I promised to post my blog being a website as art


... so here it is. Now I'll let you in on a secret. This "art form" could actually be useful as an initial diagnostic tool for evaluating the structure of clients' websites. Of course you need not include this art form in the diagnostic report. Tell me what you think.

This is a continuing challenge to the digital immigrants

... aka Baby boomers amongst us, here are the skill sets that are second nature to digital natives (Generations X & Y, et seq.):

• using search engines
• inserting links
• inserting images
• creating trackbacks (blog about another blog)
• using aggregators (Read: RSS)
• using italics, bold face, etc.
• differentiating media types (avi, mov, 3gp, mp4)
• unzipping files

all in a broadly collaborative sense.

Suw Charman observes in a larger context:

"We have a glimpse of how this works, but when the MySpace generation comes into business, they will expect this, and they will know better how it works, and how to sidestep the red tape that can get in the way of getting things done."

Now, as for the rest of us, at least perhaps we know how to upload files. So I will ask the 21st century Luddites, as I asked elsewhere: "Are you ready for the friendster generation?"

Just a marker.


Milenyo: The strongest typhoon to directly hit Metro Manila in 11 years.

I used Writely to blog this.

Indeed, this is the next level of open source empowerment. Down to the grassroots (Read:basic education). Check out the webtop tool here .

This is what I've been waiting for...

Social Capital, Social Value, Social Money. Now you have a wonderful way to recover the "pecuniary" equivalent of those unreturned books, magazines and umbrellas that your "friends" borrowed ages ago. Try Billmonk.com to see what I mean.

As an aside, a theoretical framework could perhaps be found here and here.

Web page as art.

Very interesting way to look at your website. Tells you whether a website is primarily underpinned by structure (Yahoo: left) or by content (boingboing: right). Here's the source. Will post mine soon.

Forget about open source, here comes open source

Technology moves so fast that while traditional firms (Read: Enterprise 1.0) and academic institutions (Read: Schools 1.0) may be actively pushing for open source, not a few are still blissfully clueless about the next wave of open source. Mash-ups and Web-based productivity tools are the order of the day. I am talking about Web 2.0 which could be a compelling argument for shifting the desktop to the webtop. For a discussion on the technical merits of a wholesale shift to the webtop, read Ebrahim Ezzy's article Webified Desktop Apps vs Browser-based Apps.

But as K.C. Jones of TechWeb Technology News reports:

"Web 2.0 is about people and Enterprise 2.0 will be less about less [sic] top-down structure and more about structure developed freely through lower-level interactions, said Harvard Business School Associate Professor Andrew McAfee and Socialtext CEO Ross Mayfield.

'The technology is not different,' Mayfield said. 'There are enough people, with a critical mass, using the Net long enough that we're beginning to see advanced social behavior.'

Mayfield said businesses should be asking themselves whether their Intranets are made of people. He added that the Web works well and businesses should be trying to replicate it behind their firewalls."

Mayfield and McAfee recently spoke at Interop New York.

"They explained that executives often fear turning over control to employees but giving employees control can actually increase their adoption of new software, cut down on corporate spam, shorten meeting times and increase the speed at which information is disseminated through a company."

More of that in Web, Wikis: Models For Business Software, Panelists Say - E-business & Business Technology News by TechWeb.

Now how soon can we see the school of the future (Read: Schools 2.0)? Sauce for the goose ...

technorati tags:Web2.0, Open+Source, Webtop, Schools2.0

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Plugging time again.

Coming of Age: An Introduction to the NEW World Wide Web.

I think I've found a solution for online ADHD problems.

Ziki allows you to

Find, Be Found & Connect.

I'd like to call it the social web app aggregator.

Oh and don't forget to use Flock as your social browser.

On the economics of networks and collaboration

Yochai Benkler argues that "online cooperation is spurring a new mode of production beyond the two classic pillars of economics, the firm and the market. 'Peer production,' as he calls work such as open-source software, file-sharing, and Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN ) millions of customer product reviews, creates value with neither conventional corporate oversight nor market incentives such as payment. 'The economic role of social behavior is increasing, he says. 'Things that would normally just dissipate in the air as social gestures become economic products.'" More here.

