Mash It Up!

Before I start...... Alexis, I'm so sorry but I felt that this part of the lecture was really weak.  

I left the lecture this week with no idea what a mashup was and I couldn't even ask anyone as I appeared to be the only one that was confused!  There were only 3 slides but sad git that I am, I went home read LOADS in an attempt to understand, so brace yourself!

So what is a mashup?  It’s basically a web page or application that combines more than one type of data, presentation or function to make a new product.  

Still lost? 

Ok, so you are all reading this blog and it’s a mashup because it’s a merging of different types of feeds and widgets on a page on the internet. 

This blog lets me type out my words, then I chose what the presentation would look like (colour, layout, font, etc) and then I inserted functions (widgets, badges or gadgets).  The gadgets in this blog are lots of small applications that I use to show you things like how many of you have read my blog or the archive that lists what I’ve posted in the past.  The share button on here is a gadget that lets me (or you) post a link to my wall on Facebook or Twitter and I can create or import an RSS feed.

It’s really quite simple but just seems very complicated.  The mashup works because you’re using applications on the internet not your PC and merging them with other applications out there in the ether to make something that is useful.  Or maybe not!

So what about a wiki?  Well, wikis are another good example of mashups.  They are based on the same principal as they’re both easy to use and easy to integrate.  You can use different gadgets, widgets, badges, etc which are all applications that you then use to make visual information that’s unique to you. 

You don’t have to be an IT expert to use mashups.  The tools you need are explained in simple terms on the mashup maker (webpage).

Still not clear?  Well I tried my best and maybe this video will be more helpful!