Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
You Tube Video
I got a message stating that this video had been taken down by Viacom. I bet it was interesting...
http://epic.org, TIA and Data Mining
The good news that I gleaned from this site is that Congress stopped funding the efforts of the government to find "information signatures" of individuals in order to combat terrorism is 2003. However, "the FBI and TSA are also working on data mining projects that will fuse commercial databases, public databases and intelligence data."
Total Information Awareness seems very Orwellian to me, reminiscent of 1984 and Big Brother.
It also reminds me of the Benjamin Franklin quote: "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security." I happen to agree with Ben, and I hope the public wakes up to the very real possibility that our rights are deteriorating.
Total Information Awareness seems very Orwellian to me, reminiscent of 1984 and Big Brother.
It also reminds me of the Benjamin Franklin quote: "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security." I happen to agree with Ben, and I hope the public wakes up to the very real possibility that our rights are deteriorating.
www.noplacetohide.net
I found this website highly informative in its discussion of RFID tags. For instance, a radiofrequency identifier tag does not need a power source to work, they need to be scanned by a low-power device and some can carry in excess of 128 bits of information.
According to Chapter 10, "RFID technology is a technology that is rapidly crossing over from being expensive and experimental to universal usefulness."
Some people have even gone so far as to have these things implanted!
The idea that a cup of coffee at Starbucks and a cell phone conversation can become "datapoints on the vast and growing matrix of our lives," in the form of information that Starbucks owns and retains about me is at once fascinating and disturbing.
One day we truly will have "no place to hide" and we will wonder what happened to our privacy and freedoms, but it will be too late.
According to Chapter 10, "RFID technology is a technology that is rapidly crossing over from being expensive and experimental to universal usefulness."
Some people have even gone so far as to have these things implanted!
The idea that a cup of coffee at Starbucks and a cell phone conversation can become "datapoints on the vast and growing matrix of our lives," in the form of information that Starbucks owns and retains about me is at once fascinating and disturbing.
One day we truly will have "no place to hide" and we will wonder what happened to our privacy and freedoms, but it will be too late.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Deep Web: Surfacing Hidden Value
Despite the fact that it felt as though I was reading an advertisement for BrightPlanet, I found the statistics in this article fascinating. I had no idea that the deep web is so much larger than the surface web (400-550 times larger). For instance, just 60 sites are larger than the surface web by 40 times.
I think I remember reading in Scholarship in the Digital Age that most of the deep web is made up of databases, some of which are proprietary and not accessible.
I tried looking into using BrightPlanet, a "direct query engine", but you must get a subscription to use it, unlike traditional search engines which are free on the net. I wonder if we will ever see a day when BrightPlanet, or something like it, becomes free to use?
I think I remember reading in Scholarship in the Digital Age that most of the deep web is made up of databases, some of which are proprietary and not accessible.
I tried looking into using BrightPlanet, a "direct query engine", but you must get a subscription to use it, unlike traditional search engines which are free on the net. I wonder if we will ever see a day when BrightPlanet, or something like it, becomes free to use?
Current Developments and Future Trends for the OAI Protocol for Metadata Harvesting
Using the university's library, I was only able to access the abstract for this article. I actually received an error message saying:
"Request denied: either you have not been authorized to use this resource or your browser has cookies disabled."
I hate being ill-prepared for class, but I feel I have no alternative in this case.
"Request denied: either you have not been authorized to use this resource or your browser has cookies disabled."
I hate being ill-prepared for class, but I feel I have no alternative in this case.
Web Search Engines Part 1 and 2 by David Hawking
Even though I read Parts 1 and 2, I'm not sure I fully understand the difference between web crawling and indexing.
It seems to me that web crawling is the initial set of steps a search engine takes to find something and indexing is what happens to the results once they are found? Both methods use algorithms and may queue the results based on popularity. The similarities seem so striking as to be confusing to me. Maybe this will be fleshed out in class.
