Blogs: Less tech-heavy, more communication-savvy "When you consider how blogs empower anyone to disseminate information, they are revolutionary," say the Trotto couple, 25-year-olds. I met them at the Moveable Type developers? conference held in Akasaka, Tokyo, March 17. So how is it that blogs empower just about anyone? Web publishing requires users to know a complicated programming code called HTML. But blog software handles the HTML, so bloggers only need to focus on content. When a blogger types text, the software inputs the text into the template and posts it on the page.
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"Blogs are like the automobile that enables one to drive without understanding the mechanics behind the car." |
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Bloggers can easily change the entire look of their sites simply by selecting a different design template -- as if they are changing outfits.Bloggers who have some knowledge of Web design can add their own flavor by making changes to the design template. These are basic functionalities that are incorporated into most of the 10 or so types of blogging software that exist today. Hirata, one of the key people behind the Japanese version of Moveable Type, says "By editing the templates, it's possible to create sites as professional looking as Yomiuri On-Line or CNN." Some sections of The San Jose Mercury News Web site are published using Moveable Type. According to Hirata, "Blogs allow people who share the same interest to come together." Moveable Type is not merely about sending out information, but promotes two-way communication. The software allows readers to post feedback, and allows bloggers to notify another blogger if they?ve posted a related blog entry, among other things. Hirata says a corporate Web site with such an abundance of complex tools would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Back when the Internet was born, people were excited by the prospect that individuals had their own medium to speak out. But having a Web site and updating it frequently has not been an easy task for ordinary people. Blogs are like the automobile that enables one to drive without understanding the mechanics behind the car. The hurdles to Web publishing have been significantly lowered.
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