Scared Of Technology? You're Old!

Ask a teen how he uses his cell phone and he will tell you that it is for texting. Ask the same question to most adults and they will tell you they use it for voice communication, “a portable phone”. Therein lays one of the differences between “digital natives and digital immigrants”.
“Digital Natives” (Mark Prensky, author, speaker, CEO of Games2train, etc... claims to have coined the phrase) are quite at ease when it comes to using digital tools that surround them and that are readily available to all. If you observe most young students or teens using technology, the first thing that you will notice is their fearless approach in using the new technologies, be it hardware such as computers, mp3, iPods etc... or software applications such as Social Networking.
On the other hand, you have the “Digital Immigrants” (those who are expected to adapt, assimilate and embrace the newfound technologies) are often reluctant in using these new gizmos and gadgets.
Why the discrepancy? Well it appears to be linked to your age. “According to a new study from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, your age might have something to do with your attitudes and emotions surrounding technology.” (ReadWriteWeb: Scared Of Technology? You're Old! Written by Sarah Perez / November 17, 2008).
For more detailed information read Sarah Perez’s article Scared Of Technology? You're Old! on ReadWriteWeb’s blog.

Screen Recording: CamStudio (Free)

When remote asynchronous training is required there is nothing more helpful and powerful than being able to record the training or teaching session. Screen recording software allows the trainer to record either or both, their screen, voice and mouse clicks. The sessions can then be posted or distributed to others.

When selecting such an application, users have a variety of tools that are readily available (Captivate, Connect, Camtasia, Quick Screen Recorder, etc...) but, at some cost.

CamStudio (Open Source) is free streaming video software that will allow the user to record anything on their screen, from mouse movements to animations. (E.g. record a Google Earth expedition).

CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs).
Here are just a few ways you can use this software:

• You can use it to create demonstration videos for any software program
• Or how about creating a set of videos answering your most frequently asked questions?
• You can create video tutorials for school or college class
  You can use it to record a recurring problem with your computer so you can show technical support people
• You can use it to create video-based information products you can sell
• You can even use it to record new tricks and techniques you discover on your favourite software program, before you forget them

CamStudio (Open Source): http://camstudio.org/

Editing your Google Searches

It never fails! Whenever you are searching for something on the Web you are bombarded by a multitude of results, not always relevant to what you are searching for. In an effort to help users customize their searches Google has enabled users to modify the favourite repeat searches. "Google simply wants to make specific sets of results more useful to each individual that comes to its search engine, said Marissa Mayer, who oversees the company's search products. Users will have to have a personal login to take advantage of the editing feature." BusinessWeek

The new system called "SearchWiki" allows users that are logged on to their Google account to modify their searches by selecting one or several of the tools.

As with other Google Apps, the "SearchWiki" is limited to the Google users who have an account.

Suspended Teacher in Facebook Incident Ignites Debate: Should Online Privacy for Educators Exist?

With the proliferation of Social Networks, users tend to forget that what they post is not that confidential, even when they think it is.

Digital Natives (coined by Marc Prensky) are quite adept and comfortable when using current technologies but for some, there is a "laissez faire" attitude in the way they use the new technology. Unlike Vegas, chances are that what they post on the Web will stay on the Web (Archive.org is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form with over 85 million pages). Users should be aware that perspective employers are now using the social networking sites to screen candidates. (When screening job candidates, one in four employers uses the Internet to acquire personal information, and one in 10 uses or has used social networking sites (like facebook.com or MySpace.com) for the same purpose... Employers use Facebook in hiring process).

As Digital Immigrants, we must ask ourselves, are we teaching them (digital natives) how to navigate safely the Web?

For those still doubting the power of Web 2.0 read the article, that appeared in the November issue of the "THE Journal". "...attorney John Gresham is quoted as saying, "Facebook pages are only meant to be viewed by people permitted to see them." He questioned how the private postings became public ...