deployment strategies for web 2.0

Deployment Strategies For Web 2.0

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk

Deployment Strategies For Web 2.0(or lets stop talking and start doing!)Brian KellyUKOLNUniversity of [email protected] is supported by:

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/seminars/nottingham-2007-03/Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted provided distractions to others is minimised.This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat)Resources bookmarked using nottingham-2007-03' tag


About MeBrian Kelly:UK Web Focus: a Web advisory post based at UKOLNFunded by JISC and MLA to advise HE/FE and cultural heritage sectorsWeb enthusiast since Jan 1993 (helped set up 1st institutional Web server in UK HE)Published many papers & given many presentations on variety of Web issuesUKOLN:National centre of expertise in digital information managementLocated at the University of Bath


About YouSome quick feedback would be usefulWho works in:Service departments: IT service; Library; Admin; Academic departments: teaching; research; Other: ???Who:Has a blog? Reads blogs?Uses a Wiki? Uses social networking services (for any purpose)?Uses Skype: openly? secretly?!

What would you like to get out of this seminar?


ContentsWeb 2.0 What Is It? (Talking )BlogsWikisRSS MashupsMicroformats Comms toolsSocial bookmarking Deployment Strategies ( doing)User focusInformation literacy; staff developmentRisk assessmentSafe experimentation


Lets Do It Now!Lets not just talk about Web 2.0 lets use it now (assuming WiFi network available!):Lets TalkGo to http://www.gabbly.com/ and in box enter www.nottingham.ac.uk/ Lets Share ResourcesGo to to access resources mentioned in talkDiscussionLecture theatres being WiFied; pervasive networking being deployed students with laptops will expect to use them we need to gain experiences to establish best practices & manage possible problemshttp://www.gabbly.com/www.nottingham.ac.uk/


Web 2.0What Is Web 2.0?Marketing term (derived from observing 'patterns') rather than technical standards - an attitude not a technology Web2MemeMap, Tim OReilly, 2005 Characteristics Of Web 2.0Network as platformAlways betaClean URIsRemix and mash-ups Syndication (RSS)Architecture of participationBlogs & WikisSocial networking Social tagging (folksonomies)Trust and opennessWeb 2.0


BlogsThe term blog is well-known, but perhaps theres a lack of awareness of the potential of blogs in HE. Theres a need to:Explore how to blogs to support business functions (support users, staff & organisation)Theres also a need for information professionals to:Understand blogging & related technologies (e.g. RSS, Technorati)Be able to find resources in the 'Blogosphere'Web 2.0OpennessSyndicationCollaborationKey CharacteristicsCouldnt find many blogs at Nottingham University, but Students Union are using them (accountability; transparency; )http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/blog/


Blogs & MarketingWhat happens:Youve done some great research (not quite a cure for cancer!)You write a press release (job done?)http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/public-affairs/press-releases/Who needs to know about and use Web 2.0 apps from this example: PR & marketing; researchers;


Blogs - ReadingHow do you keep informed of developments? Do you use a dedicated Blog reader?Are you alerted of changes to key Blogs?Do you focus on the content, and avoid the distractions of ads, etc.

Web 2.0Bloglines a Web-based Blog reader. You are informed of changes since you last viewed the page.http://www.bloglines.com/myblogsOpennessSyndicationCollaboration


Blogs Engaging With UsersThe ukwebfocus.wordpress. com blog provides:Comments option for all postingsA realtime chat facilityBenefits:Feedback on my thoughts and ideasEvaluation http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/ 2007/01/25/experiments-with-meebo/


What Are They Saying About Us?Blogs are very interconnected with each other (bloggers discuss others blog postings).This can help to provide feedback; measure impact; engage in discussions; etc.You can also monitor what they are saying about your Web site.Web 2.0Find out what bloggers have been saying about your blog or your Web site possibly minutes after theyve said it. You can then take the praise or issue a rebuttal in a timely fashion http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/


Finding ResourcesTechnorati can help find Blog articles, RSS feeds, etc.Technorati search for SHERPA JISC" finds:11 blog posting postings, most recent 196 day ago (nothing new since then?)Web 2.0RSSSyndicationWhat do users want: the home page and what people are saying today. Google & Technorati are valuable tools, so organisations should ensure that their Web site can be found in both.A search for JISC finds a posting from 6 hours agoNote you can receive RSS alerts of new search resultshttp://www.technorati.com/ search/sherpa+jisc


