Completely_Unique's Blog

Web Standards + XHTML and CSS

Unique — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:21:17 +0000

I wanted to focus on the importance of Web Standards, as well as, address some of the common topics brought up while using XHTML and CSS. I have personally experienced what it’s like to code and I enjoy it!! Being that I am going to school for Web Design, I look forward to the different scripting and language classes that complete my degree. During my research I found some helpful tools and tutorials….

Web Standards are very important because “web sites not developed and structured to follow the standards set out by W3C will not work or display correctly in all browsers on all platforms.” That says a lot because anyone can start to type code but the goal is to have others be able to view it from any computer on the web. Also on the W3C Quality Assurance, “Steve, CEO, said: If my Web site is made with the standards, it will be unexciting and I will lose customers.” Based on experience in designing Web Pages, I noticed that standards help with a basic guideline so to speak. The final outcome of a site is based on the different styles that are later applied to that site so a variety and difference is noticeable.

A site that I found interesting that can help myself and others who are looking to do Web Design is a Markup Validation site. This is extremely helpful for those that may be beginning to type code, it will make sure there are no errors within your specified code. All of the web I feel goes hand in hand. The better one understands the Web Standards, XHTML, CSS, and other techniques of designing a Web Site, the more advance an individual becomes. I am to a point where I have established a foundation, but I need more knowledge to build the structure of the final outcome.

PS… I found this tutorial site for Web Design that seems to have lots of information and seems to be helpful, however, I have not had time to further explore it yet!

Filed under: Class Assignments

Podcasting

Unique — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:59:22 +0000

I had no idea that I have worked with podcasting before because I never knew the name that was associated with it. As for that, I think podcasting can enhance my way of grasping Web Design because this is another extremely fast way of receiving information and I learn more effectively by hearing what to do, as opposed to reading instructions. Podcasting technology can enhance the way disabled people may interact as well. During my research, I found some pretty interesting sites.

First, I found Podcasting For Dummies which I think can be very helpful to everyone. Not just those who have dummies moments, like myself. Reason being, there is a search box where you begin to type what it is you need help with, and poof.. If recognized, it’s on the screen with a podcast of instructions instantly.

Second, I found a site called Podcasting Tools which I found interesting because I referenced some of the many things that podcasting is used for.

Podcasting can be used for:

1. Self-Guided Walking Tours - Informational

2. Music - promotional clips and interviews

3. Talk Shows - Industry or organizational news, investor news, news coverage and commentaries.

4. Training - Instructional informational

5. Story - children or the visually impaired

Those few reasons can be beneficial for disabled people, just as, regular people. That site also has resources and information for almost everything you can think of in regards to podcasting. It also refers to how webmasters are using such to find creative ways to provide media-rich content.

Finally, I found a site that focused on the advantages and disadvantages of podcasting. The one thing that interested me most on that subject is the fact that anyone can make a podcast and post. Some posts will be interesting, some will have no point, others will be constantly viewed, and others may not have a political view in sight. That worries me just a little because that goes to show that what is viewed may or may not be creditable information.

As a whole, podcasting appears to be the next hipped thing. It seems to be the hot item on the market, until something else new comes available. But that goes the same for all technology.

Filed under: Class Assignments

Communities of Practice

Unique — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:46:45 +0000

Cultivating Communities of Practice states, ” Good community design requires an insider’s perspective to lead the discovery of what the community is about.” I find this interesting because I originally had the idea that a community of practice only focuses on one way of doing something and then they convince everyone to do the same. Based on research, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I have come to the conclusion that a topic of interest or concern is focused within that community and then everyone puts forth ideas to learn how to perfect such while interacting with others. The next thing that stood out to me was the seven principles of cultivating communities which are:

Design for evolution.

Inside and outside perspectives open a dialogue with one another.

Participation should vary.

Community spaces should be developed both public and private.

VALUE should be the focus.

Familiarity and excitement become one.

Rhythm for the community should be created.

Etienne Wenger refers to every community having the same three elements of a domain, a community, and a practice. One thing that is interesting is such elements come in a variety of ideas, sizes, structures, and such. So the concept that I have noticed based on the sites that I referenced is that a community of practice varies from an interest group to a concern of an issue, yet they all pull together with a variety of ideas to overcome such topic.

Funderstanding mentions, “The theory seeks to understand both the structure of communities and how learning occurs in them.” That statement to me can be interpreted in many ways. Not every person in a commutiy will learn or provide insight the same. Jsut as any individual, people have their own way of worshiping their particular God.

Filed under: Class Assignments

Cloud Computing

Unique — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:37:13 +0000

I think cloud computing has to do with delivering services over the internet. It can also pertain to storing information anywhere on a server but doesn’t involve software. It is a way of getting things accomplished without having to be bothered with all the papers and documents in person, instead it’s all online. Cloud computing is a way to change the relationship of how technology and end users work with one another. The Epic site states ,”The further users are away from the underlying technology that they rely upon, the more dependent the relations may become.” I found that most interesting because people become reliable on a technology in order to advance. It goes to say that people tend to use whatever it takes to get what they want. The Network World mentions that cloud computting has factors that make it so reliable today and they are the virtualization and service-oriented architects, standardization on accommodations of technologies, and over all the internet growth.

