Transcript Slide 1

Web Logs
Richard Knight
“
Seems like if we
really want to save
America, we should
be home-sitting in
our underwear in
front of a computer
running a Web Log”
Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl
BCB 703:
Scientific Methodology
What is a Web Log?
First Blogs…
Expressions of the Internet culture
 Started in 1995
 Topic-driven (food, politics, news)
 Served as on-line diaries
 Combined text, images & links
 Hugely influential

Blogs run on Hosting Services
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

BCB703 is hosted on
http://www.blogger.com
Part of the Google
Empire
Can use Commmercial
or Open Source Blog
Software
Why did Blogging take Off?
Great Fire Wall of China
Why is it Important to develop a
Weblog?
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
‘Knowledge is Power’
Sir Francis Bacon
“The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams.
Upon the instruments if death
The sunlight brightly gleams.
When every man is torn apart
The fate of all mankind I see
With nightmares and with dreams, Is in the hands of fools.
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
Confusion will be my epitaph.
As silence drowns the screams.
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
Between the iron gates of fate,
If we make it we can all sit back
The seeds of time were sown,
and laugh.
And watered by the deeds of those But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying,
Who know and who are known;
Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying.”
Knowledge is a deadly friend
When no one sets the rules.
(Fripp/McDonald/Lake/Giles/Sinfield)
Weblog: An Enabling Technology
4 Millions Weblogs
Before Blogging
Blogging Emerges
Blogging gains influence
The popularity of Blogs
Impact of Blogging
Blogging and Society
The making of a Blog
Types of Blogs
Common Blogging terms
Blog Search Engines
Blog References