[techtalk] INTERNET – Ever Been Wondering, What is An API?

Mon Oct 18 10:21:31 PDT 2021

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1. Learn about computer and email safety
2. Keep your passwords and antivirus secure
3. Stay safe on the Internet. More ..<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KG-3IuIqu8YQmXAN3LPUy3zv_9I6D8Mp9Cg1RDwSCJBjlXdxbd2oEuyzeneZeEGhLk-pUqstA-wYSov3NieNGHbOK3gVOnk_zf94AeBAVCt3-WHByb0CId_-c2EVs-Jy_DLPd8ctlxUwGISJ6QwKghHcrX7POXO1&c=5Bvgs2GN3WneqooIXB7DkMML_Fwr8UGeLZnKvBuOKjzCWp72tAywog==&ch=wDKBsd-KGZ3dZgrD65Z--ZhEaQhhWnLllzfsXi5sIr6vSt7AFETUkw==>.

This Week's Topic: INTERNET

1. ARTICLE & VIDEO ... Ever Been Wondering: What is an API?
2. COMMUNICATING ... When to reply to an email
3. LEADERSHIP ... When things get tough
4. WEBINARS ... (Patrons, Students, Staff also join with library's username. No fee.)

·     Oct 27: [YOUTUBE] Why, When and How to Use Info Cards & End Screens
·     Nov 10: [VIDEO] Davinci Resolve - A Powerful and Free Video Editing Tool
·     Nov 17: [OFFICE/Google] Secrets for Working with Office Templates, Turn Agony Into Ecstasy

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INTERNET – Ever Been Wondering: What is an API?
Intermediate

Are you hearing the term "API" more frequently and wonder what it means... and how it affects you? Let's take a look at this important piece of technology so that you can understand how an API connects you to the world.

If you use a mobile phone, tablet or computer, you may not realize it, but you're using an API every time you book a flight, make an online purchase, post to social media… and more.

The acronym API stands for Application Programming Interface. To simply it, APIs allow different devices and apps to connect with each other. This bit of software is kind of like a "virtual middleman" for two different programs (or apps) to communicate with one another to access and relay data.

[API]

[weather]

For instance, have you ever asked your iPhone, "Siri, what is the weather forecast for today?"

Well, Apple doesn't have a weather division (yet), so it uses an API to fetch the weather from another service, and based on the location of your device, gives you an answer.

So, in general, at a rapid speed, an API takes the requests of what you want to do, sends it to another system, and then sends the response back to you. Pretty cool!

Types of APIs

There are a few different types of APIs.

·     Private or Internal – Used within, and developed for, a specific organization.

·     Partner – Used in integrations between multiple organizations that want to work together such as a dental practice and insurance companies.

·     Public or Open – Focused on external users to access data or services, such as Uber or Lyft using of Google Maps, and Stripe for payment.

Public APIs are the type that we use every day.

Public APIs in Everyday Life

Here are some examples of public APIs that work behind the scenes in simple transactions that you do every day.

Making an Appointment Online

Have you ever clicked on a website (or email) link to book an appointment for a restaurant reservation, a haircut or a business meeting? These sites use scheduling tools like Zoho, Calendly and others, to connect with their calendar app. An API is the intermediary that links the scheduling tool and calendar together to display appointment availability.

For example, at Tech-Talk we use Calendly. It is connected to a Google calendar to offer instant appointment scheduling options. In this case Calendly's server talks to Google's server through an API to show a selection of meeting times available.

[calendly]

[travelocity]

Travel Booking

We don't need to spend hours viewing multiple airline/travel websites to view flight and rate options for an upcoming vacation. Instead, we have the convenience of using sites like Travelocity or Expedia that connect to thousands of flight and travel options. You plug in a location and time and the results are returned showing you choices based on price and flight schedules.

How does this magically happen? You guessed it. These sites use third-party public APIs that "talk" to the individual airline and hotel companies to aggregate the possible travel options that are then displayed for you.

Making an Online Purchase

[Paypal]

If you've ever purchased something from an Internet store and used the "Pay with PayPal" option, you're using an API. Individual stores don't have their own payment systems. Instead, they connect to a third party like PayPal to handle the sensitive process of collecting funds in a secure way.

