Relax and Reflect

I think the Web 2.0 training is a great idea. The "independent study" format is well-suited to the subject material, as well. (i.e. the web is a great tool for distance education and training, and using such a format to discover the web just seems appropriate.)

As I've gotten to reflect a bit on the experience, I think the thing that strikes me most about the whole web 2.0 trend is how predictable it seems. Remember when you had to learn BASIC to make a PC do anything? Before Mac and windows, only a few people could use computers. But then the platform became more user-friendly, and pretty soon everyone could use word-processing and spreadsheet applications. Then the web came along, and at first, the means for publishing in this platform were too complex for most users to take the time to learn. However, the longer the technology was around, the more simple applications became. Pretty soon, anybody with a computer and a little bit of curiosity and some trial and error could make a web page, post a blog, or post their photos online. Lickety split.

So, seems to me that things just keep getting easier. I can't wait to see what's next.

Gaming

So... I played "Burger Island." I think the fast food companies are funding the dissemination of this one. Yup. I found myself totally addicted to putting pickles on cheeseburgers. There were these little boxes that popped up in the corner of the screen, illustrating instructions for each of the four orders I was expected to work on at any given time. The instructions were all in pictures. When I finished a level, I could buy a new recipe i.e. for spiced fries, or veggie burgers. Reminded me a little bit of the more complicated games -- the ones based on role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, where you earn points by performing tasks, and then you're allowed to buy more stuff (abilities, weapons, etc.) with the points you earn.

I've done a little gaming with my many geeky friends, and the thing that struck me most about the recent trends in gaming is the freedom with which you get to try and try again if you fail. I grew up playing games on my family's little atari console (space invaders and pac man!) and you got three lives and that was it. And, of course, the complexity of the games has increased dramatically. And the incremental rewards... much different from the way things used to be when you put your quarter in the slot at the arcade.

Maps and Geotagging

Google Earth is amazing. There is so much information here. Beyond the outrageous coolness of being able to zoom in on a sattelite photo from out in space to your backyard, you can also discover any number of useful things. For example, you can turn on the traffic layer to see red, green, or yellow dots to indicate the flow of traffic on a given road. Click on one of the dots and you get the actual speed of the traffic at that location! Or turn on the "Places of Interest" layer and get tons of icons placed all over the map indicating such things as bed and breakfasts, schools, stores, and national forests. Or -- my personal favorite -- explore "Trimble Outdoor Trips" under "Gallery," and find hikes and other outdoor adventures. What's great about all this is that you can hover the cursor over an icon, see what it is, and if you want to know more, click away!

And, like google maps, you can use it to get directions to your girl scout meeting in darrington. Wooo hooo!

Online Apps

This is my google document! I created this post in google docs, and then posted it to my blog.

I have been using Zoho for several months now... in fact, when I interviewed for my PSA II position at Stanwood, I used Zoho Show to create my presentation. It was great -- I was getting some guidance from a fellow techie who lived in another state, and I was able to share the presentation with her and she was able to make edits (though she only corrected one thing -- a typo!) Once the presentation was done, I didn't have to worry about having it on a disc, or bringing in my own laptop, since it was saved online. I just used the Sno-Isle laptop, logged in to my Zoho account. Pretty slick!

Avatars and Second Life

Alrighty. Here's the digital me. Not too bad a likeness, though I'm a lot taller and my hair never looks this good..

Regarding my presence in second life: I currently live but one life, my first. I appreciate the fun that there is to be had in escaping from the real world into an idealized digital world where things can be as we want them to be... but alas... I don't have the time. I'd rather be outdoors, riding my bike, or sniffing real roses.