RSS

Similar to Blogger and Twitter, RSS is a completely new concept for me. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a program that allows internet users to keep up to date with the favourite, or mostly commonly viewed websites, notifying the user when a particular website that they have added to their RSS has been updated. Three of the ways that i have learned to add feeds to RSS are as follows:
1. Adding the feed by entering a website. To do this, you simply go to your desired site of interest and make sure that the site syndicates its content by noticing an orange button labeled 'RSS'. By right clicking this button you can access the URL which you can then paste into your RSS reader to add the sit you your feed.
2. You can search for sites using Google Reader, which provides a directly of websites that can be compatible with RSS. By using keywords in Google Reader, there is potential for you to find sites that may be of interest to you. 
3. Use 'MY MSN' button to add feed to your RSS. Any sites that contain a 'MY MSN' button, is compatible with RSS. To do this you will need to enter your e-mail and password and verify and select the sites to add to your feed. 


There is much speculation to weather RSS is more beneficial that individually visiting websites. If a user enjoys the full experience of the website and all it has to offer each time they go to the site, or if the user is not very common on the internet and only checks up on sites every now and then, RSS may not be the more useful tool for them. This is because they will constantly have updates from sites that they wouldn't possibly be able to get caught up on. People who are not frequent computer users, or website visitors could also find RSS to be confusing and non-essential for their internet use. However, if the user is a regular computer user and website visitor, RSS can be very beneficial, as it would save the user time because, rather than taking the time to visit each individual site and search for updates or news, the user can find them through their RSS all at once, and see if a site has been updated or not, and see the additions to the site. RSS however, may not be useful everyday, because some websites might not update that frequently and therefore your RSS will not report any updates for the website. 


Technology such as an RSS program can be more beneficial then desktop software that completes similar tasks because, since it is on the internet, frequent users can receive constant updates of headlines and updates on their favourite or most popularly viewed websites. RSS is similar to a magazine subscription. Users can subscribe to their favourite websites and keep undated electronically.

Twitter

Prior to this assignment I had no experience with Twitter. The only thing i new about Twitter was that it is essentially text, where individuals could publicly update their status. I have now taken the time to create a twitter account for myself and explore this cutting-edge social networking service. Through Twitter, people can send messages of up to 140 characters to their "followers", these messages are similar to text messaging on a cell phone, except they are made public. These messages, referred to at "tweets", typically involve what that individual is doing, or thinking. On your Twitter account you can choose people you would like to follow, and even send direct messages to individuals. You can choose friends, family and even celebrities. While exploring Twitter, it came to my realization at how many celebrities are using this social network. Tweets provide an informal way of communication or messages to a network of people. 


Twitter can be useful for different reasons, depending on what your purpose for tweeting is. It can be used in a social context, where people can notify others of what they are doing or thinking. People can gossip through twitter and keep others updated on their current status. Similar to e-mail, Facebook, text message, phone calls, etc. twitter is a method of communication. People can use twitter to find out what their friends or family are doing, or even celebrities, or to keep in touch and updated. People who are addicted to celebrity gossip, could find Twitter as a very useful tool for keeping update on what all of their favourite celebrities are doing. Twitter can also be used for business purposes. Individuals or businesses can use twitter as a form of promotion, and a way to inform the public of their business. 


Twitter and blogging have similarities as well as differences. They are similar in that they are both social networks that can have personal as well as business purposes. Both Twitter and blogging are personal expressions of individuals that can keep others updated on their thoughts. However, these two social networks differ in the fact that twitter is mostly short sections of text, involving mostly status updates or short direct messages. Blogging can contain infinite posts including pictures, gadgets, music, etc. and can include reviews or opinions, allowing users to go more in depth in their posts. Blogging allows users to add a personal touch to their social networking experience. 

Blogger

Creating this blog has been completely new for me, as I have no experience with blogging. Never having blogged before, I was thrilled to find how the program, Blogger, made the task of creating a blog, straightforward and comprehendible to non-advanced users such as myself. Blogger proved to be a simplistic program, that would walk me through the steps, from first creating my account, to posting and adding gadgets to enhancing the appearance of my blog. Blogger helped me to find a template and background for my blog that fit my personality, making it easier for me to personalize my blog. 


As I was creating my blog, I asked myself the following questions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of blogs over other forms of information?
When exploring, I noticed that you can find blogs on almost any subject desired. Weather you are searching for social, personal, informative, etc. the possibility of finding a blog on the topic you are looking for is very high. The advantages of using blogs for information, is that through blogs you experience personal accounts of people all over the world. However, disadvantages of using information from a blog, is that it is not a reliable source. Blogs are someone's subjective point of view, without formal structure, or factual evidence.


What was the usefulness of the blogs i have previously viewed? 
By viewing blogs prior to creating my own, it helped me to get an idea of what the blogging world was all about and what makes a blog appeal to me and what does not. It also gave me the realization that blogs are widely used around the world by many different people for many different reasons. I viewed many blogs that were of particular interest to me such as fashion, celebrity gossip, television and movies. I found them personally useful because they explained the newest trends in fashion for the current and upcoming season, as well as exposed inside details to new and upcoming movies and television shows that are of particular interest to me. 


Why do people create and view blogs, and how are they useful?
People create or view blogs for several different reasons. Blogs are a form of social networking, and in today's society people feel the need to connect. Blogs provide people with an outlet. For many who may otherwise be voiceless it empowers them to have a podium. Through blogging people can discuss whatever they desire and experience blogs of all types. Some people create personal blogs, informing friends and family, and sometimes even complete strangers, of their current experiences and thoughts. Others create blogs for specific information on topics that people seek, to vent their personal frustrations, or for promotion of a business or band, etc.  Blogging makes the world a smaller, more connected place. 


Where could the blogging experience take me?
Anywhere & Everywhere. The possibilities of blogging seem endless, as I am able to reach around the globe and pick up any topic of my choice. 


How do i successfully create a blog that will attract viewers? 
I began creating my blog by first viewing other blogs and getting ideas of how the system works. I determined what i thought was appealing to viewers, such as the colours and gadgets found on blogs, topics discussed in the posts and what would appeal to different audiences. I took the ideas that i gathered from other blogs, and collaborated them into one to create a blog that I thought would be appealing. 

Who would be viewing my blog?

While searching other blogs, the ones that appealed to me most, as a female, simplistically displayed creativity and thought. Design and colour were important to the appeal, as well as the context and length of the blog posts. 

When did blogging become so popular?
Blogging has evolved over time since the beginning of the internet, though it didn't have a name, it took time to evolve to what it is today - a world wide web phenomena.