This event on Web 2.0 technologies and their use for outreach work, organised by JISC for JISC staff with a communication role (JISC Services Upskilling - Exploiting Communication Channels, 5 Sept, Oxford) did not have a specific focus on access management, but it did highlight the importance of good access management for a world where the number of web applications and tools used by individuals and institutions is growing at an unprecedented rate, while users increasingly expect 24/7 seamless and secure access to a wide range of technologies and applications.

The event covered a range of Web 2.0 technologies, such as wikis, blogs, podcasting and RSS, as well as some more ‘traditional’ communication tools, such as print and online newsletters and mailing lists.

I thought the choice of speakers was very good. I was particularly impressed by Brian Kelly’s presentation, giving an overview of Web 2.0 technologies and giving (lots of) reasons for using them in dissemination work.

Some recent research funded by JISC has highlighted the importance of embracing Web 2.0 technologies by universities. 84 % of respondents agreed with the statement that they ‘like to keep up-to-date with new technology and use it as much as possible both for study and in my free time’.

It is good to know that a number of web 2.0 technologies have already adopted federated access management, such as Twiki, Dspace etc.

The JISC now provide Shibboleth access to JISCmail. (It was fun to see a virtual JISCmail office with a Shibboleth logo on its front during a demonstration of Second Life by Simon Bignell of the University of Derby). JISC are currently working towards providing federated access to the JISC blogs (work in progress).

Tags: skillsday2007

Just watched the Australian Federation (Introduction to AAF federated access management) remake of the JISC Introduction to Federated Access Management animation.

Glad to say that it seemed more like a shot by shot remake, in the same way that Gus Van Sant remade Psycho, rather than the “re-envisioning” of Planet of the Apes that Tim Burton did.

There is a serious point though, a major rational for Federating around the SAML standard – is interoperability. The Oz remake (the country, not one featuring CGI flying monkeys), proves that we face similar problems and that we would seem to be on the right track with similar solutions.

Certainly makes the sentence, “an international standard”, far more meaningful….