity Through ...

Dogpile implied boolean search - “constructing +identity”

The Best kids Name labels

The construction of identity

Constructing Identity through Social Interaction: Developmentally ...

Virtual products Enhancing identity construction and communication in ...

Girls Constructing Identity and Transforming “Femininity ...

Module Four Tasks – Downloading Tools/Plug-ins

 

Not being able to easily download plug-ins and tools, I have to be quite thrifty in allocating my mb’s (a skill which is going to come in very handy given the current economic climate!).  I already had a few of these programs, Adobe, Flash/Shockwave players and all the media players.  After reading the thread re: Copernic on the discussion board, I was happy to give that one a wide berth ;).

As for bookmark managers, I’m really happy with the way Firefox handles my bookmarks.  I’ve got several folders already created for different topics and it is very easy to create new ones.  I can organise and sort my bookmarks, add tags or give the bookmark a more  meaningful name, so it would have to be something pretty special for me to use another tool ……. mmmmmmm ……… I just though of the one thing I would like to do with bookmarks that I can’t do now, and that is to be able to access them from any computer….[note to self: go investigate].

Given my current internet access dramas the one tool that really caught my eye was the offline browser/copier and again, given the global economic climate, I didn’t want to pay for it.  What I found was WinHTT Website Copier. Not only has it enabled me to view complete pages and sites offline, but also brought me closer to my brother as I could “utilise” his wireless networks and do all my downloading, thank you brother, thank you WinHTT.

nb:  I am in no way implying my brother is a “tool”, I prefer to call him my “special” resource.

Module Three Tasks – Web 2.0

html offers limited functionality (buttons, hyperlinks, etc) on mainly static pages and the users role is a passive one, soaking up the information being offered. 

On the other hand, Web 2.0 allows users to be active participants and contributors, for example, blogs, RSS, social bookmarking, tags, etc.  Web pages are updated more frequently and not always by the owner of the page as users are often invited to comment, so we are no longer just consumers of content, we have become creators of content as well.

One of the biggest benefits of Web 2.0 has to be the growth of online social networks like Facebook, My Space and the phenomenon of U-tube and all because of active participation.

Which do I prefer?  (I should note that the html task definitely influenced my decision ;))  html is like sponge cake, sturdy and simple, plain on the outside and plain on the inside, you will still eat it (you might not invite your friends over for some) and you pretty much know what it’s going to taste like.  Web 2.0 is the black forest cake with a surprise filling, there are layers to get through (and you know that’s going to be fun), it has icing but there is still some more cherries left for you to put on the top.  You know you can enjoy just sitting there and watching it or you can dive right in and gobble the whole thing up!! So if you want to put a cherry on my blog, feel free and post a comment ;)

Module Three Tasks - Blogs

I love multi-tasking, being able to do two things at once can be a blessing and is what I aspire to, so when I found that “blog” was a noun and a verb – I felt the calling!

One of the best descriptions for blogs that I have heard was to think of them like a Star Trek Captains log, by the way Janeway is my favourite, brains, beauty, compassion, strength, she had it all ;).  There are millions of blogs – personal, travel, Q&A, fashion, legal, news, corporate, political – anything and everything can be blogged.  With so many out there (although not all of them are active) it wouldn’t be hard to find one or more that interested you or a blogger that you enjoyed reading.

Finding credible news blogs might be a bit tricky but having them as part of the alternative public sphere means we don’t always have to rely on mainstream media.  The blogs kept by Iraqi civilians during and after the war are certainly eye openers, allowing you to see the war in a completely different way, here is an example.

An unexpected by-product of blogging is how it may boost your social life by making you feel more part of a community and less isolated.

As for keeping a blog myself, I don’t think I have the commitment to properly maintain one, which means, according to the Gartner Group (a US information technology research and advisory company), I would be contributing to the “dotsam” and “netsam” floating out on the web.

