Instant Messaging and Meebo

I started using instant messenger, specifically AOL or AIM since I was probably 14, so over ten years. I've since had numerous screen names with AIM, as well as other services such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo, IRC and even Google Talk. If you're like me and get annoyed at your friends who all seem to use a different IM service then Meebo is your answer!

Meebo consolidated my 3 AIM names, 2 MSN names, 1 Yahoo name and 1 Google name into one easy to use service. Best part of all? It's web-based! No downloading and installing of any chat software. Sure this isn;t the only way you can get web-based IM. AOL has been offering a web-based version of AIM known as AIM Express for years. However, it still can't consolidate ALL of your different names into one.

There have been other programs that offer such a feature and they've been around for many years. I've tried some of them and in my opinion for a web-based application Meebo is easily the best. My one and only complaint about Meebo comes from the file transfer and "get-file" services, or lack thereof. Almost every time I've tried to send or receive a file with a buddy while using Meebo I've had to log out and log into the actual Chat client being used by the buddy I'm trying to transfer with. It is also impossible to access an AIM buddy's "get-file" list using Meebo. Despite these downfalls, which may be integrated over time, Meebo is still a great solution for the collaboration of all your chat clients.


INSTANT MESSENGER FOR LIBRARIES

In recent years more and more Libraries are offering "on-demand" reference help in the form of IM via the Library's website. My former employer Spokane County Library District now uses such a service and it's been well received. Due to staffing it's not likely that all libraries would be able to offer this service 24/7 but even if it were offered only during open hours it's still a fast and effective method for getting reference help from a library professional. A question of the pros and cons of using a Meebo Widget on FVRL's web site was brought up in the Discovery 2.0 blog. The pros are pretty straightforward and mentioned above. The cons would come in the form of compatibility. Just because someone wants to use the IM feature to contact the Library doesn't mean they already have an account with a chat service or that they want to take the time to create one. This would be the problem with using a Meebo widget. There are several types of integrated programs to use in place of this where a patron wouldn't have to have account with an IM service but they come with a small risk. In the event of someone trying to prank the Library using this service there would be no way to block a screen name like you could using a chat client like Meebo. Instead the prankster could just bring up the site and sent annoying, rude and obscene messages all day. With an account required service such as Meebo the prankster would have to keep creating new accounts which would no doubt deter his or her efforts.

There you have it. My thoughts on IM and how it is coming into libraries.

-J

RSS Feed Search Engines - helpful or unnecessary?

• Feedster - One of the largest collections of RSS feeds, Feedster lets you search for feeds in three categories: news, blogs & podcasts
  
• Topix.net - This search tool allows you to locate recent newsfeed items based upon keyword or phrase searching. The tool focuses specifically on news and media outlet RSS feeds for information, not weblogs.
  
• Syndic8.com - Syndic8 is an open directory of RSS feeds that contains thousands of RSS feeds that users have submitted.
  

• Google Blog Search This one is limited to blogs, but it can help you find blogs that might be of interest to you
  
• Technorati - Technorati is a popular blog finding tool that lets you search for blogs. Since RSS feeds are inherent to all blogging tools, Technorati Blog Search can help you find RSS feeds for topic specific blogs you may be interested in. We'll be working more in-depth with Technorati in Unit 14, but you don't have to wait until then to fiddle around with it.

Out of above RSS search engines I only found Topix.net and Google Blog Search to be of any use to me, and even then it was minimal. Feedster appears to be down and Syndic8 seemed poorly designed. I made some new subscriptions using Topix, mostly hot stories, redundant political blogs etc. I still prefer to make my subscriptions the old fashioned way by stumbling across blogs or sites I think I'd enjoy or like to keep up to date with.

I can definitely envision FVRL using an RSS feed at least off of the main page. To keep those itnerested up to the minute on what FVRL is featuring. From the ILSWiki I subscribed to one Library blog entitled Anarchist Librarian Web. The name obviously caught my eye and some of these posts turned out to be entertaining. I'm not sure if I'll continue to subscribe to it but that's the beaty of feeds, if you're tired of one just ignore it or delete it.

RSS Feeds

Well I finally set up a Bloglines account to manage some feeds. I've been using feeds for several years now and they are a great way to stay on top of the things you enjoy reading about. I had previously been using Google's built in feed reading at my Google home page but I'm liking Bloglines so far. With the one click shortcut in Firefox it is as easy as ever to add a feed. Here's a quick run down of the subscriptions I have so far outside of the required Library 2.0 one.

Bungie.net Top Stories
-Yes I love this game studio so much I feel that I MUST check their site once a day to see what the latest developments are on the games I love and the games that have not yet been released.

Latest Games (from Bungie.net)
-Another feed from Bungie, but this one sends me a feed for each match I play online in Halo3 and what my stats were for that game. Basically it tells me how much I pwn noobs. I R teh l33t haxorz.... or something.

Newegg Daily Deals
-Like it says, the daily deals on computer hardware and other computer related items. I love me some newegg.

The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks
-This is simply for comedic relief. The best way to descibe this blog is to provide an example. Basically, people send in photos in which there are completely unnecessary quotation marks used, often on signs at stores and restaurants. The funny part is found in the caption provided by the Blog's author. Enjoy...



Nick writes, "These L.L. Bean pants stretch for a 'perfect fit.' Or feel like pantyhose digging into your belly. Whatever." This may or may not be the words of experience.


The remainder of my current feeds are the blogs of some of my personal friends from their myspace pages which are probably only entertaining to those that know them.

-J

Fun with Flickr Mashups - Retrievr

This might be one of the coolest tools ever. You could spend hours doodling and coming up with random pictures based on that doodle. Check it out...

Sketching this:


Resulted in finding this:




Awesome.

-J

Flickr Findings

Here's a selective color photo taken by my very talented friend Shanna. A great shot of her friend and her friend's love for her mini. No doubt Holly can relate.




-J

7.5 Habits of Highly Effective Learning- what works for me

As much as I like to "play" to learn, I didn't feel this half-step was really the most appropriate choice for my easiest learning habit. When it comes to highly effective learning I remain a geek and Habit six, using technology to your advantage is definitely my most effective habit for this. Perhaps it's just my generation but outside of Elementary School I don't remember a single report I wrote that didn't involve research using a computer. Even before public internet access there were computer databases at the local library that could bring ease to searching for books or magazine articles. Technology's aid to my learning isn't limited to a computer either. I love gadgets. I've owned smartphones, PDA's, digital cameras and camcorders, mp3 players, and several other electronic devices with an on/off switch. I participate and even moderate some message boards online which is an example of collaborate learning using technology. Even online gaming with friends can be an example of learning through technology.

The most difficult habit for highly effective learning for me would have to be view problems as challenges. I tend to just view problems as problems and challenges as challenges. This doesn't mean I don't tackle the problem and work out a way to fix it and learn from it, it just means I don't take some over the top, optimistic, glass half full approach to it. This also doesn't mean I don't like a challenge. I love it when my supervisor challenges me with a new project or task, I love the challenge of staying in shape and I love the challenge a new video game presents.

There you have it, I have no face, the 7.5 habits of highly effective learning have rawked it off.

-J