ITIS 1210ITIS 1210Introduction to Web-Based Introduction to Web-Based

Information SystemsInformation Systems

Chapter 16Chapter 16How Blogging and RSS WorkHow Blogging and RSS Work

BloggingBlogging

Portemanteau of “WePortemanteau of “Webb” and “” and “LogLog” – Blog” – Blog Traditionally a carrying case of two Traditionally a carrying case of two

compartmentscompartments Lewis Carroll used it to mean:Lewis Carroll used it to mean:

Two words combined into one ideaTwo words combined into one idea Two meanings combined into one wordTwo meanings combined into one word

Pen name for Pen name for Charles Lutwidge DodgsonCharles Lutwidge Dodgson Words he invented for JabberwockyWords he invented for Jabberwocky

BloggingBlogging

Brillig – 4:00 PM when you start broiling Brillig – 4:00 PM when you start broiling things for dinnerthings for dinner

Slithy – Lithe & SlimySlithy – Lithe & Slimy Toves - A combination of a Toves - A combination of a badger, a , a

lizard, and a , and a corkscrew, nests under , nests under sundials and live on and live on cheese

Gimble – Make holes like a GimletGimble – Make holes like a Gimlet Wabe – Grass plot around a sundialWabe – Grass plot around a sundial

BloggingBlogging

Guesstimate – Guess & EstimateGuesstimate – Guess & Estimate Cyborg – Cybernetic & OrganismCyborg – Cybernetic & Organism Smog – Smoke & FogSmog – Smoke & Fog Brunch – Breakfast & LunchBrunch – Breakfast & Lunch Spork – Spoon & ForkSpork – Spoon & Fork Motel – Motor & HotelMotel – Motor & Hotel

BloggingBlogging

Part of the larger social media includingPart of the larger social media including MySpace & FacebookMySpace & Facebook Blogs come in many forms:Blogs come in many forms:

Photoblogs: Photoblogs: Flickr or or Fotolog Videoblogs (vlog): Videoblogs (vlog): YouTube or or lonelygirl15 Music: Music: Fluxblog or or Stereogum Audio (podcasting)Audio (podcasting)

BloggingBlogging

Typical blog consists ofTypical blog consists of A single page containingA single page containing Multiple entriesMultiple entries Usually from the same person or a small Usually from the same person or a small

groupgroup

Diary-like formatDiary-like format Oriented towards specific topics like Oriented towards specific topics like

politics, art, issuespolitics, art, issues

BloggingBlogging

Website where entries are written in Website where entries are written in chronological order but displayed in chronological order but displayed in reverse chronological orderreverse chronological order Latest entry is at the topLatest entry is at the top

Also the verb – “to maintain or add content Also the verb – “to maintain or add content to a blog”to a blog”

BloggingBlogging

Evolved from UsenetEvolved from Usenet Postings in a newsgroup under control of a Postings in a newsgroup under control of a

moderatormoderator

Early weblogs were manually updated & Early weblogs were manually updated & consisted of parts of common Websitesconsisted of parts of common Websites

Tool development & increasing popularity Tool development & increasing popularity lead to browser-based blogging we see lead to browser-based blogging we see todaytoday

BloggingBlogging

In early 2001 a number of popular In early 2001 a number of popular American blogs emerged:American blogs emerged: Andrew Sullivan's AndrewSullivan.comAndrew Sullivan's AndrewSullivan.com Glenn Reynolds' InstapunditGlenn Reynolds' Instapundit Charles Johnson's Little Green FootballsCharles Johnson's Little Green Footballs

2002 produced2002 produced Markos Moulitsas Zúniga Daily KosMarkos Moulitsas Zúniga Daily Kos

BloggingBlogging

Blogging has emerged as a legitimate Blogging has emerged as a legitimate source for newssource for news Although often partisanAlthough often partisan They have the advantage of beingThey have the advantage of being

Self-motivatedSelf-motivated Long-term institutional memoryLong-term institutional memory

Somewhere there’s someone who knows somethingSomewhere there’s someone who knows something

Traditional media (MSM) hampered by lack of Traditional media (MSM) hampered by lack of resourcesresources

BloggingBlogging

Popularity measured byPopularity measured by CitationsCitations Affiliation (i.e. blogroll)Affiliation (i.e. blogroll)

