So IM, or as those of us like me who don’t really do much of that would refer to it, instant messaging. I looked into creating a Google Talk account, mainly because it doesn’t require a download to work. As I have stated previously, I use more than one computer for this, so downloads would be prohibitive. Google Talk does have a system that requires a download, and then they have one that is linked into G-mail. So I went with the G-mail option. Now, if I understand everything, I need to chat with other people who also have this G-mail based IM. So that is limiting. I did see a link that mentioned something about linking to other IM accounts, being outside of Google I guess, but I did not explore using this function since I don’t know anybody to try and contact. So I am at the very least becoming exposed to these services, but I don’t really understand them yet.
After setting up my Google Talk, I went and created a Meebo account and embedded a chat box onto this blog, as can be seen to the right. There is probably a better way to put it on the blog, but I just followed the html and stuck the Meebo code just above the widget codes. It looks ok like this, but I might try to tweak it again. So far I have not chatted with anyone, but I’ll try to soon. So that is my grand IM experience so far. As far a chat goes, I think it is good when there is a specific time to be available. I don’t mind doing Ask A Librarian, and this is very similar. Minus the extra links and screen sharing.
As for the other mini-Things in 8, email is not really a Thing to me because I, and most of the people I know, am not just familiar with email, but proficient with it at this point. We use email extensively at work. Using IM from time to time would be a good means for communication when two of us are at a computer at the same time, but for the most part the phone is easier to use than typing. E-mail is a great tool for asynchronous communication, where as IM is far more demanding.
Texting, well I just don’t use it. I know some libraries do, but the cost is prohibitive, and not to sound old fashioned, but we should worship more than one god, and fear the sun. No, just kidding, but the whole text language short cut mode of typing is, well, lazy. Having our students use actual language with complete thoughts framed out in a coherent manner is a far more productive use of their time. A well written email is far superior to texting. We have students try to use text language in formal papers. There is a problem there. I am not resilient to change just for the sake of being stubborn, but sometimes I don’t think that we are doing ourselves any favors by encouraging sloppy communication.
As to the web conferencing, I think it is great; the more of this type of communication that we have access to the better. It is a little strange at first, but once I had experienced using a couple of different systems, I really like the environment. I had used products that require phone usage in conjunction with web displays, and used products that are strictly online. I like that strictly online mode myself. Having the voice over power point slides with chat is great. Having multiple voices at once is not so great, so mediation has to be tight. I played around with some of the OPAL presentations, and I think it is a good product.
So, now to Thing 9, and we get to share, isn’t that cool.
Thing 22 Staying Current
15 years ago
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