Week 8

Thing 18: Online productivity tools: At first glance, I thought this was an interesting way to provide applications for general use. However, after exploring Soho Creator I began to realize the radical shift in thinking that these productivity tools would engender--perhaps this shift is necessary only for those of us who are entrenched in 'the less than modern ways of doing things.' The fact is is that the online productivity tools open new avenues for sharing information and for gathering, collecting, collating desired information--all in an online forum. This profoundly changes the way information is accessed, and empowers the individual to have greater access to created information, and, for the individual to create information.

Thing 19: Web 2.0 awards: Lulu.com is an interesting way to expand the capability for individuals to share things/ideas with others. It is a self-publishing site that allows people to publish without the expense normally incurred using the traditional publishing industry. It is also a bit of an anomaly because the site proposes automating the publishing industry but at the same time relies exclusively on the production of a physical artifact--a book, calendar, etc.

I do think the self-publishing industry is a good idea, but I also think it represents a transitional step in the continuing development of an e-culture.