It seems to me that web crawling is the initial set of steps a search engine takes to find something and indexing is what happens to the results once they are found? Both methods use algorithms and may queue the results based on popularity. The similarities seem so striking as to be confusing to me. Maybe this will be fleshed out in class.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Assignment #5: Koha Virtual Shelf
My user name is ELM106 and the title of my list is "Armchair Traveler". All of these books are thought provoking, and many are laugh out loud funny. Enjoy!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Beyond HTML: Developing and re-imaging library web guides in a content management system
On three separate occasions I browsed the ULS Pitt Catalog for this article and I could not find it. I have found all of the other articles for this class, except for this one. Did any body else have difficulties in finding it, or am I the only one?
W3 Schools CSS Tutorial
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) define how html elements are to be displayed. As html was never intended to contain tags for formatting, CSS were created to solve this problem.
In html 4.0, all formatting could be removed from the html documents and stored in a separate CSS file. Styles are normally stored in external CSS files. External style sheets allow you to change the appearance and layout of all the pages in a website, just by editing one single file.
In html 4.0, all formatting could be removed from the html documents and stored in a separate CSS file. Styles are normally stored in external CSS files. External style sheets allow you to change the appearance and layout of all the pages in a website, just by editing one single file.
HTML Cheatsheet
This article consists of a list of useful html tags, which might come in handy if I were building a web site.
W3 Schools HTML Tutorial
Hyper Text Mark Up Language (HTML) is a markup language which uses a set of tags to describe web pages.
The purpose of a web browser is to read HTML documents and display them as web pages. The html tags are used to interpret the content of the web pages.
The tutorial goes on to teach one how to write in html to create web pages.
The purpose of a web browser is to read HTML documents and display them as web pages. The html tags are used to interpret the content of the web pages.
The tutorial goes on to teach one how to write in html to create web pages.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Inside the Google Machine
This was a short video whose original audience was probably either shareholders or employees of Google. I found it very interesting, especially the global model at the beginning where you could see the searches taking place, and therefore the infrastructure of the Internet.
They also mentioned that employees of Google are allowed to do what they want with 20% of their time, and that some people invented Google products with this "free" time. It reminded me of a version of the Pareto Principle, "80% of the time people are working and 20% of the time they are goofing off."
They also mentioned that employees of Google are allowed to do what they want with 20% of their time, and that some people invented Google products with this "free" time. It reminded me of a version of the Pareto Principle, "80% of the time people are working and 20% of the time they are goofing off."
Andrew K. Pace, "Dismantling Integrated Library Systems"
I found this article interesting as it explained that the systems used to check out/in books at the library are not always compatible with each other, "interoperability in library automation is more myth than reality."
I never gave this much thought--that other library systems might use different software which might cause Inter Library Loan to be difficult.
I never gave this much thought--that other library systems might use different software which might cause Inter Library Loan to be difficult.
Jeff Tyson, "How Internet Infrastructure Works"
This article explained some complicated information in simple terms, which made it easier for me to understand.
I learned that routers have two purposes: to make sure that information does not go where it's not needed, and to ensure that the information needed makes it to the intended destination.
I also learned that URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, and that Domain Name Servers handle billions of requests daily and are essential to the Internet.
I learned that routers have two purposes: to make sure that information does not go where it's not needed, and to ensure that the information needed makes it to the intended destination.
I also learned that URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, and that Domain Name Servers handle billions of requests daily and are essential to the Internet.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Assignment #3: Working with Jing
Part 1: Video of how to do a Long Tail Cast On for Knitting:
http://screencast.com/users/BookWormSince84/folders/Jing/media/7a46108d-a04d-4de9-a269-5526df79ae9b
Part 2: Screen Captures on how to use MapQuest to Print Driving Directions:
Step 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5071545739/
Step 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5071567365/
Step 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5072182674/
Step 4: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5071599719/
Step 5: http://wwww.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5072215596/
http://screencast.com/users/BookWormSince84/folders/Jing/media/7a46108d-a04d-4de9-a269-5526df79ae9b
Part 2: Screen Captures on how to use MapQuest to Print Driving Directions:
Step 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5071545739/
Step 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5071567365/
Step 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5072182674/
Step 4: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5071599719/
Step 5: http://wwww.flickr.com/photos/54200368@N08/5072215596/
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
"Management of RFID in Libraries" Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2005
I find this article immensely interesting. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of RFID tag usage in libraries. Imagining being capable of eventually checking in an entire stack of books at once is astounding to me!
