Social Software: What, Why, and How?

c B. Thomsett-Scott, ACS March 2006c B. Thomsett-Scott, ACS March 2006 11

Social Software: What, Social Software: What, Why, and How?Why, and How?

Beth Thomsett-ScottBeth Thomsett-ScottUniversity of North TexasUniversity of North Texas

ACS Spring 2006ACS Spring 2006


HistoryHistory

1940’s – Vannevar Bush developed 1940’s – Vannevar Bush developed “Memex” concept, essentially a “Memex” concept, essentially a personal computer, considered to be personal computer, considered to be a “supplement to a person’s a “supplement to a person’s memory”, and wrote about “mesh of memory”, and wrote about “mesh of associative trails running through associative trails running through them [encyclopedias and other them [encyclopedias and other documents]” – what we call hypertext documents]” – what we call hypertext today today (1)(1)


History - Vannevar BushHistory - Vannevar Bush

““The chemist, struggling with the The chemist, struggling with the synthesis of an organic compound, synthesis of an organic compound, has all the chemical literature before has all the chemical literature before him in his laboratory, with trails him in his laboratory, with trails following the analogies of following the analogies of compounds, and side trails to their compounds, and side trails to their physical and chemical behavior."physical and chemical behavior." 11


1960’s1960’s

ARPANET, commercial time-sharing ARPANET, commercial time-sharing systems, and ultimately developed systems, and ultimately developed the Internetthe Internet

Development of an early hypermedia Development of an early hypermedia system by ARPA researcher, Doug system by ARPA researcher, Doug Englebart, inspired by Bush's vision Englebart, inspired by Bush's vision

First successful implementation of First successful implementation of hypertext (though term not created hypertext (though term not created until later)until later)

Also mouse and first on-screen Also mouse and first on-screen teleconference developedteleconference developed


1970s-80s1970s-80s Office automation productsOffice automation products Electronic Information Exchange Electronic Information Exchange

System – first major development of System – first major development of collaboration software, similar functions collaboration software, similar functions to an early bulletin board system to an early bulletin board system

Groupware defined as "intentional Groupware defined as "intentional group processes plus software to group processes plus software to support them." Peter and Trudy support them." Peter and Trudy Johnson-Lenz (quoted in Johnson-Lenz (quoted in 11) )

Other related definitionsOther related definitions Computer-Supported Collaborative (or Computer-Supported Collaborative (or

Cooperative) Work in mid-1980sCooperative) Work in mid-1980s


1990s and 2000s1990s and 2000s

Groupware into common use but Groupware into common use but more for group tools such as Lotus more for group tools such as Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange Notes and Microsoft Exchange Server and Outlook rather than tools Server and Outlook rather than tools that allow groups to “establish”that allow groups to “establish”

First uses of “Social Software” as a First uses of “Social Software” as a term but inconsistently appliedterm but inconsistently applied


Now What Is It?Now What Is It?

Various definitions, disagreements Various definitions, disagreements on meaningon meaning

Generally, software allowing group Generally, software allowing group interactionsinteractions

Stowe BoydStowe Boyd22:: Support for conversational interaction Support for conversational interaction

between individuals or groupsbetween individuals or groups Support for social feedback Support for social feedback Support for social networks Support for social networks


What?What? David Weinberger David Weinberger (quoted in 2)(quoted in 2) “First, I “First, I

consider social software actually to consider social software actually to be be emergent social softwareemergent social software. That . That narrows the field to software that narrows the field to software that enables groups to form and organize enables groups to form and organize themselves....” themselves....”

Clay ShirkyClay Shirky33 – any software that – any software that supports group communications supports group communications

WikipediaWikipedia44 “Social software enables “Social software enables people to rendezvous, connect or people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate through computer-collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form mediated communication and to form online communities.”online communities.”


