Brian's Weblog

Testing something new here

brianfinnegan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:04:57 +0000

Just wondering if I can attach a PDF file to this blog area. This particular PDF file is of a flyer for the Christian Motorcyclists Association’s summer rally happening in June, 2009. Location is at Tomah Fairgrounds in Tomah, WI.
Basically, I am typing just to fill up some text space.

http://brianfinnegan.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/seasons2009wi.pdf

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 8 – Mashups

brianfinnegan — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:08:08 +0000

I will confess that I did not know much, if anything, about Mashups as an individual item. Once I figured out that they were the combination of two exiting applications, then I understood.
I read the post about Go-Go Google Gadget (http://www.blyberg.net/2006/08/18/go-go-google-gadget/). I had no idea there were some many things as part of Google with which to waste time – I mean to make work more productive (I got distracted by the virtual aquarium, much easier to clean than mine at home).
That was a lot of fun customizing and rearranging my Google homepage – I even found some Calvin & Hobbes comic strips. They are the best.

Week 7: Podcasting, etc

brianfinnegan — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:47:36 +0000

I was able to create an account with Odeo.com, my initial reaction was that the site was comparatively slow loading. However, once loaded I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of podcasts there were and the variety of topics. The quality of the recordings was superb.
I listened to some very interesting science talks and interviews. The slowness of the web site was a distraction.
The other challenge with this week’s assignment was that our institution has blocked YouTube. Therefore, that site will not be of use to our library or our institution.

Week 6 – Flickr

brianfinnegan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:26:14 +0000

In week 6, we investigated Flickr and online image storage and retrieval site. After making an account, it is easy to upload folders and give them tags or subject headings and store them in various sub-folders. I added some historic photos of the Marshfield Clinic founders. Here is the URL to Dr. Karl H. Doege, on of the Marshfield Clinic founders. http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=doege
I found Flickr very easy to use and organize. I am thinking about using Flickr as an option to our photo archive here in the library – especially for the photos that we do want publicly available. With Flickr’s Groups and various security settings, we could make a grouping of photos that is not available to the general public.

Week 5: web office tools

brianfinnegan — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:50:08 +0000

I completed the Google Docs portion of this week’s assignment with ease. It was very intuitive on how to use the programs. It was easy to cut & paste text, insert an image and I was amazed at how easy it was to create a powerpoint type of presentation. I think the presentation portion of the Google docs was the greatest. I had not thought there was an alternative to PowerPoint – I was mistaken. While very basic, it does everything powerpoint does without having to buy Microsoft’s software – which is not cheap.
The Google docs can be an inexpensive (free!) alternative to having to purchase the Microsoft office program. The downside is that you have to be online to utilize. However, with home internet access becoming more readily available this may not be an issue.
Since my work environment has the Microsoft enterprise license, Google docs or Zoho will not take the place but it would be a viable alternative when working on a professional committee with members from different institutions at different locations. One concern is the security of such documents as well as the “ownership” of such documents. Since they are stored at the google site, can they be accessed by others? how long are they stored on the free version? Is there a corporate, more protected, version of google docs? If I worked in a more competitive intelligence field this would be of a major concern.
I also tried the Zoho.com site and there were dozens of applications that it would take me weeks just to try them all out. I did notice they offer an Online Business Solution (Zoho Business) that would meet the need of a small organization that does not want to purchase the MS Office software. They mention things such as remote backup, company branding, single sign on, etc.

Week 4: Social Bookmarking

brianfinnegan — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:29:47 +0000

It was incredibly easy to create an account with Del.icio.us and add the browser buttons. Instead of adding bookmarks one at a time, I decided to try the group import option. It was great – maybe too great – as I selected all of my Internet Explorer bookmarks for importing. I now have well over 150 bookmarks on my Del.icio.us page. What was even better is that it allowed be the option of automatically creating some tags.
Many of my favorites were for my hobbies so I have a camping folder with about a half dozen sites or so. Del.icio.us further tagged some of the pages with RV as well as camping…intersting.
I can see a utility in our library with managing subject oriented sites: health care statistics or asthma or pediatrics, etc. We could even use Del.icio.us for our different resident groups: dermatology, surgery, pediatrics, etc. We could also further tag links into PGY1, PGY2, for different levels of residents or we could have tags for specific assignments. This is a very useful utility because then the resident could access the suggested web sites at any computer at any location.

Week 3 – social networking

brianfinnegan — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:56:36 +0000

I am having a difficult time with this one on a number of levels. First off, since my institution has blocked Facebook and MySpace, I am having challenges with even creating an account. I will have one by the end of the weekend as I have borrowed a laptop with wireless capabilities and will head over to Starbucks Saturday morning to take advantage of their free wireless. The problem is that once I return the laptop, I will not be returning to edit/read anything on Facebook.
I will not be utilizing this sort of Web 2.0 application at my workplace. I think that is because as an institution that provided all employees with computer access (as opposed to a public library or college where patrons have their own laptops, Iphones, etc), we have built in communication abilities. For example: as all employees are on the master email list, I can email anyone in the institution; as all employees are in the phone directory, I can look up a number and make a call, prepared to leave a voice message.
We do not have the inherent challenges of “user anonymity” that may exist in a more public setting.
Additionally, with HIPPA privacy laws smacking us in the face all the time, my fellow employees (and myself) may feel reluctant to share much information on Facebook or MySpace for anyone to see.

Week 3 – LinkedIn

brianfinnegan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:44:47 +0000

I was able to create a LinkedIn account. Now I have to add some connections. I see that there are 50 users at my work place on this site as well as a few from my alma mater. I will contact a few here at work that I know. It was very easy to join.
I will try to get a Facebook account this evening since I cannot access at work.

Social networking (Facebook, etc)

brianfinnegan — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:39:44 +0000

An interesting note about social networking on the Internet. I am not sure how I will complete this assignment as the Facebook web site is blocked at our institution. Coincidentally, so is Youtube so our various class instructional videos do not display.
As I do have dial-up access to the Internet at home I will try the assignment at that location. As a result of these tools being blocked, I do not see much work use for Facebook.
However, I can access the LinkedIn web site so that may be where I spend more of my time this week.

Blogging and Wikiing (?spelling?)

brianfinnegan — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:24:40 +0000

So we are halfway through week 2 and I have been able to create a blog and a wiki. My feeling on the difference between the two: a blog is a running tally of thoughts and comments with the most current at top (here is what I did today, here is what I did yesterday, here is what I did the day before, etc) ; a wiki, by contrast, can be organized by topic or thread with conversations/comments regarding each thread falling into that categorical heirarchy. The blog may be easier to read as in a diary format but a wiki can contain multiple threads at the same time. In my mind, I would the blog for a situation where I was the only author and a wiki if I wanted more people to join in the conversation.