The library where I work have exit gates and we put a card in the pocket in the back of the book to signify an item has been checked out, which also prevents the alarm from sounding. While I suppose this is fairly typical library security, I had not thought of the tag in the pocket as an RFID before reading this article.
I guess it is possible that RFIDs will replace barcode technology, but I think the technology needed to adapt it to a library setting (an RFID that would work in a thin item, and last many years) is not yet in existence.
The library where I work have exit gates and we put a card in the pocket in the back of the book to signify an item has been checked out, which also prevents the alarm from sounding. While I suppose this is fairly typical library security, I had not thought of the tag in the pocket as an RFID before reading this article.
I guess it is possible that RFIDs will replace barcode technology, but I think the technology needed to adapt it to a library setting (an RFID that would work in a thin item, and last many years) is not yet in existence.
YouTube Most 5 Most Common Types of Networks
The most common network is the PAN (Personal Area Network) which usually includes at least one pc and a device such as a printer, usually found in homes.
LANs (Local Area Networks) are supposedly the second most common network, which can be found in offices, for instance.
The third most popular network is a WAN (Wide Area Network) which are larger than LANs in scale.
The fourth type of network are Campus Area Networks (CAN), which as the name implies, are a network encompassing a university.
MANs (Metropolitan Area Network) are networks that cover a city in geographical area.
LANs (Local Area Networks) are supposedly the second most common network, which can be found in offices, for instance.
The third most popular network is a WAN (Wide Area Network) which are larger than LANs in scale.
The fourth type of network are Campus Area Networks (CAN), which as the name implies, are a network encompassing a university.
MANs (Metropolitan Area Network) are networks that cover a city in geographical area.
Wiki Article on "Computer Network"
A computer network, as the name implies, is a group of computers, and devices, connected by communication channels that allow for communications among users and allows users to share resources.
Computer networks can be used to facilitate communications, to share hardware (such as a printer), to share files/data/information, and to share software.
Computer networks can be classified by the hardware or software technology used to connect the devices, as well as the scale (or size) of the network. There are a plethora of types of computer networks.
The basic hardware of a computer network contains: network interface cards, repeaters, hubs bridges, switches and routers.
Computer networks can be used to facilitate communications, to share hardware (such as a printer), to share files/data/information, and to share software.
Computer networks can be classified by the hardware or software technology used to connect the devices, as well as the scale (or size) of the network. There are a plethora of types of computer networks.
The basic hardware of a computer network contains: network interface cards, repeaters, hubs bridges, switches and routers.
Wiki Article on LAN
LAN is a term that I have often heard bandied about when discussing telephones versus cellular phones. "I'll have to call you back on a LAN line because my cell phone is losing reception" is one instance.
So it surprised me that the use of this term in that example is probably improper, considering that LAN stands for Local Area Network and refers to computers and devices connected in a network, such as in a home, school, or office building.
According to Wikipedia, the defining characteristics of a LAN are a higher data transfer rate than a Wide Area Network, a smaller geographic area, and no need for leased telecommunication lines. Examples of the structure over which LANs operate are Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
So it surprised me that the use of this term in that example is probably improper, considering that LAN stands for Local Area Network and refers to computers and devices connected in a network, such as in a home, school, or office building.
According to Wikipedia, the defining characteristics of a LAN are a higher data transfer rate than a Wide Area Network, a smaller geographic area, and no need for leased telecommunication lines. Examples of the structure over which LANs operate are Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative is an international effort to create a consensus across disciplines for discovery-oriented description of diverse resources in digital form.
DCMI is currently identifying and providing semantics for a core set of types of resources (people, corporation, place, etc.) that will facilitate the description of electronic resources.
In other words, DCMI are a set of rules archivists from a range of disciplines follow in order to catalogue resources in an electronic, digital format.
DCMI is currently identifying and providing semantics for a core set of types of resources (people, corporation, place, etc.) that will facilitate the description of electronic resources.
In other words, DCMI are a set of rules archivists from a range of disciplines follow in order to catalogue resources in an electronic, digital format.
