LITA National Forum 2004
Outline Open Source Communication • Background and Collaboration Tools • Communication and Collaboration Tools – Forums LITA National Forum 2004 – Weblogs – Wikis – Instant Messaging
May Chang • Open Source Software Web Development Librarian • Implementation Process NCSU Libraries • Impact and Implications [email protected]
Discussion
LITA National Forum 2004 : May Chang
Background Communication & Collaboration Tools
• Available tools • Increasing need for more efficient communication and collaboration • Limitations of existing tools • Change in server environment
• A box of tools • One size does not fit all
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Why Open Source Software? Implementation Process
• Cost • Sandbox server (or Development server for non- • Stability and viability of many OSS applications php/mySQL applications) • Access to code – Environment scan to shortlist 2-3 applications from each group – Install and test • Greater acceptance by larger community (governments, – Evaluate and select the best application business, organizations) – Customize design and layout – Customize features if necessary/appropriate • Limited staff resources • DIY only as last resort • Production server • Not a software development shop – Install, test, and prepare to go live (link and promo) – Training/briefing session with users
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Forums
• Allows users to start topics and discuss issues with one another • Discussions organized into categories and topics • Postings in chronological order FORUMS • Administrator and moderators (Bulletin Boards) • Usually part of a Web site and is often used for customer support and community discussions
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Intranet - IPB Business Info Network - phpBB
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Weblogs
• Online journal-like entries or postings which are usually date and time-stamped • Visitors can usually add comments to the entries WEBLOGS • Permalink and archives • Simple news management and publishing system (BLOGS)
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Public Web Intranet
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RSS and Feed Readers
• An XML format (document specification) designed for sharing web content • Allows feed readers or aggregators to collect, organize and present Web-based content RSS and • Comprehensive view into news by topic, not publication FEED READERS • Hybrid of a Web browser and an email program • Issues: Standards, Scalability and bandwidth
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Sample Feed Readers
WIKIS
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Wikis Public Web and Intranet
• Allows users to quickly and freely create and edit Web page content, wikipages • A freely expandable collection of interlinked webpages • Collective and open editing • Features include revision history and recent changes
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Value of IM
• Presence awareness (realizing the online status of a person) • Real time communication (both one-to-one and group) • Convenience of email, immediacy of a phone call INSTANT MESSAGING • Allows file transfers and voice messaging • Tool for hearing impaired (IM) • Productivity enhancer when not abused • IM-ers are high multi-taskers
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IM Activities at Work IM Users in the U.S.
Business Uses of IM among US At-Work Internet Users, 2004 (as a % of respondents) IM services: • Communicate with colleagues ...... 70% • AOL (subscribers and AIM) 44m • Get answers and make business decisions . . 63% • Yahoo Messenger 19m • Interact with clients and customers . . . . 34% • MSN Messenger 16.5m • Avoid a potentially difficult in-person conversation 11% • ICQ 4m (Source: America Online, Aug 2004) (comScore Media Metrix, Mar 2004)
IM Activities by At-Work IM Users in the US, Feb 2004 IM service used: (as a % of respondents) • AOL IM 52% • IM coworkers ...... 40% • More than one 60+% • IM friends and family . . . . 33% (AOL Survey 2004 ) • IM with both groups equally . . 21% (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, Sep 2004)
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IM: Commercial Grade IM: Open Source
• Market domination, enterprise and free service • Jabber - a set of streaming XML protocols and • Security issues technologies that enable any two entities on the Internet • Privacy and confidentiality issues to exchange messages, presence, and other structured information in close to real time • Ad banners and pop-ups • Variety of platforms, XML file storage system • Standards and Interoperability • Jabber’s IM functionality similar to commercial IM services but open, standards, secure, extensible • More than 40 clients available
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Open Source IM System Using Jabber Round-up of Tools
Forums Single protocol Multi-protocol – Invision Power Board www.invisionboard.com ** IM clients IM clients – phpBB www.phpbb.com Weblog Exodus Jabber Gaim – b2evolution b2evolution.net Rhymbox Miranda Feed Readers Rival Fire
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Impact and Implications
• Fosters communication and collaboration • Many more options • Which to use when • Support and maintenance • Training DISCUSSION • Change management • Expectations management • Keeping up to date
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Selected Resources
Open Source Software www.sourceforge.net and http://freshmeat.net/ Forums and Web Conferencing Thanks and Questions www.thinkofit.com/webconf/ Blog Software Breakdown www.asymptomatic.net/blogbreakdown.htm Feed Readers www.dmoz.org/Reference/Libraries/Library_and_Information_Scienc May Chang e/Technical_Services/Cataloguing/Metadata/RDF/Applications/RSS/ Web Development Librarian News_Readers/ NCSU Libraries Wikis [email protected] c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiEngines Instant Messaging Planet www.instantmessagingplanet.com
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