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Sunday, August 31, 2008
Second Readings
"Moore's Law"
It is interesting how the articles states common misconceptions that many people have with Moore's law - the belief that it applies to everything in computer-technology products. Although "almost every measure of the capabilities of digital electronic devices is linked to Moore's law..." (goes to list a few) not everything, such as software and RAM increase exponentially. I believe that Moore brings an interesting topic to discuss or debate up when he states, "Moore's law has been the name given to everything that changes exponentially. I say, if Gore invented the Internet, I invented the exponential." Most of us would argue that he did not invent the exponential and that inventions are usually combined works of inventors throughout time, especially the Internet (now more quickly connected than ever). I think others more technological savvy and those with interests in the "invention" of the Internet could comment better on this quote. Finally, I agree that Moore's law is only a self-fulfilling prophecy to the marketers and engineers of these products because they, themselves so truly believed in Moore's law that they made it come true.
Muddiest Point: The computer terminology. I tried to get past the terminology, look up a few that I thought would be useful and tried to get the main ideas out of the article rather than all the technological jargon.
"Computer Hardware"
I am actually glad that we had this article - I was finally forced to read something I have avoided for years. A lot of computer physical parts and terminology seems a bit more clear to me now after reading this article. Interesting point made: that most computer hardware is not seen by normal users and that our personal computers only make up .2% of all new computers produced in 2003 (1). Another interesting thing to note is actually a conversation I was having with a student this past spring about HD DVD being discontinued because of Blue-ray. It seems as though almost everyone finally had the spectacular HD DVD equipment (and all the movies were advertised as HD DVDs) when low and behold, Blue-ray became the rave and the hottest "new" thing in computers.
Computer History Website
I'm glad I read the articles in the order that I did because this allowed me to understand what I was viewing once I was on the website. This website also further helped me to understand what exactly the articles were saying.
Important Point: The problem lies of understanding these articles lies within myself - I'm just not interested in all of the technology talk. I believe that if I had more interest in learning the jargon I would pick up a great deal more than I have from these articles and website. But at least it made a dent in my clueless about computer technology terminology.
It is interesting how the articles states common misconceptions that many people have with Moore's law - the belief that it applies to everything in computer-technology products. Although "almost every measure of the capabilities of digital electronic devices is linked to Moore's law..." (goes to list a few) not everything, such as software and RAM increase exponentially. I believe that Moore brings an interesting topic to discuss or debate up when he states, "Moore's law has been the name given to everything that changes exponentially. I say, if Gore invented the Internet, I invented the exponential." Most of us would argue that he did not invent the exponential and that inventions are usually combined works of inventors throughout time, especially the Internet (now more quickly connected than ever). I think others more technological savvy and those with interests in the "invention" of the Internet could comment better on this quote. Finally, I agree that Moore's law is only a self-fulfilling prophecy to the marketers and engineers of these products because they, themselves so truly believed in Moore's law that they made it come true.
Muddiest Point: The computer terminology. I tried to get past the terminology, look up a few that I thought would be useful and tried to get the main ideas out of the article rather than all the technological jargon.
"Computer Hardware"
I am actually glad that we had this article - I was finally forced to read something I have avoided for years. A lot of computer physical parts and terminology seems a bit more clear to me now after reading this article. Interesting point made: that most computer hardware is not seen by normal users and that our personal computers only make up .2% of all new computers produced in 2003 (1). Another interesting thing to note is actually a conversation I was having with a student this past spring about HD DVD being discontinued because of Blue-ray. It seems as though almost everyone finally had the spectacular HD DVD equipment (and all the movies were advertised as HD DVDs) when low and behold, Blue-ray became the rave and the hottest "new" thing in computers.
Computer History Website
I'm glad I read the articles in the order that I did because this allowed me to understand what I was viewing once I was on the website. This website also further helped me to understand what exactly the articles were saying.
Important Point: The problem lies of understanding these articles lies within myself - I'm just not interested in all of the technology talk. I believe that if I had more interest in learning the jargon I would pick up a great deal more than I have from these articles and website. But at least it made a dent in my clueless about computer technology terminology.
Muddiest Point - Question
I am confused about when to post what assignments. I thought Assignment One for reading one was due this Friday, and Assignment two or readings for week two were due Tuesday? Anyone have a clue? I'll start reading now just to get it done in case it was suppose to be posted Friday.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Reading Assignment #1
"2004 Information Format Trends: Content Not Containers"
This article addressed the changes taking place not only in libraries, but in our culture, society, and across the world because of new information technologies. One of the main ideas is that people have become "format agnostic;" meaning that people have little preference for how the information is contained and are more concerned about the information that they receive (for a low cost). Print is slowly declining, along with the increase in E-books, online magazine articles, and scholarly journals that can be found online because information online can be downsized to "micropayments" in return for smaller pieces of information that the user wants (rather than paying for an entire magazine if they only want to read one article out of it).
I found the section on blogs extremely interesting - the fact that 80 percent of those who read blogs do so for news that they can't find elsewhere says a lot about what kind of news content people around the world are either censored from or cannot get their hands on other than through the Internet. And even the demographics on age and income of those who read and create blogs is somewhat surprising. Most people would expect college students and the younger generation to be the majority, but 61% of blog readers are over the age of 30.