An API connects the online store's shopping cart system with the payment processor that sends an "order" request to PayPal, specifying the dollar amount and customer details. If everything is kosher, the API sends payment confirmation back to complete the sale.

[streaming]

Streaming Services

APIs are also used to make content compatible. For example, if you stream movies on your TV from Netflix or listen to music on your smartphone with the Spotify app, an API is engaged to make sure whatever device that you are using, the content appears as it should. You can watch a movie on a large screen, a tablet or even on your phone. APIs make this possible ensuring the content is translated for the individual device.

App Integration

One perfect example of the use of APIs is the web tool Zapier. (see how this app works in this Tech-Talk article here<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KG-3IuIqu8YQmXAN3LPUy3zv_9I6D8Mp9Cg1RDwSCJBjlXdxbd2oEscoRHxzohoMz5FCvpY9b0fp4eBoaIVOWLx12AayOxwQLEpptLuyJEXR1cJ_d1vHV0tPtZ5pRfPgknl0CV5TPBAg8p4k0EntnEx4XKfa2vxvYA8RYWYyTt27lP4aa0xDWkUHbN6Mm2ss&c=5Bvgs2GN3WneqooIXB7DkMML_Fwr8UGeLZnKvBuOKjzCWp72tAywog==&ch=wDKBsd-KGZ3dZgrD65Z--ZhEaQhhWnLllzfsXi5sIr6vSt7AFETUkw==>). Within this platform, you create a "Zap" (which is a connection between apps) so that when one "thing" happens, it triggers another "thing" to happen in your workflow.

For example, you can automatically add a task to your project management tool (like Asana<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KG-3IuIqu8YQmXAN3LPUy3zv_9I6D8Mp9Cg1RDwSCJBjlXdxbd2oErA2fxYQIx1H2lvP-rtEcLABXfa7r4dKgUyE5L_ukvl0GTrkKsGG44GSNhgb5n9ubCMa08dWbhgEvOosRsDf--qN4fIl6sz9KBv2M-hvrwpB9PhsVq9Y75kTvIMUdiIaBOPdrMLNph1cyyetgWL3nTY=&c=5Bvgs2GN3WneqooIXB7DkMML_Fwr8UGeLZnKvBuOKjzCWp72tAywog==&ch=wDKBsd-KGZ3dZgrD65Z--ZhEaQhhWnLllzfsXi5sIr6vSt7AFETUkw==>), from an email that you receive in Gmail. APIs allow these apps to seamlessly talk to each other with integrated triggers.

Zapier uses the API technology to connect over 3000 apps!

[zap]

Think about this. Almost every action you take on your smart phone ... like sending a direct message (DM), watching a video on Facebook or using a Google map... uses an API to access and deliver that information!

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/41d9a61c-7e5a-4de3-b0a4-4021dd05cea3.png]

Communication: Email
When should you reply?

How many times a day do you get an email note from someone ... which does not ask for a reply? So, you read it, move on ... never acknowledging the communication

You're being kept informed ... you appreciate it. The question is, should you send a return note?

While it varies greatly by situation, we suggest being on the look-out for opportunities to reply with at least an "I got it!", "Thanks" or some type of acknowledgement.  If nothing else, it often makes the sender feel good.

Here's an example. You receive a copy of a report even though you aren't the primary recipient. Should you say thanks or acknowledge receipt? Obviously, you don't want an endless spiral of "got it", "great", "thanks". That would be a waste of time.

However ... if you are glad you were included; if someone is trying to communicate more and you want to reinforce that effort; if you know the document is very important and you want to acknowledge it was actually received ... then send a brief return note.

Use this opportunity to communicate something ... an endorsement, a show of appreciation or a reinforcement that you are an active member of the group.

Most people wish they were more in the communications loop. You can do a lot to improve this simply by showing involvement in the process ... as the recipient of informational email.

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/da1c6ee9-ba35-4af5-9c80-8e1b5781189e.png]

Leadership
When things get tough...

Sometimes it feels like we're working against the odds. Projects get stalled. Ideas get pushed back. Problems occur when you least expect it.

As leaders of teams, or as individual contributors who are on the frontline of their lives, it may help to think of what a famous imaginer once said:

"When everything seems to be going against you,
remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."

~ Henry Ford
That resistance for getting things started, for taking flight, is a necessary element of success.

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