http://att16.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-internet-and-www-technologies.html?showComment=1287070058213#c6125075341171452316
http://jsslis2600.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-reading-notes.html?showComment=1287073660280#c8445504594057517832
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Week 7 notes
1) Tyson, Jeff. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm/printable
It is strange that we think of the Internet as a single thing, but it really is a lot of small connections. I never thought about how every computer online connects to every other.
I liked reading about routers because obviously I own one but I never really thought about its purpose. I knew it send the information where it needs to go, but I didn't know it made sure that information didn't go where it's not needed. I guess that is really important when there is such a large amount of information (as we saw illustrated in the Google video below).
I did know what an IP address and URL were (which was a relief, because a lot of the acronyms we read about for this class are new to me!). But this was a good review. I am continually, happily surprised at how concise and helpful the readings are for this class.
2) Andrew K. Pace (2004). Dismantling Integrated Library Systems. Library Journal, 129(2), p.34-36.
This article was a little bit technical for me, but I thought the CEO made an interesting comment: When building a new system, you should use the "same intellectual logic" from the original. I think that's a good rule of thumb; you can constantly tweak systems to meet the current technological needs, but the purpose and logic still have to be there.
I thought the "better costs more" part was interesting, too. Libraries do need to realize that these systems cost a ton if they expect them to do all these things. You get what you pay for! Unfortunately, libraries are dealing with a crunch on their budgets just as these technologies become more important.
3) Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Inside the Google machine.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/sergey_brin_and_larry_page_on_google.html
The world graphic at the beginning of the video was awesome. It also showed the awesome reach of Google. Only Africa was mostly dark. He said that even the international space station would have a dot if it were in the map. Then the map showed the links of where in the world information was traveling -- all over. And the flash of one second of Google traffic showed the amount and variety of searches.
I think it's awesome that when one of their developers wants to do something, Google "pretty much lets them do it." You never know what the next big thing will be, and Google is making a smart move in letting its workers explore. It also keeps them happy. They "try things out for fun and see where it goes." Larry Page said something like many useful things come out of hobbies. I didn't know Google News came about that way. (I use it almost daily.)
Also, as an aside -- Brin and Page are funny! I guess I should have expected that from the guys behind Google, which is such an innovative company.
It is strange that we think of the Internet as a single thing, but it really is a lot of small connections. I never thought about how every computer online connects to every other.
I liked reading about routers because obviously I own one but I never really thought about its purpose. I knew it send the information where it needs to go, but I didn't know it made sure that information didn't go where it's not needed. I guess that is really important when there is such a large amount of information (as we saw illustrated in the Google video below).
I did know what an IP address and URL were (which was a relief, because a lot of the acronyms we read about for this class are new to me!). But this was a good review. I am continually, happily surprised at how concise and helpful the readings are for this class.
2) Andrew K. Pace (2004). Dismantling Integrated Library Systems. Library Journal, 129(2), p.34-36.
This article was a little bit technical for me, but I thought the CEO made an interesting comment: When building a new system, you should use the "same intellectual logic" from the original. I think that's a good rule of thumb; you can constantly tweak systems to meet the current technological needs, but the purpose and logic still have to be there.
I thought the "better costs more" part was interesting, too. Libraries do need to realize that these systems cost a ton if they expect them to do all these things. You get what you pay for! Unfortunately, libraries are dealing with a crunch on their budgets just as these technologies become more important.
3) Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Inside the Google machine.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/sergey_brin_and_larry_page_on_google.html
The world graphic at the beginning of the video was awesome. It also showed the awesome reach of Google. Only Africa was mostly dark. He said that even the international space station would have a dot if it were in the map. Then the map showed the links of where in the world information was traveling -- all over. And the flash of one second of Google traffic showed the amount and variety of searches.
I think it's awesome that when one of their developers wants to do something, Google "pretty much lets them do it." You never know what the next big thing will be, and Google is making a smart move in letting its workers explore. It also keeps them happy. They "try things out for fun and see where it goes." Larry Page said something like many useful things come out of hobbies. I didn't know Google News came about that way. (I use it almost daily.)
Also, as an aside -- Brin and Page are funny! I guess I should have expected that from the guys behind Google, which is such an innovative company.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Week 6 notes
1) Local Area Network: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Area_Network
I am sure we have all worked on LANs. I know I have in schools and work. This article was very brief, so I was glad to get a broader overview with the next article ...
2) Computer network http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network
This article showed the differences in many kinds of networks. Now I will be able to differentiate what kind of network I'm using at school, work and home. I am glad it went into intranets, because I've used those at jobs I've had but never quite knew how they worked. I also liked seeing the Internet described as a network: global!
