What are Online Applications?
Online applications are the web’s version of software previously required to be loaded on your computer (think Word or Excel from Microsoft Office).
These free, or low-cost, tools have many of the same core features, if not all the bells and whistles of costly software suites, like Microsoft Office.
Since they are housed on the web they can be used from any computer with Internet access, without the need to purchase, install, or download software.
In this Thing, we are going to use one such application, Google Docs. We’re also going to read about a concept called “Cloud Computing”.
Why Use Online Applications?
Aside from the ease of access and cost, there are other benefits to using these online applications:
• The interface and features look similar to Microsoft Office products
• Your documents are automatically saved periodically so if your Internet connection fails, your document is not totally lost
• You can open a variety of file formats and versions
• Many of these applications can easily be edited and shared by several users, so they are great for collaborating!
Google Docs
Google Docs, yet another Google product, allows you to create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, drawings and forms online.
View the video
“Introducing a new Google Docs” and read and click through
this Google docs tour.
Other Online Applications
Google docs is just one of many online applications. Others include:
Zoho,
ThinkFree Online, and
Writeboard.
Using Online Application in Libraries
Online applications such can be useful in libraries for:
• Providing patrons an alternative to costly software suites, as is done at the
Monterey (CA) Public Library
• Collaborative working (e.g. on projects) with colleagues,
• File storage, especially if staff works on multiple PCs
• Publish a library operations manuals. See the Mt. Mercy College Library
Interlibrary Loan Manual.
• This 23 Things program used a Google docs form to gather information about your blogs in
Thing #5.
What is Cloud Computing?
These tools are examples of “cloud computing”. In his article,
“Cloud Computing for the Masses”, Greg Cruey provides this definition: “The concept of cloud computing is one of a user sitting at a terminal taking advantage of services, storage space, and resources provided somewhere else – on another computer, through an Internet connection.”
Lots of things we have done in the 23 Things program have been done “in the cloud”. We’ve read blogs, watched YouTube videos. Our blogs, our Gmail, our Flickr photos are not stored on our PCs. They are stored in the cloud.
For an excellent multi-media explanation of cloud computing, read
“A trip into the secret, online cloud” and watch the two included videos. (Sorry about the ads leading into the videos :-( but they are short and the video content is good.
We should always be aware of security concerns and the possibility of limited access or data loss. It’s always a good idea to keep backup copies of very important files and photos. Think “LOCKSS” -- Lots Of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe.
Activity: Create a Document in Google Documents
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Go to
Google docs.
2. Login using you Google (gmail) username and password.
3. Click Create new.
4. Drop down menu appears.
5. Click Document.
6. A new, blank document opens in a new window.
7. Begin typing your document. Type your first and last names and a sentence describing your experience with the 23 Thing program. Notice you have menu and tool bars at the top to edit and manipulate your document.
8. On menu bar, click File, Rename and rename this document “My First Document”.
9. As you work, your document will be saved automatically.
10. When your document is finished click Save Now.
You will be using this document again in a future Thing.
11. Click Sign Out.
12. Close window.
13. The document you just created appears in the documents list on your Google docs screen.
14. Click Sign Out.
15. Google docs sign in screen appears.
16. Log back in again. You should see My First Document on your All Items screen.
17. Sign out of Google docs.
18. Create a blog post about your discoveries: How does Google docs compare to word processing software you’re familiar with? What features did you like/dislike the most? Can you think of any ways the application you chose would be useful to you, or your patrons? Remember to label/tag this post “Thing #16”.
Additional Optional Resources:
About Google Docs
Help for Google Docs can be found
here.
View the “Learn More about Google docs” videos on YouTube here. You can also watch the excellent
“30DC – Using Google Docs”.
For more information on using Google docs to share documents watch this introductory video:
Google Docs in Plain English.
For more information about creating forms, view
Using Forms in Google Docs.
About Cloud Computing
This
video from Common Craft explains cloud computing advantages for businesses.
For more information, and opinions, on Cloud Computing, read the following blog posts:
Doug Johnson’s
“Could you live in the cloud?”
Michael Stephens’
“How Can Libraries Use the Cloud?”
Jenny Levine’s
“We’re Not All Ready for the Cloud Yet”
Lori Reed’s
“Living in the Cloud: My Top Five Apps”
and
Lori Reed’s
“Living in the Online Cloud: The Dark Side”
UPDATE:
Worried about your Google Doc only exisitng in the "cloud"?
Read "Backing Up Your Google Docs" from tech-tips.