WebDes Thoughts

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Lookback to Flickr and mashups

My headway into the area I wanted to know more about with respect to online image sharing tools and mashups.

When we first started learning about Flickr and mashups, I didn’t know very much about either. As I started to learn more, I realized that I had encountered mashups, and I was aware of people sharing photos, but I hadn’t explored either tool. One reason I hadn’t experimented was that I didn’t realize that a mashup was a new tool, something new that I could customize so it fit my needs. And both tools are difficult to use without a high-speed connection.

As I continue to think about and use Flickr and mashups, I see more possibilities. Personal uses come to mind first, but that seems convenient but not imaginative. Mashups used for mapping development, guiding people on a tour or outlining an environmental area come to mind as ways to really use this tool. These mashups make possible information sharing in a very understandable format. Flickr could also be used to make municipal information (maps, photos) available to the public.

The drawbacks and difficulties though, are the same as in educational uses: download time, training to use a new tool and availability of equipment.

posted by Mark & Alice Herrick at 10:02 PM

2 Comments:

  • The drawbacks and difficulties though, are the same as in educational uses: download time, training to use a new tool and availability of equipment.

    Another factor to consider, as in education, is the degree of openness to technology that your audience tends to have.Would they find the new applications "cool" and useful and something they would like to try, or do you tend to deal with people who get easily intimidated by technology?

    By Blogger Elaine, at 10:36 PM  

  • Yes, you're right; the audience attitude is a definite factor. My guess is that educators would (or should) be more open to new technology. I know that government tends to be a reluctant user. One factor in municipal government is the technology available to the public. We can't push too far beyond their technology limits or too far beyond their comfort level. Maybe business would find technology to be "cool."

    By Blogger Mark & Alice Herrick, at 4:07 PM  

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