Module 4 – Task 1 Tools

Mmm mmmm!

I have experience and access to PDF so I decided to explore bookmark managers and a metasearch (Copernic) for my tools task. I can also see that page sucker would be a useful tool.

I decided on del.icio.us. as a bookmark manager - I can’t access this at work but have heard of it from various websites. Previously I had used connote but found the tagging cumbersome and so am keen to give something else a try.

del.icio.us.
Installing was very easy and the tutorial very quick - great for an ‘after work’ attention span.

The graphics helped understanding -especially about where they would appear on my browser and I predict that using tags will be helpful.

“Tags are one-word descriptors that you can assign to your bookmarks on del.icio.us. They're a little bit like keywords but non-hierarchical. You can assign as many tags to a bookmark as you like and easily rename or delete them later."
(del.icio.us. FAQs, n.d)

I will be able to add notes etc to different bookmarks – this is a great aspect as you can retrieve information in many ways. You just need to ensure that you use meaningful tags.

Update: I have been using del.icio.us for a few days now and find it really easy. The tags feature is very usable.

Copernic
Copernic was more difficult - there is no obvious meta on the site so I opted the pc version. I had two attempts at installing it and it was a case of second time lucky. Very frustrating.

Update:The first few searches were disappointing as it was mostly Google, Google ads and Yahoo – MIVA popped up once but I have yet to really use this tool. There was some speculation on the discussion boards about whether Google (as a default for a regular user) would be the best.


I have both installed now : )

Deep web
I had no knowledge of the 'deep web' before I started this task and am intrigued by the concept. I am yet to complete the tutorials about searching but from what I have so far, think that I will be using databases more. I like the look of the Librarians' Internet Index and Intute and will explore these further.

As data and information on the WWW is changing and developing at such a rapid rate, and as "electronic publishing encourages constant change" (Allen, n.d), knowing the ways to find and creating ways to effectively (and ‘use-ably’) store information is becoming an issue.

One must also remember that just because information/data/content is found on the internet, doesn't mean it is a reliable source...(and I mean this in 2 ways; 1 in that the information may be volatile in terms of appearance/storage and 2 in that the information may not be accurate).

References

Allen, M. et al, (n.d). Internet Communications Concepts Document (WebCT, Net 11 Studies) Retrieved 6 June, 2008, from http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_b/scripts/serve_home

del.icio.us. (n.d) Frequently Asked Questions
Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://delicious.com/help/faq#tags