How about that for the evolution of economy? Freakonomics? World is Flat? Tipping Point? And the list goes on and on.

Some ponderable points on globalization

• respect for local traditions and cultures without imposing a globalization based merely on economic criteria
• respect for the human person as the main protagonist in the process of development
• avoiding excessive concentration of power at higher levels and allowing institutions such as the family, local communities and ethnic groups sufficient autonomy [to play their primary roles and] carry out their functions

Implication:

"Discernment is needed in order to avoid accepting a vision of globalization that sees itself as part of a postmodern process in which liberty is given an absolute value and a place for tradition and religion is denied."

Key here is how to strike a negotiated balance. (items in italics, mine)

And here is a way to manage information overload.


Go to Feed 101 to get you started on managing info ad nauseam.

Here's a clarion call to all Lasallians.

If you have a soft spot for the underserved, disenfranchised, the marginalised, etc., then volunteerism might sound sweet to you. Nurse your bleeding heart and take your desire line to the next level. Check out The Lasallian Volunteers Program - our space. Link is here.

Here's a Young Top Technology Innovator for 2006


You gotta love her ability to blend theatre, gaming and IT. Name is Jane McGonigal. See her projects here.

Web2.0 concept map, version 2

Web2.0 concept map, version 2
Originally uploaded by Spotrick.

Here's a 21 August 2006 version of Web 2.0 concept map. BTW I used a rich edit (italics, bold, quote, link) capability script for Firefox on flickr.com

This just in (26).

Butch Abad wrote a compelling piece on how the education system could/should/would be improved. Drawing on prescriptions from Howard Gardner and Adam Kahane, Abad seems to suggest that collaboration is key. No one can argue with that. Thing is, people need to be more upfront with their agendas in order for collaboration to happen. Deal or no deal?

More of the article:

Creative approach to education reform - INQ7.net

The Importance of User Experience

The Importance of User Experience
Originally uploaded by soldierant.

Now the focus comes down to the user.

Flickr User Model, v0.3

Flickr User Model, v0.3
Originally uploaded by soldierant.

Here's a brilliant piece of work on the ecology of a social software application. Case in point: Flickr.com. Take note that community of users should be at the heart of any piece of social web app.

How can you take the concept of Social Software to the next level?

Use sneakers as identity proxy. This seems to be what sneakerplay is doing. It features some sort of a fight club where sneakers take center stage in battles for attention. Not exactly old hat. At least they eliminate gore from the arena. Now for those familiar with ning.com, sneakerplay's idea should not be difficult to clone. Check out Girl on Girl.

Web 2.0 needs to lose the social software thing, please

Thus spake Gareth Knight:

"Following up from the d.Construct post yesterday, I wanted to talk about the apparent obsession with social software at the moment, and to ask for comments on why you think it's so. Seriously, there are so many other things that can be done!"

More of the article in Web 2.0 needs to lose the social software thing, please | Internet Marketing News and Blog | E-consultancy.com.

I posted something along this line at Pinoyblog2.com about 82 days ago.

Just thought I'd share this... for our children.

>> Waste Trading Market: The Philippine Business for
>> the Environment, the Ayala Foundation/ Ayala Group,
>> DENR and the Makati and Muntinlupa city govts invite
>> you to....THE WASTE TRADING MARKETS! The WASTE
>> MARKETS aim to make recycling convenient, safe and
>> accessible, especially for those who frequent
>> commercial shopping areas. They also aim to show
>> that Filipinos CAN make recycling a habit. Please
>> help spread the word. For more information, contact
>> Nancy Pilien at the Phil. Business for the
>> Environment, 6352650.
>>
>> ...... Every first Friday of the month: GoldCrest
>> Car Park, Ayala Center (along Arnaiz Ave)
>> ...... Every third Friday of the month: Alabang Town
>> center, Alabang - Zapote Road .
>>
>> WHAT THE WASTE MARKETS OFFER!
>> Trade scrap paper for new (office/ mimeo) paper!
>> Trade used ink cartridges for new!
>> Sell your electronic waste (e.g. junk computers)
>> and old / broken appliances
>> Sell your used lead acid batteries - don't let them
>> leach in your garage!
>> Redeem any of the following for cash: PET plastic
>> containers and other
>> plastics, aluminum / tin cans, scrap glass
>> Drop off points also provided for junk cellphones/
>> cellphone batteries/styrofoam.
>>

