HC 205 ASSIGNMENT #5: HC 205 ASSIGNMENT #5: Examining Community Aspects of Examining Community Aspects of Twitter and SlideShareTwitter and SlideShare

Chris BasnettChris Basnett

What is Twitter?What is Twitter?

Twitter is a relatively new, free Twitter is a relatively new, free web-based social networking web-based social networking website that’s main purpose is website that’s main purpose is to allow users to see what to allow users to see what each other are doing at that each other are doing at that very moment. very moment.

Users post “tweets” which are Users post “tweets” which are updates that let friends (and updates that let friends (and sometimes strangers) know sometimes strangers) know their current status.their current status.

Can anyone use Twitter?Can anyone use Twitter?

First off, yes!First off, yes! Creating a Twitter account is free and simple. It Creating a Twitter account is free and simple. It

takes about 2 minutes. A baby could probably takes about 2 minutes. A baby could probably do it (and probably hasdo it (and probably has))

Twitter is different from normal blogging Twitter is different from normal blogging because it is made specifically for short blurbs because it is made specifically for short blurbs that are limited to 140 characters in length. that are limited to 140 characters in length. This might be so that users who have a lot of This might be so that users who have a lot of friends can have many updates fit on one friends can have many updates fit on one page.page.

The Twitter Community The Twitter Community and Featuresand Features

Twitter seems to be made for linking people and friends together. Twitter seems to be made for linking people and friends together. Users can follow one another and keep tabs on each other’s lives via Users can follow one another and keep tabs on each other’s lives via

tweets. Friends’ tweets will then show up on the user’s homepage.tweets. Friends’ tweets will then show up on the user’s homepage. One cool feature of Twitter is the ability to post tweets to one’s page One cool feature of Twitter is the ability to post tweets to one’s page

from the twitter website, from a personal cell phone, or even from the from the twitter website, from a personal cell phone, or even from the new Facebook application.new Facebook application.

Users may also message one another, add certain updates to their Users may also message one another, add certain updates to their favorites, respond to each others tweets, and customize their favorites, respond to each others tweets, and customize their homepage.homepage.

Users can choose whether to make their tweets viewable by the Users can choose whether to make their tweets viewable by the public or private eyes only. If one so chooses to have their tweets public or private eyes only. If one so chooses to have their tweets viewable by the public they could possible end up on the public viewable by the public they could possible end up on the public timeline, which is a pretty interesting feature. timeline, which is a pretty interesting feature.

The public timeline compiles recent, random tweets from the public, The public timeline compiles recent, random tweets from the public, puts them on one page, and allows other users to see them.puts them on one page, and allows other users to see them.

My Thoughts on Twitter and My Thoughts on Twitter and its community aspectsits community aspects

At first glance Twitter didn’t seem like anything I would At first glance Twitter didn’t seem like anything I would be interested in. The last thing I need is another website be interested in. The last thing I need is another website that I feel obligated to check daily. that I feel obligated to check daily.

I do respect how basic its functionality is. I would say I do respect how basic its functionality is. I would say that it is user-friendly and free of advertisements. There that it is user-friendly and free of advertisements. There aren’t too many features to clutter the page. Twitter has aren’t too many features to clutter the page. Twitter has remained relatively basic. remained relatively basic.

I have used some community aspects such as I have used some community aspects such as messaging, following classmates, and the public messaging, following classmates, and the public timeline. I think they are pretty cool however, I do not timeline. I think they are pretty cool however, I do not enjoy using them and I don’t think there is any chance I enjoy using them and I don’t think there is any chance I will use them in the future!will use them in the future!

What is SlideShare?What is SlideShare?

SlideShare is a website where users may SlideShare is a website where users may upload slideshows for other to view. upload slideshows for other to view.

Users and non-users alike may look for Users and non-users alike may look for and view slideshows.and view slideshows.

SlideShare is limited to slide show SlideShare is limited to slide show presentations only unlike YouTube’s presentations only unlike YouTube’s video entries.video entries.

Community aspects of Community aspects of SlideShareSlideShare

SlideShare has many cool community aspects, that is, if you SlideShare has many cool community aspects, that is, if you are into slideshowsare into slideshows. .

One feature is the featuring of slideshows and users on the One feature is the featuring of slideshows and users on the homepage. homepage.

Users may also favorite slideshows, other users, and Users may also favorite slideshows, other users, and comment on slideshows. comment on slideshows.

Users may also join groups and share slideshows with one Users may also join groups and share slideshows with one another. There are also forums for comments related to another. There are also forums for comments related to groups.groups.

I have not used any of these community features, but I may I have not used any of these community features, but I may want to in the future for educational purposes!want to in the future for educational purposes!

SlideShare can be very useful in educating and useful for all SlideShare can be very useful in educating and useful for all ages and statuses.ages and statuses.

Is SlideShare easy to Is SlideShare easy to learn?learn?

In my opinion, yes!!! Creating an In my opinion, yes!!! Creating an account takes about 2 minutes account takes about 2 minutes as well.as well.

A baby could use SlideShare, A baby could use SlideShare, although I doubt one would although I doubt one would desire such a thing! People who desire such a thing! People who aren’t that tech-savvy shouldn’t aren’t that tech-savvy shouldn’t have a problem.have a problem.

As long as one is capable of As long as one is capable of making an account and a slide making an account and a slide presentation such as this one it presentation such as this one it is easy. Then all you have to do is easy. Then all you have to do is upload the file to share it is upload the file to share it online.online.

There are various privacy There are various privacy options that one can enable.options that one can enable.

THE END!!!THE END!!!