Hi Sebastian
Despite the title of "Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World" the CLEX
report was about the impact of the Social Web. However I was asked by the
Guardian journalist to talk about Web 2.0, which includes the 'network as
the platform' i.e. the Cloud.
I would agree with you that students shouldn't be aware of any difference
if their email is provided by an external provider.
When you ask whether anyone ever saw Web 2.0 as a _threat_ I think it is
clear that the 'network as the platform 'has been perceived as a threat.
Indeed I gave a talk entitled "A Controversial Proposal' at IWMW 2000 in
which I predicted a growth in what were then called Application Service
Providers. It didn't happen then but is now being reborn.
You'll probably remember the discussions of this list regarding ways of
providing Web site indexing. I used to carry out 6-monthly surveys and at
one stage ht://dig was the most popular solution (it's open source, it must
be great). Externally-hosted solutions were frowned up in discussions on
the list - although my surveys subsequently showed a trend towards use of
Google.
Views on this have changed, I would argue.
Brian
--------------------------------
Brian Kelly
UKOLN, University of Bath, BATH, UK, BA2 7AY
Email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: +44 1225 383943
Web site: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/
Blog: http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sebastian Rahtz [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 12 May 2009 10:04
> To: Brian Kelly
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: "Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World" Report Published
>
> Are two things being confused here?
>
> "Brian Kelly, says Web 2.0 was initially seen as a threat by
> universities.
> Now, they are keen to use its potential. The University of
> Sheffield, for example, has decided to use Google Mail rather
> than provide its own inhouse email. "Institutions are having
> discussions about when it's sensible to develop services in
> house - such as virtual learning environments - and when it's
> best to use services in the clouds, such as email."
>
> Facebook/Twitter/2.0/social networking stuff, yes, interesting.
> Use of external services and cloud computing, though, is
> distinct? Is there some implication that Sheffield students
> using GMail are interacting with people in a different way
> because the service is provided in a cloud?
>
> Not sure who ever saw Web 2.0 as a _threat_?
>
> --
> Sebastian Rahtz
> Information Manager, Oxford University Computing Services
> 13 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6NN. Phone +44 1865 283431
>
>
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