Assignment 1: Google Talk
Sign up for a Google Talk account as soon as possible this week. It is very easy. If you don't have Gmail, then you will need to sign up for a Google account, but you can do it right there at this site. This whole process will take you less than 5 minutes, and it is quite intuitive.
Google Talk will allow instant messaging from your desktop as well as voice calls. The only downfall is that it only works on PCs (not Macs). Please contact your team assistant if you have a Mac for an alternate assignment. Google Talk provides excellent audio quality, and also allows file sharing. Very easy, and seems to be very powerful. What makes this more interesting is that Google University has begun offering tools, such as email, for free to universities, and allowing them to use their own branding. Certainly, implications exist.
For this assignment, after you have gotten your Google Talk up and running, post your Google Talk email on your blog (they generally provide you with a new one). Go to the blogs of some other classmates, look up their Google Talk email and add them as contacts. Keep your Google Talk open when you're at your computer during this week (when you can) so that your classmates can try this out with you. Contact at least one class member and have a Google Talk with them. Use both the text messaging and the call feature. Post on the discussion board about your experience. Could this be used for distance learning? Would this be more convenient than the chat feature in WebCT for online office hours? What advantages, if any, might it offer?
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