Module #17: Instant Messaging

I thought IM was pretty neat when I first discovered it, and used it to some extent.

Unfortunately, I am no longer in contact with the person I would most like to IM with. :(

I do use it occasionally to share a quick note with my daughters.:)

I don't use it at work because a procedure has not been established, and because most of us communicate by email all day long. Also, other staff jump to conclusions when they see you doing something like IM-ing and assume you're chatting with friends instead of working.

I know it sounds weird, but one thing I don't like about IM is that I always feel guilty about ending a conversation.

Module 16: Wikis

I love Wikis--here's one of my favorites. I wish I had a LOT more time to spend on them.

Quilt wiki: LOTS of ads. The subject and info pretty much get lost in them. It would turn me off unless I was super-interested in quilts enough to wade around in them.

Library wiki: whew, definitely better as far as the ads go--I don't see any. But the page is really blah, and the blah-ness continues on the "collaboration" pages. It doesn't have to be super-jazzy, but, come on. Give us a little color, a nice typeface, something.

Foodista: and at least all the ads and links are about FOOD here! Looks like you can create an account to post recipes, ask questions, comment on posts, etc. All areas are clearly labeled--the website is colorful and attractive. I could have fun on this one. It's definitely my favorite of the three.

Now I have to Request Access to the Wiki workspace, so, till later.

Later: I've set up my account and here's my page.

Module #15: Google Calendar

I've tried using Google Calendar occasionally in the past. I've probably used Yahoo calendar more. I don't like the way email is "nested" in Google so I use Yahoo for my personal email, despite having a Gmail account.

The younger generation seems so comfortable doing everything super-fast in an online environment. I'm still used to using calendars on paper. There's something to be said for paper: you can leaf through till you find the right spot more easily sometimes than you can by scrolling & clicking. I can probably do more online than some Baby Boomers (I'm always amazed by the people who are entirely resistant to using computers) but still feel at a distinct disadvantage sometimes.

That may date from my early days working on computers and word processors (think: early '80s) when it was very easy to mess everything up, lose documents, etc. I still worry about deleting things by mistake, screwing up machines, etc.

I shared my Google calendar with 23 Things.

Module #14: Google Docs

I remember having trouble in my inaugural Google Docs experience (before this exercise). I was supposed to be working on a document with two other people but everyone kept saving the doc as a NEW doc and, as I was the initiator of the doc, my changes weren't reflected. So it looked as though I hadn't done my assignment.:(

Module #13 Social Bookmarking

I think there used to be another site like this that would keep track of bookmarks for you, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called--you know, 10 years or so ago, around when I worked in Texas. I remember finding it difficult to use. I'm sure I'd recognize the name if I saw it, but I don't see anything that looks familiar in any of the lists of social bookmarking sites I can find on the web. Maybe someone else knows?

I'm finding it a little hard to manage the "tagging" and the "stacking". For one thing, the options are labeled slightly differently than in the 23 Things directions. The site allowed me to create tags for "Supernatural" and "Smallville," but that wasn't what I was wanting, and now I don't see any way to edit or delete the tags! I'll keep trying.

Module #12: Survey Monkey

Okay, now what would be a good topic for a survey?

How about "Food"?

Click here to take survey

Please take this survey--your eating pleasure may depend on it!

Module #11: Image Generators

Pretty cool--I haven't worked with images for a while, and having previously been limited to Photobucket, I'm impressed with how much more versatile these products are.



I made this puzzle on BigHugeLabs.



and this animated video on ImageChef.

These sites ARE a bit challenging to figure out and navigate for a 'boomer novice. I found Image Generator Net highly cryptic: no directions or info on how to get started--just an email address in case of questions! I didn't even feel like exploring that site, as the previous two were much easier to work with. It also appears that you have to use images already on the site (none of which were that hot) instead of uploading your own.




I did make this; big whoop.

Maybe I'm just missing something, but I wouldn't bother much with this product. I was relieved that they didn't require me to set up an account.

MagMyPic was kind of fun, though limited. Again, no account required. I did start an account thinking it would give me more options if I did, but it didn't. You have to use their covers and designs.



I uploaded this pic from the new production of Donizetti's opera: Anna Bolena, thinking I'd title it something like: "Think twice before you marry a king," but the only options were the titles they already had. So, the site is mildly fun to play around with for a few minutes, but not much more. Lots of ads, too.

hetemeel.com looks really plain, and is another site without much explanation of how to use it. Again, you only use pix that are on the site, many of which are just links to the images on Image Generator Net. I don't quite get the point.

All in all, the exercise was an effective introduction to these types of tools. If anyone would care to comment about what I might have missed or misinterpreted on any of these sites, please do so.