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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.”
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Early Types of Early Types of Social Social
SoftwareSoftware
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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
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Current Types Current Types (emphasis on those (emphasis on those
used in education)used in education)
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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
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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
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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
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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