3) Common types of computer networks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dpgqDdfUjQ
I didn't know that many LAN connections can now do what wide area networks used to do; things have become that advanced. I also liked how he mentioned "MANs," or metropolitan area networks. This is an interesting but useful configuration. Some small cities have tried this, and a lot of residents are probably happy. When I was getting my undergraduate at Penn State, the State College borough council discussed doing this in the downtown area. I'm not sure how far they've gotten with that plan, but I know a lot of students would appreciate it.
The video links provided so far for this class have been great: short and straightforward. I look forward to more like them!
4) Coyle, K. (2005). Management of RFID in libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 31(5), 486-489.
The intro to this article was helpful for explaining exactly what RFID is. I knew what it did, but I didn't know how. (I also watched the video under the RFID discussion board, which helped, too.) The author brings up a good point about even if libraries don't embrace RFID right away, we can't ignore it. We have to educate ourselves, especially because RFID may promise a way to speed up operations. (They don't have to be scanned individually, like barcodes -- you can do stacks at a time! And I really liked the idea that the book drop can check in books automatically.) Libraries converted to barcodes eventually, and RFID adds a security measure that barcodes don't have.
I mentioned what I thought some uses might be in my discussion board post, and she hit on some of them, such as advantages in the stacks and shelving. Incorrectly shelved books may no longer we the same as losing a book.
Her problems are valid as well. Obviously privacy is an issue, but so is cost. And if not all items are deemed worthy of that cost -- like flimsy magazines -- it will be a hassle to keep the other barcode method in place.
I am sure we have all worked on LANs. I know I have in schools and work. This article was very brief, so I was glad to get a broader overview with the next article ...
2) Computer network http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network
This article showed the differences in many kinds of networks. Now I will be able to differentiate what kind of network I'm using at school, work and home. I am glad it went into intranets, because I've used those at jobs I've had but never quite knew how they worked. I also liked seeing the Internet described as a network: global!
3) Common types of computer networks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dpgqDdfUjQ
I didn't know that many LAN connections can now do what wide area networks used to do; things have become that advanced. I also liked how he mentioned "MANs," or metropolitan area networks. This is an interesting but useful configuration. Some small cities have tried this, and a lot of residents are probably happy. When I was getting my undergraduate at Penn State, the State College borough council discussed doing this in the downtown area. I'm not sure how far they've gotten with that plan, but I know a lot of students would appreciate it.
The video links provided so far for this class have been great: short and straightforward. I look forward to more like them!
4) Coyle, K. (2005). Management of RFID in libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 31(5), 486-489.
The intro to this article was helpful for explaining exactly what RFID is. I knew what it did, but I didn't know how. (I also watched the video under the RFID discussion board, which helped, too.) The author brings up a good point about even if libraries don't embrace RFID right away, we can't ignore it. We have to educate ourselves, especially because RFID may promise a way to speed up operations. (They don't have to be scanned individually, like barcodes -- you can do stacks at a time! And I really liked the idea that the book drop can check in books automatically.) Libraries converted to barcodes eventually, and RFID adds a security measure that barcodes don't have.
I mentioned what I thought some uses might be in my discussion board post, and she hit on some of them, such as advantages in the stacks and shelving. Incorrectly shelved books may no longer we the same as losing a book.
Her problems are valid as well. Obviously privacy is an issue, but so is cost. And if not all items are deemed worthy of that cost -- like flimsy magazines -- it will be a hassle to keep the other barcode method in place.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Week 5 muddiest point
Thanks for answering my question in class, Jiepu!
I was going to ask a question about getting updates on our blog grades, but you answered that, too. So I have no muddiest point for this week. Thanks!
I was going to ask a question about getting updates on our blog grades, but you answered that, too. So I have no muddiest point for this week. Thanks!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Assignment 3: Jing
I did a tutorial on how to order a book from the library.
Video:
http://www.screencast.com/t/ODZkMjQ1NWIt
Annotated, screenshot instructions (the entire set is here):
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044745302/in/set-72157624954942899/
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044754224/in/set-72157624954942899/
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044134843/in/set-72157624954942899/
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044138139/in/set-72157624954942899/
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044768894/in/set-72157624954942899/
Video:
http://www.screencast.com/t/ODZkMjQ1NWIt
Annotated, screenshot instructions (the entire set is here):
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044745302/in/set-72157624954942899/
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044754224/in/set-72157624954942899/
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044134843/in/set-72157624954942899/
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044138139/in/set-72157624954942899/
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdhuth/5044768894/in/set-72157624954942899/
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