Thing 3. Online Applications (Week of 12/8)

This week's topic is online applications.

An online application is a software program that is accessible over a network such as the Internet. The program is not saved on the user's computer, but it is remotely saved. The best example is email. If you use gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, or Hotmail, you're using an online application. You can access it from any computer without using any email program. Ever play Sudoku online? Ever browsed, bid, or bought something from eBay? You've used an online application.

You can check out a huge list of online applications at The Unofficial Web Applications List. Google Docs is an incredible online application that allows users to create documents (similar to Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (similar to Microsoft Excel), presentations (similar Microsoft PowerPoint), and forms (templates). It is free and all you need is a Google account. This online application allows you to share whatever you create with anyone you choose. And the best part is that multiple people can be editing a document at the same time and see the changes being made. Watch this video, Google Docs in Plain English, for a more specific explanation.



This can be a great tool for working on a Christmas letter with someone else. Maybe you want to include messages from your children or grandchildren in the letter. Share the document with them and they can go in and add to the letter.

For this week's TechPlay exercise:

1. Go to: http://docs.google.com and login using the Google account you created during Thing 1.
2. Click "New" and then click "Document".
3. Type a quick message like "I love technology!"
4. Click "Save" (it's on the top right).
5. Click "Share" (also on the top right), then click "Share with others".
6. In the white box under "Invite People", type sieversb@lagrangelibrary.org. You're inviting Brooke Sievers to view your document. . . you can also write lots of nice things about Technical Services.
7. Click "Invite Collaborators"
8. A box will pop up where you have the option to send a message along with the invitation. You can use this box to send your name so we'll know who it's from.
9. Click "Send" Now the recipient of the invitation has access to the document. As the creator, you have the power to end anyone's ability to view or edit documents. The recipient can only view and edit the document you invited them to so they'll never be able to see other ones you wish to keep private.
10. Don't forget to post a message to your blog about this week's experiences! Will you use this tool in your personal life?

Challenge: Find a friend at the library who is also working on GoogleDocs. Invite them to view the document you created in this exercise. Both of you sign into your Google accounts and edit the same document at the same time.