By Dean Dredge
s4099445
Introduction:
For this reflective essay seven key social and mobile computing tools will be evaluated and compared based upon there ability to allow members to communicate with each other and the tools in which are used to do so. Each application allows a certain level of communication to occur, between members, ranging from having the ability to post comment and send messages, to allowing the user to poke another to begin a conversation or draw the other member’s attention to them. This essay will compare the seven programs on the basis of which provide greatest levels of communication between users and how simple are these tools to operate.
Background:
This report will focus upon seven tools that consider social and mobile computing. The seven programs are Flickr, Facebook, Blogger, Google Calendar, Last Fm, Delicious and Twitter. Flickr is a system that allows the user to upload and display pictures, with other members being able to view and comment about these photos. With Flickr allowing members to comment about each others photos, conversation can arise paving way for detailed discussions between members. Facebook is a program that is heavily conversation based with the user being able to add friends and contact them via messages or by poking them. Blogger allows users to add and display a variety of content in the form of posts. Other members can then visit other individual’s blog sites and view the data while also being able to add comments.
Google mail provides users with a number of tools and one of those is Google Calendar. Google Calendar allows the user to be informed of important dates and to keep track of their timetable. It provides users with limited conversational means but can keep contact via Google mail in the form of emails. Last Fm is a music media website that provides a means for music download and discussions with fellow members in the manner of forums. Members can also communicate using shout boxes and comments. Delicious is a site that allows members to add their favourite websites and communicate on a limited yet detailed basis. Twitter is a social tool that allows users to post text based messages via such means as SMS, email and instant messaging.
Focus:
The particular aspect that will be focused upon for this reflective essay of social and mobile computing tools is conversation and the manner in which members can communicate with each other. Each tool has its own specific way for members to communicate to each other, whether it is in the form of a comment, message or poke. Conversation is an essential aspect for all tools to ensure they are viable as social and mobile computing tools. Social tools all have a variety of means that allows users to converse with each other. My major experiences with these tools have been in the manner of dialogue and the tools that are provided by the system to ensure that this is possible. A lot of major social tools have difficultly in providing a method for members to communicate with each other that is easy to operate and understand. There are many major underlining design challengers that face developers of social tools, including the ability to provide tools that users can easily operate in order to converse.
Reflection:
The best example of a social tool that has provided a detailed communication base is Facebook. Facebook provides member with the ability to add other members as friends, paving way for more in-depth communication in the manner of messages and pokes. Members can also join forums that allow people to meet others outside their friend base or meet friends of friends. Flickr is also a tool that provides a social aspect with members being able to upload and display photos and then having other members comment on these pics. Members can also email each other using Flickr. Blogger is solely communication base with members posting detailed data for all of the public to see. The public can then add comments about the data posted creating a forum. Twitter is a tool that allows for social interactions, on a limited basis. Users can communicate to each other but can only do so using brief instant messages such as hi, how are you going. This prevents detailed discussions from occurring between members. Last Fm is a vast social tool that provides users with a number of different ways to communicate with friends and other members. This includes having the ability to send messages and add comments. You can also add friends to your contact list and join groups or create your own. Last Fm is the most social tool of the seven after Face book, which provides greater interaction especially when it allows users to meet friends of friends therefore expanding their contact list. Google Calendar and delicious do not possess the ability or tools to allow their members to communicate, therefore rendering them as impractical tools for communication.
Conclusion:
These seven social tools provide people with another means of communication but in a manner that is fun, exciting and rewarding. It provides an opportunity to meet new people in a setting and atmosphere that have a community feeling. Social tools provide a wide range of interaction possibilities ranging from blogs to forums and instant messaging. All of these tools ensure that a user has access to a wide range of communicative tools that enhance conversation through a variety of different methods. Facebook, Twitter and Last Fm are the leading web based programs that offer the user with a wide variety of different communication means in an ambience that is entertaining.
References:
(2007) “World Changing Social Tools.” Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002523.html
(2007). "Face book Statistics." Retrieved 15/8/2007, from http://static.ak.facebook.com/press/facebook_statistics.pdf?12:51442.
(2007) “Blogger”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From https://www.blogger.com/start
(2007) “Flickr”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.flickr.com/
(2007) “Del.icio.us”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://del.icio.us/
(2007) “Google”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.google.com.au/
(2007) “Last Fm”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.last.fm/
(2007) “Twitter”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://twitter.com/
For this reflective essay seven key social and mobile computing tools will be evaluated and compared based upon there ability to allow members to communicate with each other and the tools in which are used to do so. Each application allows a certain level of communication to occur, between members, ranging from having the ability to post comment and send messages, to allowing the user to poke another to begin a conversation or draw the other member’s attention to them. This essay will compare the seven programs on the basis of which provide greatest levels of communication between users and how simple are these tools to operate.
