Micro Blogging with a Macro Client?

This week I experimented using both tweetdeck and twhirl for my twitter client. Tweetdeck is like a Large screen tv, with HD, surround sound and all the possible add-ons. This client is large both in physical size and in memory needs. On the other side of things there is twhirl, like a cooper mini, all the features, tiny size and slick.

Above: Tweetdeck Below: twhirl

When using the two, each had their good and bad points. Each has live updates, the ability to monitor direct messages and replies. Each has good setting controls and is easy to figure out and best of all; each are FREE! With all that said, what might ask me to pick one over the other.

Twitter is all about micro blogging and in that vein, I believe that the client I use should be just as "micro". I don't want a client that takes up so much space on my desktop, one that shows me only what I need to know and does not have so many bells and whistles to muck up the waters. By now, anyone reading this can figure out that I preferred twhirl to tweetdeck. Mind you, both functioned well, and did not lack features or consistency. However, microblogging should have a micro client. Like the mini cooper, twhirl has all of the power in a little shell. I encourage you to form your own opinions, but you know when you twitter me, I will be reading it on twhirl.

Links:
Twitter: www.twitter.com
twhirl: www.twhirl.org
tweetdeck: www.tweetdeck.com/beta/

Find me on Twitter: epstein27

Technology and the Environment

Here is a great video done by students at Sidwell Friends School, that uses technology to make a statement about the environment. This is the perfect example of how teaching students the proper way to use technology, to share their global voices and how to use information dissemination properly. As a teacher, a human and as a technologist I am quite proud of what these young people have accomplished!

Global Community

I am now in a 3D world speaking with people from all over the world using skype. This means that I am speaking FREE with people from all over the world, and able to see them via avatars (graphic representations).

This is the perfect example of how education is using the global community to share ideas and collaborate on projects. Quest-Atlantis, which I blogged about earlier, is using this tool to have people working for them all over the globe and helping them to collaborate on student projects.

This project enables students to explore issues in a plethora of subject areas, while building character and collaborating with others in a safe and monitored environment.

Check it out at http://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/