stumbleupon

Stumbleupon is an alternative method to search engines for finding information on the web.   For me stumbling is a good description of how I search the web.  Being somewhat of an amateur, it always seems that when I do find a site thats worth anything to me, it’s usually by accident.  Stumbleupon uses ratings to form collaborative opinions about a websites quality.  When you stumble, web sites are presented to you based upon collected opinions and personal preferences that you have previously indicated.

etsy.com

This video by Jeff Howe explains how crowdsourcing can enable very small companies, or even individuals, who produce a product can find a wider audience.  His example is www.etsy.com which is an online marketplace for handmade goods.  Over the past few years etsy.com has grown to include 187, 000 shops in 170 countries.  Big deal you say, theres no money in handmade goods.  Well, using the power of crowds apparently there can be.  Last year, etsy.com sold $26,000,000 million in goods.  Handmade goods.  the power of crowds can seemingly create a demand for anything.  Check out etsy.com too.  I bet you could find many things you’d want to buy.

Open Source Architecture

This is about another talk I saw on ted.org.  It was given by Cameron Sinclair and it’s about the idea of open source architecture.  It uses the knowledge of crowds but with certain types of crowds inputting their knowledge in order to create better designs.  It would allow for architectural designs to be critiiqued and and approved by engineers as well make available proven designs to those in need of them.  He also talks about using this open source architecture to create a “conduit for innovation” by presenting adaptable ideas with the potential to evolve and be improved upon.

Open Source Learning

This is about a talk given by Richard Baraniuk that you can see on www.ted.org He’s talking about his dream of a “knowledge ecosystem.”  Its basically the concept of open source learning.  Using the web to share knowledge.  Of course thats not a new idea, so let me be more specific.  Its more about using and designing open source tools to bring education to the world in the form of textbooks.  He speaks about digitizing text, translating it to different languages, and even combining textbooks about certain topics and areas of study into “super textbooks” for specific topics.  All of this would then be available for free on an open source site.

I think this is a great idea that can bring knowledge to poorer regions of the world.  It could also help out less fortunate schools, with little money for new textbooks, within the U.S.  Not to mention it would be pretty nice to have all my colloge textbooks available online  for free.  Of course this is easy for me to say seeing that I don’t make a living from textbooks.

Facebook age limit/addicts

Ok, so I still don’t use facebook or my space or anything else, but I guess I do find the whole thing interesting.   You could probably write a whole book on the social implications of facebook.   Anyways it does seem that these types of sites encompass a certain age range from junior high to college age kids, and perhaps some beyond that.  I always thought of it as something my little brother did with his little friends, but then I find out some of my friends my age or older are using it too.  However, I dont think I see any people my parents age ever using a site like this.  And definitely not any senior citizens, they’re just too wise, and most of them dont know how to use a computer.

Some people, I think,  are addicted to facebook.   theres  myspace-aholics.  Like this one kid who sits in front of me in my architecture history class.  The class is short, but the proffessor is talking non-stop and showing slides with all sorts of dates, eras, and locations.  For those 50 minutes my pen doesn’t stop,as I’m trying to jot down all the information as quickly as it’s presented.  Then theres the kid in front of me, laptop out, just kickin it on facebook.  Every class, i swear.  It’s funny, but in the back of my mind I’m thinking ” if this dude gets a better grade than me I’m gonna be fu*kin pissed.”

social networking lows

Now this has got to be the lamest idea i’ve ever heard. The site is called Cocktailmatch. It’s a social networking / online dating site. The concept is to create a virtual bar that matches or groups people by their taste in alcoholic beverages, because this supposedly indicates personality traits.

It all seems pretty ridiculous to me. I mean what are you supposed to do? Get in some online chat with other whisky drinking fools and sit at your computer and get drunk? Gee sounds like fun. . . . If you have no life. They call this a “social networking” site, but it seems pretty anti social to me.

myspace is funny

Would I still think this is funny if I actually used myspace?  I hope so because it’s hilarious.  Now I may be behind the times when it comes to technology and the internet.  I mean all my friends use my space or facebook, but I never really saw the point.  But maybe thats just me.  I never even used the whole IM thing when It first came out.  I always get a weird look from people when they ask ” are you on myspace” No. “facebook?” umm no.  Like im the geek or something.  Whatever, watch this video.  Oh and I don’t play video games either.  The last thing I had was nintendo and my favorite game was tetris.  Yeahh Im a big dork.

The UFC and Bill Gates

This is a totaly unlikely partnership between microsoft and Rashad Evans.  That doesnt necessarily mean it couldn’t be successful though.  It does show that microsoft is keeping up with whats popular today in mainstream media.  I just find it kinda funny as the two arenas seem to have nothing to do with each other.  Now it would be even better if apple tries to scoop up Chuck Liddel for some of there ad campaigns, but he did get knocked out by Evans so probably not.  I think they should do some commercials with Kimbo SLice, that would be great.

googles browser update

So it seems chrome is also up and running.  Apparently it hasnt taken over the web yet, but its still early.  Even so, it looks like its already about to surpass safari as far as users go.  I cant personally make any comments on chrome from experience as there is not yet a version for mac available.  Thats ok with me though, it seems there might be some bugs that still need working out.  So im hoping by the time its availabe for mac users, it will be running smooth.  Either way Im guessing it will soonbe in the top three most used browsers.

Web Reliant

This blog doesnt relate to any of my recent tags, but instead to recent events these past few days.  The power outage here has really made me realize not only how much we depend on electricity, but how reliant we are on the internet these days.  Especialy as a student or proffessor.  Not only is it a major form of communication,  but also a significant resource for studying and information.  So not only have I been unable to take hot showers or cook food.  I’ve found I cant even do a majority of my homework without the internet as many of my classes rely on the web to somewhat run the class.

Now its Tuesday and much of the town including the University is up and running again.  So I guess I have to do my homework.  But It would be nice to take a hot shower.