Assignment 1

Nowadays we use blog or watch news on the internet a lot. I heard RSS before. But I ever use it and even don’t understand what it means. RSS is a way to subscribe to a blog. If the blog update, you will receive the information by your RSS reader and display it. It is very convenient. I have so many friends that have blog. If I want to visit so many blogs by clicking the link on the browser, it may spend a lot of time. RSS reader also shows the list of headline. I can just look at the list and choose what I think is interesting. RSS service is available on many website. We can easily subscribe to an RSS feed and also give my blog an RSS feed.

This chapter talkes a lot about blog. I use blog for a long time, and some function I already use before. In Taiwan, the most popular blog service website is wretch ( http://www.wretch.cc/ ). This website was created by few college students, and it is very useful and easy to use. So it is getting very popular. In the end Yahoo spend 22 million USD to buy the website. Like the view option function that mention in the book. The website also provides. I think it is very good. Sometimes I just want my friend to read my blog; some articles are private or particular to someone. I don’t want the public to read it. So I like this function.

I have iTunes and iPod, but I never use podcasts before. The idea is pretty similar to RSS. Different from the traditional broadcast, we don’t need to listen the program at the particular time. If any new program publishes, it will download automatically. You can listen it on your computer, even put it into your MP3. No matter what time you can enjoin the program. You can also create an own podcast. This technology is very convenient and useful.

Have you created a website before? If yes, for what purpose?
Yes, I took a website design course before. In the end I create a website about table tennis. Now I am the web maintainer of IUP and doing the website for the Health and Physical Education department.

Do you regularly visit any blogs?
Yes, I visit my friend’s blogs daily.

Do you find blogs worthwhile to visit?
Yes, I like to travel, and some blogs are focuses on introduce the travel information. So it is worthwhile to visit.

Were you familiar with RSS feeds prior to reading about them?
No, I just know there is a technology call RSS, but I have no idea about it before I read the book.

Do you subscribe to any RSS feeds?
No, but I think I will try.

Have you ever downloaded podcasts or vodcasts?
No, it is not quite popular in Taiwan, but I will try.

About me: CHIA-MIN

Hi, I'm CHIA-MIN, HUANG. If this name is too difficult for you to remember, you can just call me Chris. I'm an exchange student from Taiwan. I finished my first and second year in TKU (my native college). And then do my third year in IUP. Actually, My major is computer science. But as an exchange student I want to try different department's courses. It's a good opportunity to learn more knowledge besides computer. So far I took writing, media presentation skill, interior design, VB, C++, Computer science, software engineering and this course. That is a very precious experience for me.

Now, I live in the Scranton hall. Although the dorm is old, it's cheap and convenient. For me, I really like to play table tennis. In TKU, I was the leader of table tennis club. I had been train since I was 14 (I'm 20 now). If you are interesting, we can have fun to play it together.

Another interest for me is travel. I went a lot of places around Taiwan and Japan. The most impressive one was I went to Hong Kong by myself when I was a freshmen. In the past few months, I went to NY, Pittsburgh, Walt Disney World, Washington D.C, Boston and some place around Indiana. I join it very much.

I will go back to Taiwan when this semester is end. And then finish my college degree. I hope I can work hard in order to get into graduate school, even try harder to study abroad again.

“Life is short, I want to see more and learn more.”