Technorati lists the top 100 blogs, a sure fire way to use up a couple of hours ;)

Module Three Tasks - HTML

I have to say that I found it hard to motivate myself for this task.  I’m more of a “drag ‘n’ drop” kinda girl and so I found typing code and then saving and then refreshing the screen and then doing that whole process over again when I discovered a missing full stop really tedious – it was Ground Hog Day!!

Having said that, even if I do use a web page design application, knowing html would be great asset when it comes to de bugging and repairing, it’s good to know your nuts and bolts!

I did find myself, at the end, having a sense of achievement, but only in getting through all 26 tutorials ;).  Click on the pix below if you want to see the full thing….mmmmmmm.

The differences between html and blogging – my sanity and the family actually getting dinner on the table.  I think that the ease and familiarity of the application really shows in your work and if I had to use html to blog it would just be the crazy lady rant – viva la click!!!

Module Two Reflections

When I first saw the tasks for this module I thought of my car - I love it, I can drive it everywhere I want to go, I know where the petrol and the oil go but I’m not that interested in what else is going on under the bonnet, and that is pretty much what I thought of email.  But I learnt a lot from these tasks in particular the email header and how to find a senders IP address – can’t wait to find a reason to use it ;).

There is so much information, on so many topics that having lists, newsgroups or forums are a great way of not only accessing the information but also contributing to it.  I always find that if I have a question to ask, someone else has already asked it and received some pretty good responses.  It’s not just computers that make up the internet but the people operating them! 

With so many lists out there, the hard part might be finding the one that’s right for you, each list has it’s own personality and just like any relationship you have to work hard at it, it can’t just be one sided.

Utilising the lessons learnt in the email task, if I do become a member of more than one email list I will be sure to suet up rules to sort them into different folders ;).

I found Boardtracker during my travels which is a search engine for forums and discussion lists, didn’t have too much time to play though :(

Module Two Tasks – Alternative Chat Task

(see Life without the Net rant)

With previous studies, I have worked on projects collaboratively using chat, mainly msn messenger, and found that for studying externally, chat is a godsend.  Unlike discussion boards or email lists, it is real time and that can help with feelings of isolation and distance.  By being able to participate in a group discussion, all at the same time, brings about a sense of belonging and helps to foster team work.

I found that chat was really useful for brainstorming, it would bring up some of the most creative, funny, outrageous, and inspiring ideas – something you just don’t get with asynchronous communication.  When you have time to think of what to say, you don’t always say what you first think, and as the saying goes, “cream always rises to the top!”.

Chat was also great for sharing files and being able to get feedback straight away, it was also very handy for trying to sort out the personalities and dynamics of a team.  I think the “real you” shines through when you don’t have time to carefully consider every word you type.

That brings me to the downside, if you are a slow typist or reader there can be some difficulty in keeping up with the discussion, by the time you have responded to a statement, the conversation has moved on and late-comers may find it hard to catch up as well. 

As a social networking tool chat is fantastic, for projects and group work, it won’t suit everyone, but by offering a range of communication methods will ensure that everyone’s voice is heard!

Module Two Tasks - Lists

 

Pros and Cons of email lists vs discussion boards?

In the red corner, weighing in at a hefty 600mb is the simple but effective email list and in the blue corner, a veritable welter weight - showing size does not matter is discussion board …… the crowd almost goes wild (please note all weights and personalities are completely fictional ;)).

An email list works by sending mail to a group of people with a common interest who have chosen to subscribe to it.  When a member sends a message to the lists address, the listserver program will automatically send it on to all other members, unless it is a moderated list, in which case it will need to wait for approval before being sent out.  The other members can then respond in turn.

A discussion board, on the other hand, requires you to log in each time you wish to read or post a message. 

So already there is a huge difference in size, depending on how active your chosen email list is, you could end up being bombarded by emails and it can be difficult to follow threads.  Discussion boards are usually well laid out and easy to follow, provided members follow the posting guidelines.  You can perform searches easily, sometimes choose to only view new posts or see posts from a certain date.

Can you tell who I have my money on?

What they do both have in common is longevity – be careful and mindful of what you write – it could come back to bite you on the bum!