Early Types of Early Types of Social Social

SoftwareSoftware


Early typesEarly types ““Sociable media has been around since Sociable media has been around since

the beginning of the Internet.”the beginning of the Internet.”55

Email, especially with “cc” optionEmail, especially with “cc” option Bulletin Board SystemsBulletin Board Systems UsenetUsenet ChatroomsChatrooms MUDsMUDs44 (Multi-User Dungeon or Domain (Multi-User Dungeon or Domain

or Dimension) online computer gameor Dimension) online computer game MOOsMOOs44 ( (MUD object orientedMUD object oriented) text-) text-

based online virtual reality systems with based online virtual reality systems with multiple users connected at the same multiple users connected at the same timetime


Current Types Current Types (emphasis on those (emphasis on those

used in education)used in education)


E-mailE-mail

Used for basic one-to-one or one-to-Used for basic one-to-one or one-to-many communicationsmany communications

Most common and well-known form Most common and well-known form of communicationof communication


ChatChat

Duo or group communicationDuo or group communication Used widely to facilitate group Used widely to facilitate group

discussions in online coursesdiscussions in online courses May be used to facilitate group May be used to facilitate group

discussions for face-to-face classesdiscussions for face-to-face classes Also common and well-knownAlso common and well-known Useful as it [normally] provides a Useful as it [normally] provides a

transcript for later usetranscript for later use


Instant MessagingInstant Messaging

Several systems available (AOL, ICQ Several systems available (AOL, ICQ etc.)etc.)

Common for social interactions, less Common for social interactions, less common currently in classes than common currently in classes than chatchat

Student learning groups and Student learning groups and professors may use it for quick professors may use it for quick communicationscommunications

Can also now be useful for groups Can also now be useful for groups and some systems archiveand some systems archive


WikisWikis

Wide use for collaborative document Wide use for collaborative document creation in general population, creation in general population, increased use in classesincreased use in classes

Can be limited or wide open for Can be limited or wide open for adding or editing contentadding or editing content

Easy to use, simple markup Easy to use, simple markup language but can use by just typinglanguage but can use by just typing

Based on Hawaiian word “wiki” Based on Hawaiian word “wiki” meaning “fast” or “quick” meaning “fast” or “quick”


Blogs (WebLogs)Blogs (WebLogs) Basically a Basically a journaljournal (notes/news items (notes/news items

etc.) available on the webetc.) available on the web Blogger – one who “blogs” (keeps a Blogger – one who “blogs” (keeps a

blog)blog) Blogging – updating the blogBlogging – updating the blog Usually updated daily using software Usually updated daily using software

that allows people with little or no that allows people with little or no technical background to update and technical background to update and maintain the blogmaintain the blog66

Some allow posting of commentsSome allow posting of comments Use: Course updates, news items, Use: Course updates, news items,

student comments/questions on student comments/questions on lectureslectures


RSSRSS44

RSS:RSS: a “family” of web feed formats a “family” of web feed formats (document with summaries of news or (document with summaries of news or other information with links to full item) other information with links to full item) written in XMLwritten in XML

Refers to standards: Refers to standards: Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91) Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91) RDF Site Summary (RSS 0.9 and 1.0) RDF Site Summary (RSS 0.9 and 1.0) Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0)Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0)

Aggregators - users track updatesAggregators - users track updates Used for e.g. news websites, weblogs Used for e.g. news websites, weblogs

and podcastingand podcasting Educational: updates for courses, Educational: updates for courses,

discussions, blogsdiscussions, blogs


Podcasting/CourseCastingPodcasting/CourseCasting44

Podcast:Podcast: web feed of audio or video web feed of audio or video files from the web for free download files from the web for free download or subscriptionor subscription

Podcasting:Podcasting: distribution of podcasts distribution of podcasts over the web using either RSS or over the web using either RSS or Atom web feeds for listening on Atom web feeds for listening on mobile devices and personal mobile devices and personal computers computers

Increasing use for providing lecturesIncreasing use for providing lectures


Web Casting/WebinarsWeb Casting/Webinars Webcast: TV over the web. User Webcast: TV over the web. User

connects to server distributing the connects to server distributing the webcast and plays the content, one-webcast and plays the content, one-directional/non-interactivedirectional/non-interactive

Webinar: seminar conducted over the Webinar: seminar conducted over the web, similar to a web conference. web, similar to a web conference. Usually interactive via chat or some Usually interactive via chat or some other communication methodother communication method