Another main point that is stressed is the changing responsibilities of libraries to the community. This article stresses how libraries need to change their role as moving beyond just being a collector and organizer of information to one that "establishes the authenticity and provenance of content and provides the imprimatur of quality in an information-rich but context poor world" (13). And because research suggests that patrons believe libraries should make content available through emerging information technologies such as through Web Services, it is up to libraries to synthesize all of this information into a medium that the community can use.
Muddiest Point: McLuhan's quote, "The medium is the message." I could be possibly over thinking it, but the explanation by Mark Federman does make it any more clear to me what McLuhan was trying to tell us.
"Lied Library @ Four Years: technology never stands still"
Muddiest Point: The technology/computer jargon throughout the entire article confused me. Also, the article being from 2005, I kept wondering how far this technology that they speak of is behind our current programs and installations, and what the new technology is - that I don't know about either (or could understand).
"Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture"
This article addressed the changes taking place not only in libraries, but in our culture, society, and across the world because of new information technologies. One of the main ideas is that people have become "format agnostic;" meaning that people have little preference for how the information is contained and are more concerned about the information that they receive (for a low cost). Print is slowly declining, along with the increase in E-books, online magazine articles, and scholarly journals that can be found online because information online can be downsized to "micropayments" in return for smaller pieces of information that the user wants (rather than paying for an entire magazine if they only want to read one article out of it).
I found the section on blogs extremely interesting - the fact that 80 percent of those who read blogs do so for news that they can't find elsewhere says a lot about what kind of news content people around the world are either censored from or cannot get their hands on other than through the Internet. And even the demographics on age and income of those who read and create blogs is somewhat surprising. Most people would expect college students and the younger generation to be the majority, but 61% of blog readers are over the age of 30.
Another main point that is stressed is the changing responsibilities of libraries to the community. This article stresses how libraries need to change their role as moving beyond just being a collector and organizer of information to one that "establishes the authenticity and provenance of content and provides the imprimatur of quality in an information-rich but context poor world" (13). And because research suggests that patrons believe libraries should make content available through emerging information technologies such as through Web Services, it is up to libraries to synthesize all of this information into a medium that the community can use.
Muddiest Point: McLuhan's quote, "The medium is the message." I could be possibly over thinking it, but the explanation by Mark Federman does make it any more clear to me what McLuhan was trying to tell us.
"Lied Library @ Four Years: technology never stands still"
- Paper covers: Evolution of Lied Library, Ongoing costs, challenges of Lied, the hopeful future of Lied.
- Major installations and programs:
- EZ Proxy, DiMeMa/OCLC's CONTENTdm, OCLC's virtual ref, Serial Solutions A-Z, SFX, the student laptop program, Uniprint, and Millennium
- Biggest project to date: Replacement of every desktop PC (over 600 units in 2003)
- Planned every possible step they could think of, and even thought ahead of possible problems that they would run into
- How they did from July - August 2003 in time for the staff to be trained and the students arriving for Fall classes
- Assembly Line installation and assemblage of computers
- bar coded outgoing PCs the day before that area of PCs was to be removed
- Keeping certain areas up and running, and limiting traffic and users around the computers that would be replaced the next day
- Costs - ever increasing, such as hardware and operating system support, vendors software, and the upfront costs of computers and other machines (such as printers)
- Challenges
- Computing Resource Management
- Make sure that students have computers to work on for schoolwork, such as limiting community user's time and the laptop program
- Space Management
- Biggest problem is library staff areas such as where to place new employees
- Security
- Theft - small number, but they want it at zero theft
- Network security - malicious software
- Equipment and Software glitches
- Seem to want to be perfect for the paper states that Lied enjoys 99%+ uptime for all systems
- Future
- Maintaining current systems and finding the money to maintain them or upgrade the programs
- Projected enrollment growth will create challenges for supply and space in Lied
- Wireless Connection in library
- Unknown impact of the change in library leadership
- Conclusion:
- Continuous effort towards refinement and expansion
- Stay at the cutting-edge of technologies in libraries
- Remain a distinctive premiere academic library and a place where all students want to come to do their research
Muddiest Point: The technology/computer jargon throughout the entire article confused me. Also, the article being from 2005, I kept wondering how far this technology that they speak of is behind our current programs and installations, and what the new technology is - that I don't know about either (or could understand).
"Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture"
- The meaning of information technology literacy compared to the meaning of information literacy which is the content and communication of these technologies.
- Believes that it is crucial for people to know and understand both forms of literacy in order to successful function in today's society (these new technologies are the main way to receive and send information)
- Goes far beyond traditional textual literacy that one learns as a basic in school
- Information Technology Literacy
- Two perspectives on information technology literacy:
- one that focuses on the use of the tools through one's skills
- second - one that focuses on the full understanding of these technologies
- Questions why one would need to know about information technology literacy?
- students must know both in order to be prepared for today's jobs and "all walks of life" (4) because technology shapes the way we live and how we view the world
- not understanding information technology literacy would limit ones skills
- Another key of information technology literacy: "understanding the principles of how the technology world works" (3)
- needs to cover a broad view
- needs to appreciate and understand how history, economics, social and public policy issues play an important part in information technology literacy and technology
- Information Literacy
- In learning about information literacy, the knowledge needs to encompass to the full range of all types of communication such as image and video
- People need to have an understanding of how information resources are a part of technological and economic structures and how they interrelate
- Range of issues related to information policies that a person must know:
- legal, social, economic, ethical, privacy, authenticity, integrity, and management
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