{"id":720,"date":"2019-07-01T10:05:56","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T08:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/informacio-digital.recursos.uoc.edu\/?page_id=720"},"modified":"2019-07-17T11:22:40","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T09:22:40","slug":"11-1-introduction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/informacio-digital.recursos.uoc.edu\/en\/11-1-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"11.1. Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several digital tasks are monotonous and repetitive. By making them automatic, we save time and become more effective in managing our tasks.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Source: Designed by macrovector \/ Freepik<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Having reached this point, we have already analyzed several guidelines for the organization and management of digital contents. It is now time to introduce a last strategy: how to make the processes for content organization automatic<\/strong> in order to save time and be more productive in the tasks we perform more often and repeatedly.<\/p>\n

As stated in the slogan for the application we will analyze below, this is \u201ca world that works for you\u201d, where many actions that are performed repetitively and manually may be automated.<\/p>\n

For example: creating a backup of your pictures, copying files from Google Drive to Dropbox, or making sure that a copy of every picture you take or upload to Instagram is stored in Google Photos as well, automatically storing the links to your favorite Tweets in Pocket… Countless options may be programmed to save time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The top application for such processes is IFTTT (If This, Then That). It is easy and intuitive to use.<\/p>\n

The application works with applets<\/strong>. You need to state which action is the trigger (cause) and which later action must take place (effect). If \u201cthis\u201d happens, then do \u201cthat\u201d.<\/p>\n

Many applets have already been defined and shared by other users in order to make the initial automation process easier. They may be a source of inspiration and ideas.<\/p>\n

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Figure 27. Applets defined by other users. They are ready to use.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To create an applet, you will first need to activate the channels. Channels<\/strong> are applications or services that will be used by IFTTT to perform automatic actions for us. In order to activate the channels, you need to introduce a username and password for the services and accept its terms and conditions.<\/p>\n

Most channels are web applications, but some others control several devices that are connected to the Internet, such as the WeMo switches, the connected lightbulbs Philips Hue, car sensors \u201cAutomatic\u201d and Home Connect in household appliances by Bosch and Siemens.<\/p>\n

The application offers more than six hundred channels available to create applets. Among others, we may find Facebook, Evernote, Instagram, Google Calendar, Pocket…<\/p>\n

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Figure 28. Overview of an applet definition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In order for the applet to become active, triggers<\/strong> must be defined. The action is executed either by user behaviors or service behaviors. General triggers may be defined, such as \u201cwhen I upload a picture to Instagram (all pictures uploaded to Instagram)\u201d or \u201cwhen I send an e-mail (to any user)\u201d.<\/p>\n

We can also add \u201cingredients<\/strong>\u201d to narrow down the requirements for the trigger to initiate the action: \u201cwhen I upload a picture to Instagram tagged #pictureoftheday\u201d or \u201cwhen I send an e-mail to a given e-mail address\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Process for creating an applet<\/strong><\/p>\n

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