1. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk An Introduction to Web 2.0 and the Social Web: Addressing The Challenges Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath, UK UKOLN is supported by: This work is licensed under a Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat) Acceptable Use Policy Recording of this talk, taking photos, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised. Acceptable Use Policy Recording of this talk, taking photos, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised. Resources bookmarked using ' renaissance-west-midlands-2009 ' tag http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/events/renaissance-west-midlands-2009/ Email: b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/briankelly/ Blog: http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/

2. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 The Challenges Challenges Resources Expertise Time Money Understanding Legal Issues IT Services Colleagues Management Accessibility Sustainability Reliability Cultural issues Technical Issues Interoperability Privacy, DPA, FOI,.. Council

3. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 Web 2.0 Backlash When significant new things appear: Enthusiasts / early adopters predict a transformation of society Sceptics outline the limitations & deficiencies There’s a need to: Promote the benefits to the wider community (esp. those willing to try if convinced of benefits) Be realistic and recognise limitations Address inappropriate criticisms Web 2.0: It’s a silly name. It’s just a marketing term. There are lots of poor Web 2.0 services. There wasn’t a Web 1.0. What follows it? It does have a marketing aspect – and that’s OK. It isn’t formally defined – it describes a pattern of related usage. There will be poor (and good) Web 2.0 services – just like anything else. Any usage will arrive at a follow-up term. Web 2.0: It’s a silly name. It’s just a marketing term. There are lots of poor Web 2.0 services. There wasn’t a Web 1.0. What follows it? It does have a marketing aspect – and that’s OK. It isn’t formally defined – it describes a pattern of related usage. There will be poor (and good) Web 2.0 services – just like anything else. Any usage will arrive at a follow-up term. Deployment Challenges

4. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 Takeup Of New Technologies The Gartner curve Developers Rising expectations Trough of despair Service plateau Enterprise software Large budgets … Chasm Failure to go beyond developers & early adopters (cf Gopher) Need for: Advocacy Listening to users Addressing concerns Deployment strategies … This talks looks at approaches for avoiding the chasm Early adopters

5. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Beware The IT Fundamentalists We need to avoid simplistic solutions to the complexities: Open Standards Fundamentalist: we just need XML Open Source Fundamentalist: we just need Linux Vendor Fundamentalist: we must use next version of our enterprise system (and you must fit in with this) Accessibility Fundamentalist: we must do WAI WCAG User Fundamentalist: must do whatever users want Legal Fundamentalist: it breaches copyright, … Ownership Fundamentalist: must own everything we use Perfectionist: It doesn't do everything, so we'll do nothing Simplistic Developer: I've developed a perfect solution – I don't care if it doesn't run in the real world Web 2.0: It’s new; its cool! IT Services Barrier

6. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 The Librarian Fundamentalists Librarians: Think they know better than the user e.g. they don't like people using Google Scholar; they should use Web of Knowledge (who cares that users find it easier to use Google Scholar & finds references they need that way?) Think that users should be forced to learn Boolean searching & other formal search techniques because this is good for them (despite Sheffield's study). Don't want the users to search for themselves (cf folksonomies) because they won't get it right. They still want to classify the entire Web - despite the fact that users don't use their lists of Web links. Want services to be perfect before they release them to users. They are uneasy with the concept of 'forever beta' (they don't believe that users have the ability to figure things out themselves and work around the bugs). Library Barrier

7. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Deployment Strategies Interested in using Web 2.0 in your organisation? Worried about corporate inertia, power struggles, etc? There’s a need for a deployment strategy: Addressing business needs Low-hanging fruits Encouraging the enthusiasts Gain experience of the browser tools – and see what you’re missing! Staff training & development Address areas you feel comfortable with Risk management strategy … Deployment Challenges

8. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Let’s Be Realistic IAVE (International Association of Volunteer Effort) was “founded in 1970 by people who saw volunteering as a means to make connections across cultures” But the IAVE Social network: Only has 4 members And no discussions

9. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 Let’s Be Realistic Some Ning groups are open, but some require registration: Is it worth it if: The numbers are small? The content is limited The social network doesn’t reflect my areas of interest In addition: Do I want to share data on my relationships & music tastes with an unknown audience

10. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 Your Concerns Possible Concerns “It’s full of photos of kids getting drunk” Web 2.0 is inaccessible to people with disabilities It’s not sustainable What about copyright infringement, data protection, protection of minors, …? We’ll be sued. “You’ll not catch me using Web 2.0!” Addressing The Concerns Understanding such concerns Using technologies in appropriate ways New media literacy strategies Risks assessment & risk management It may not be for everyone

11. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 Privacy Concerns Judge the risks that: Company will lie or make mistakes Implications of lies / mistakes Also remember risks of not engaging with Social Web: Missed opportunities Failure to engage in brand management, … You may have privacy concerns: Read the help pages Learn how to manage privacy settings Choose what you want to share

12. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 Accessibility Concerns Aren’t Social Web services: Inaccessible to people with disabilities? Break accessibility guidelines (WCAG) Leave us liable to be taken to court? People with disabilities are using Social Web services People with disabilities are using Social Web services – as are disability activists DDA: Institutions must take ‘reasonable measures’ to ensure PWDs are discriminated against. Is it discrimatory to fail to provide access to services?

13. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 Sustainability Concerns What happens if Social Web services: Are unreliable? Change their terms and conditions (e.g start charging)? Become bankrupt Things to remember: Services may be unreliable e.g. Twitter Market pressure is leading to changes to T&C – & paid-for services may become free (e.g. Friends Reunited) Banks may go bankrupt too – but we still use them Need for risk assessment and risk management

14. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 The Council Firewall The reality: Useful Web services do get blocked There is dodgy/illegal/ dangerous material on the Web It may be simple to have a blanket ban Suggested approaches: We can accept certain levels of risks More sophisticated responses are needed We should share the approaches we’ve taken New Internet access policy for children From December 2008, children will be able to enjoy improved Internet access in all Portsmouth Libraries. The current “Walled Garden” arrangement will be discontinued. The Internet access offered will be similar to that provided in Portsmouth schools but we will also be allowing access to games, Web chat and social networking sites. For further information, please contact Patricia Garrett on xxx or email xxx Feel free to respond to blog post at

15. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Interoperability Issues What happens if Social Web services host your data and: You can’t get the data back out? You only get the unstructured or poor quality data back out? You can’t get the comments, annotations, tags out? There’s a need to: Ensure data export capabilities or Upload data from an alternative managed sources Understand limitations of data export / import and make plans around limitations

16. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 Support Issues I don’t have the time to: Understand it all Use the technologies Embed technologies in daily working practices Train my colleagues Common Craft video clips You can: View them at work Listen to the podcast on the Tube Use them in training

17. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 17 Deployment Strategies I want to do use the Social Web but: The IT Services department bans it The council bans it My boss doesn’t approve Area of interest to UKOLN: “Just do it” Subversive approach – ‘Friends of Foo’ if Foo can’t use it Encourage enthusiasts Don’t get in the way UKOLN briefing papers available with Creative Commons licence (over 30 docs published)

18. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 18 IWMW 2006 & Risk Management IWMW 2006 has taken a risk management approach to its evaluation of Web 2.0 technologies: Agreements: e.g. in the case of the Chatbot. Use of well-established services: Google & del.icio.us are well-established and have financial security. Notification: warnings that services could be lost. Engagement: with the user community: users actively engage in the evaluation of the services. Provision of alternative services: multiple OMPL tools. Use in non-mission critical areas: not for bookings! Long term experiences of services: usage stats Availability of alternative sources of data: e.g. standard Web server log files. Data export and aggregation: RSS feeds, aggregated in Suprglu, OPML viewers, etc. Deployment Strategy

19. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 19 Staff Development There's a need for your staff to: Understand what Web 2.0 is about Learn how to make use of Web 2.0 subject to constraints of lack of time; resources; etc. The Library 2.0 Podcasts Web sites provides a useful resources for learning about new tools, techniques, etc. Deployment Challenges http://podcasts.alablog.org/blog/ _archives/2006/4/12/1881517.html http://podcasts.alablog.org/blog/ _archives/2006/4/12/1881517.html

20. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 20 Information Literacy Librarything provides a good example of a Web 2.0 service: Catalogue your books AJAX interface Exploit data provided by the community Export capabilities Other books you may like … Service may have potential to support information literacy. Not only understanding the service, but also to illustrate possible dangers of creating embarrassing content http://www.librarything.com/ tag/Embarrassing http://www.librarything.com/ tag/Embarrassing

21. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 21 Conclusions To conclude: Social Web can provide real benefits to charitable organisations There are barriers (e.g. inertia) and risks We therefore need:  Advocacy  To listen to concerns  To address these concerns We can all benefit by adopting Web 2.0 principles of openness and sharing. So let us:  Share our resources, experiences, advocacy resources, risk management techniques, etc.  Make use of social network for your & your peers based on openness, trust, collaboration,..  Read my UKWebFocus.wordpress.com Blog Conclusions

22. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 22 Questions Any questions?