Introduction to Metadata Article
Metadata, data about data, in the past 100 years has solely been the responsibility of info. professionals involved in cataloging, classification, and indexing.
Today, with the rise of new technologies, the average user of the internet is engaged in creating metadata through the use of web page title tags, folksonomies, and social bookmarking.
Library meta data provides intellectual and physical access to collection materials including indexes, abstracts, and bibliographic records all created according to catalogue rules (AACR, MARC, LCSH, or AAT).
Meta data shared over a network has five main functions: it certifies the authenticity and the degree of completeness of the content, it establishes and documents the context of the content, it identifies and exploits the structural relationships that exist within and between info. objects, and also it provides some of the information that info. professionals might provide in person.
Folksonomies and social bookmarking are examples of user-created meta data. The advantages of this type of meta data are that communities can create meta data based on their needs, and it is an inexpensive way of augmenting existing meta data. The disadvantages are: lack of quality control, and inoperability.
Today, with the rise of new technologies, the average user of the internet is engaged in creating metadata through the use of web page title tags, folksonomies, and social bookmarking.
Library meta data provides intellectual and physical access to collection materials including indexes, abstracts, and bibliographic records all created according to catalogue rules (AACR, MARC, LCSH, or AAT).
Meta data shared over a network has five main functions: it certifies the authenticity and the degree of completeness of the content, it establishes and documents the context of the content, it identifies and exploits the structural relationships that exist within and between info. objects, and also it provides some of the information that info. professionals might provide in person.
Folksonomies and social bookmarking are examples of user-created meta data. The advantages of this type of meta data are that communities can create meta data based on their needs, and it is an inexpensive way of augmenting existing meta data. The disadvantages are: lack of quality control, and inoperability.
Database Wiki Article
Database (referred to herein as db) - an organized collection of data for one or more users, typically in digital form
Database Management Systems DBMS consist of software that operates databases. DBMSs can be categorized in several ways: the db model they support (relational, XML), the type of computer they support, the query language used to access the db, or any performance trade offs that characterize the db.
There are at least 7 types of db: operational, data warehouse, analytical, distributed, end-user, external, and hypermedia.
So far, in my lifetime, I have probably used a distributed db, an end-user, external db, and a hypermedia db.
Database Management Systems DBMS consist of software that operates databases. DBMSs can be categorized in several ways: the db model they support (relational, XML), the type of computer they support, the query language used to access the db, or any performance trade offs that characterize the db.
There are at least 7 types of db: operational, data warehouse, analytical, distributed, end-user, external, and hypermedia.
So far, in my lifetime, I have probably used a distributed db, an end-user, external db, and a hypermedia db.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Muddiest Point for 9/27
I'm glad we are learning about Unicode. I often wondered how other languages adapted to technology, particularly Chinese and Japanese. What does a keyboard look like for those languages? Is it QWERTY?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
YouTube and Libraries: it could be a beautiful relationship
In this article by Paula Webb, YouTube is presented as one solution to libraries for a way to tutor patrons on how to use the library's resources, or as a creative way to show patrons the resources available at their local library.
While I'm not completely adverse to the concept of using YouTube in such a fashion, this method of posting a library instructional video on the library's web page would only be useful to patrons who had Internet access. I also believe most patron's first experience with the library does not occur online, and that usually the library web page is used most often to access the catalogue database.
However, I think the best use of a YouTube video for my local library would be to show all of the resources available to the patron as a sort of online commercial for the library.
While I'm not completely adverse to the concept of using YouTube in such a fashion, this method of posting a library instructional video on the library's web page would only be useful to patrons who had Internet access. I also believe most patron's first experience with the library does not occur online, and that usually the library web page is used most often to access the catalogue database.
However, I think the best use of a YouTube video for my local library would be to show all of the resources available to the patron as a sort of online commercial for the library.
Imaging Pittsburgh: Creating a Shared gateway to Digital Image Collections of the Pittsburgh Region
Written by Edward Galloway, I found this article rather interesting because I enjoy learning about history.
The article discussed most of the challenges met jointly by the University of Pitt Digital Research Library, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Historical Society of Western PA when they received a two year grant to form a digital photo library of 10,000 photographs from the mid-eighteen hundreds through the mid-twentieth century.