A list of the bloggers favorite blogs, usually on a A list of the bloggers favorite blogs, usually on a sidebarsidebar

Blogging Contributions to the LanguageBlogging Contributions to the Language

Blogstorm (or blogswarm)Blogstorm (or blogswarm) Unusual amount of activity around a topicUnusual amount of activity around a topic

FiskingFisking To refute a posting, usually in great detailTo refute a posting, usually in great detail

Hat TipHat Tip Acknowledgment of a source where the Acknowledgment of a source where the

blogger found a noteworthy itemblogger found a noteworthy item InstalancheInstalanche

Overwhelming increase in traffic after being Overwhelming increase in traffic after being linked to by Instapunditlinked to by Instapundit

BloggingBlogging

PermalinkPermalink A URL to a specific blog entryA URL to a specific blog entry

TrollTroll Commenter whose only purpose is to incite a Commenter whose only purpose is to incite a

flamewarflamewar

BloggingBlogging

Special software or Websites needed to Special software or Websites needed to create and maintain a blogcreate and maintain a blog www.blogger.comwww.blogger.com Movable TypeMovable Type

Can be read in traditional wayCan be read in traditional way Go to site, navigateGo to site, navigate

Alternate method: RSS feedAlternate method: RSS feed

BloggingBlogging

TechnoratiTechnorati Internet search engineInternet search engine Searches blogsSearches blogs Portmanteau of Technological & LiteratiPortmanteau of Technological & Literati As of August 2007 had indexed 94 million As of August 2007 had indexed 94 million

weblogsweblogs DiggDigg

Lets users contribute to determining the Lets users contribute to determining the quality of Web sitesquality of Web sites

Blogging Can be DangerousBlogging Can be Dangerous

Ellen SimonettiEllen Simonetti Fired by Delta Air LinesFired by Delta Air Lines

Mark CubanMark Cuban Fined by NBA after 2006 finals for criticizing Fined by NBA after 2006 finals for criticizing

referees on court and in his blogreferees on court and in his blog

Mark JenMark Jen Fired by Google after only 10 days on the job Fired by Google after only 10 days on the job

for posting commercial secretsfor posting commercial secrets

Blogging Can be DangerousBlogging Can be Dangerous

Jessica CutlerJessica Cutler Posted about her sex life in Washington, D.C.Posted about her sex life in Washington, D.C. Staff assistant for a SenatorStaff assistant for a Senator

Jan PronkJan Pronk Dutch politicianDutch politician UN Special Representative for the SudanUN Special Representative for the Sudan Posted about the state of the armed forcesPosted about the state of the armed forces Three days to leave the countryThree days to leave the country

How RSS WorksHow RSS Works

How do you get visitors to your site?How do you get visitors to your site? Can you convince even loyal readers to Can you convince even loyal readers to

check out your site two or three times a check out your site two or three times a day for new posts?day for new posts?

Solution – the RSS feedSolution – the RSS feed RSS – Really Simple SyndicationRSS – Really Simple Syndication Allows new posts to be fed automatically Allows new posts to be fed automatically

to subscribersto subscribers

How RSS WorksHow RSS Works

11stst, content is placed on the Web site, content is placed on the Web site RSS normally associated with blogsRSS normally associated with blogs But could be any kind of Web-based contentBut could be any kind of Web-based content Content is created as usualContent is created as usual

Feed placed in XML formatFeed placed in XML format Includes headline, description, content, link to Includes headline, description, content, link to

the original post, morethe original post, more

How RSS WorksHow RSS Works

Link placed on the Web pageLink placed on the Web page Links to the XML pageLinks to the XML page Page often includes an icon that lets visitors Page often includes an icon that lets visitors

know an RSS feed is availableknow an RSS feed is available

Visitors to a blog click the iconVisitors to a blog click the icon Or copy & paste the linkOr copy & paste the link Into software called a Into software called a news readernews reader Example is www.google.com/readerExample is www.google.com/reader

How RSS WorksHow RSS Works

RSS readers constantly check URLs and RSS readers constantly check URLs and grab any new XML pagesgrab any new XML pages

Reader displays the RSS feedReader displays the RSS feed User clicks on the information to get the full User clicks on the information to get the full

versionsversions

Updated feeds “ping” RSS syndication Updated feeds “ping” RSS syndication servers to alert them to a new feedservers to alert them to a new feed