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One of the most common complaints I’ve heard about using various web services and social networking sites is the need for multiple accounts; multiple user names, multiple passwords, multiple things to forget. Who hasn’t used those handy “Forgot your password?” links at least once (or fifty) times?
The dream of many web users is the idea of having only one account to sign into multiple services. (Nope, you’re not the only one to have thought of it.) One mainstreamed answer to this need has been OpenID. This allows you to sign into multiple web sites with just one set of login information. OpenID is already in use by Google, Microsoft, MySpace, Yahoo, Plaxo and other major players on the social web. But you haven’t heard of it, you say? Unfortunately, OpenID has been tied up by several issues for some time, including branding discussions and poor usability. It’s here, it’s in use, but apparently it can confuse a lot of people.
Another entity has solved the usability problems: Facebook. However, their solution is closed and proprietary, an internal solution that doesn’t use the OpenID platform. This means, firstly, that you have to have a Facebook account to use it and, secondly, that it doesn’t play nice with everyone else using the OpenID standard. However, their solution is much simpler. Sites that are using Facebook Connect for logins just offer up a big blue button that the user clicks, and then signs in with their Facebook login information.
While OpenID is more available (at least for now), it can be confusing because it allows you to login to a site by typing in a URL, rather than a username/password combo. The site then references that URL to get what it needs to log you in. In addition, many people already have an OpenID and don’t know it. Chances are you might be one of them. Already have an account with Flickr, Blogger, Wordpress.com, Yahoo or a host of others? Then you already have an OpenID. Surprise! If you don’t have one but want to get one or start with another identity, go to MyOpenID.com.
Several high-profile web sites will shortly begin using the competing Facebook Connect service, including Digg, Hulu and Discovery.com. There is already speculation that, if OpenID doesn’t work out the kinks, that it may never catch up to Facebook Connect.
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- If you require users to have accounts and login to something that is compatible with OpenID (e.g., a Wordpress or Blogger blog), it would be a good idea to enable OpenID for those users who choose to use it.
- While Facebook Connect is probably easier to use, it is still dependent on the user having a Facebook account. It also is part of a closed ecosystem that does not work with OpenID.
- Keep a close eye on these over the next several months; I’m betting there will be a clear winner by the end of 2009.
- To learn more:
- As Facebook Connect Expands, OpenID’s Challenges Grow
- OpenID is Here, Too Bad Users Can’t Figure Out How it Works
- http://www.webmonkey.com/tutorial/OpenID_for_Dummies
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I thought I’d give you some more ways to waste time, online. 
Check out some of these sites:
- Web Sudoku: “Billions of free Sudoku puzzles to play online.” You can play levels from “Easy” to “Evil.” There’s even a downloadable application that you can play offline on your Mac or PC.
- Lookybook: If you’re a children’s librarian, you might be able to say this is work-related. This, in a sense, takes Amazon.com’s “Look Inside!” feature one step further, with children’s picture books. You can see the entire book online. You can post your own reviews of the books, and see what else you might like based on what you’re looking at.
- Wikisky: If you’re interested in astronomy, you could probably spend hours here. Imagine Google Maps, except it’s space.
- Has the Large Hadron Collider destroyed the world yet? The LHC might be offline for a good while, but you can check the status of existence anytime with this handy tool.
- MagMyPic: Create fake magazine covers with any photo. This site also recently added the ability to do comic book covers.
- Motivator: Similar to MagMyPic, but with motivational posters.
- MyHeritage Face Recognition: Upload a photo of yourself and this site will tell you what celebrity you look most like.
- Why You Should Continue to Date Me: A Series of Charts and Graphs.: I think the title says it all, here.
- Let Me Google That For You: Reference staff will appreciate this. ‘Nuff said.
- Internet Memes: Did you miss a viral video that everyone else seems to know about? Or want to see internet memes on a cool timeline? Very cool, but be warned that some videos are NSFW (Not Safe for Work).
If you want to waste time but not to feel guilty about it, try Free Rice. Test your vocabulary skills while earning rice that will be donated through the United Nations. (This game also warns right on the front page that it could improve your job performance. )
Happy holidays!
Well, I am. See that 2-dimensional code to the left? That code contains the following information about me:
- First & last name
- Email address
- Web site URL
- Phone number
- Physical address, including country of origin
All that is in there? What is it for? And why would you use it?
That thing is called a QR (”Quick Response”) code. It’s essentially a 2-dimensional bar code that can encode various types of information. The idea is that a cell phone can take a picture of it and, with the appropriate software, can decode it. It’s sometimes called mobile tagging as well.
Wikipedia says:
“Codes storing addresses and URLs may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards or just about any object that users might need information about. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. This act of linking from physical world objects is known as a hardlink or physical world hyperlinks.”
As you might guess, these are currently popular in Japan, where mobile use is a totally ingrained feature of the culture. But they are starting to gain some traction in the States, as they are a handy way to link real world objects to the Web.
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- Imagine using these to encode links to book reviews or your library’s web site; the QR code could be on bookmarks, library posters or even door signage. Be creative; how many ways could you think of to link your library’s digital resources to the physical ones?
- More advanced QR codes can even have colors or images embedded in them without disturbing the actual encoded info. See some cool examples.
- This would be considered “bleeding edge” technology, except that the popularity of the iPhone may change that rapidly. QR readers for iPhones are easily available through the iPhone App Store.
- Making a QR code is simple and free. A free one to try is MSKYNET QRCode Generator (Maestro), but there are many others.
It’s the day after Turkey Day. Obviously, not a day for deep thoughts or complex topics, since most of us are probably still zoned out from large quantities of comestibles. Therefore, LOLcats are the perfect subject for today’s post.
To understand the LOLcat phenomena, you first have to understand the idea of the internet meme. Chances are you’ve experienced one; you’ve been rickrolled, you’ve seen Chocolate Rain and the multiple spinoffs & parodies; the dancing baby, or even, going way back, HamsterDance. Memes are sometimes called “mind viruses;” basically, unusual ideas or themes that spread from person to person.
Wikipedia defines LOLcat as:
A lolcat is an image combining a photograph, most frequently of a cat, with a humorous and idiosyncratic caption in (often) broken English—a dialect which is known as “lolspeak,” ”kitteh,” or “kitty pidgin” and which parodies the poor grammar typically attributed to Internet slang. The name “lolcat” is a compound word of the phrase “LOL” and “cat”.
Not all LOLcats are actually cats, but nonetheless appear on the offical LOLcat site.
(Ok, I’m pretty certain that’s not a moose, but still cute)
Some of my personal favorites:
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- LOLcats have no practical use other than entertainment.
- You can get the latest LOLcat entries via RSS feeds.
- You can caption your own LOLcat pics or other people’s pics and also save your favorite