Thing Seven

I grew up using computers in some format since elementary school. We would have a day where we would go down to the computer lab and play the ever wonderful Oregon Trail. As I grew we expanded our computer skills with going down to the school library and doing research on school projects via the Internet. I really began to be exposed in more depth to computers in 6th grade on up where we had keyboarding class. Learning all the new things that computers could do was fascinating and fun for everyone. So when it comes to instant messaging, email, text messaging, and the blog-like phenomenons Facebook/Myspace I am all too familiar. Although I hadn't done much instant messaging in some time, it is now an added feature to Facebook and so I have found myself bantering back forth with friends every now and again. I know that some find technology in general and especially the stuff the "young" people do intimidating or impractical, but they are much like the subjects we are learning of throughout "23 Things"; once you learn them, you may be addicted! Text messaging is useful in situations where you just need to let someone know something quickly like, " I'm here!" This is just a more convenient way (in my humble opinion) of communicating at times. The only thing I am not too familiar with would be the web conferencing. I tried to view a conference but it seems there are only designated days to view them and I currently do not have the luxury of internet at home so I just have to try again.

I think out of all the technological options discussed in Thing 7, the email is one of the most important for our work setting. We use it as a means to communicate within our library and to the outer branches. It is fast, easy and allows you the option of multi-tasking. We use this multiple times throughout the day to communicate to one another or to a large group of staff.

Thing Six

I liked having all the options permitted with the online image generator. It has quite a few features that would be helpful in setting up reading programs or creating displays. An example that I thought of could be for a display of the Harry Potter series. You could create a trading card for all of the characters in the book; include a picture, name off interests and hobbies and such of each. It could add a little fun while educating the potential reader on who's who in Harry Potter. The calender option provides you with a way to personalize while organizing yours/coworkers' office space. All in all, very easy to comprehend and apply to personal life along with finding occupational uses.

Thing Five

Wow, there are some interesting options for utilizing the Flickr even further. I enjoyed Flickr Color Pickr but I don't know how much I would use this tool. To be honest I do not spend/like to spend very much time on the computer or Internet and actually currently don't have Internet at home so most of the tools like the ones displayed in "thing 5" would not be what I would do with my own limited Internet use.

I did however really enjoy "Spell with Flickr". I would like to use for a profile or to print off words I create and put them in a journal. I don't know how useful this would be for what my assignments are at the library but it might be of good use to someone creating displays for the library depts. or something.

Thing 4

Flickr is a program I have heard of but never explored and I find it to be wonderful! I love that we can view all of these photographs taken by professionals and not so professionals; it opens a whole new world. Searching through the photos is a very easy process and there is an amazing abundance of pictures. I searched for a few different topics some library related and then some personal interests. I found a really cool unique little library photograph: --------------------------->>

Caption under photo, "The Tulare County Free Library. Originally, this was Dickerson Library. All of the buildings at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park have been beautifully restored."

The photograph was taken by: "Matt (mistergoletta)".

It is hard to see but the sign on the front of the library says, "Tulare County Free Library". What I find so great about this photograph is the quaint size of the library! Can you imagine the limited collection?

I would find Flickr to be a very useful tool more for my personal use than for what I do at the library. I'd get a lot of use out of posting photographs taken of nature or pictures that are more public appropriate. As far as I understand though you can also use Flickr for organizing your personal/non-public pictures, which would be convenient. I do not have specific tasks that would require me to use such a program, but per say if I were one working on the library website this program would work great in keeping all the photos needed in one specific place and allow you to keep things organized.

Thing Three Cont'd

Okay so I feel that I might have been a bit harsh in my last post and did not really cover any of the required topics.
Things I do like about RSS: I find it convenient to able access sites I am interested in, and being able to access my co-workers blogs and receive updates is very cool. It is an easy way of seeing how far along everyone is. I couldn't really see myself using this on my own for leisure purposes but it would be helpful if I were working on an ongoing project for school such as research paper. I could have sites relevant to the subject all displayed or save certain articles.
I found it easiest to find feeds by just browsing through the most used and choosing ones that pertained to me. I did think it was somewhat difficult to figure out how to add specific URLs because the directions didn't quite make sense at first. Overall it was pretty user-friendly and useful if used in the right context.

Thing Three

I have to be honest in saying that I don't find RSS feeds to be useful or beneficiary in any way. If I wanted to read up on something I would do so by pulling up the website. I am beginning to feel that we as a society are growing pathetically lazy. Everything is becoming more and more impersonal and thoughtless. I find this frustrating.