Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl

Web LogsRichard Knight

BCB 703:Scientific Methodology

“ Seems like if we really want to save America, we should be home-sitting in our underwear in front of a computer running a Web Log”

What is a Web Log?

First Blogs… Expressions of the Internet culture Started in 1995 Topic-driven (food, politics, news) Served as on-line diaries Combined text, images

& links Hugely influential

Blogs run on Hosting Services BCB703 is hosted on

http://www.blogger.com Part of the Google

Empire Can use Commmercial

or Open Source Blog Software

Why did Blogging take Off?

Citizen Journalism Political Blogs most influential 2nd Gulf War Democratising

Rebecca Blood

“We are being pummeled by a deluge of data and unless we create time and spaces in which to reflect, we will be left with only our reactions. I strongly believe in the power of weblogs to transform both writers and readers from "audience" to "public" and from "consumer" to "creator." Weblogs are no panacea for the crippling effects of a media-saturated culture, but I believe they are one antidote.”

Internet censorship

Great Wall of China Great Firewall of China

Many Countries practices Internet Censorship

The most extreme would be China – where even our Weblog would not be viewable!

Weblog: An Enabling Technology

Produce socially aware and sensitized researchers

Accesses & dissemination of Science and Technology and to express your opinions

Ensure the liberating aspects of scientific endeavour are promoted

Why Keep a Weblog?

Document how society is performing Capture “Personal Experiences” Learn about some of your other interests Encourage expressive and creative

writing Establish a scientific

dialogue Counts 30%

Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. ‘Knowledge is Power’ Sir Francis Bacon

“The wall on which the prophets wroteIs cracking at the seams.Upon the instruments if deathThe sunlight brightly gleams.When every man is torn apartWith nightmares and with dreams,Will no one lay the laurel wreathAs silence drowns the screams.Between the iron gates of fate,The seeds of time were sown,And watered by the deeds of thoseWho know and who are known;Knowledge is a deadly friendWhen no one sets the rules.

The fate of all mankind I seeIs in the hands of fools.Confusion will be my epitaph.As I crawl a cracked and broken pathIf we make it we can all sit backand laugh.But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying,Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying.”

(Fripp/McDonald/Lake/Giles/Sinfield)

Writing a blog is about learning!In order to make your Weblog you will need to…

find information

review add value

express youself post it

reply to commentsScience

is about… identifying a problem, researching it (review and experimentation), presenting it and defending it!

Before Blogging Ham Radio Digital Community used email lists,

bulletin boards WebEx “Electronic Corkboard with

threaded discussions Personal web diaries started in 1995 Webrings created an on-line community

dialogue

Blogging Emerges Weblog coined by Jorn Barger on 17

December 1997 “Blog” coined by Peter Merholz~“We Blog” Xanga, launched in 1996, had only 100 diaries

by 1997, and over 50 000 000 by December 2005

March 2003, the Oxford English Dictionary included the terms weblog, weblogging and weblogger.

Blogging gains influence 2001 - First American blogs: Andrew Sullivan's

AndrewSullivan.com, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire and Jerome Armstrong's MyDD—all political!

John Guilfoil: suggested daily/multi-daily (shorter news/views). Real-time web sites emerged.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott endorsement of the racist Thurmond's presidential 1948 campaign broke “views” came out on the Blogs before the news stands. Since then Blogs have been breaking, shaping, and spinning news

Second Iraq war witnessed the first “Blog Wars” with a reported reality that contrasted with the official news reports

The popularity of Blogs MP Tom Watson of the UK Labour Party, began

to “blog to bond” with constituents. Blogs were among the driving forces behind the

"Rathergate" scandal Bloggers became almost “celebrity” with

appearance on radio and television yet others moved from old media to blogging e.g. Rebecca MacKinnon, a former CNN new reporter

Blogs new source for the December 2004 Tsunami

2005 amateur blogging took off in a big way

Rebecca McKinnon

Impact of Blogging MP Tom Watson of the UK Labour Party, began

to “blog to bond” with constituents. Blogs were among the driving forces behind the

"Rathergate" scandal Bloggers became almost “celebrity” with

appearance on radio and television yet others moved from old media to blogging e.g. Rebecca MacKinnon, a former CNN new reporter

Blogs new source for the December 2004 Tsunami

2005 amateur blogging took off in a big way

Blogging and Society Support Open Source Movement Social Impact and Free Speech are part of Blogging

society More direct ability to participate in politics Blogging may be a means of "getting around the

“filter” to push messages to the public Blogs can be empowering to minority groups and

individuals to find expression

Blogging Issues Employer-empolyee friction Institution’s do not allow employee’s permission to

have their own Blogs Bloggers respect neither intellectual property nor the

role of the mass media in presenting society with credible news

The making of a Blog

Use of Service Providers Yahoo! 360º,Blogger.com, Iblo.com

Dedicated server-based systems MovableType, WordPress

Mobile blogging for travelers Some advanced users have developed

custom blogging systems from scratch using server-side software

Advanced users have developed custom blogging systems from scratch using server-side software

Created its own Blog jargon

Typ

es o

f B

log

s Online Diary the Personal Diary Cultural music, sport, theatre, arts, pop culture Topical niche e.g. Google Blog Local local events Business stock market, promotion, product support Science rather few, mixed feelings Moblog mobile blogging by email, mobile phone etc Collaborative several contributors (team blog) Eclectic specialized and unusual Educational course delivery and participation Directory updated links to topics of interest Forum users to post and respond to articles Spam high-pressure advertising (nuisance?) Sketch for artist to share their work Photoblog for photographers to share their work Pollblog solicit public opinion Political often association with wars Mapblog linked to Web Map Services

Common Blogging terms