Just an Observation about RSS feeds and Design

I read most of the blogs that I follow straight off of my Google home page where I have a RSS reader installed. Most of the entries come up full-text and I never even see the web page that the text is from. Of course, I check my blog posts to make sure that they look okay from the reader, but AFTER ALL THAT WORK to update and add to my page none of it is even represented on the reader. If I was trying to sell something or get people involved in something and the page was part of that theme, I would really want to try to remember adjust my settings so that people would have to go to my page to read the entire entry.
Now, I'll admit, I find it super annoying when I am required to do that, but at the same time, for favored pages, I grudgingly do. I guess the best answer to all of this is to make sure that the content is just as strong as the aesthetic and the bells and whistles.

Thing Thirteen. Online Productivity Tools

I've had a customized iGoogle homepage for a while now. It's got some kind of groovy artwork by John Maeda (?) that changes throughout the day. I rather like it, but maybe it's time for a change. Aside from the art, I've got my RSS feeds, BBC headlines, "Top News" headlines, weather, email notification, quote of the day and time and date. It appeals because it's not too fussy, yet there's a bit of an aesthetic. I like having the email and rss feeds right in front of me so that I can immediately access anything new.

I think if I did more group projects these varied tools would come in handy. It would be great for anyone to be able to access group lists, notes and agendas. I think the whole Backpack tool would be really cool, if everyone in the group felt comfortable using it. I think I would like to talk to someone who actually uses it frequently to see if it really does encourage productivity, or if it becomes another time waster. I foresee my once/month plan for a night out with my best friends becoming a whole heckuva lot more slick looking. We'll see.

I scoffed at the idea of using any more tools than I already do, the reason being that I spend more time on the computer than I should anyway. But then I was reading someone elses blog, and he/she said that they used Ta-da Lists to help remember books to request. YES. I have a long hand-written list of books that I want to read and I sometimes have it with me, but having it online would enable me to access the list at the library. So, I guess what I said before: you don't have to invent uses. Use tools when you need them. Just know that they are there.

I do think that it's valid to think of participation: many of these tools are most useful if multiple people participate. If they do not, the pages founder and become irrelevent. Like our reference wiki; it seems that people have found other ways to get their questions answered, convey information and form a community. There are just so many outlets...