Blogs vs. Wikis part 2

A blog can be used in many ways to collaborate with other users. The structure of the blog was set up to allow users to comment freely about each other's posts. I was surprised to discover that there are actually three different kinds of blogs: open invite,collaborative, and invite only.

The open invite blog is as it's name states. The user does have to register to gain access but there are no restrictions and/or waiting periods to post comments. It appears that this method is the best one to use to avoid spamming since anyone can log on and deter derogatory information that does not pertain to the blog. On the other hand, invite only blogs are structured in such a way that the administrator of the blog either selects a set few users to have posting rights.

"A collaborative blog is a type of weblog in which posts are written and published by more than one author. The majority of high profile collaborative blogs are based around a single uniting theme, such as politics or technology. 1" Here are a few examples: http://blogsisters.blogspot.com/(blogs created by women only) and http://chicagoist.com/(blog about the Windy City).

As you browse the web, you can see that there are more and more uses for new media everyday, particularly blogs. I suggested to my sister who is a high school senior to create a blog about her college campus visits. It would be very time consuming for herself and my mother to visit the 20 colleges that are on her list. I explained to her that sometimes a brochure is not enough, especially in this case where her college campus experience could be live changing. A blog would allow her classmates and other high school students to express their ideas, comments, and experiences with the college application process, the staff at the schools, and more importantly their opinions on such things as the reputation and curriculum of the schools.

As new uses of blogs are developed along with other new media, people will function differently and more efficiently. The convergence of new media that is available has allowed us to interact with more people to collaborate ideas/opinions on business projects, health care issues, and even personal pet peeves like hair or offering advice to new moms on irritable babies. Before accessing and sharing information was time consuming and costly. We can share images with one another from across the globe within a matter of seconds. Convergence has ultimately enabled collaboration of the minds and has created a thirst for information with a "like yesterday" mentality.


Courtesy of:
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_blog