Say it With Twitter!

Pristoic 2011

Twitter is a great tool for keeping in touch with multiple groups with different interests. It is a way to network and a receptacle for information. I plan on using twitter to do exactly this. So many benefits all in one place.

One of the downsides to twitter, is that it's primary use is to micro blog. One may come in contact with an array of unique blogs, but the contents found could be limited or just a fraction of someones thoughts. With a maximum input of 140 characters, you are forced to choose your words wisely. Twitter is also good for those who desire exposure. It is recognized for having high Internet traffic.

As with most networking sites, it is easy to get side tracked and spammed.There are tons of weirdos lurking and looking for trouble. Also looking for ways to swindle you out of your hard earned cash... be careful when following on twitter, you don't want to end up with the wrong crowd. 

Still Searching?

Many of us have this idea that searching for material on the Internet, is as simple as typing words into a search box. Wrong. There is a science behind searching and if you want to do it right, you should follow a process.

The Searching Process and Search Tools

Why is google so popular? It all starts with the search engine for me. One of the first steps in finding what it is that you're looking for, is to use a good search engine. All search engine providers don't have access to all web pages. Google is one of the few who has a search engine, that covers a large portion of the world wide web. This is exactly why I'm pro team google on this one. 10 powerful search engines.

Next, you want to pay attention to your search queries. It is unnecessary to query double words because the engine will only recognize a word, once. Whole sentences are not a good idea unless you're looking for something exact. If you're looking for something exact, you should quote your text or it will be treated as keywords, Ex:

Phrase: "How do I cook steak for my family?"
Keywords: Cook, Steak, Recipes, How to

If you were to query the phrase, without quotes,  your results will include unnecessary pages because words like do, I, for, and my are too vague. Notice the words in bold. These are the words that are driving the search query.

Advanced Searching

Don't be fooled by the word "Advanced" in advanced searching. An advanced search can be performed by a novice. Advanced searching is when Boolean tools are used. for more information on this, see Lydia's Web 2.0 tools. Lydia explains this piece pretty well.

See this YouTube video on getting more from searching:

Did you know this information before but didn't use it? Are you going to change your searching habits to get the results that you want? 

Browsing the Web



Morcroft, Greg. "web Surfing." Photo. foxbusiness.com 17 Feb. 2012 1 March. 2012



While reading chapter 2 of  "Discovering the Internet," by Shelly Cashman, I've come across some key information. Here is what I've learned:

Web sites

Just like clothes, Web sites come in different shapes, sizes, forms and fashions. Web sites serve different purposes and it is hard to determine how many web sites exist, because new one are constantly being added to the web, every second.


Personal websites are intended for personal use and the main page is usually the homepage, which links to
other web pages.


Web portals offer different types of products and services, on the very first page. Portals are geared to deliver broad ranges of Information. Sometimes, FAQ pages are a part of a web site. This type of page usually houses all of the significant questions and answers that pertain to the specific web site.

Web Pages

What usually draws your attention to a web page? Yes, graphics, colors, shapes, pictures, and audio. Web pages are designed to grab the reader's attention. At any given time, a web page may contain links to other pages, advertisements, copyright and legal information, and contact info.

 

Web Servers, and IP Addresses

Web servers are what allows a web site to be seen. Web sites are stored on servers which are managed by hosts.  When a web page is requested by a user, the web server retrieves and displays the contents. If your web site's server or host is down, your request will be processed but the web pages will not display. Some popular web page hosts are: Go Daddy.com,  iPage, and Just Host.

An IP address identifies your computer on a network, just as an apartment number identifies an apartment in a building.

