Playing in the Digital Sandbox: Digital Tools that are Fun and Functional
Fun and functional tools are often those classified as "Web 2.0" because Web 2.0 tools are based on making connections and being easy to use. Tim O'Reilly's article "What is Web 2.0" is a useful introduction. It includes this list:
| Web 1.0 | Web 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| DoubleClick | --> | Google AdSense |
| Ofoto | --> | Flickr |
| Akamai | --> | BitTorrent |
| mp3.com | --> | Napster |
| Britannica Online | --> | Wikipedia |
| personal websites | --> | blogging |
| evite | --> | upcoming.org and EVDB |
| domain name speculation | --> | search engine optimization |
| page views | --> | cost per click |
| screen scraping | --> | web services |
| publishing | --> | participation |
| content management systems | --> | wikis |
| directories (taxonomy) | --> | tagging ("folksonomy") |
| stickiness | --> | syndication |
The O'Reilly article on Web 2.0 also includes the following list based on Christopher Alexander's book A Pattern Language. These are items for software developers, but users should also be familiar with these components to know how software should serve users. (The following list is from the O'Reilly article.)
- The Long Tail
- Data is the Next Intel Inside
- Users Add Value
- Network Effects by Default
- Some Rights Reserved.
- The Perpetual Beta
- Cooperate, Don't Control
- Software Above the Level of a Single Device
Multi-Use Tools
- Most tools have a primary function and then many subsequent options. Blogs are probably best use for timely, changing information and not for static documentation. Blogs can be used to distribute information (going into news feeds for outreach), for documentation, for collecting resources, and more.
- Wikis are best for information that needs to be shared, but that is more connected to the information and its organization and not connected to time.
- Image organization tools like Picasa, Flickr, and Picnik are great for displaying pictures, as well as for doing basic photo editing and displaying them in slideshows.
- Project Management Suites are best for a collection of tasks that need matching tools. Longterm projects that need task lists, schedules, planning notes, documentation, and so on are ideal for project management programs.
With these points in mind, some of the core tools that serve user needs while helping connect working users to other potential contributors or other helpful programs are available in a number of forms.
{Core Tools}
General Resources
Project Management/Organizational:
- 37 Signals:
http://www.37signals.com/
http://www.campfirenow.com/
www.backpackit.com - Google: Picasa, Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations (coming soon)
- Zoho: http://zoho.com/
{Specific Tools}
Wikis:
- www.uflibrary.PBWiki.com
- http://monsters.stikipad.com/notes/
- http://monstroustexts.wetpaint.com (has ads)
Blogs:
Text, audio, photo, video
- www.Blogger.com
- http://www.sixapart.com/
- www.typepad.com
- http://www.photoblogs.org/
- http://www.vlogblog.com/index.php/archives/category/vloggers-vlogs/
RSS Feeds:
Others
- Bookmarks: Delicious
www.blinklist.com
www.stumbleupon.com - Site Statistics
Site Meter: http://www.sitemeter.com/
Google Analytics - Innovative Tools: Google Earth, SketchUp,
- Fun
www.Pandora.com