Module 3: Cybertextspace by Dr Karin Wenz

The more I read the article, the more I understood.

In fact, the content helped me to understand what was written on the Module 3 tutorial notes page - seriously!!!
I was so unimpressed by the text (on the Mod 3 page) that I couldn't concentrate yesterday.
Maybe I was in a flippant mood 24 hours ago.
Unsure.
Anyway, I must've had my thinking cap on today.

Perhaps the best idea from the article (for me personally), is that each person has their own set of beliefs, experiences, and background knowledge - so any information received will ultimately be influenced by these variables, and in turn, will affect what they choose to do with the information.

I think Dr Wenz was trying to describe the internet and the content it holds - however, she kept referring to the game Myst, which I have, but which I played about 10 years ago (and haven't played since).
A check of references showed that the most recent article used dated from 1997 or 1998.

However, despite the age of the article, I don't think the basic way the internet works today is any different to the way it worked back then...except, of course, that it is much vaster and computers are more powerful, making access and ease of access, more immediate and astonishingly quicker.

Another valid point mentioned, was that due to the speed with which information is generated today, the way people experience the world has changed.
It's the internet that has promoted this change.

Hypertext and linking to other sites or explanatory notes (which Wenz used in almost every sentence...and which annoyed me excessively until I realised that each of these 'links' was actually just another point along the linear list on the home/contents page) can also affect what the reader learns or takes away with them.

Wenz's explanation reminded me of the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books popular with pre-teens in the late '70's-'80's (which allowed children choice in the story).
The hyperlinks in an online text allow the viewer the options to:

1. read in-depth about a particular point

2. skim ahead to the next point

3. jump to another site

4. close the window!

As a result, information gleaned will depend not only on the depth of information read, but also on the paths taken to read that information, as well as the personal background and experiences which the reader brought with them prior to reading.

In all. I found the article 'voiced' many things I already knew, and quite a few which I hadn't previously considered.

Well worth the effort!

Blog Features Used: Edited Posts and Labels

This morning I edited all my blog posts to reflect:

TITLE: I changed these to reflect the Modules where the task was requested.

e.g. "Module 1: Telnet Task"

then I added 'Labels' so that all tasks could be accessed easily when my blog is submitted for assessment:

LABELS: These included "Module 1", "Telnet", "Optional Task", and any other 'markers' I thought would enable a viewer easier access to my page.

Of course as I progress further and learn more, I may edit again.

Module 1: Telnet Task B: http://www.blinkenlights.net/

http://www.blinkenlights.net/

Module 1: Telnet Option: blinkenlights

As I was browsing through other students blogs today, I came across a screen shot of something done with blinkenlights on Evelyn's page...I've been reading about this on the discussion board but thought it was, yet again, something that was beyond my understanding and therefore way beyond my reach: WRONG on all accounts!

I googled it (because Evelyn asked if anyone knew when blinken lights first began) and found this:

http://brepettis.com/blog/2008/09/29/blinkenlights/

which is an informative page about the latest blinkenlights project currently showing on a *building* (true) in Toronto. Each window of the building has been wired to be one pixel in the blinken program...totally fascinating!!!

Further down the page, it says that blinken lights first began in 2001 to mark the 20th anniversary of a group called chaos computer club in (I think) Berlin.

To top it all off, the founder of CCC died, so the group members decided to do something really special, and ended up having an exhibition in the Berlin Congress Building and in addition, remodelling the nearby (and apparently landmark) Teacher's Building...into a giant TETRIS screen!

Now *that* would have been AMAZING!!!!

RSS FEEDS

THIS PAGE WAS MEANT TO BE BRIGHT GREEN (the screen shot of my web page, that is)

Learning Curve!!!

I just discovered where the RSS feeds I have subscribed to are appearing...under the 'Posting' tab.

Will now have to work out how to scroll back and read evreything I've missed out on!!!

Might spend a bit of tomorrow clicking on classmates blogs before trying to correct my trashy web page (won't use colour this time...I think that's what undid me).

I'm sure my 'nesting' technique was logically and technically correct.

Stay tuned...hopefully, a screen shot of my pathetic first attempt will appear somewhere in this message...

Module 2: Chat Task

Tonight I joined a chat group on ICQ that Brett instigated: THANK YOU BRETT :-)

At first I wasn't sure how to join in (5 mins late), but Kobi sent me an invitation and I worked out (after the 2nd invite...she sent 3 in fact) that all I needed to do was click it.

It was a bit hectic initially, with about 5 conversations going at once (from 'Hi' to 'what job do you have' to 'what are you studying' and few other introduction/get-to-know you-type things).

We finally got around to answering whether people like MSN or ICQ or other chat types like Face Book. To be honest, I have always veered away from any sort of chat contacting except via sms.......Now I'm *hooked*!

What I liked most, was that it is in real time.

Sure, it took 20 minutes or so to do introductions with over 10 people on board, but it was no different to a similar sized group meeting for a few drinks at the local - except for the drinks bit and no loud music (for me anyway).

I also started a 'NET11 SP4' Group in ICQ:

http://groups.icq.com/groups/index.php?act=show_group&group_id=10526

and so far we have about 6 members and counting.

A picture of the page is somewhere in this message.

So, to wrap up my first chat experience:

I LOVED IT because it was in real time and extremely interesting.

Thanks again to Brett for organising it...looking forward to the chats on Sundays at 7pm.

Module 3: HTML: Thanks James - Success!

I am eternally indebted to James for helping me to sort out my error...I just labelled my file incorrectly!

Once I re-labelled it, my pathetic excuse for a page was uploaded in milliseconds :)

Needless to say, I will have to go back to the drawing board to reassess where I went wrong...mmm...

In the meantime, please enjoy my blooper, which has been uploaded to the presentations section because *I can*.