Among the challenges were those of communication among the three parties, the selection of the photographs and the meta data challenge to organize the photographs.
The article discussed most of the challenges met jointly by the University of Pitt Digital Research Library, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Historical Society of Western PA when they received a two year grant to form a digital photo library of 10,000 photographs from the mid-eighteen hundreds through the mid-twentieth century.
Among the challenges were those of communication among the three parties, the selection of the photographs and the meta data challenge to organize the photographs.
Data Compression Basics
This article demystified data compression. Essentially, data compression involves "taking a representation of information and replacing it with a different representation that takes up less space and from which the original can be recovered."
With lossless compression, the recovered info is guaranteed to be exactly the same as the original. This type of compression is recommended for computer programs, because every bit is important to the functioning of the program.
Lossy compression, on the other hand, preserves meaning of data rather than the data. The recovered info is never identical to the original. This type of compression is useful for info that is meant to be interpreted by a "meaning processor" such as a human being or an image recognition system. Uses of lossy compression could be to take the hiss out of a voice recording, or to store photographs.
Although this article did an excellent job of explaining the different data compressions, I believe the examples used and some of the technical information only palatable to someone interested in sound and video engineering.
With lossless compression, the recovered info is guaranteed to be exactly the same as the original. This type of compression is recommended for computer programs, because every bit is important to the functioning of the program.
Lossy compression, on the other hand, preserves meaning of data rather than the data. The recovered info is never identical to the original. This type of compression is useful for info that is meant to be interpreted by a "meaning processor" such as a human being or an image recognition system. Uses of lossy compression could be to take the hiss out of a voice recording, or to store photographs.
Although this article did an excellent job of explaining the different data compressions, I believe the examples used and some of the technical information only palatable to someone interested in sound and video engineering.
Wiki Article: Data Compression
According to the article, data compression is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than an uncoded representation.
A related topic is data deduplication, which is a specialized data compression technique used to eliminate redundant data in order to improve the use of storage.
Data compression is useful because it reduces the use of hard disk space or transmission bandwidth. However, compressed data must be decompressed to be used, and can only be understood if the decoding method is known by the receiver.
There are two types of data compression: lossy and lossless.
Lossy compression "provides a way to obtain the best fidelity for a given amount of compression" but some data is lost in order to achieve higher compression. Lossy compression works on rate-distortion theory, and involves more than four stages.
Lossless compression is reversible so that the original data can be completely reconstructed. It works on algorithmic information theory, and is usually accomplished in four stages.
A related topic is data deduplication, which is a specialized data compression technique used to eliminate redundant data in order to improve the use of storage.
Data compression is useful because it reduces the use of hard disk space or transmission bandwidth. However, compressed data must be decompressed to be used, and can only be understood if the decoding method is known by the receiver.
There are two types of data compression: lossy and lossless.
Lossy compression "provides a way to obtain the best fidelity for a given amount of compression" but some data is lost in order to achieve higher compression. Lossy compression works on rate-distortion theory, and involves more than four stages.
Lossless compression is reversible so that the original data can be completely reconstructed. It works on algorithmic information theory, and is usually accomplished in four stages.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
An Update on the Windows Road Map
This article was actually a letter written by an official at Microsoft and posted by a blogger.
Over a billion pcs run Windows worldwide. XP users who buy Vista will be able to get Vista and still use XP due to downgrade rights.
The letter enthusiastically discusses Vista, which shouldn't be a surprise considering the source, but everyone I have known who used Vista has hated it. Their complaint: too many bells and whistles, and incompatible with their applications.
I can't understand Microsoft's rationale: why fix something (invent Vista), if it's not broken (Windows XP)?
The main jist of this article: Microsoft will support XP until 2014, Windows Vista is a "better" experience, and Windows 7 is coming January of 2010.
Over a billion pcs run Windows worldwide. XP users who buy Vista will be able to get Vista and still use XP due to downgrade rights.
The letter enthusiastically discusses Vista, which shouldn't be a surprise considering the source, but everyone I have known who used Vista has hated it. Their complaint: too many bells and whistles, and incompatible with their applications.