Terms not yet stable, used Terms not yet stable, used interchangeablyinterchangeably

Some use in education with webinars Some use in education with webinars (in true sense) having greater potential(in true sense) having greater potential


FLickrFLickr Web-based photo management and Web-based photo management and

sharing applicationsharing application Can be private or open to allCan be private or open to all Add photos via web, mobile devices, Add photos via web, mobile devices,

home computers, photo softwarehome computers, photo software Able to send photos through Flickr web Able to send photos through Flickr web

site, RSS feeds, e-mails, blog postssite, RSS feeds, e-mails, blog posts Others can add comments, notes, tagsOthers can add comments, notes, tags Use: building community among Use: building community among

students in classes (online or not) for students in classes (online or not) for social interactions, class presentations, social interactions, class presentations, advertise field tripsadvertise field trips


Jybe Jybe (Join Your Browser with Everyone)(Join Your Browser with Everyone)

Provides for collaboration and Provides for collaboration and communication in real time when communication in real time when using web-based applications in IE using web-based applications in IE and FireFoxand FireFox

Not just screen-sharing but editing Not just screen-sharing but editing possibilitiespossibilities

Privacy protected – need “invite”Privacy protected – need “invite” Upload documents which are Upload documents which are

converted to html for useconverted to html for use


JybeJybe

Browse for web sites (and maybe Browse for web sites (and maybe library resources) as a grouplibrary resources) as a group Brings study groups together Brings study groups together

virtually looking for resourcesvirtually looking for resources Education tool for remote users or Education tool for remote users or

studentsstudents Can also chat while “jybeing”Can also chat while “jybeing”

www.jybe.com www.jybe.com


FURLFURL

Frame Uniform Resource Locator Frame Uniform Resource Locator Allows archiving and sharing of web Allows archiving and sharing of web

pages (actually keeps a “copy” of the pages (actually keeps a “copy” of the web page)web page)

A “furler” can capture the pages for a A “furler” can capture the pages for a discussion group – don’t lose access discussion group – don’t lose access to sitesto sites

Use to track useful pages for class Use to track useful pages for class discussions (“furling”)discussions (“furling”)

http://www.furl.net/home.jsphttp://www.furl.net/home.jsp


ClickerClicker Wireless response systemWireless response system Students hold “clickers”, clicker Students hold “clickers”, clicker

receiver(s), and clicker software on receiver(s), and clicker software on instructor stationinstructor station

Design tests, quizzes, questions etc.Design tests, quizzes, questions etc. Students answer using clickersStudents answer using clickers Software collates answers on screenSoftware collates answers on screen Uses: Determine how well students Uses: Determine how well students

understand the material, actual scoring understand the material, actual scoring for in-class tests, for in-class tests, helps keep students helps keep students awakeawake

More use in science-based classes More use in science-based classes


ReferencesReferences

11Christopher Allen, 2004. Tracing the Christopher Allen, 2004. Tracing the Evolution of Social Software. Evolution of Social Software. http://www.lifewithalacrity.com/2004/http://www.lifewithalacrity.com/2004/10/tracing_the_evo.html10/tracing_the_evo.html

22Stowe Boyd. 2003. Are You Ready Stowe Boyd. 2003. Are You Ready for Social Software?for Social Software?http://www.darwinmag.com/read/050http://www.darwinmag.com/read/050103/social.html 103/social.html

33Shirky, Clay. 2003. Social Software Shirky, Clay. 2003. Social Software and the Politics of Groups. and the Politics of Groups. http://www.shirky.com/writings/grouphttp://www.shirky.com/writings/group_politics.html _politics.html


ReferencesReferences

44Wikipedia. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Paghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Pagee

55Danah Boyd. 2004. Danah Boyd. 2004. Autistic Social Autistic Social Software. Software. Supernova Conference Supernova Conference 2004. 2004. http://www.danah.org/papers/Supernhttp://www.danah.org/papers/Supernova2004.html ova2004.html

66Matisse Enzer's Glossary of Internet Matisse Enzer's Glossary of Internet Terms Terms http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.htmlhtml

Social Software: What, Why, and How?

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