Social NetworksBut what if:Students arent interested in university-provided blogging services?Students use commercial social networking services such as Facebook?Web 2.0Should we:Make use of these environments (save money by not reinventing wheels)Inform students how our information can be integrated?Ignore?There may be ethical issues about using students social spaces (cf bars)


WikisWikis collaborative Web-based authoring toolsI use Wikis for:Collaborative papers (avoiding emailed MS Word file around)Web 2.0Writely Web-based word processor or Wiki? Does it matter, it does the jobhttp://www.writely.com/OpennessSyndicationCollaboration


WikipediaWikipedia a community-developed encyclopedia and also a well-linked Web site, which boosts Google rankings Note created by Andre Engels in Sep 2003http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Nottingham_UniversityIssues (philosophical):Should we be doing this?Who should create & maintain pages?Issues (practical):Who maintains this page?What else should be in Wikipedia related to the universitys key interests & expertise?


Sharing - FlickrWeb 2.0 includes community-buildingYou can help support your community-building by making it easy to share photos at events (e.g. this seminar)Simply suggest a tag e.g. nottingham-2007-03 and encourage delegates to upload their photos with this tagWeb 2.0http://www.flickr.com/search/ ?w=all&q=iwmw2006&m=textOpennessNetwork effectSyndicationCollaboration


Sharing del.icio.usAnother aspect of sharing is sharing bookmarksThis can be used to:Manage your bookmarksAllow others to contribute resourcesAllow lists of bookmarks to be repurposedCarry out impact analysisWeb 2.0OpennessNetwork effectSyndicationCollaborationNote how the bookmarks can be embedded (mashed-up) elsewhere http://del.icio.us/lisbk/nottingham-2007-03


MicroformatsAdd simple semantics using , , etc. classes:Pages on IWMW 2006 Web site have microformatsPlugins such as Tails display contact and event details & allow them to be uploaded to Outlook, Google Calendar, etcWeb 2.0http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-2006/sessions/kellyWorld Cup Web site also has microformats. This avoids the cumbersome downloading dates, entering calendar, selecting import, finding file, http://www.worldcupkickoff.com/england/Tags Collaboration


Web As A Platform Upcoming.org can deliver traffic to your Web site, who may then book for the eventThey provideEvent detailsMicroformats (event, location)Exporting functionalityCommunity space

Web 2.0http://upcoming.org/event/69469/Other people can take my data and use it to provide my event. They also provide additional functionality for me NetworkUsers TagsCollaboration


Creative CommonsHasnt Upcoming.com contributor infringed my copyright (even though its to my benefit?) Creative Commons licence assigned to publicity detailsAlso described in microformat to allow software to find licenceWeb 2.0http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/ workshops/webmaster-2006/publicity/OpennessTags CollaborationNote that the openness is a key aspect of Web 2.0: open source; open standards and open content can all help to bring benefits through maximising usage of services


Mapping Services & The WebWeb 2.0 provides valuable opportunity to provide mapping & location services:Embedding Google maps on your Web sitesDeveloping rich services using thisProviding location metadata / microformats which can be processed by simple browser toolsWeb 2.0


Google Maps MashupsGoogle Map mashup used for IWMW 2006 event:~ 20 lines of JavaScript.Code taken from Googler Maps Web site and coordinates addedWeb 2.0http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/ workshops/webmaster-2006/maps/OpennessMashupAPIs


Location MetadataEmbedded location metadata can now by exploited by 3rd party toolsWeb 2.0OpennessMashupOpen sourceAPIsWhy don't all our organisation provide location data in this way?Note issues about quality of data & responsibilities for providing the data (e.g. is this the right address?)http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/ events/meetings/nottingham-2007-03/This service is based on the following HTML content: The Greasmap script processes this data is shown


Communications: ChatRealtime discussion is a key part of the Web 2.0 & the .net generation (IM, SMS messaging, )How much effort does it take to provide an instant messaging service for your organisation?Try Gabbly.comNote:Most effective with clean URIsData an be exported using RSSUser support? What user support?Web 2.0CommunicationsClean URIshttp://www.gabbly.com/


Communications: AudioControl approach: Skype is evil because User-centred approach:Always beta approach (cf Bath, Oxford, Manchester)Just-in-time accessibilitySupport for overseas studentsEnvironmental issuesReal-world integration (forget the app.)


