Picture by Tegan Schetrumpf
How to Play:
Score one point if you have heard the term, two if you can define the technology, and three if you have actually used it. Challenge your work mates and see how you score! __________________________________________________
Blog: A website that displays text postings in chronological order. It can be a platform for commentary, a bulletin board, or a personal diary. Many have a comment function.
User needs an account with free providers such as www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com, and an email address to sign up.
DeviantArt: A social networking site where people post their art. Users can build a portfolio, and comment on each other’s work.
User needs an account at www.deviantart.com and an email address to sign up.
Facebook: A social networking site that connects you to friends. You can post a bio with photos, “update your status” to tell people what you are doing and comment on others profiles.
User needs an account at www.facebook.com and an email address to sign up.
Flickr: A social networking site where you can post and comment on photos. Users tag their photos with “keywords” that allows you to search for them. Anyone can copy and use the photos if the copyright allows.
User needs an account at www.flickr.com to post photos, and a yahoo email address to sign up. To use photos, go to www.flickr.com/creativecommons.
iPod: Portable media players that support music, movies, photos and games. Users can download media and Vodcasts (pre-recorded video programs) or “Podcasts” (pre-recorded audio programs) and put them on the iPod.
User needs an iPod, computer, and internet access. To load your media you will need to download free Apple Software from www.apple.com/downloads.
Media Streaming: Allows users to view videos across the internet without storing the file on your computer. TV shows, political events, and home videos can all be seen on Youtube for free. You can also upload videos from your PC or mobile phone.
User needs a high bandwidth internet and to download Adobe Flash. To upload you need an account at www.youtube.com and an email address to sign up.
MSN (aka Windows Live Messenger): A chat program where users can communicate with contacts using instant text windows and/or video. You can only communicate with people on your contact list.
User needs to sign up for an MSN account, you need an email address, and to download Messenger software from http://download.live.com/messenger.
MySpace: A social networking site where users get a profile page where they can post a bio, and showcase photos, music and video clips with friends.
User needs an account at www.myspace.com. You need an email address to sign up.
P2P Filesharing (Torrents): Allows large files such as movies to be downloaded in small chunks from many different sources. A torrent website such as www.bittorent.com displays available downloads, and a torrent reader downloads the chunks from other website users, and organises them. File-sharing is completely legal though some websites, such as www.piratebay.org, offer files for download without copyright approval.
User needs to download a free torrent reader such as uTorrent.
Skype: Allows audio or video conferencing for free with anyone on your contact list. You can also call home phones or mobiles cheaply.
User needs good broadband internet, and a microphone headset. A webcam is needed for video conferencing. Skype software must be installed and an account requires an email address to sign up.
Social Networking Service (Eg: Facebook): A website where individual members can interact. They involve creating a profile with a username and password.
User needs an active account that usually requires an email address to sign up.
Twitter: A social networking site where users write (aka “tweet”) about their current activity and update it several times a day. You can “follow” friends or celebrities, which means you can read their tweets.
User needs an account with www.twitter.com and an email address to sign up.
Webcam: A camera you can connect to the internet. It can be an external device or built into the computer. It is necessary for programs that offer video conferencing capabilities.
User needs good broadband internet access, a computer, and an account with a service such as MSN or Skype which offers webcam services.
Webzines/ E-zines: Online magazines or newsletters that are updated periodically. They are more interactive than regular publications and frequently have comment functions. Three Things is an example of an E-zine.
User needs to subscribe with an email address for E-zines to be sent via email.
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Your Results:
Scored 0-13: You are a Noob. A newbie when it comes to tech stuff, the internet is only something you use at work. Try following some links above, or make a Facebook profile and experiment!
Scored 14-27: You are a Meek Geek. You are comfortable with social networking, but some regions of cyberspace are marked “here be dragons” as far as you’re concerned. Try using some funky new gear like webcams and headsets.
Scored 28-42: You are Epic. You have google-fu, and have harnessed its powers to explore cyberspace from lolcats to MMORPGs. Try coaching your co-workers in the ways of the web.
