Google Drive (encompassing Sheets, Docs, etc.), Google Maps, and Google Earth, as well as Zotero, are all programs which I have used in the past. I had not used Google Charts however up until I was doing the homework for this week’s class. I know it is supposed to be simple to use but I actually found it kind of confusing. I didn’t like the interface and how there were no directions on the main page. The Google Docs and Sheets instructions were ok yet I thought there were too many links to go through before one could get to the actual instructions which explained how to use the different tools. I was also disappointed to find that the software on my computer is not up to date enough to run the Google Drive app on my computer thus I can only access it through my online google account. I am able use the Google Drive app on my phone which is great but it would be nice to have been able o have it on my computer. A function that I like a lot about Google Drive is that I can make docs and sheets available offline. I have found this function really helpful in the past as I am able to have quick and easy access to certain schedules I need to refer to often and which do not usually change. I have also found that it is a really good way to work on group projects and papers for a class, especially if you can not meet up as a group in person very often.

Google Maps is also a cool program, one I actually learned how to use last spring when I was preparing for my study abroad trip to London. I used to to create a map of places I knew I would be going to often/every day (such as where I would be living, where class would be held, and where my work was located) as well as potential sites I wanted to visit while in London (such as museums, other tourist sites, and tea shops). I did not know however that I could have put the whole map into google earth and viewed it that way so I found it really neat to be able to go back and do this today while I was doing the homework for class. If you want to view that map I had created for my trip you can find it here: Summer in London .

Zotero is a really great program and is my favorite of all the programs we were supposed to look at as part of this week’s assignment. I know that another student mentioned in her  blog post for this week’s homework hat she thought it was the least intuitive of all the programs and I totally understand where she is coming from with this for the first time I used this program I thought it was a bit confusing. However ever since when my History 300 professor had the whole class spend spend a lot of time in the JC library computer lab with one of the librarians who taught us how to use it, I have been a proponent of it and use it all the time for almost every class I have to do research for (I have even showed multiple friends how to use it as well). It has helped me tremendously as an aspiring historian who spends long hours researching and compiling sources for papers. It is great because it makes it not only much easier for me to create bibliographies in multiple formats but also to relocate and access sources multiple times. I also like how I can link PDF files/ images on my computer to the saved sources in my Zotero library and then later pull them up really quickly without have to search my whole computer for them. The fact that your library can be saved and sync to your online account is another awesome feature because it means you can access it from other computers. Since my computer has had a lot of problems in the past year this program has lessened my fear of one day loosing all my research I have done for all my classes, particularly projects and papers I am working on this semester, for I know I have it stored in my online library account. I find that this program which lives in the FireFox browser is more beneficial when doing research than using the bookmark function on my computer.

When I was doing readings for this week’s class, particularly the article about password security, I’ll admit I identified with the “average Web user” and began to question my stance about using “weak” passwords because they are easier to remember and began to reconsider whether or not the “pros” of reusing passwords really actually outweighed the “cons.” I have never though that much about the possibility of being hacked and was a bit shocked to see how quickly someone can destroy your whole digital life if they get only the slightest bit of your personal information or gain access to one of your many online accounts. When Matt Honan was describing how it was flaws in Apple’s and Amazon’s security system coupled with his main password he used for most everything that lead to him hacked it hit me that if huge companies such these which are used by thousands of people use are not safe the digital life of so may people is in danger. I used to think it was great that Amazon could keep my credit card information stored in their system so that it made it really fast and easy for me to purchase items but now I am tempted to go and take my information of their site. I think I finally understand why my dad is always sending me  examples of false emails that are viruses, cautioning me about not writing my passwords down anywhere, and the importance of signing out of online accounts. Thankfully I have never saved, at least not to my knowledge, any password keychains on my computer and usually always request that security questions be asked when trying to get into certain online accounts of mine as a precaution.