New Media Tools
Blogs
Blogs are websites with regular updates and typically combine text, images (graphics or video), and links to other webpages. Blogs are usually informal—taking on the tone of a diary or journal entry.
Mashups
A mashup is a website “that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool”. Data sources often include maps (such as Google Maps Exit Disclaimer ) and databases (such as business locations).
Mobile
Mobile is a way of viewing, receiving, and/or sending information to and from cellular phones and other wireless devices. Mobile encompasses many things - the mobile web, mobile applications, and text messaging.
Online Collaboration Tools
The term “wiki” comes from the Hawaiian word for “fast.” Wiki technology creates a webpage that anyone with access to it can modify—quickly and easily, a webpage with an edit button.
Photo Sharing Sites
Photo sharing sites allow you to literally “share photos” online with your friends, family, and colleagues. One of the most common online photo sharing sites is Flickr.
Podcasts
Podcasts (a blend of the terms “iPod” and “broadcast”) are audio or video files that you can listen to or watch on your computer or on a variety of portable media devices (like an iPod, Zune, and certain cell phones).
QR Codes
“QR”(or “quick response”) codes store information in a two-dimensional square barcode. When scanned with a smartphone, QR codes direct users to mobile websites and other functions on their mobile phones.
RSS Feeds
“RSS” stands for “Real Simple Syndication.” RSS feeds are a way for websites to distribute their content to people automatically.
Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking is a way to store, organize, and search your favorite webpages on the Internet. In a social bookmarking site, you can save links to web pages that you want to remember and/or share.
Social Network Sites
Social network sites are online communities that give you opportunities to connect with, or provide resources to, clients, colleagues, family, and friends who share common interests.
Texting
Text messaging is a way of sending information to and from cell phones and certain personal digital assistants (PDAs).
You can think of Twitter as a “micro-blog.” You use your computer or mobile phone to broadcast short messages, or “tweets,” that are limited to 140 characters. People can sign up on Twitter to follow your tweets.
Video Games
Video and computer games are interactive games you play on game devices (such as Nintendo’s Wii, XBox, and Playstation), and computers.
Video Sharing Sites
Video sharing sites allow you to upload and share online videos similar to photo sharing sites. YouTube is the most well-known of these types of sites.
Virtual Office Hours Registration
AIDS.gov's Virtual Office Hours provides free social media technical assistance for the HIV community. Appointments are available for individuals or groups who want to learn how to best use social media for their HIV programs.
Webcasts/ Webinars
A webcast is a way of broadcasting over the Internet. A webinar is a specific type of web conference. Visit this page to find more resources on webcasts and webinars.
Widgets
Widgets, Gadgets, call them what you’d like, but there is definitely a lot of buzz around these small applications that you can embed in a social network site, blog, or website.