Module 2/ LA 1: Online Tools

For LA 1 in Module 2, Introduction to Online Communication and Technology, I need to make a list of online tools I have used before and describe them. This is my attempt to do so.
Please feel free to comment on them!


E-Mail:
Web-based e-mail, e.g. Gmail: Web-based email allows you to check your email from any device, anywhere in the world, by going to the website and entering your account name and password. It does not require any other setup. It is convenient for people who do not have their own notebook and need to rely on different computers, e.g. in Internet Cafes, all the time.

POP e-mail with a mail application, e.g. Mail or Outlook Express: With POP3 services, you can download your emails onto your computer and view them without an internet connection as well. Some web-based services allow you to download the emails as well (such as Gmail/GoogleMail). You require your username and password, as well as the server settings for the email service. A very convenient way to handle emails, esp. if you only access it from one computer (e.g. your desktop computer or notebook.

Internal E-mail: A part of First Class is the email service. It only allows internal emails to be sent back and forth between people who have access to that particular First Class server.


E-Mail Newsletters:
I receive email newsletters that I have subscribed to. Most of the services I subscribed to provide me with up-to-date news of a website.
I also send out a newsletter for a website I help to maintain. When there are news for the band the website is about, such as new releases and tour dates, I prepare a newsletter with a short introduction about the news and a link to the website.
Then it is sent out to those people, who subscribed to the service.

Mailing Lists:
Yahoo Groups is the main provider of mailing list services I can think of. A few years ago, I created a few mailing lists on there, in order to discuss bands.
Nowadays, online forums and message boards have mainly taken over, in my opinion.

Online Conferencing/Online Forums:
This is probably the most important communication tool on the internet at the moment.
I use many different internet forums, covering all different topics, such as news forums, student forums, teacher and education forums, music forums, and the First Class Server Cohort 6 and all other Ultraversity Online Forums. (Although I need to use the First Class client for it).
Some of those forums are for communication, but all in all, it is always a huge exchange of information.

Chat:
I normally use chats to communicate with more than one person at the same time. It is very useful to discuss a topic, but also to receive feedback and comments quickly. A good example are the Online Chats in Cohort 6 that have taken place.

Instant Messaging:
I use for IM applications: AOL Instant Messager (AIM), Microsoft Messenger (MSN), Skype and First Class IM.
AIM: I use the ichat client that is part of iLife on a Mac system. This is the application I primarily use to talk to friends and family. It has the added bonus of voice chat and camera conferencing.
MSN: I use MSN for conversations with other researcher at Ultraversity, as well as other members of a forum I visit a lot. The Mac version of MSN is limited, so no voice chats or camera chats are possible.
Skype: The application for internet telephony. I use this a lot to talk to friends around the world. I can call their computers by adding their username to my Skype, but I can also call normal phones by purchasing credit. This is very useful when traveling. In fact, the first contact I had with Ultraversity was initiated by Skype (An Ultraversity LF called my mobile phone with Skype). I also have talked to my LF on Skype (instant messaging and phone call).
First Class IM: When I am using the FC application, I check who is online and if I want to talk to anyone. In fact, the C6 chats have been through the IM system as well. I can see all Ultraversity members that are currently online and invite them to talk to me.

Instant Messaging, as a synchronous online communication tool, is the best way to stay in touch with people. Questions can be answered almost immediately. Comments and feedback are in real-time. A good way to exchange information and build relationships.



These are the majority of Online Tools I have used.