A repository is a collection of resources that can be accessed to retrieve information. It can serve as a central place where data are stored and maintained in an organised way. [1] In the past, collaboration was quite slow and difficult, but nowadays it is much easier with the help of shared repositories. Collaboration is integrated with new technologies and a huge range of digital formats. A repository can support a team working together to share and reuse resources. It is a mode of communication among team members. Everyone shares and can build on the work of others. In addition, a repository enhances the quality of team work and a sense of collaboration. [2]
Youtube has become the most successful Internet site providing a video sharing service. It allows users to upload videos effortlessly, automatically converting from many different formats, and to tag uploaded videos with keywords. As a team we can easily share videos by mailing links to them, or embedding them on web pages or in blogs. [3]
Google 3d Warehouse is an online repository of 3D model. It allows users to search, share and store 3D models. In order to use Google 3d Warehouse as a collaboration tool, it requires each collaborator’s email address. If the model is changed by one of collaborators, a notice will be sent to the model owner/leader. The model owner can accept or reject any changes. [4]
Filefront is a computer game and video game download/upload service. It provides patches, demos, modifications and other generated game related content. Filefront will be indefinitely suspended on coming March 30, 2009. [5] However, another source called Fileplanet also serves similar services as Filefront. Users can either pay a fee to access high-speed servers with no wait times, or freely wait a certain amount of time before downloading. [6]
The table below presents a comparison of famous file hosting services used for file sharing. [7] For the purpose of our team project, we will use various repositories depending on the type of work. However, we need to consider that a good repository should have a large or suitable storage/upload size, an efficient and friendly user-interface. It should also allow all sorts of file types to upload.
References
[1] Chapple, M 2009, Repository Definition, About.com, accessed on 26 March 2009, http://databases.about.com/cs/administration/g/repository.htm.
[2] Duncan, C, Learning Object Repositories to Support Collaborating Communities, accessed on 26 March 2009, http://www.elc.edu.sa/5thseminar/ppt/duncan(interallect).pps.
[3] Cheng, X, Dale, C, and Liu, J 2005, Understanding the Characteristics of Internet Short Video Sharing: YouTube as a Case Study, accessed on 26 March 2009, http://www.webdialogues.net/cs/cdc-new_media-library/download/dlib/1056/YouTubeCharacteristics.pdf?x-r=pcfile_d.
[4] Google 2009, 3D Warehouse Privacy Notice, accessed on26 March 2009, http://www.google.com/intl/en/sketchup/3dwh/privacy.html.
[5] Wikipedia 2009, FileFront, accessed on 26 March 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filefront.
[6] Wikipedia 2009, FilePlanet, accessed on 26 March 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FilePlanet.
[7] Wikipedia 2009, File hosting service, accessed on 26 March 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_hosting_service.
