1. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk Beyond Email! Wikis, Blogs and Social Networking Software Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath Email B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk URL http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ UKOLN is supported by: This talk will address: The challenges we face in an environment where the customers (the users) are king The collaborative tools which: They want to use (and are using) We know about (and are ahead of the users) The challenges in deploying the tools A framework for deployment This talk will address: The challenges we face in an environment where the customers (the users) are king The collaborative tools which: They want to use (and are using) We know about (and are ahead of the users) The challenges in deploying the tools A framework for deployment Slides linked in (in PowerPoint and HTML formats) from http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/presentations#2004

2. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Content Is King? Content is King What does this phrase mean? End users want content – they don't care about the technology But in reality Communication is King: End users want to communicate Killer application is email! Look at popularity of mobile phones Look at popularity of SMS messaging – despite the incredibly poor user interface Learning is a social activity – so communication is particularly important in education

3. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 Mobile Devices What are the implications of mobile devices? Challenges What do these devices have in common? Consumer devices, networks & digital memory (& can fit in pocket)

4. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 Uses For Your MP3 Player Students can: Download recordings of lectures Record lectures Share recordings Great for: Maximising access Accessibility Complementing students' notes But: Copyright issues Lecturers & institution's views Distraction … Need for an AUP! Challenges http://www.rsc.org/lap/rsccom/dab/chemistrycassettes.htm Permission is granted to Record this talk for individual use Blog your views on the talk Use IM to discuss talk Browse relevant resource (click on obvious links) Permission is granted to Record this talk for individual use Blog your views on the talk Use IM to discuss talk Browse relevant resource (click on obvious links)

5. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 New Devices What are the implications of, say, Web / email clients on digital TV? Cost about £120 (or £64.50 on offer from BT Shop) http:// www.netgem.com / Challenges Scenario Students will want to watch digital TV (music, etc.) This box provides a cheap easily maintained thin client Use at home reduces demand on PC clusters Can play MP3s (e.g. lecture notes, audio blogs, …) So encourage purchase! Read Ariadne review Scenario Students will want to watch digital TV (music, etc.) This box provides a cheap easily maintained thin client Use at home reduces demand on PC clusters Can play MP3s (e.g. lecture notes, audio blogs, …) So encourage purchase! Read Ariadne review Text, not images, so resize nicely

6. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 GMail Who needs a University email account when you can get 1 Gb from a GMail account? My Plans Get GMail ID Use it as secondary source for mailing lists Don't divulge ID (no spam) Wait and see what extras Google provide (RSS feed would be nice) Gain feel for privacy issues My Plans Get GMail ID Use it as secondary source for mailing lists Don't divulge ID (no spam) Wait and see what extras Google provide (RSS feed would be nice) Gain feel for privacy issues

7. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 WiFi WiFi technologies make mobile devices even more appealing. Imagine scenario: WiFi access in all lecture rooms, teaching spaces, … WiFi access in all halls of residences, flats, etc. WiFi access in all social spaces, such as bars, fields, etc WiFi access in town centre, pubs, Starbucks, … and with Zeroconf you can walk into a room & it's all available How will this change the dynamics of teaching & learning? How will this affect the use of networked library services? How will this affect purchasing patterns? How will this affect social activities? How will this affect the role of IT Services? How will this change the dynamics of teaching & learning? How will this affect the use of networked library services? How will this affect purchasing patterns? How will this affect social activities? How will this affect the role of IT Services? Thought Experiment Let's imagine you all have networked mobile devices and can communicate with everyone in the room. Challenges

8. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Instant Messaging Instant Messaging: Nothing new – Unix talk anyone? New user communities driving its use: Young people  Overseas students Comments from recent UCISA poll: "IM... is 'here to stay' – an 'unstoppable tide'. Seen as part of youth culture, along with … SMS" Liverpool JMU "Students will arrive familiar with, and expecting to.. use such tools. Email seen by younger people to be 'boring', 'full of spam', IM and SMS immediacy preferred" Bath But: "Complaints raised regarding students hogging PCs.. Also case with email some time ago" Liverpool JMU "APIs are known and therefore targets for hackers" London Met "Some challenges in interoperability …" Bath Technologies

9. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 IM - Tools Popular IM tools include: MSN Messenger Yahoo Messenger AOL Instant Messenger ("it's not owned by Microsoft") Typically choosing a supported application involved looking at functionality, cost, support, security,.. Technologies

10. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 MSN Messenger Functionality MSN Messenger provides groupware & IM functionality: Sharing desktop applications File transfer Webcams Games Warning – this could be a virus Has potential in user support & collaborative working Technologies MSN Messenger is probably most widely used, but interoperability problems (even across Windows OSs)

11. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 IM Guidelines Guidelines for QA Focus (UKOLN/AHDS project): Scheduled virtual meeting with home worker and with project partner Formal agenda used and meeting chaired Use of Webcam planned (nb privacy issues) Transcript archived (confidentiality issues flagged) IM also used for informal purposes e.g. short term tasks such as agreeing on pub to meet in Recognition of dangers of interruption, privacy, etc. Guidelines Briefing document – issues to be addressed in guidelines: Case study – what we did: Briefing document – issues to be addressed in guidelines: Case study – what we did:

12. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 Security Issues "I've asked our IT bods to open up the port, but have been met (so far) with a stony silence." Tensions: Users want the rich functionality IT Services also need to address security, privacy, support, etc. issues IM is an example of an edge service: Name given to P2P programs such as instant messaging, file sharing, etc. Programs are located at the edge of the network, travelling through desktop PCs rather than a central server IETF working on "Open Pluggable Edge Services" standard, which will address security issues Technologies

13. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 Interoperability Lack of interoperability: Mainstream IM world is currently closed Multi-protocol clients exist (e.g. Trillian, IM+) but don't support value-added features XMPP - open protocol of IM Jabber provides open source clients & servers which support XMPP Value-added services being developed e.g. BuddySpace at OU (note interesting movie) Technologies Newsflash: Yahoo blocks Trillian 24 Jun 2004

14. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 Integrating Environments Services such as YahooGroups integrate: Mailing lists IM Voting Calendars … Useful to get committee together at same time – buts ads are disliked Very effective way of reaching a decision – avoids long discursive discussions Technologies Strangely, perhaps, YahooGroups is used by open standards developers (e.g. RSS & RDF)

15. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Let's Kill E-Mail! E-mail has its role but: Why send messages which time-out for many users? Why not use delivery channels which are spam-free? Why not use delivery channels which are more suited to receiving information (as opposed to discussions)? Why not allow users to select their preferred channels? Technologies RSS: Syndication of content A light-weight standard View on Web, using dedicated RSS viewer, Opera or Pluck IE plugin View in your email client Shouldn't RSS viewers be standard on desktops? Shouldn't we be creating RSS feed for news alerts – and not just adding to email overload? Shouldn't RSS viewers be standard on desktops? Shouldn't we be creating RSS feed for news alerts – and not just adding to email overload? Google for "rss is opt-in authenticated email"

16. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 Blogging (1) Blogging: cult fashion or significant developing in publishing / communications? Technologies Student's learning diary. Created by student and hosted on remote Blogger Web site. No longer maintained? A more sustainable approach is likely when used as part of a course. This example also provides shared experiences

17. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 17 Blogging (2) But: I want new information to be pushed to me I want to create information using tools other than a Web browser I prefer an email interface (fewer images, …) I want to do everthing in IE Technologies

18. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 18 Blogging (3) E-learning Unit at Bath provides a good example: Team contributions Quality content Willing to address controversial e- learning issues and good software with rich functionality Google "auricle bath" for URL Note getting the software installed is the easy part – bigger issues include sustainability, scope, style, handling comments, …

19. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 19 Wikis (1) Wiki: An open shared space for collaborative editing Emerging Technologies Wikipedia – a example of shared encyclopaedia. Yes, trust is an issue! Wikipedia – a example of shared encyclopaedia. Yes, trust is an issue! QUB provide an environment for IT & Society students to collectively edit Web pages.

20. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 20 Wikis (2) Your organisation may already be in the Wikipedia! Comments: You can't stop people doing this This can be good publicity This can be effort for free If you create the page to start with you can set the tone Note the Wikipedia is an example of a Web site created using Wiki software. The Wikipedia is sometimes confused with Wikis. Emerging Technologies

21. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 21 The Potential For SMS SMS: Over 100 million SMS txts sent over New Year 2004 – why don't we send exam results, library alerts, …? A small number of institutions are using SMS : "SHU used SMS during clearing - potential students texted in UCAS code of course of interest. The system sent back text saying whether places were still available - alleviating pressure on our call centre." "I believe Edinburgh student union uses SMS for their elections." "I believe there are plans afoot in our university at a high level to develop a method of 'bulk sending' SMS messages out to students." Birkbeck are "hoping to pilot an SMS alert system soon for one of our Schools that they can use (via a simple Web interface) to send lecture cancellation messages etc to their students" Technologies

22. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 22 From SMS To 3G WAP: Failed to take off, but some experimentation talking place 3G: The SMS or the WAP of the future? Will developments be driven by: Research interests – e.g. Consumers? Will the killer app be: Publishing information? Communications? Something else: competition for WiFi competition e.g. Google for the pub quiz Nothing Technologies 12 July 04: NEC e303 Pay-as-You-Go 3G phone for £30 from Argos

23. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 23 Social Networks (SNs) Students (and staff) want to be part of communities - as shown by success of FriendsReunited and (since Jan 2004) Orkut SNs: Started during dot.com boom and recently resurfaced Focus on dating and/or business & professional relationships These Social Networks can provide: Mailing lists & Instant messaging Links to partners & potential partners Means of disclosing information selectively These Social Networks can provide: Mailing lists & Instant messaging Links to partners & potential partners Means of disclosing information selectively There are cultural & privacy issues – but you don't have to divulge information

24. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 24 Social Networks (2) But online communities come and go and the data needs to be re-entered, relationships re- established, … Tribe.net has stated that it will support FOAF, which could provide a solution to such concerns. FOAF has recently started to gain momentum as an SN exchange format, as indicated by a Guardian Online feature.

25. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 25 FOAF FOAF (Friends-of-a-Friend): A Semantic Web application (SW – creation of a distributed global database without central control) Allows structured information about people to be brought together Great potential for building online communities Featured in Guardian Online column – 19 Feb 2004 Paper at IADIS Web Based Communities 2004 on "Using FOAF To Support Community-Building" by Kelly & Dodds Emerging Technologies

26. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 26 FOAF Example (1) FOAF Explorer - A view of my FOAF file, showing links to my friends Further information in my FOAF file Leigh's FOAF file, showing his additional information Emerging Technologies

27. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 27 FOAF Example (2) Emerging Technologies FOAFNaut – An application-independent & extensible approach to distributed database queries! Illustration of Potential Semantic markup of people, interests and attendance at past & future events support will queries such as: "Who will be going to ILI 2005 who has a interest in Blogging, has been to previous ILIs, and lives with 50 miles (and supports Everton)" Illustration of Potential Semantic markup of people, interests and attendance at past & future events support will queries such as: "Who will be going to ILI 2005 who has a interest in Blogging, has been to previous ILIs, and lives with 50 miles (and supports Everton)"

28. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 28 Creating FOAF Several types of FOAF authoring tools are available: Do it by hand Web-based tools Dedicated tools Using a Wiki Emerging Technologies Authoring tools and viewers available – it's time to experiment!

29. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 29 Blogs, Wikis, RSS & Mobile Devices There are now a range of tools for creating and viewing Blogs and Wikis Some can be used offline (synched when connected to networked PC) The use of PDAs with WiFi support (and access to WiFi from Libraries) can: Enhance access to resources (newsfeeds on library news) Allow users greater potential for contributing content RSS Tools for PDAs Wiki Tools for PDAs Blogging Tools for PDAs Implications: Think beyond the desktop PC Think beyond HTML pages Implications: Think beyond the desktop PC Think beyond HTML pages Emerging Technologies

30. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 30 Where Does This Leave Us? Can we afford not to have: An Organisational IM Facilities IM software and managed directory facilities An Organisational Blog A managing and interoperable diary and annotation environment Organisational Wiki A managed, easy-to-use collaborative workspace Social Networking Facilities Software to support business (& social) networking Support For Mobile Devices Software to exploit the potential of mobile devices Before the tools we should have a policy in these areas. The policy could, for example, leave provision of such services to the market place. Challenges

31. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 31 Strategic Challenges Challenges we face: AUPs Open Source vs Commercial Solutions Departmental & Individual Autonomy Interoperability, Preservation, etc. People Issues Privacy, Data Protection, … Sustainable Communities Costs How we go about deploying such facilities … Challenges Note that I don't have answers to all of these issues!

32. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 32 Strategies For Deployment How should we go about deploying more open and innovative collaborative systems? "Eat your own dogfood" – use the tools to discuss the tools IM tools were used to discuss issues with staff evaluating IM at Edinburgh Small scale experiments Address local, regional, … issues Sharing experiences Learn from the users – and your children! Deployment Strategies

33. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 33 Use In A Library Context Gateshead Library are launching new Web site in Sept 2004 which: Uses Blogs to support community building Provides syndication of resources … Deployment Strategies http://www.gatesheadgrid.org/ An article on “Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki & the Plone Wars Wiki as a PIM and Collaborative Content Tool” is available. It suggests use of Wikis in a Library content for: “a My Favorite Web Sites subject guide to the Web wiki, a readers' advisory or book-rating wiki, a suggestion box wiki, an FAQ wiki, a collaborative story created by children, or a guide to using the library wiki by your friends and neighbors?” An article on “Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki & the Plone Wars Wiki as a PIM and Collaborative Content Tool” is available. It suggests use of Wikis in a Library content for: “a My Favorite Web Sites subject guide to the Web wiki, a readers' advisory or book-rating wiki, a suggestion box wiki, an FAQ wiki, a collaborative story created by children, or a guide to using the library wiki by your friends and neighbors?”

34. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 34 Experiment! "IM, WiFi, Blogs. Wikis, …These are the future. We need to experiment - let's try them at UCISA 2005" Brian Kelly, UCISAS 2004 19 March 2004 Colston Research Symposium: Annual event supported and sponsored by the University of Bristol & Colston Research Society Hosted by ILRT, Graduate School of Education and the Computer Science, University of Bristol on 22-23 March 2004 Included real-time IM commentaries, Blog reports, … See Deployment Strategies

35. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 35 Realtime IM-ing Paul Shabajee gave a talk about use of IRC and Blogs There was a realtime display of the IRC dialogue alongside the PowerPoint slides http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/news/conferences/colston2004/programme

36. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 36 Colston Conference Blog Blogs were used to report on all of the talks. http://blog.ilrt.org/colston/ Deployment Strategies

37. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 37 Wikis For Shared Notekeeping The free, externally hosted Seedwiki (and Swiki) Wikis used to support workshop in Trieste They were used to note students areas of interests (Notepad normally used) This approach allowed students to contribute http://www.seedwiki.com/page.cfm?doc=ictp-2004&wikiid=4970

38. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 38 Conclusions Internet and Web collaborative technologies: Provide a range of interesting new application areas of use in a teaching & research context Students will increasingly be familiar with such technologies and expect to continue to use them Many technologies are free/open source and will be deployed by individuals / in departments Issues of ongoing, security, interoperability, etc. will need to be addressed by central services Issues of sustainable communities, guidelines, etc. also need addressing – but by whom? Many challenges – but also great potential It's time to start evaluating Or we can do nothing and leave the users to do this (and we pick up the pieces when things go wrong)