Week 8: Google Documents

This week's Web 2.0 application, Google Docs, is perhaps the most useful for what I do as an editor. Keeping track of changes to documents throughout the editing process can be confusing, but I can see how using Google Docs would help eliminate (or at least minimize) potential issues. Having control over who has access to certain documents is an excellent tool. The application is easy to use and I hope it catches on at the VHS. Until next time . . .

Week 7: Wikis

This week we got to experience the Wonderful World of Wikis. Of the past several web 2.0 applications, I think this one may be the most useful to the VHS. The idea of every staff member who participates having the ability to create and edit pages relating to VHS policies, activities, schedules, etc., is a great one and could prove helpful. I noticed the Saturday library schedule for example. That is always a fluid thing and being able to check the up-to-the-minute changes is an excellent tool. With a little help from our fearless leader, I was able to create a page listing the VHS's annual William Rachal award winners. Now I can go into the page next year and simply update the list. Very easy-to-use interface. I see great potential for the VHS wiki. Until next week . . .

Week 6: Social Networking

I recently signed up for a Facebook account and have truly enjoyed the experience. Though it can be addictive and a great way to spend a lot of time at the computer, I find it most useful in keeping up with people from all over and with institutions that I have an interest in. The VHS's Facebook page (of which I am a fan) is an excellent tool for getting the word out about the society. I have also looked at MySpace and LinkidIn but don't plan to set up a MySpace account at the moment, though I can see that both are useful tools for engaging in social interaction. MySpace does offer more visual potential than Facebook. The VHS's page is eye-catching and in this day and age that can be a great advantage to draw people's attention. I did setup a LinkedIn account and can definitely see the advantage to individual employees and the institution as a whole. Networking is always a great way to get the word out about our great staff and the VHS's activities.

I also signed up for a Meebo account. I have never done instant messaging so I can't speak to its use. Although I can imagine that if you want to get the word out about something you or your institution is doing than instant messaging would be a great tool for that. I will explore the possibilities more in the future. Unitl next time . . .

Delicious web tools

What makes the web such a fantastic resource is the incredible amount of information available to anyone who ventures into its many sites. With tools such as Delicious.com and Technorati.com, organizing web sites and searching for relevant blogs is much easier.

I found Delicious.com to be very easy to use. The idea that my bookmarks can follow me wherever I go is fantastic. Also, the use of tags to automatically organize bookmarks by subjects is so much better than creating individual folders. Many times the same web site relates to several different categories that I might have created. Now with tags I can get to the same site through different search strategies. The set up of Delicious.com is also very user friendly and the Firefox add on makes the process even more efficient.

For those who love searching for blogs, I think that Technorati.com is a wonderful tool. Like Delicious.com, it is easy to set up and use and offers a great way to find blogs of interest or that relate to specific search terms through tags.