I can't understand Microsoft's rationale: why fix something (invent Vista), if it's not broken (Windows XP)?
The main jist of this article: Microsoft will support XP until 2014, Windows Vista is a "better" experience, and Windows 7 is coming January of 2010.
Wiki Article MacOS X
MacOS X stands for Mac Operating System 10, and is a series of UNIX-based OS and GUI (graphic user interface) developed, marketed and sold by Apple.
Releases are named after big cats: cheetah, puma, snow leopard, etc.
A version of MacOS X, a POSIX operating system built on top of the XNU kernel, has been released as Open Source and is called Darwin.
As of 2009, MacOS X was the second most popular OS in use for the Internet after Microsoft Windows, with 4.5% of the market share.
Releases are named after big cats: cheetah, puma, snow leopard, etc.
A version of MacOS X, a POSIX operating system built on top of the XNU kernel, has been released as Open Source and is called Darwin.
As of 2009, MacOS X was the second most popular OS in use for the Internet after Microsoft Windows, with 4.5% of the market share.
What is Mac OS X?
I found this fairly extensive article to be too technical to understand, and the author's opinions to be too slanted.
All I learned from this document was that MacOSX is an operating system which runs on Mac computers.
All I learned from this document was that MacOSX is an operating system which runs on Mac computers.
Introduction to Linux
- 30 years ago, each computer had its own software
- UNIX was an operating system developed by Bell Labs which was simple and elegant, written in C language, and able to recycle code.
- Because UNIX could recycle code, and only needed a kernel to adapt to any system, it could run on many types of hardware.
- At the end of the 1980s, one had to work at a university or for the government in order to use a machine running UNIX.
- In 1991, Linus Torvalds started to develop Linux, an open source academic version of UNIX.
- Linux is a stable and reliable OS, making it a workhorse for such firms as Amazon.com, the U.S. Postal Service, even the German Army. ISPs use it for firewall protection, proxy and web servers. Machines running Linux were even used to create Titanic and Shrek.
- Because Linux is scalable, it can run on workstations as well as PDAs and experimental wristwatches.
- Linux can be downloaded from the Internet for free, and allows itself to be redeveloped and repackaged as long as the new code is available to all users.
- The only drawbacks to this OS are there are too many distributions, it's not very friendly for beginners, and how reliable can something be if it is free?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Virtual Visit to the Computer History Museum
A fun place to spend a rainy morning, www.computerhistory.org, the Computer History Museum's mission is "to preserve for posterity the artifacts and stories of the information age."
Established in 1999, it is "home to one of the largest international collections of computing artifacts in the world, including hardware, photographs, moving images, documents and software."
Currently, the site boasts 12 online exhibits including my personal favorite, This Day in History, which tells what happened in computer history on the present date.
Established in 1999, it is "home to one of the largest international collections of computing artifacts in the world, including hardware, photographs, moving images, documents and software."
Currently, the site boasts 12 online exhibits including my personal favorite, This Day in History, which tells what happened in computer history on the present date.
Moore's Law Wiki Article and video
Gordon E. Moore, in a 1965 article, described a trend in the history of computer hardware, paraphrased here: "the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit has doubled approximately every two years."
Moore's Law has continued for more than half a century and is not expected to stop until 2015 or later. (I didn't think we used transistors any more?) In fact, many capabilities of other devices are strongly linked to this law: processing speed, memory capacity, even the size and number of pixels in digital cameras--all of these are improving at exponential rates.
Moore's Law has continued for more than half a century and is not expected to stop until 2015 or later. (I didn't think we used transistors any more?) In fact, many capabilities of other devices are strongly linked to this law: processing speed, memory capacity, even the size and number of pixels in digital cameras--all of these are improving at exponential rates.
Wiki Article on Computer Hardware
Personal Computers are made of 10 basic physical components called computer hardware: monitor, motherboard, CPU, RAM, Expansion Cards, Power Supply, Optical disc drive, Hard disc drive, keyboard, and mouse.
The motherboard is the main component inside the case and connects the rest of the parts of the computer, including the CPU, the RAM, the disc drives and any peripherals.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) performs most of the calculations which enable the computer to function, AKA "the brain".