Module Two Tasks - Email

1. What information about a user's email, the origin of a message, and the path it took, can you glean from an email message?

groucho.marx@	funnybone.com.au
User name	Domain name

I used to think that an user’s email address would tell me almost everything I needed to know, their name and possible clues to where it might have originated from.

But there is a whole other  world of information lurking in the email header.

Return-Path: <SBS1@SimplicityCRM.com>
Received: from sa007.segarassociates.com (simplicitycrm.com [202.89.55.97] (may be forged))
    by mail36.syd.optusnet.com.au (8.13.1/8.13.1) with ESMTP id n1HNoOHn021479
    for <jax@optus.com.au>; Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:51:33 +1100
Received: from SA017 ([192.168.1.217]) by sa007.segarassociates.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.3959);
     Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:46:18 +1300
To: jax@optus.com.au
From: SBS <Documentaries1@enews.com.au>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Reply-To: SBS <Documentaries1@enews.com.au>
Date: 18 Feb 2009 12:46:37 +1300
Subject: =?utf-8?B?W1NCUyBEb2N1bWVudGFyaWVzXSBJcyB0aGUgd29ybGQgYXQgYW4gZXh0cmFvcmRpbmFyeSB0dXJuaW5nIHBvaW50PyAg?=
Message-ID: <b696c53b4d424c4da913c888b35f52a8@SimplicityCRM.com>
X-Mailer: Simplicity Customer Interaction Studio 2.5
X-SA-CN: 30790CED-DCD2-4BB3-9837-B98E8BC6D45E
X-SA-CL: 0D781E5F-4A59-456D-A259-A12DEACC5FBB
Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
content-type: multipart/mixed;
boundary=--boundary_132093_bb2ee6c7-6e4c-46fa-9a79-3cb6928059ec
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Feb 2009 23:46:18.0625 (UTC) FILETIME=[EDE75F10:01C99159]

An email may travel through several computers before it gets to you, the header will list all the servers it passes through, meaning you should be able to trace it back to the original computer.  You can then use the IP address to track the original sender, and if you you need to, send off a complaint!

I found media temple a helpful site, especially for info on viewing the email header in different applications.

2. In what cases would you find it useful to use the 'cc', 'bcc' and 'reply all functions of email?

While the “To:” line is where you can list all the people who may need to respond to an email in some way, the “cc” (carbon copy) function means you can send the same email to a larger group of people who may need to know the information but don’t generally need to respond. 

The “bcc” (blind carbon copy) is similar to the cc with the exception that the addresses are not visible.  This is useful for protecting peoples email addresses and privacy and could be used for when you would rather not reveal who else is receiving the same email (can everyone say Watergate!).

The reply all function is a two-edged sword, great for email discussions, where everyone on the list needs the same information, downside is it looks remarkably like the reply to sender function and can often be mistakenly used, sending a whole lot of useless, time wasting and potentially embarrassing emails to unintended parties.

3. In what ways can you ensure that an attachment you send will be easily opened by the receiver?

Try to ascertain what application they would use to open the attachment, that way you can ensure you send it in a compatible format.

Don’t always assume they will know there is an attachment to the email, state it in the body of the email and if necessary include any important information from the attachment.

4. What sorts of filters or rules do you have set up, and for what purpose?

I used to enter a fair amount of competitions  and so I had set up a rule where any emails with the word “congratulations” in the subject line went into a separate folder.  It wasn’t foolproof because I couldn’t control what the sender would put in the subject line, but I did find some nice surprises in there ;).

I also have different folders for different email addresses so when I retrieved all the messages from my ISP they would automatically be sorted into the various folders.

5. How have you organised the folder structure of your email and why?

Because I share the computer, every user has their own folder under the main inbox.  I then create folders as I need them, for example, I will have one for Open Uni and under this I will have folders for curtin, swinburne, etc.  I also found it really handy for when I have to email myself with info or links, putting a code word in the subject line meant I would not have to trawl through email messages but it would be automatically sorted for me.