Technology Uncovered: Simple and Easy
Have you ever heard someone talking about twitter, wikis, iMovies, blogs, podcasts, an iPod Touch, or an iPad, and wonder just what they were really talking about? Here are the simple nuts and bolts of some of the most innovative technology out there:
Web 2.0 is a term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users (Wikipedia, 2008).
Tools and services provided by Web 2.0 allow students to collaborate with their peers around the world to share their work, develop a product collaboratively, and gain feedback from others.
In short, Web 2.0 is a collaborative workspace for the world!
Web 2.0 Applications and ToolsSkype
What an easy to way to keep in touch with family and friends! Skype is a free download that allows users to call and video conference with their family, friends, and co-workers from anyplace!
Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing is one of those new "buzz terms" that you are probably hearing on the news, websites, and advertisements. This term refers to saving and/or completing work that is saved in an online "cloud" rather than on the hard drive of your computer. A great example of this is Google Docs, which we use at HCS. With Google Docs, users can create, collaborate, share, and communicate on presentations, documents, spreadsheets, and more all at the same time. Their work is saved on Google's "cloud" so all users can access and edit the files.
Wiki
A wiki is essentially a webpage with an edit button where a group can edit a page or pages of information to communicate to a particular audience.
Blog
A blog is a series of entries or postings which relate to one particular topic. It has been referred to as an online journal where the latest entry is read first. Some blogs gives users the option to post comments while others only offer a viewer to read the blog.
Twitter 
Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? (www.twitter.com) Users update their space and their "followers" receive update alerts to view. It is a great way to stay current on what your friends, athletes, movie stars, and family are doing.
Facebook/MySpace 
Think of these social networking sites as digital cafeterias. Remember when socializing was done during lunch? Users of these sites share pictures, latest news, social information, moods, and more.
Mac-based Applications
iMovie
Simply put, iMovie is Apple's user-friendly way to produce high quality movies from images and video. Creators of these movies can add music, special effects, text, and animation to their movies.
Podcast
A podcast is a digital file that contains audio and often video images that are downloadable from the Internet. Podcasts are not a singular event, but rather a series of broadcasts on a common theme or topic. While podcasts can be found on websites, the largest database exists within the store at iTunes. (apple.com)
iPod Touch/iPad
Who said a computer that fits in the palm of your hand is impossible? Here it is-everything you need on a device no larger than a cell phone (iPod) or about the size of a standard piece of paper (iPad). Users can download applications that can do just about anything as well as access books, download iTunes U content, surf the internet, collaborate with peers, manage photos, and much more!
Innovation and Enrichment Hamilton Central School
47 West Kendrick Avenue
Hamilton, New York 13346