Web 2.0 BacklashWhen significant new things appear:Enthusiasts / early adopters predict a transformation of societySceptics outline the limitations & deficienciesTheres a need to:Promote the benefits to the wider community (esp. those willing to try if convinced of benefits)Be realistic and recognise limitationsAddress inappropriate criticismsWeb 2.0: Its a silly name. Its just a marketing term. There are lots of poor Web 2.0 services. There wasnt a Web 1.0. What follows it?It does have a marketing aspect and thats OK. It isnt formally defined it describes a pattern of related usage. There will be poor (and good) Web 2.0 services just like anything else. Any usage will arrive at a follow-up term.Deployment Challenges


Takeup Of New TechnologiesThe Gartner curveDevelopers

Rising expectationsTrough of despairService plateauEnterprise softwareLarge budgetsEarly adopters


Beware The IT FundamentalistsWe need to avoid simplistic solutions to the complexities:Open Standards Fundamentalist: we just need XMLOpen Source Fundamentalist: we just need LinuxVendor Fundamentalist: we must use next version of our enterprise system (and you must fit in with this)Accessibility Fundamentalist: we must do WAI WCAGUser Fundamentalist: must do whatever users wantLegal Fundamentalist: it breaches copyright, Ownership Fundamentalist: must own everything we usePerfectionist: It doesn't do everything, so we'll do nothingSimplistic Developer: I've developed a perfect solution I don't care if it doesn't run in the real worldWeb 2.0: Its new; its cool!IT Services Barrier


The Librarian FundamentalistsLibrarians:Think they know better than the user e.g. they don't like people using Google Scholar; they should use Web of Knowledge (who cares that users find it easier to use Google Scholar & finds references they need that way?)Think that users should be forced to learn Boolean searching & other formal search techniques because this is good for them (despite Sheffield's study). Don't want the users to search for themselves (cf folksonomies) because they won't get it right.They still want to classify the entire Web - despite the fact that users don't use their lists of Web links.Want services to be perfect before they release them to users. They are uneasy with the concept of 'forever beta' (they don't believe that users have the ability to figure things out themselves and work around the bugs).Library Barrier


Deployment StrategiesInterested in using Web 2.0 in your organisation?Worried about corporate inertia, power struggles, etc?Theres a need for a deployment strategy:Addressing business needsLow-hanging fruitsEncouraging the enthusiastsGain experience of the browser tools and see what youre missing!Staff training & developmentAddress areas you feel comfortable withRisk management strategy Deployment Challenges


Staff DevelopmentThere's a need for your staff to:Understand what Web 2.0 is aboutLearn how to make use of Web 2.0subject to constraints of lack of time; resources; etc.The Library 2.0 Podcasts Web sites provides a useful resources for learning about new tools, techniques, etc.Deployment Challengeshttp://podcasts.alablog.org/blog/ _archives/2006/4/12/1881517.html


SyndicationProduce an RSS/Atom feed for key content!Why?Syndicate content to partners, etcAllow users to embed in their tools, blogs, etc.Use of RSS as neutral format for various purposes (tag clouds, generation of PDFs, etc.)http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/rss/RSS can be produced for legacy (cleanish) HTML pages using tools such as RSSxl


YouTubeYouve a University entry in WikipediaBut where else do students go? How about YouTube:Entry for NUCU (quality production values)Other society & individual video clipsQuestions:Should the University have a proper video?Wouldnt a better approach be to provide materials for use by students and maybe a prize for the video with the highest impact?http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=p3u_AFTObS4


IWMW 2006 & Risk Management IWMW 2006 has taken a risk management approach to its evaluation of Web 2.0 technologies:Agreements: e.g. in the case of the Chatbot.Use of well-established services: Google & del.icio.us are well-established and have financial security. Notification: warnings that services could be lost. Engagement: with the user community: users actively engage in the evaluation of the services. Provision of alternative services: multiple OMPL tools. Use in non-mission critical areas: not for bookings! Long term experiences of services: usage statsAvailability of alternative sources of data: e.g. standard Web server log files.Data export and aggregation: RSS feeds, aggregated in Suprglu, OPML viewers, etc.Deployment Strategy