Web Browsers

One of the most popular web browsers is Internet Explorer. Web browsers contain tools that enhances the experience of a web surfer. Although features may vary from browser to browser, most are customizable and share most of the basic features. To name some:

• Bookmarking - allows a page to marked for later use
• Search Box- used for finding content using keywords or addresses
• Address Bar- URL specific. you have to type in a full address in order to be relocated
• Favorites Bar- allows an address to be saved, in a folder,  for later reference

Web Surfing Risks

Surfing the web can deliver the same scenarios that are faced in the real world, sometimes worse. Whenever personal information is involved, one should always take extra precautions because the net is an unregulated environment.. It is easy to fall a victim to Phishing. Phishing is when a web site pretends to be another... the look, the behavior, but not the authenticity- the same concept as purchasing a "Coach" bag, off of a table, in Chinatown.  A user is fooled because they believe to be logging into their favorite site while those on the other end have malicious intentions.

There are disclaimers that compromise privacy and personal information so "read between the line... the lines are your friends." 

I feel that this is a very important topic so for more insight I've included a video, below. 

 Are you going to practice ways to protect yourself from the net? Why?

My Personal Learning Network: Introduction

I love, love, love technology but I've decided to divert my attention to a different 'ology,- psychology. Prior to pursuing a career in technology, I was on a path to obtain a degree in psychology. I have an interest in this area because us human beings are very unique when it comes to our thought processes and behaviors. I have decided to design my Personal Learning Network on aspects of  psychology.

Below are some basic steps that I plan to follow, ( not in any specific order) when creating my PLN. Throughout my learning processes, I will discover new information which I reflect on this blog.

1. Subscribe to other blog post-  Subscribing to other blog posts will help me to stay in sync with my learning curve and it is also a way to enhance and improve my PLN. Networking with others who share the same interests is very beneficial.

2. Learn to Microblog-  Microblogging is very crucial in my situation considering that my time is spread out very thin; learning to cover topics in about 140 words would be in my best interest because it will help me to sum things up, without leaving out essential information.

3. Join social networking sites- Joining professional and non professional social networking sites will give me the benefit of gathering information from different perspectives to aid in contrast and comparing. It's always good to hear both sides of the story and all information can not be found in a book.

4. Research- As in most cases, research is needed to validate and/or support opinions.

 This steps will be the foundation for my PLN with the addition of newly discovered ones.

Surf's up Web Surfers!

Herrmann, Klaus. Klaus Hermann. 13 Dec 2011. Google. Web.25 Jan.2012. 

<https://plus.google.com/115360471097759949621/posts/GRzdPrBjK4E#115360471097759949621/posts/GRzdPrBjK4E>

While surfing the World Wide Web, Have you ever asked yourself questions like, "Where am I pulling this information from?" or "What is the technical explanation for how the Internet works?" Well to answer those questions, first let's gain a clear understanding on what the Internet is.

What is the Internet?

 

The Internet is basically a network (group) of computers from all over the globe,  linked together for the purpose of data sharing. Just as human language is intended for communication between two human beings, computers share and follow a distinct set of communication rules which make up a protocol. Without this, there is no communication and data sharing. In fact, staring at the walls may be more exciting at that point.

How Does the Internet Work?
There isn't a simple answer to this question. There are several elements that work in conjunction in order for the Internet to work. See this blog for an in depth explanation on how the Internet works.

Protocols
Visiting protocols once again - just note that there are more protocols that exist, but for the purpose of this post topic, we are discussing two. Aside from actual computer hardware, these are mandatory elements.

• Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) -  Computers, smart phones, tablets, and other devices that accesses the web, connect to the Internet using TCP/IP. This protocol contains the rule set for accessing the Internet.
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) -  This is the Internet's standard protocol for transferring files (uploading and downloading) such as music, pictures, and documents.

Google Images

How is the Internet Used?

The Internet is a portal to a wealth of information, therefore, It is a very useful tool. The most popular way that the Internet is used, is for searching the World Wide Web. Individuals from all walks of life can benefit from web surfing. Business professionals surf the web for leading marketing trends, advertising, networking, and to find ways to expand their businesses. Students often scour the web to research things and to stay in sync with academic responsibilities (using e-mail, or online courses).

Overall, from government officials to grandparents, people use the web (by way of the Internet) to enhance their lifestyles and carry out business..so the next time someone invites you to go web surfing, leave the bug spray at home (unless you're a programmer).

