I’ve finally got back into the habit of checking out my Bloglines account regularly courtesy of my new iPhone, which makes it so easy (check out http://i.bloglines.com
I’ve been catching up on some blogs and there are some pretty good ones out there. If you have any suggestions as to what I should be checking out, let me know.
Yep, this extremely old topic resurfaces once more.
You will have undoubtedly noticed that I am actually blogging! Cripes!
The simple reason for this revelation is the iPhone. I was particularly delighted to see that WordPress had developed an app, and that the app allowed access and postings to a multitude of blogs.
That means moblogging has taken on a whole new meaning, and as I’m more likely to post while commuting or bored, it has become so easy to do.
So here I am. Let’s see if I can keep this up …
It seems that I have a habit of being thrust into the limelight when I least expect it.
Over the past few weeks, I have been exchanging emails with Paul Crichton (wonder if he’s related to Michael Crichton, the writer), author of the BBC Access 2.0 blog; an “interview” of sorts about the impact of the Internet on the Deaf community and Deaf individuals.
The Access 2.0 article got mentioned over at Grumpy Old Deafies, which turned out to the 10,000th post to be featured on DeafRead. Ain’t that nice? It’s apparently quite “apt” that the first vlogger to post a vlog on the net in sign language gets a mention in the 10,000th post to appear on DeafRead.
This reminds me of the time when I was hailed the world over for being the first sign language vlogger, all the time consciously aware that I’d vlogged in my PJs!
BSL translation coming soon.
Jonny Nelson raised an interesting point on Deaf UK about vlogs, and what he says shows exactly how little is known about blogging generally, particularly among the Deaf community.
The first point I’d like to make is that all my vlogs are actually on my blog, and you do not need to go to YouTube to access them. YouTube just makes it easier for people to display vlogs on their blogs.
Secondly, all 2,500 DUK members do not actually need to trawl the web looking for vlogs. There is something called RSS feeds that makes it easier for everyone to keep track of blogs. Most people I know use Bloglines (www.bloglines.com); when you set up an account, you can add hundreds of RSS feeds so that it becomes a one-stop shop for reading blogs. You can view mine here.
You’ll probably recognise a few blogs there. You can also add e-groups like Videoblogging to bloglines, removing the need for emails altogether. For you to really understand RSS, I would strongly encourage you to set up an account with bloglines.
For more information about RSS, check this out.
Of course, there are also websites like:
Deaf Blogs – This is UK based, and the first Deaf aggregator. Note this website currently looks awful – it is undergoing a major revamp and should be re-launched at the start of June.
Deaf Read – a USA-focused aggregator, which is moderated.
Deaf Read Deutsch – this is a German aggregator
Deaf Pulse – this is not strictly a blog aggregator, but it pulls news from various sources. This is also USA-based.
These are called “aggregators”, which “pull” together all the blogs that have been submitted (using their RSS feeds), and display them in one place. This means you can browse through the posts, and click on the links to read the post in full.
There are other things you can do with blogs, if you want more detail read this post.
Thirdly, you shouldn’t assume that only a tiny fraction of people will read your blog. Grumpy Old Deafies (http://www.grumpyoldeafies.com/) gets 19,000 visits a month (with 70,000 hits a month). These people choose to visit, and are not, for example, defunct e mail addresses.
To sum up, what are the advantages of blogging/vlogging?
Hope this post has given you all some food for thought.
Check this out.
That’s correct, I’ve actually been quoted on the BBC website (!), on their Ouch! Access 2.0 blog.
The article discusses the launch of the VeeSee website, its virtues and the criticism it has also attracted.