technorati tags:recycling

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Mobile Phone Programming for Entrepreneurs

A collaboration between MIT and the University of Nairobi, Kenya, it is designed as

"a project-based course that will allow students to learn enough of the basics of mobile phone programming to design and launch their own mobile phone application."

Can't we have programs like this in the Philippines? I mean in collaboration with MIT? After all we are a Third World country.

Now, let's have a little fun.



Got the inspiration from boingboing.net.

Now what could be of value from Arnold's PC?

Embarrassing Audiotape. I'd like to call that PCgate. Could be interesting material for podcasting. Is he calling you Latino and therefore feisty? Hold on. I'll be back!

Plugging time

A Web 2.0 booklet (pdf file) for educators is on its way to a second edition (Target date: December 2006). It even comes with an audio version (Think: podcast). Work-in-progress community blog is here. Could also be an interesting case study for collaborative book publishing.

In celebration of One Internet Day Manila, Cebu, Davao, and One Web Day

... here are the Top 10 Amazing Ways the Web has changed my world.

Amazing Way 1: Forget the necktie. You can work in your pajamas or even in the buff.

Amazing Way 2: You never know who you are chatting with. It has spawned a generation of split personalities.

Amazing Way 3: You come home from work still with the urge to check your e-mail and YM messages and seeing your daughter online you say Hi! and she responds "Where are you now?" You say, you are home.

Amazing Way 4: New learners are way better off than ye olde teachers on emerging skillsets: e.g. searching, connecting, sharing and collaborating. Are we ready for the friendster generation?


Amazing Way 5: You can tutor your kids who live in the boondocks via instant messenger. Did I say boondocks?

Amazing Way 6: You can produce own major radio show with as little as 1 crew - yourself.

Amazing Way 7: You can collect more trash without anyone seeing your collection. Now let's take a look at your 3 Gig thumb drive.

Amazing Way 8: You can "read" while driving - I meant listen to audiobooks downloaded from the Net.

Amazing Way 9: You can avoid manipulative talent managers coz you can head straight to stardom via youtube or myspace.


Amazing Way 10: Now there's hope for high touch in the world of hi tech. Should make us take preserving traditional culture seriously before we lose it.

How to cannibalize Network TV: The Lonelygirl15 phenomenon

Lonelygirl15 Press Conference

Thank you for participating in the Lonelygirl15 phenomenon.

Author: LonesomeOctober
Keywords: LG15 lonelygirl15 daniel danielbeast bree purple monkey secrets revealed press
Added: September 3, 2006

technorati tags:Lonelygirl15, long+tail

Blogged with Flock

Revenue structure for community e-center and more

Case study:

Remote Bohol school harnesses sun for Internet access - INQ7.net

"On a monthly basis, the school laboratory-cum-community e-center earns about 5,500 pesos. Four thousand pesos come from the foreign tourists, locals’ use and sharing with the beach resort operators while 1,500 come from students [about 450 students].For their expenses, the facility pays the Internet service provider a monthly flat rate of 3,600 pesos and about 1,000 pesos for physical maintenance of the six computers. The rest is money for the bank."

On a non-financial note, according to UNESCO Asia Pacific Program Officer for ICT Education Benjamin Vergel de Dios:

“For any ICT for basic education program to work, it should answer these questions: How many students does it cover? Does it minimize the workload of teachers? Is it affordable to member-states? Is technology use widespread?” More here.

If Life Begins at 40, Irwin died at the age of 4.