RAM (Random Access Memory) stores all running applications and the operating system.
Peripherals (which I've always thought of as anything that plugs in) fall into two categories: input and output devices. Some examples of input devices: keyboard, mouse, scanner, webcam, microphone. Output devices include: printers, speakers, headphones, and LCD monitor.
The motherboard is the main component inside the case and connects the rest of the parts of the computer, including the CPU, the RAM, the disc drives and any peripherals.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) performs most of the calculations which enable the computer to function, AKA "the brain".
RAM (Random Access Memory) stores all running applications and the operating system.
Peripherals (which I've always thought of as anything that plugs in) fall into two categories: input and output devices. Some examples of input devices: keyboard, mouse, scanner, webcam, microphone. Output devices include: printers, speakers, headphones, and LCD monitor.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Muddiest Point of the Lecture of August 30th
The muddiest point of the lecture for me was NASA's definition of Information Technology.
Vaughan: Lied Library @ four years: Technology Never Stands Still
This article chronicled the improvements made to an already state of the art library which opened at UNLV four years ago.
I was surprised to find out that they use Innovative's Innopac Millennium software because the library in which I work also uses the same software to deal with cataloguing and patron accounts.
I found their response to patron printing numbers expanding by 49% a little excessive: "the library implemented an override print queue that allows staff to override print jobs." I think the best solution would have been to charge more money for the black and white print outs.
The article went into some detail in explaining the computer acquisition of summer 2003. It bears repeating that "equipment and software purchases are a huge expense for any library," and that "licensing and support costs run into the tens of thousands of dollars per year."
According to the article, "redundant hardware, capable support staff and vendor support all contribute to a well functioning library."
While I was at West Chester University, as in Lied Library, they also installed Deep Freeze Software which causes all user installed software, background changes and system modifications to be erased. I think it's the best security software to have on a public computer network.
I found it typical and interesting that Lied Library's problem with Adobe Acrobat files being printed mirror-imaged could be attributed to a staff member rotating the images as they load.
I was surprised to find out that they use Innovative's Innopac Millennium software because the library in which I work also uses the same software to deal with cataloguing and patron accounts.
I found their response to patron printing numbers expanding by 49% a little excessive: "the library implemented an override print queue that allows staff to override print jobs." I think the best solution would have been to charge more money for the black and white print outs.
The article went into some detail in explaining the computer acquisition of summer 2003. It bears repeating that "equipment and software purchases are a huge expense for any library," and that "licensing and support costs run into the tens of thousands of dollars per year."
According to the article, "redundant hardware, capable support staff and vendor support all contribute to a well functioning library."
While I was at West Chester University, as in Lied Library, they also installed Deep Freeze Software which causes all user installed software, background changes and system modifications to be erased. I think it's the best security software to have on a public computer network.
I found it typical and interesting that Lied Library's problem with Adobe Acrobat files being printed mirror-imaged could be attributed to a staff member rotating the images as they load.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Clifford Lynch, Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture
February 1998:
- information technology literacy: an understanding of technology, the tools technology provides, and the legal, social, economic, and public policy issues which shape the use of technology
- information literacy: deals with content and communication; authoring, info. finding and organization, the research process, info. analysis, assessment and evaluation. Content can be text, images, video, computer simulations, multi-media interactive works. (Content serves many purposes: news, art, entertainment, education, research and scholarship, advertising, politics, commerce, documents that structure activities of everyday business and personal life.)
Both are essential to function and succeed in today's society. Distinct, but inter-related. Need to be closely coordinated when taught.
- People with Information Technology Literacy Demonstrate:
Emphasis in the use of tools: word processing, spread sheets, basic operation of computers, use of Internet tools, a superficial knowledge of programming language.
Skills with tools become outdated very quickly with today's technology life cycle.
To learn the principles of how these infrastructure components work, how they have evolved, and what the key issues are is more valuable, but takes longer to convey and absorb. However, this type of understanding will be increasingly critical to function as an informed citizen.
- People with Information Literacy Demonstrate:
The assessment of purpose, bias, accuracy, and quality needs to be extended from text to the full range of visual and multi media communication genres.
A knowledge of interactive media, the fluid nature of digital forms, plus an understanding of the computer's ability to edit or fabricate factual events.