 

The History of The Internet and The World Wide Web

The Internet was born sometime in the early 1960s and was used solely for government operations/ communications. Due to a security concern, in 1962, the Department of Defense was ordered to start the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). J.C.R. Licklider was the project lead. He devised ideas that were stored in memos and were the first public references to the notion of the Internet.

The functionality of Circuit Switching lead to the ideas of data networking and packet switching.  Leonard Kleinrock outlined this idea and helped to develop the new technology (at that time) known as Packet Switching. Packet Switching enabled data to be migrated in individual packets by way of various routes unlike circuit switching. This technology was programmed into Interface Message Processors (IMP).

After establishing a way to transfer data, on September 2, 1969, Reps from BBN furnished UCLA's lab with the first IMP. By 1969, four universities were listed as the foundation of the global network (Internet).



Lastly, My Perspective

Reading the first chapter of  Discovering the Internet: Complete Concepts and Techniques, by Shelly Cashman, has given me some further insight on the early workings of the Internet. This leads to my conclusion:

The Internet is the staple between computers and my life; providing me with the ability to tackle countless tasks, it has become a bare necessity. Although I am a glutton for technology, I will say this- we as a universe, have become so dependent upon technology that we forget the simple things in life. I couldn't tell you the last time I've attempted to remember a telephone number or, in a feeble attempt to secure new gadgets, I can't recall traveling all the way to the store, only to discover that what I wanted is sold out. Simplicity can sometimes lead to complexity.



Google Images

 Every Yang has a Yin. Even that of the Internet.

How has the Internet improved your life? Are you also too dependent upon the Internet?






Links and References

To Purchase Shelly Cashman's book, click the link below:
Discovering the Internet: Complete Concepts and Techniques, Third Edition


More about the Internet: Internet Society

Becoming an Ultimate Blogger

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Amongst other forms of communication, blogging has become one of the more effective ways to deliver professional contents and every day thoughts. With millions of individuals surfing the web everyday, what better place is there to be noticed?

In an effort to gather some information on how to become effective at blogging, I've read 5 helpful articles  in which provide some great tips and testimonies on everyday blogging.

 In a post titled "How to Blog Almost Everyday", Chris Brogan shares his thoughts on ways that one can develop continuous blogging habits. Chris says, " It’s not easy, but once you develop the habits, they stick with you." Just like writing, blogging is something that matures with practice so most successful bloggers believe that the most important element of blogging is persistence.

After reading all 5 articles, I realized that they all have some key information in common- very interesting tips, and in some instances, the same perspectives on blogging daily. It is very helpful to know that whether blogging is done for business or for personal purposes, It is a very effective way to share information.




Here are my favorite tips...one from each author:

            1. Let your writing flow naturally. Writing as you would speak during a conversation helps

            to keep readers engaged and limit text editing (Farhad Manjoo, Slate).

            2. Use Photos in your blogs. Photos are a way to add life to your blog and keep blog
            followers interested (Chris Brogan)

            3. Give credit to other bloggers. When quoting something from an author or extracting
            information from their page, give them credit. Doing otherwise is called stealing and it is a
            form of disrespect to those who blog (Darrell Zahorsky, former About.com guide).

            4. Try not to get personal in posts. Stick to the lines of the blog title and limit the
            disclosure of personal information. At the end of the day, a reader is attracted to your post
            title, not your personal life  (Matthew Bandyk, US News and War Report).

            5. Build a blogging schedule. Setting aside time for blogging will help you to blog as
            much as possible (Darren Rowse, ProBlogger)..


It is concluded by the majority that blogging can be done in very little time. Always keep in mind the audience that you're communicating with and keep your post content interesting and persistent. You don't have to be perfectionist in order to become good at blogging so spend less time on being perfect and more time getting the content out.

 According to Darren Rowse, the author of "Use It or lose It", " six months is too long to go between newsletters. If you don’t use it – you lose it."


Now, do you have what it takes to become the ultimate blogger? Are you going to "Use It or lose It?"

Start blogging now: Create your free google account and create a profile on Blogger.

Related Article

eHow: How to Blog Successfully