"For all the tragedy, I believe that Steve Irwin was one of the lucky ones. He lived and played hard, and died decisively. He was 44. I hadn't realized that we were the same age. Men do funny things around this time, and sometimes things not so funny."

From Fredericksburg.com - Exploring life force in Crocodile Hunter's death

I could not agree with David Lynn more.

This is rather dated (ca. 2004)

But just to show that the word "Filipino" also gets boingboing-ed, I discovered that
"Luis has made a free Flash game based on the Filipino call-center industry."

Boing Boing: Filipino call-center Flash game

Here's more boingboing sightings.

technorati tags:Filipino, boingboing

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Retrogaming in a keychain

Just hook them up to a telly.

* Joystick 1 - Asteroids and Millipede
* Joystick 2 - Centipede and Yar's Revenge
* Paddle - Pong, Breakout, and Warlords

via Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things
Now I am waxing nostalgic.

technorati tags:atari, retrogaming, keychain

Blogged with Flock

This a test run of the blogging feature of the Browser Flock

Some notes:

It has a holder at the bottom for notes, snippets, photos that you can drag around, save for future use. E.g. http://www.technorati.com/tag/web+2.0

Web-20: See what people are saying right now on Technorati

You can even save your drafts on your computer.

Also export your news feeds in OPML format.

Add newsfeeds (e.g. rss)

technorati tags:flock, Web+2.0

Blogged with Flock

Quote of the Day.

"When we are passionate about something, quitting is not an option."

-Lloyd Luna

For Road Warriors out there.

Don't you ever miss your family?

Aka a how-to on improving cell phone reception. Thanks to Xeni Jardin.

Imagine waking up one day to the reality of Broadcast Treaty!

According to Cory Doctorow:

"Under the Broadcast Treaty, fair use, Creative Commons and the public domain would be trumped by the 'broadcast right,' which would be owned by the broadcaster of works. If you got a copy of a work over the air or over the Web that copyright would let you use (because it was in the public domain, because it was fa"ctual, or even because the creator had granted you permission), you'd still need to seek permission from the 'caster,' who would get a 50-year monopoly over the re-use of copies of the works it transmitted.

The proposal to extend this to the Web could put YouTube, Google Video, and innovative podcaster services out of business, by banning or restricting the way that these companies re-use each others' materials. And if you're a podcaster accustomed to lifting other podcasters' material and pasting it into your podcasts, you'll need permission from the company that hosts the podcasts, not just permission from the creator.

Guess which companies are behind the Webcasting provision? Yahoo and Microsoft. More here.

How does wikipedia work?

"[E]veryone has a bunch of obscure things that, for one reason or another, they've come to know well. So they share them, clicking the edit link and adding a paragraph or two to Wikipedia. At the same time, a small number of people [500] have become particularly involved in Wikipedia itself, learning its policies and special syntax, and spending their time tweaking the contributions of everybody else."

More here.

Google label maker game.

You get 100 points for an image label you suggest that matches another online player's suggestion.

I call it collaborative image labeling. I have earned 200 points so far. Now check his out: a certain mdda123 has earned 1277400 points so far (Read: 12,774 matched image labels). Site says: "Thanks for your contribution. It will help us improve the relevance of image search results so that you and other Google users can quickly and easily find the results you're looking for." Link is here.

Plugging time.

RockEd is a grassroots-based (Read: Non-politicos preferred) advocacy seeking to make a huge difference in small shifts. Some useful motto: Make Poverty History, No whining, No more excuses, No more wars, No more grandstanding, No more election campaign photo-ops, etc. (You may wish to add to this.)

Finding one's center of excellence

Here is one person who IMHO has perhaps found his center of excellence. He has just released his book "Cyberworship in Multi-faith Perspectives". As in anything else that is worth doing, I guess it just needs an abiding passion plus a little inspiration to produce something as elegant as a book. Reminds me of Einstein. BTW the authors' name is Dr. Mohamed Taher. Now have you found your center of excellence? Mind you, it doesn't have to be esoteric.