An understanding of how search systems work.
They have formed a conceptual map of information space (what's available to them from documents on the Internet, databases, and library collections).
They need to develop a sense of what info. is most appropriate for their needs.
They will have to learn to assess info. through the lenses of: legal, social, economic, ethical issues of intellectual property; privacy questions; authenticity of info.
OCLC Report: Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers
This article, a report, was generated by the Online Computer Library Center. It found the most significant trend was "the rapid 'unbundling' of content from traditional containers such as books, journals, and cds, has had a significant impact on the self-search/find/obtain process."
It claims that most consumers of unbundled content are middle aged "format agnostics" who, as I understand this, don't care if a movie they want to see is on dvd or bluray at their local library, but they will gladly order it on demand from their cable company for twice as much money. (Especially because that movie can be downloaded to their cell phone so they can watch it on the plane.) Or they don't care if the book they are currently reading can only be downloaded from the Internet as an ebook.
As Marshall McLuhan stated in 1964 "The medium is the message." Changes in how content is made available, accessed and consumed have created a new message which is an effect of Internet access expanding. "Books, radios, VCRs, telephones, or tv are no longer sacred objects" as "the format of the content becomes less important than its ability to be delivered via a low cost convenient channel to the consumer."
It was estimated at the time of the report that 2 billion text messages and 16 billion emails were sent per day, as opposed to 51,000 interlibrary loans.
"Cell phone ringtones, wallpaper, single tracks of music...are now part of a $3.2 billion microcontent industry" which libraries see no parts of, since microcontent is not available from them. The report suggested libraries need to find a way to provide microcontent in order to be competitive, as well as the incorporation of Open Content such as a wiki or blog, to reach their patrons.
At the time of the report, 4 million blogs existed. The magazine publishing industry reported a net loss in 2003, ebooks were the fastest growing segment of the publishing industry, and on-demand services appeared to be the future of the entertainment industry.
It is estimated libraries spent 20% in 2002 on packaged, distributed electronic resources for their collections.
According to the report, libraries not only need to adjust to "Everything, everywhere, when I want it, the way I want it" they also must "move beyond the role of collector and organizer of content to one that establishes authenticity and provenance of content and provides the imprintur of quality in an info-rich but content-poor world."
In other words, we are awash in information. We lack context in which to place all of the new content. This is where librarians should step in.
It claims that most consumers of unbundled content are middle aged "format agnostics" who, as I understand this, don't care if a movie they want to see is on dvd or bluray at their local library, but they will gladly order it on demand from their cable company for twice as much money. (Especially because that movie can be downloaded to their cell phone so they can watch it on the plane.) Or they don't care if the book they are currently reading can only be downloaded from the Internet as an ebook.
As Marshall McLuhan stated in 1964 "The medium is the message." Changes in how content is made available, accessed and consumed have created a new message which is an effect of Internet access expanding. "Books, radios, VCRs, telephones, or tv are no longer sacred objects" as "the format of the content becomes less important than its ability to be delivered via a low cost convenient channel to the consumer."
It was estimated at the time of the report that 2 billion text messages and 16 billion emails were sent per day, as opposed to 51,000 interlibrary loans.
"Cell phone ringtones, wallpaper, single tracks of music...are now part of a $3.2 billion microcontent industry" which libraries see no parts of, since microcontent is not available from them. The report suggested libraries need to find a way to provide microcontent in order to be competitive, as well as the incorporation of Open Content such as a wiki or blog, to reach their patrons.
At the time of the report, 4 million blogs existed. The magazine publishing industry reported a net loss in 2003, ebooks were the fastest growing segment of the publishing industry, and on-demand services appeared to be the future of the entertainment industry.
It is estimated libraries spent 20% in 2002 on packaged, distributed electronic resources for their collections.
According to the report, libraries not only need to adjust to "Everything, everywhere, when I want it, the way I want it" they also must "move beyond the role of collector and organizer of content to one that establishes authenticity and provenance of content and provides the imprintur of quality in an info-rich but content-poor world."
In other words, we are awash in information. We lack context in which to place all of the new content. This is where librarians should step in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)