Web widget and mashup: Difference between revisions

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== Definition ==
== Definition ==


'''Web widgets''' or '''web gadgets''' allow to insert [[web 2.0]] applications into a webpage. This technology is increasingly popular, e.g. on 12:37, 14 May 2007 (MEST) Google lists over 6000 and Widgetbox over 10000.
{{quotation | A web widget is a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation. They are akin to plugins or extensions in desktop applications. Other terms used to describe a Web Widget include Gadget, Badge, Module, Capsule, Snippet, Mini and Flake.}} ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget Web widget], Wikipedia, retrieved 17:47, 14 May 2007 (MEST)).


Usually there is "get the code" button which you then can copy to a web page. Unfortunately it's not so easy to find widgets of interest to educators, since the most popular widgets focus on specific information or games ...
== What are web widgets ? ==
 
Most '''Web widgets''' or '''web gadgets''' allow to insert [[web 2.0]] applications into a webpage. This technology is increasingly popular, e.g. on 17:47, 14 May 2007 (MEST) Google lists over 6000 and Widgetbox over 10000. Most widgets are probably based on [[RSS]] feeds. But some widgets exist as Desktop widgets or can be converted from a web widget to a desktop widget.
 
Web widgets are used to build '''mashup'''s, a website, a web application or desktop applications that combines content from more than one source into an integrated experience.
 
{{quoatation | We know we don't have a corner on creativity. There are creative people all around the world, hundreds of millions of them, and they are going to think of things to do with our basic platform that we didn't think of. So the mashup stuff is a wonderful way of allowing people to find new ways of applying the basic infrastructures we're propagating. This will turn out to be a major source of ideas for applying Google-based technology to a variety of applications.}} ([http://www.computerworld.com/developmenttopics/development/story/0,10801,106535,00.html Vint Cerf interview with J.C. Perez], retrieved 17:47, 14 May 2007 (MEST))
 
 
=== Implementation ===
 
Web Widgets often but not always use Adobe Flash or JavaScript programming languages.
The widget code itselft is usually very small and connects to some server application.
 
=== How to use widgets ===
 
Basically, an enduser has several choices (depending on the technology)
 
; Get a widget insertion code from a widget site
 
Usually there is "get the code" button that will display some short javascript code which you then can insert into a web page. Unfortunately it's not so easy to find widgets of interest to educators, since the most popular widgets focus on specific information or games ...
 
; Use a service that supports widgets
Webtops and similar software provide users with a larger set of widgets from which they then can compose an "ajax start page"
* [[webtop]]
* An increasing amount of [[social software]] services
 
See:
* [[webtop]]
* [[personal learning environment]]
 
; Use browser, application or OS-dependent widgets
 
=== How to create widgets ===
 
Some services have widget creation kits for a certain number of widgets.
E.g. iGoogle allows you to create photos, "daily me", you tube channel, personal list...
 
To program widgets is another issue ....


== Links ==
== Links ==


=== Software ===
=== Widget management sites ===
(widgets to download)
(widgets to download, needs to be sorted out at some point ...)


* [http://www.widgetbox.com/ Widgetbox]. s a directory and syndication platform for web widgets for blogs and other web pages. Claim to work with TypePad, WordPress, Blogger, MySpace as well as most other blogs, sidebars or websites.
* [http://www.widgetbox.com/ Widgetbox]. s a directory and syndication platform for web widgets for blogs and other web pages. Claim to work with TypePad, WordPress, Blogger, MySpace as well as most other blogs, sidebars or websites.
* [http://www.programmableweb.com/ programmableweb]


* [http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open Google Gadgets]  
* [http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open Google Gadgets]  
* [http://snipperoo.com/l Snipperoo] (free registration required).
* [https://www.widsets.com/ WidSets] (for your mobile phone)
* [http://www.tagworld.com/guest/widgets/ TagWorld Widgets] (free registration required)
; Desktop
* Microsoft Live gadgets
* [http://widgets.yahoo.com/ Yahoo widgets] (works with widgets 4 application, Win/MacOS)
* [http://www.3d3r.com/bubbles/ Bubbles]
=== Other ===
* [http://www.programmableweb.com/ programmableweb] Keeping you up to date with the latest on mashups and the new Web 2.0 APIs
== References ==
=== Vision / Overviews ==
* MacManus, Richard (2006). Widgets are the new black, Read/Write Web. [http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/widgets_are_the.php HTML]
* Kirkpatrick, Marshall (2006), PostApp launches WidgetBox, a marketplace for widgets, TechCrunch. [http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/22/postapp-launches-widgetbox-a-marketplace-for-widgets/]
* [http://www.businessweek.com/@@76IH*ocQ34AvyQMA/magazine/content/05_30/b3944108_mz063.htm Mix, Match, And Mutate], BusinessWeek article.





Revision as of 17:47, 14 May 2007

Draft

Definition

“A web widget is a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation. They are akin to plugins or extensions in desktop applications. Other terms used to describe a Web Widget include Gadget, Badge, Module, Capsule, Snippet, Mini and Flake.” (Web widget, Wikipedia, retrieved 17:47, 14 May 2007 (MEST)).

What are web widgets ?

Most Web widgets or web gadgets allow to insert web 2.0 applications into a webpage. This technology is increasingly popular, e.g. on 17:47, 14 May 2007 (MEST) Google lists over 6000 and Widgetbox over 10000. Most widgets are probably based on RSS feeds. But some widgets exist as Desktop widgets or can be converted from a web widget to a desktop widget.

Web widgets are used to build mashups, a website, a web application or desktop applications that combines content from more than one source into an integrated experience.

Template:Quoatation (Vint Cerf interview with J.C. Perez, retrieved 17:47, 14 May 2007 (MEST))


Implementation

Web Widgets often but not always use Adobe Flash or JavaScript programming languages. The widget code itselft is usually very small and connects to some server application.

How to use widgets

Basically, an enduser has several choices (depending on the technology)

Get a widget insertion code from a widget site

Usually there is "get the code" button that will display some short javascript code which you then can insert into a web page. Unfortunately it's not so easy to find widgets of interest to educators, since the most popular widgets focus on specific information or games ...

Use a service that supports widgets

Webtops and similar software provide users with a larger set of widgets from which they then can compose an "ajax start page"

See:

Use browser, application or OS-dependent widgets

How to create widgets

Some services have widget creation kits for a certain number of widgets. E.g. iGoogle allows you to create photos, "daily me", you tube channel, personal list...

To program widgets is another issue ....

Links

Widget management sites

(widgets to download, needs to be sorted out at some point ...)

  • Widgetbox. s a directory and syndication platform for web widgets for blogs and other web pages. Claim to work with TypePad, WordPress, Blogger, MySpace as well as most other blogs, sidebars or websites.
Desktop
  • Microsoft Live gadgets

Other

  • programmableweb Keeping you up to date with the latest on mashups and the new Web 2.0 APIs

References

= Vision / Overviews

  • MacManus, Richard (2006). Widgets are the new black, Read/Write Web. HTML
  • Kirkpatrick, Marshall (2006), PostApp launches WidgetBox, a marketplace for widgets, TechCrunch. [1]