Flikr

=**__Flickr__**=

__What is Flickr?:__ Flickr is a website that hosts video and image files for its users. It allows the users to share these files with the rest of the world. Flickr claims to have over 3 billion images

__History:__ An interesting fact about Flickr is that the company started in Vancouver BC by a company called Ludicorp which started in Febuary 2004. Flickr emerged from an online game called "Neverending" which Ludicorp offered. A Flickr type tool was offered in the online game, but the company decided to get rid of the online game altogether and just focus on Flickr. Early versions of Flickr used and instant messange type of file sharing called Flickr Live that allowed users to share in real time. In March 2005 Yahoo bought Ludicorp and Flickr and all the content was changed over from the canadian servers to US servers. . __Organization:__ When you upload files to Flickr they make you "tag" your files. This means that you can organize you files you upload with keywords that you choose so it it easier for users to find the files that they are looking for. Flickr also has a tool called the "organizr", it is a tool that help organize your files by setting tags, groupings and descriptions on a world map which is on a Yahoo maps format.

__Filtering:__ In march of 2007, flickr introduced manditory filtering or all the new files coming in. They are all reviewed by staff to set the level of appreatness. The filter system of Flickr assumes that photos may be unsafe and should not be public until a staff person has validated that the material is safe. Until this happens, which could take up to a month, material cannot be viewed by persons without a valid Yahoo and Flickr account. A Flickr site not marked as safe can only be viewed by people in the community who have set their filters beyond the default status of that of a “minor”.