A few benefits of cloud computing are that the services become available to the consumer without materials, so it’s internet based. Also, services begin to become cheaper to the consumer based on the access of such not being limited. Just as expressed on the sites, individuals have a different perception on cloud computing. It can be viewed on different levels.I honestly still am sort of confused on cloud computting levels, but I feel as time progresses I will gain the knowledge to completely understand the difference in the individual level and the global one.

Filed under: Class Assignments

Social Bookmarking

Unique — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:23:07 +0000

Social Bookmarking was a term that I never really knew existed. I did a lot of the things that it refers to but, however I was unaware that was the technical term for it. I searched different sites to further clarify what was told to us in class and I came to the conclusion that Social Bookmarking is an important part of life. We use such to search the web, share information with others, and store things we choose to return to at a later point. I love the benefit of social bookmarking because I can save information to a site and view it at any giving point, on any computer because the stored information is not limited to my laptop, it is saved to my social bookmark. All that allows me to share my findings with others.

Three Social Bookmarking Services that I have found interesting are:

Diigo- ia a service with various functions. It ranges with highlighting, bookmarking, editing, information sharing capabilities, sending e-mails, and automatic posting. Those are all convenient when blogging.
Del.icio.us- I have found this to be the easiest way to store information that I found and saved to view later. It’s a very simple site and it can be accessed on any computer.

Google Buzz- It is known to be very easy to use, moves in real-time, convenient, accessible, easier to get a closer social circle, engaging, and people are starting to prefer it over other services.

I have experimented with a few of the other services of bookmarking, but thus far I really enjoy using delicious because I hate when I am searching for something, then later I return to show others and I can’t locate it. Also, I find that service to be user-friendly, extremely easy to operate, and fun to go back and see the things that I have searched previously.

Filed under: Class Assignments

Blogging

Unique — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:47:54 +0000

Jonathan Fields gathers feedback from other bloggers who say that building relationships with influential people, promote other peoples content, do favors and offer constructive feedback on other blogs about your same topic of interest. On another site, I found an interview with a professional blogger, Miranda, where she states that blogging authentically, about things that interest yourself, are just as important as things you know! If you are un knowledgeable and uninterested, then others may feel the same. Bad Language has a great article about how important it is to write often, have a variety, be yourself, and contribute back. An interesting point that I read was that traffic is important to any blogger, however, regulars have more meaning.

Blogging Tips to Generate More Traffic to Your Blog:

Write a blog long enough to give practical advice.
Write at least one new blog per day.
Use a proper domain name.
Start commenting on other blogs and link them in yours.
Encourage comments on your own blog.

WOW!! So the few things that I have noticed is the way to a successful blog is to constantly blog, providing useful information, and give feedback. Just like in the Web Design field, to keep a site up and running where others enjoy viewing, one must keep the information exact, current, useful, and interesting. That goes the same for any blog. If you want to be a preferred blog that everyone must see, then you must encourage others to do just that. It takes work to make a successful blog stay operational, just as anything else in life.

I really enjoy the aspect of being ale to communicate with others quickly. More so, blogging is an efficient way for myself to follow topics I enjoy with others. I like how blogging allows me to just implement my opinion or knowledge on a topic that I know and love.

Filed under: Class Assignments

RSS

Unique — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:52:08 +0000

UserLand created RSS in 1997 and was then relaunched March of 1999 by Ramanatha V. Guha. This program is a family of web-feed formats that are used to update the contents such as blogs, headlines, and podcast in a standardized formats. You could also call this program a feed, web feed, or a channel. Netscape website developed the program. Web publishers embrase RSS to get there feed on My.Netscape.Com. In April 2001 My.Netscape.Com dropped RSS and the new owner AOL’s restructuring of the company, they also removing documents and tools that supported the format. In December of 2000 Winer RSS 0.9 and then in September of 2002 Winer, released a major new version of RSS 2.0 removed the type attribute added in the RSS 0.94 draft and added support for namespace. In January 2006, Rogers Cadehead relaunched RSS without Dave Winer’s participation. This program solves myriad problems that webmasters commonly face, such as increasing traffic, and gathering and distributing news. RSS lets you stay on one page without needed to visit each site individually. You are also ensured your privacy without having to join their email newsletters. The number of sites offering RSS feeds are growing rapidly and are including big names like Yahoo News. Last but not least the RSS Blog launched in July of 2007 on the 26th day to extend and complement the information provided there.

Really Simple Syndication(RSS) is useful for Web Designers because it isa brief XML syntax which allows designers to share news on a page they design. It will help computer usage by allowing the user find out more information without having to visit many sites. They can also use RSS to tell others of what they find or do on the site by using the blogs. I feel that RSS is constantly updating such components to allow users the ability to share content between sites without going through a lot of hassle.

RSS

What Is RSS??

Introduction To RSS

Posted in Class Assignments

My Work with Social Media

Unique — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:01:07 +0000

I think social media is a lifesaver for my work and allows me to accomplish much more that I could before using.

Posted in Class Assignments