Tools For Your StaffA simple approach for your organisation staff: provide Firefox to give a rich client environment:All these FireFox extensions are available for free!RSS Panel: immediate display and access to RSS feeds on pages Blogger Web Comments: immediate access to blog comments on pages Various bookmarklets: such as Webmaster toolsVarious sidebars: such as the Meebo chat tool


Broader Issues: Blogs (1)Many individuals are just bloggingIf you want to provide a blogging service you may wish to develop an AUP (or a meta-AUP)In my case I describe:Scope of contentPurposes of blog: (dissemination, engagement, reflection, surfacing tacit knowledge, )QA (policies & procedures)http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/blog-policies/


Broader Issues: Blogs (2)But what about possible misuse? In my case I am open about this:Comments are open allowing users to respondWacky postings will undermine my statusI need to comply with University regulationsPossible approach:Bloggers must define AUP & be open about how theyll avoid bringing University into disreputeConflict processeshttp://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/ 2007/02/05/further-blog-musings/


Broader Issues: External ServicesYour concerns:Can I outsource functionality to networked services?What about sustainability; reliability; IPR, ?You already do!Your savings (in a bank or under your mattress?)Your pension scheme, And in IT:JISCMail mailing listAll the other JISC servicesCommercial services (spam filtering, )Google!Use of third party services is mainstream. This issues are really about business processes, business models, contracts, (areas that techies tend not to engage with!)


Risks Assessment For External ServicesQuestions:How financially secure is the company? If listed, look at company recordsHow stable is the service? Is the company likely to withdraw the service?What are the key features of the service? Is it the functionality of the service, the data collected, or the learning, ?Can the service be withdrawn without risk? Is it a value-added service or is it mission critical?How will your users react to service loss? Will users sue? Will users mind? Will users notice!NB similarities to selection of open source software. See QA Focus document onTop Tips For Selecting Open Source Software


Risks Assessment For In-House ServicesAlso ask questions of existing (or planned) in-house or community-provided services:How dependent is the service on scarce technical expertise? If the developer left, can the service be maintained?How sustainable are community-developed services? Are services developed by project funding like to be sustainable in the long term?How easy is it to withdraw or change in-house services? Are egos involved? Are power struggles likely?

What other problems may be associated with in-house development work?


Risk Management For External ServicesHow might you manage the risks youve identified:Panic / be cool If it breaks weve real problems vs Im more likely to win the lottery Withdraw service Can the service be withdrawn in a seemly fashion?Provide alternative service Can you easily switch to an alternative solution?Duplicate service Can you run a duplicate service (e.g. Sitemeter and usage log statistics)?

NOTE: Will a similar approach be needed for in-house solutions? What was your response to the Blackboard/WebCT takeover?


Legal IssuesWhat about legal issues (IPR, copyright, data protection, SENDA/DDA, )?What has your approach been in the past:Installing an institutional cache in mid 1990s?Linking without permission?Including screen shots in training materials without permission?How should we respond when legislation trails technology:Do nothing until legislation changesDo whatever we wantBe pragmatic: understand blatant misuse, but also changing business models,


Broader Issues: Status QuoCan you justify the status quo:Continued use of enterprise solutionsA continuation of existing working practicesStudents will do things the way you did when you were youngLets:Be critical of the newBe equally critical of the status quo


Why Not? JISC Adapted from Washington Post cartoon JISC Civil Service prefers best of breed systemsWheres the vendors roadmap?Google might go bankruptI want to develop stuff so Ill always have a job)This Web 2.0 thing is simple to use and can provide lots of benefits!Why Not?


ConclusionsTo conclude:Web 2.0 can provide real benefits for our usersHowever organisations tend to be conservativeWe therefore need:AdvocacyTo listen to users' concernsTo address users' concerns e.g. risk managementThe wider community can benefit by adopting Web 2.0 principles of openness and sharing. So let us:Share our advocacy resources, risk management techniques, etc.Develop your own social network based on openness, trust, collaboration, ..Read my UKWebFocus.wordpress.com BlogConclusions

deployment strategies for web 2.0

Education