Background:
This report will focus upon seven tools that consider social and mobile computing. The seven programs are Flickr, Facebook, Blogger, Google Calendar, Last Fm, Delicious and Twitter. Flickr is a system that allows the user to upload and display pictures, with other members being able to view and comment about these photos. With Flickr allowing members to comment about each others photos, conversation can arise paving way for detailed discussions between members. Facebook is a program that is heavily conversation based with the user being able to add friends and contact them via messages or by poking them. Blogger allows users to add and display a variety of content in the form of posts. Other members can then visit other individual’s blog sites and view the data while also being able to add comments.
Google mail provides users with a number of tools and one of those is Google Calendar. Google Calendar allows the user to be informed of important dates and to keep track of their timetable. It provides users with limited conversational means but can keep contact via Google mail in the form of emails. Last Fm is a music media website that provides a means for music download and discussions with fellow members in the manner of forums. Members can also communicate using shout boxes and comments. Delicious is a site that allows members to add their favourite websites and communicate on a limited yet detailed basis. Twitter is a social tool that allows users to post text based messages via such means as SMS, email and instant messaging.
Focus:
The particular aspect that will be focused upon for this reflective essay of social and mobile computing tools is conversation and the manner in which members can communicate with each other. Each tool has its own specific way for members to communicate to each other, whether it is in the form of a comment, message or poke. Conversation is an essential aspect for all tools to ensure they are viable as social and mobile computing tools. Social tools all have a variety of means that allows users to converse with each other. My major experiences with these tools have been in the manner of dialogue and the tools that are provided by the system to ensure that this is possible. A lot of major social tools have difficultly in providing a method for members to communicate with each other that is easy to operate and understand. There are many major underlining design challengers that face developers of social tools, including the ability to provide tools that users can easily operate in order to converse.
Reflection:
The best example of a social tool that has provided a detailed communication base is Facebook. Facebook provides member with the ability to add other members as friends, paving way for more in-depth communication in the manner of messages and pokes. Members can also join forums that allow people to meet others outside their friend base or meet friends of friends. Flickr is also a tool that provides a social aspect with members being able to upload and display photos and then having other members comment on these pics. Members can also email each other using Flickr. Blogger is solely communication base with members posting detailed data for all of the public to see. The public can then add comments about the data posted creating a forum. Twitter is a tool that allows for social interactions, on a limited basis. Users can communicate to each other but can only do so using brief instant messages such as hi, how are you going. This prevents detailed discussions from occurring between members. Last Fm is a vast social tool that provides users with a number of different ways to communicate with friends and other members. This includes having the ability to send messages and add comments. You can also add friends to your contact list and join groups or create your own. Last Fm is the most social tool of the seven after Face book, which provides greater interaction especially when it allows users to meet friends of friends therefore expanding their contact list. Google Calendar and delicious do not possess the ability or tools to allow their members to communicate, therefore rendering them as impractical tools for communication.
Conclusion:
These seven social tools provide people with another means of communication but in a manner that is fun, exciting and rewarding. It provides an opportunity to meet new people in a setting and atmosphere that have a community feeling. Social tools provide a wide range of interaction possibilities ranging from blogs to forums and instant messaging. All of these tools ensure that a user has access to a wide range of communicative tools that enhance conversation through a variety of different methods. Facebook, Twitter and Last Fm are the leading web based programs that offer the user with a wide variety of different communication means in an ambience that is entertaining.
References:
(2007) “World Changing Social Tools.” Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002523.html
(2007). "Face book Statistics." Retrieved 15/8/2007, from http://static.ak.facebook.com/press/facebook_statistics.pdf?12:51442.
(2007) “Blogger”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From https://www.blogger.com/start
(2007) “Flickr”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.flickr.com/
(2007) “Del.icio.us”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://del.icio.us/
(2007) “Google”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.google.com.au/
(2007) “Last Fm”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://www.last.fm/
(2007) “Twitter”. Retrieved 15/8/2007, From http://twitter.com/
4 comments:
Hello :)
Neatly presented article in terms of headings. I also enjoyed reading it and in terms of facebook, I am also of the opinion facebook is a great communication tool because it has so many additional applications an individual can use in order to be in touch with somebody. Instant messaging applications on a users profile is just one example.
Cheers :)
A neatly presented reflection overall, and the headings make it easier to understand exactly what part of the essay we're reading.
Only bad thing was that your reflection itself was limited in size and detail about each program, and some of your other sections were larger than the entire 'reflection' part, which is what the essay is meant to be based on. Still, overall it was good.
Nice Clean Article. Clean cut. and to the point. Would enjoy seeing your viewpoints on factors which effect the ability of communication in the applications. IE which communication is best suited for each application.
i think your article provide a nice chance for this to occur.
Your overall article provides a fairly broad description of all the tools, while communication is your focus, you really only cover the features that each of the tools provide, rather than base which ones are good on your personal experiences. Your introduction is good, clear and to the point. Your focus is quite clear cut, however I think the focus could have been better tailored to throughout the report. While your reflection is off to a good start, it could have been greatly expanded upon in relation to your personal experiences. Nice headings and layout, some extra sources or background from the lecture material could have helped.
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