Beyond Email: Collaborative Technologies For the 21st Century

Exploring The Technologies

Brian Kelly

UKOLN

About This Session

In this session you will explore some of the technologies:

• Use of Instant Messaging / Chat software
• Using a Wiki

You will also hear about:

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging:

• Real time communications
• 'Chat rooms' can be used for group communications

Technologies:

• MSN Messenger - a popular Microsoft product
• Jabber - an open IM environment
• IRC (Internet Relay Chat)

In today's workshop you will use a Web-based IRC client, available from workshop home page

Note:

• IRC will be used as it is simple to install (and avoids possible firewall problems)
• If we have problems with IRC we may use:
  • JWChat (Java-based Jabber client)
  • Multi-protocol IM client such as GAIM

Wikis

Wikis:

• Web-based collaborative authoring environment (e.g. see Wikipedia)

Technologies:

• We'll use Wikalong, a public Wiki technology used to annotate Web pages
• If possible install the Wikalong extension for Firefox or the IE bookmarklet
• If not possible, follow the links in session Web pages

Skype

Skype:

• Popular VoIP application (e.g. see <http://www.skype.com/>)
• Register for (free) Skype ID if you'd like to use it

What role does it have?

• Best of tele-conferencing and integrations with IT
• Let remote users/experts contribute
• Talk to technical support staff
• Attend events for free / industrial espionage!

We may use it to allow remote user to listen in

Blogs

Blogs:

• Online diaries with Web-based editing
• If you wish and you have your own Blog, you can use it during the session (or register for Blogger account)

Use:

• Due to lack of time, Blogs won't be covered in this session
• Examples:
  • Gateshead Library
  • Peter Scott's Library Blog
  • Food Museum Blog

Using The Tools

In your Web browser go to:

• Scroll to bottom of page and open the "Realtime discussion for this talk" page (in new window)
• Add your name to "Nickname" field login and say hello
• Return to workshop page and use Wikalong Firefox extension and give your name and contact details

Note that using instant messaging to communicate with people in the same room is rather artificial! You should imagine that this is a distance learning course, and that the facilitators and participants are working from their office.

Questions

Do you have any questions?