Discussion - Module 4

Most useful tool or concept?

So much of this class was focused on allowing you to reclaim your web experience for yourselves. Which of these tools or concepts do you see being the most useful in that regard?

Respond in Google Groups or Google+

New favorite browser extension?

Think about one thing you do all the time on the web: is it searching for a website you saw once but can’t remember? is it sharing interesting things with your social networks? is it creating and remembering hard-to-guess passwords? Many of these scenarios can be made easier by installing a browser extension, a small piece of software that allows your browser additional functionality. Go out and find a browser extension that helps you do something you do frequently, then tell us about it! What’s it called? Which browser(s) does it work with? What does it do, and does it work well?

Respond in Google Groups or Google+

RSS: as useful as social networks?

RSS technology is, by web standards, quite the dinosaur. In fact, Google recently announced it was shutting down Google Reader, its long-beloved RSS feed reader, citing decreased use and an increased tendency for people to consume information via social networks instead of RSS feeds. What do you think: are social channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ just as useful as RSS for following information sources? Why or why not?

Respond in Google Groups or Google+

Questions about the cloud?

Cloud computing is not a new concept, but it has recently come into the popular lexicon as more and more services offer cloud storage or cloud-based software to everyday consumers. What questions do you still have about cloud computing? Do you see any issues with the massive move toward the cloud?

Respond in Google Groups or Google+

Teach us something new!

Here's an opportunity to teach the class something new! Is there a tool you already use that you find particularly useful? Did you create a recipe on IFTTT that does something cool? Is there a browser extension that is particularly amazing? Tell us about it!

Ideas for teaching us a new tool:

• Start a new topic in the Google Groups forum (how?) or share a post in the Google+ community
• If you have a personal blog, write up a how-to demo there and link to it in one of the discussion spaces so others can comment
• If you're feeling adventurous, you can use a tool like Screencast-o-Matic to record your screen as you demonstrate a new tool. You can then upload the video to YouTube and share it here.