What is the downside of web 2.0? : What is the downside of web 2.0?
Way UNCOOL Tools : Way UNCOOL Tools Or, every silver lining has a cloud
Here comes your rainy day. : Here comes your rainy day. Internet connection required
Data ownership
Data portability
Services can change, charge, vanish
Accessibility
Security
You need an Internet connection : You need an Internet connection Web services rely on fast, always available Internet connections
Ethernet
Wi-Fi
Cell network (3G/4G/etc)
Dial-up is too slow
Without Internet infrastructure (e.g. remote regions), apps are useless
Google Gears : Google Gears http://gears.google.com
Google Gears : Google Gears Allows you to use some web apps offline (and not just Google applications)
You sync the content while online, it’s stored locally
Can silently update content when connection reestablished
You still need an Internet connection to begin with, though
Do you own your own data? : Do you own your own data? The answer may shock you!
For example, Facebook : For example, Facebook
The Terms of Service Controversy : The Terms of Service Controversy Feb 2009: Facebook claimed ownership over intellectual property on the site – even on deleted accounts
Users rebelled
Was Facebook making a copyright claim over user-generated content?
Facebook eventually backs down (user + gov’t pressure)
Are they media or message? : Are they media or message? Twitter’s TOS: “You retain your rights to any Content you submit, post or display on or through [Twitter].”
Thus, Twitter users control their IP; Twitter is just a transmission system
Facebook, in claiming copyright, was acting like a magazine, or an academic journal
What can you do? : What can you do? READ THE TERMS OF SERVICE
Does the service claim copyright over your data?
What does the service say they can do with your data?
If you terminate the service, is your content deleted from their servers?
Are you comfortable with their terms? If you’re not, DON’T USE THE SERVICE
Is your data portable? : Is your data portable? Data often isn’t exportable
Companies want to “lock” you in their system
Proprietary data formats
No method provided to export
Owning your data = the ability to export that data
Google Apps lets you export as Word and Excel files (and some other formats as well)
Slide 13 : http://docs.google.com
Slide 14 : http://docs.google.com
Is your data portable? : Is your data portable? Make sure you can export the data into a portable format (e.g. CSV)
When making a contract with providers make sure the deal addresses data portability
Provide a way to download your data
Provide it in a portable format
Here today, gone tomorrow : Here today, gone tomorrow Many run by small (1-5 person) firms funded by whatever funding they can find (e.g. credit cards, dad’s IRA)
Money runs out, services shut down
Sometimes, they’re the only ones offering the service (or there were compelling reasons to choose them over a competitor)
AskSandy
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Slide 18 : http://iwantsandy.com
Services can change : Services can change Erecting “paywalls” – charging for accessing their content
Moving “free” features to “Pro” accounts (that charge considerable amounts of money)
If you’re dependent on these features for getting things done, it can be annoying and angering
Instructables.com
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Services can FAIL : Services can FAIL Again, run by small startups
Young coders with little experience
Poor programming architecture
Inability to handle the crush of users (e.g. Twitter’s “Fail Whale”)
Slipshod maintenance (not keeping data backed up, not running security updates)
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