Very Cool Video for Web 2.0
Go see this to help you understand Web 2.0.
It is very cool! The Machine is Using/Us.
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Go see this to help you understand Web 2.0.
It is very cool! The Machine is Using/Us.
Everyone understands that each day new technologies are discovered. Technology continues to evolve in all areas. The Web is no different. Web 2.0 is about companies creating a better experience using the Web, newer technologies that create the better experience and some believe that it is about how the Web should be used to respect the people using it.
1. Companies such as Google are defining their own destiny by developing their own business models. They create new technologies that will benefit the millions of people using the Web. Google is considered a Web 2.0 company. Google Maps and Google Earth are considered Web 2.0 applications because they use Asynchronous JavaScript. Google doesn’t stop there. Google provides news, images, gmail, video, calendars, groups and much more. Google is trying to meet all needs of all users.
2. Another aspect of Web 2.0 is AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). Web applications weren’t as user-friendly as desktop applications, but AJAX is has changed that. Web apps are becoming better, faster, and more reliable. AJAX isn’t a programming language; it is a new way to use the existing standards. AJAX requests small bits of information from a Web server rather than requesting the whole Web page. Using this technology will create a better experience for the user accessing a specific Web site.
3. Finally, it is about us, the users of the Web. Because of blogs we are able to create and publish information without editing. We are able to use social networking, social bookmarking, and real time syndication. We are able to dictate to a Web site what information we want to provide, not just what information they want to gather. The Web has quickly become something where we the people will determine how we will use it to best suit our needs. Companies who learn that will thrive, companies who don’t will weaken their ability to thrive in the electronic world.
I wanted to share this Youtube video about Web 2.0. I thought it was pretty cool, but most of all I liked the quote “Web 2.0 is linking people…people sharing, trading, and collaborating...”.
Check it out at The Machine is Us/ing Us.
Recently, I discovered how much clearer I could read by purchasing a pair of $10 reading glasses at Walmart. I began to think about how glasses probably affected people in the Renaissance period. How did eyeglasses help in contributing to the Information Renaissance? I decided to research the history of “spectacles” as they were called in 1284.
The first vision aid was actually invented around 1000AD, it was a reading stone. This was a glass sphere that they laid upon the material to be read to magnify the letters. The reading stone was a magnifying glass. The credit for actual “eyeglasses” is unclear. Consistent information in research shows that most agree that eyeglasses were invented in the 1200’s but credit is actually given to more than one individual. One thing for certain is that people in Italy are given the recognition for the invention. I think everyone should keep in mind that although Guttenberg invented the printing press during the Renaissance, people were reading hand written material long before that! Here is one more interesting tidbit….Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals. I am truly amazed at what this individual was able to invent. He was always thinking! Wouldn’t it be a true statement to believe that eyeglasses contributed to the increase of reading? After all….that’s why they were invented.
It is always interesting to revisit the history of where computing originated. People don’t normally think of the abacus as the first “computer”, yet most research documents begin there. Just because it wasn’t electrical doesn’t mean it should be excluded in the area of computing! The polymath’s of this time include the following names: John Napier (Napier’s Bones), William Oughtred (Slide Rule), and none other than Leonardo da Vinci. An article titled “A Brief History of Mechanical Calculators – The Age of the Polymath”, gives da Vinci credit for the first attempt at designing a calculating machine. He is referred to as “a master of machine artifacts”. Here is the article that will remind you of where computing started, find it at computing history.
A polymath is someone who has a broad knowledge in a wide variety of subjects. Recognizable Polymath’s in the Renaissance era would be Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, and Sir Isaac Newton. Da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, engineer, astronomer, anatomist, biologist, geologist, physicist, architect, philosopher, and humanist. As you can see, da Vinci was a true polymath. A secondary meaning of Polymath is “Renaissance Man”. As I researched polymaths, I discovered a very interesting article “Polymath: A Renassisance Man” at http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/Polymath.html. This article stated that a Renaissance man should....
• Be able to defend himself with a variety of weapons, especially the sword.
• Be able to play several musical instruments.
• Be able to paint and output other works of art.
• Be forever interested in advancing knowledge and science.
• Be able to engage in debates regarding issues such as philosophy and ethics.
• Be a skilled author and poet.
In one of Dr. Gillette’s blogs regarding the Information Renaissance, he addresses The Book of the Courtyer. This book was written by Baldassare Castiglione in 1528. This was the first book that addresses how to be a well-rounded person. When discussing polymaths, most people refer to this book. Of course, a polymath isn’t necessarily a man. Hildegard of Bingen was a woman of the Renaissance that was considered a polymath. She was a German abbess, artist, author, counselor, linguist, naturalist, scientist, philosopher, physician, herbalist, poet, activist, visionary, and composer. She was actually credited with the origin of opera.
How do we develop a broad knowledge in many subjects? The internet article stated,
“Read magazines. Read books. Read (quality) newspapers. Look for connections, form your own opinions. It's the connections that are really important - many people may have the knowledge, but the connections are your own. They are the work of creation. Seek out those who seem wise and knowledgeable, but don't leave your critical faculties (nor your cynicism) at home.
Something common to all polymaths is a refusal to be conveniently pigeon holed. It's tempting, after achieving in one field, to either continue in that field, and invest time and energy in becoming better and better at something you're already good at, particularly as that's what people will expect you to do. Follow your interests - even if they seem to be leading in bizarre and even contradictory directions!”
Do you want to be a polymath? Do you know someone you would consider to be a polymath? It is up to us to become that well-rounded person….I think we all are working on it considering the challenges given us in this particular Master’s program. We certainly have the expertise of quality professor’s to learn from!
Ahhhh….The European Renaissance…..an age in history that the younger generation doesn’t even relate to! I recently took a poll to see if my current students (I am an instructor) knew what the European Renaissance meant to our history. I wasn’t shocked to find that out of 35 students, only 6 knew anything about that time period. As I read the history of the European Renaissance, I am enlightened to see the advancements for women. Catherine de Medici is one woman who was lucky enough to be involved in many areas that allowed her to grow intellectually. She had great interest in architecture. She actually oversaw the building of a new wing at the Louvre Museum as well as the construction of the Tuilleries Gardens and the Chateau Monceau. One interesting fact about her relates to one of her sons who became King of France at the age of 10. Because of his age, Catherine was the King’s regent, which enabled her to be the Queen Regent. She was in charge of France! History of the European Renaissance has very interesting characters….but you have to read about them to appreciate them!
The Renaissance period forged a path of new communication for women. In earlier centuries, research documentation denotes that when girls were born, parents would try to pass them off as boys so they would not be killed. Having a son was the gender of choice. Women weren’t intellectually as important as men. Although there are many accounts of women accomplishments in earlier centuries, they had to pass their work off as if it were completed by the male gender. The Renaissance period allowed women to be seen differently. At this time, a renaissance woman was usually a person who was loyal to her husband and gave birth to sons; however, they began to develop more traits of a Renaissance man. Women became educated in the arts and sciences. The first lady of the Renaissance was Isabella d'Este who was born in 1474. Her ability to speak various languages, play musical instruments and ability to debate a variety of topics allowed her to become a very wise woman in her day. It should be noted that her father was an advocate of equality for men and women! At the age of sixteen, Isabella married Francesco Gonzaga. She then became the Marchioness of Mantua because Francesco was the Prince. He eventually died and she became the ruler of Mantua. What a breakthrough for women! Because of her advocacy for women, she helped to provide the way for women to break away from the traditional role for them at that time.