Week 7 Assignment: Instant Message Programs

There are many features with available in most IM programs that make collaboration possible with peers and business partners.  Instant messaging is one of those features.  Instant messages allow users to send notes back and forth with friends who are online.  Users can create a chat room with friends or business partners.  Web links is another feature that allows users to share links to their favorite websites.  Users can send and view videos, and chat face to face with friends.  Sharing files by sending them directly to their peers or business partners.  Finally, users can use the internet to talk instead of a phone.

Week 7 Assignment: Advantages/Disadvantages VoIP

VoIP is technology that uses the Internet’s packet-switching capabilities to provide phone service.  There are several advantages and disadvantages to using VoIP. One advantage is its ability to allow several telephone calls to occupy the amount of space occupied by one in a circuit-switched network. Another advantage is that data networks understand the technology therefore, by migrating to this technology telephone networks gain immediate ability to communicate similar to computers.

There are however, disadvantages to using VoIP technology.  VoIP is dependent on wall power; many other systems in your home may be integrated into the phone line. VoIP is susceptible to hiccups normally associate with home broadband services because it uses an Internet connection.

Resource:  http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ip-telephony4.htm

Week 7 Assignment: LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional social networking site.  LinkedIn is helpful in provides professional networking, connecting, and job searching.  Members of LinkedIn can search for jobs; join groups, research companies, and network with members of their network.  Companies post job listings and they can contact LinkedIn members for recruiting purposes.

The most important aspect of using the site is your profile.  Your profile is how you connect with other users and how you can be found on LinkedIn.  You LinkedIn profile is basically your resume.  You want to make sure you are providing the most important details about your skills and abilities.

I highly recommend LinkedIn for anyone looking to break into the job market or looking to advance in their career field.

Week 6: Compare and Contrast Podcast Alley and Podcast.com

Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of Podcast Alley and Podcast.com was relatively easy.  Podcast.com was too difficult use.  The links provided in my opinion did not navigate you to a podcast but several other websites for more advertising of the selected topic.  Whereas, Podcast Alley provide had a simple layout.  The tabs at the top helped guide you a little better than Podcast.com.  Another feature of Podcast Alley was the New Top 10 podcast for that month.  All you had to do was select the podcast subscribe and listen.  The tabs across the top of the website made it easy for you to select.  Both websites had several options in regards to podcast selections, I personally preferred Podcast Alley over Podcast.com.  It was just to frustrating to navigate through that particular website.

Homework week 6: Podcast #3 -- The Tony Layne Show

The Tony Layne Show is a podcast that addresses many topics.  He puts a comedic spin to reporting on topics such as pop culture, current events, sports, pro wrestling, movies, and video games.  He had me laughing the entire time I was listening to his show. Very funny guy!

http://tonylayne.podcastpeople.com/rss/rss.xml?feed=3

Week 6 Homework Assignment: Podcast #2: Life Spa

Life spa is a podcast by clinical psychologist Dr. Marla Cohen.  The podcast addresses several topics such as self-help, alternative health, and spirituality.  Listeners will gain insight into their mind, body, and soul.  The podcast can help you with your spiritual awakening.

http://lifespa.podcastpeople.com/rss/rss.xml?feed=3

Week 6 Homework Assignment: Podcast #1: The Fat Jack Sports Service

The Fat Jack Sports Service podcast is an entertaining sports show.  He is a sports consultant who provides his thoughts on all things sports.  The podcast focuses on Fantasy Football.



hefatjack.podcastpeople.com/rss/rss.xml?feed=3

Using Flickr

The assignment for this week was to create, select and upload images illustrating Web 2.0 concepts to Flickr.  Initially, I thought it would be difficult to post images using Flickr because of the reviews I have read from others regarding the difficulty of using Flickr.  Needless to say, I was pretty nervous about this assignment.  However, I did not find it to be difficult at all.  The first thing I had to do was create a Flickr account which was really easy.  Since, I do not have a Yahoo account I had to create one as well.  After, I create both a Flickr and Yahoo account uploading the images was quite simple.  Using Flickr seems like a great way to share photos with family and friends.  The private button makes it even better because it allows you to limit who can view your photos.  Now, will I be using Flickr on a regular basis probably not because I prefer Facebook.  

Homework week #3: Open Source Software #3: Blender

Blender is pretty awesome.  It is a 3-D creation software program.  You can use the software to create 3D animations, video games, 3D applications and a few others.  And, the software is free.   It has several features such as Interface, Character Modeling, Rigging, Solids Modeling, Animation, Rendering, UV Unwrapping, Raytrace Rendering, Physics and Particles, Shading, Realtime 3-d Game Creation, Imaging and Component, Camera and motion tracking.  Blender can be used for personal and professional creations.  All creations created using Blender the user has sole ownership over and can use anyway he or she desires. 

Homework Week #3: Open Source Software #2: Open Office

Open Office is very similar to Microsoft.  It is easy to use and offers similar features that are found in Microsoft Office.  Open Office has a word processor that functions like Microsoft Word or WordPerfect.  There is a presentation program similar to Microsoft PowerPoint which allows users to export presentations to Adobe Flash.  Therefore, the presentation can be viewed on most any computer.  The spreadsheet program in Open Office in my opinion is better than Microsoft Excel.  A few other features included in Open Office are Draw, Math and Base.  Open Office is definitely a great alternative to Microsoft Office.   

Homework Week #3: Open Source Software #1: Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is an Open Source web browser that allows users to access the internet.  Users can visit webpages and use web applications.  Users can customize Mozilla Firefox to their personal preferences.  In my opinion, there really are no major differences between Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explore.  The only major difference between the three is two are Open Source software (Mozilla and Google Chrome) and Internet Explorer is software that comes standard on most computers.

#2: Top Ten Blogs by Brian Wynne Williams

The second blog I chose to summarize is titled, "A Pointless Weekend ... Or So"  The blog summarizes the concept of a pointless weekend at work that actually has a purpose therefore, it is not pointless.  The concept of the pointless weekend is to allow a stress free weekend to allow employees to come together to create a product that will not be used for any particular purpose.  However, it does help with team camaraderie and personal creativity.  I think this a genius way to bring employees together and build office moral.

The Top Ten Blogs Following Web 2.0 by Brian Wynne Williams

The first blog I selected to read and write about is called, "Holiday Traditions and Homemade Hot Sauce."  The blog talks about how the Viget Holiday Gift Project.  Basically, the employees at Viget have to come up with a holiday gift idea that they have to make themselves that they can give to the family and friends of Viget employees.  The gift that the employees created and packaged was a homemade hot sauce. The blog had several pictures showing how the employees designed and created the hot sauce.  The employees appeared to be having lots of fun during the process.  I have attached an image of the final product.

Web 2.0 Image

I found a really neat image and article that explains Web 2.0.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=FqQtgH05WpQdiM&tbnid=gvRZkZMH6x2ifM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zoaltech.net%2Fweb-development%2Ftechnology%2Fweb-2-0%2F&ei=BfIQUtHcBZTYyAHrrYAw&bvm=bv.50768961,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHPs3lDLK-YjbvDfx843qG0bxg6Pg&ust=1376928642295708

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