Week 5 Comments

I posted comments on Stephanie's blog: http://lis2600sj.blogspot.com/2009/09/readings-week-5.html#comments and on Christa's: http://christaruthcoleman2600.blogspot.com/2009/09/readings-for-week-five.html#comments

Week 5 Muddiest Point

I have no muddiest point for this week.

Week 5 Reading Notes

Data Compression Wikipedia The basics I got from this article are that I have used both kinds of data compression. When I compressed Excel files to share with lab partners, I probably was using lossless, while when I compressed Photoshop files of digital images to send them to friends and family, I used lossy compression. Both seem to have their uses, though you would want to be careful that you didn't use the wrong sort in the wrong situation. There are instances when rounding numbers up in a saved Excel file can completely mess up your results when completely statistical tests. Data Compression Basics The examples on this page were very helpful. I would not have understood these concepts without the step by step dialogue. Granted I'm still a little fuzzy on some of the concepts, like when the author talks about families of algorithms, but that's just my general reaction to math terminology. It was interesting to learn that jpegs are already pretty compressed as is. However, I know I had to post Photoshop assignments to Blogger and are teacher had us optimize them for the web and that made them lower quality and thus smaller files. There is more than one way to save space, it's just that compressing seems to make keeping higher quality images feasible. Entropy coding is definitely still fuzzy. I'll just stick with the idea that it shortens or lengthens codes depending on the needs of the computer. "Imaging Pittsburgh" This article was very useful for better understanding the challenges of using grant money between different institutions. Lay people usually assume that libraries, museums, and archives are directly connected, but even in cases where they are different departments of the same unit, the separation can cause difficulties in communication. I didn't realize that Microsoft Access had such broad applications. For personal use it can be nice, but I'm surprised it worked for the archives and historical society. YouTube and Libraries What a neat idea! I think every academic library should take her advice and post YouTube videos helping freshman naviagate both the physical and digital libraries. I was lucky to have a required LIS 101 class my freshman year, but many universities don't offer those, and I never did successfuly figure out the architecture of the Rasmuson Library at UAF. Some of floors could only be reached by one set of stairs while another set of stairs was on the opposite side of the building. Also I never did figure out where to find the Reference librarians. You'd think they'd be at the desk with a big sign on it that said "Reference," but this wasn't the case at all. I don't see any downsides to using YouTube really. It's free, public, and not too time consuming.

Week 4 Comments

I posted on the following people's blogs: Katherina Herring at: http://kahering.blogspot.com/2009/09/week-3-or-4-sept-16-sept-23.html#comment and Jenn Chaney: http://jennchaney.blogspot.com/2009/09/week-4-reading-notes.html#comments

Lecture 3 Muddiest Point

I had no muddiest point for this week.

Week 4 Reading Notes

Wikipedia Database I've used databases for years, but the only kind I've ever built has been using Microsoft Access. I believe this is considered a relational database. It can be very challenging to build a database from scratch. That is one thing I hope I learn how do to better while I'm in LIS school. Some of this was review, but it was of terms and concepts I don't think about every day so some of it seemed new. The ACID rules seem important, and I'm not familiar with the replication processes. My own personal contacts database isn't replicated regularly (for example). I guess it would depend on how often a database is updated and how sensitive the information is. Introduction to Metadata Wow! I didn't know how important metadata is. I also didn't realize how many times I've been applying metadata in non-digital contexts without knowing I was doing so. It sounds to me as though metadata is any data describing a document or object, whether it's online or digital. For me metadata must be short, but perhaps this is not necessary to the definition. I wonder if an annotation is considered a form of metadata? Technically it could be, but I would still just call it an annotation. My main use of metadata has been in my physical and digital notes where I title and date each page and then provide an index as I go. Without these indexes and titles it would be almost impossible to find specific references that I need to study. This same concept applies all over the board though. I wonder if web sites that allow the use of tags made their tags less personalized and more conventional if that would help inexpert users make more useful metadata. An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model This is pretty much what I was trying to convey in my notes on metadata. It seems like citations are already pretty formalized. Maybe the way these were developed could be used as a basic model in defining specific terms for specific types of data. There could be metadata classification systems where you simply fill in fields predetermined by the type of classification you are using. For instance, the biological sciences would need fields different from the humanities, but terms could be specified even further. Genetics has some similar terms as ecology, but each would still need their own specific list of terms that could be used in each discipline.

Assignment 2, Flickr

Here is the link to my Flickr images. http://www.flickr.com/photos/42533547@N06 This was a fun assignment!

Week 3 Comment Locations

I commented on Brent Nicewander's blog at http://blnblog13.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-had-no-idea-that-basis-for-linux-was.html#comments and also on Christie Gracie's at https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4008293954130468690&postID=7055150828778347600

Week 3 Muddiest Point

I just wondered if parallel processors are specialized, and perform different types of tasks at the same time, or whether they perform the same types of tasks simultaneously? Have both methods been experimented with?

Week 3 Reading Notes

Introduction to Linux I was glad to read that brief introduction as I have wondered about Linux since I first heard about it. Yet I wish I had taken a computer science class as an undergrad. so I knew more about codes and such. Although I believe the author means well when they say that beginners can still use Linux, I'm still wary of installing something I don't understand that was created by people much more computer savvy than me who did not create it initially with the intent of helping me more readily use my computer. With that being said, it is a great concept that almost everything could be FREE! I definitely see the application in the LIS world. If a librarian could have a decent knowledge of Linux, or at least hire someone who could run Linux on a library's computers, imagine how much money a library could potentially save. The downside is that if patrons couldn't get used to a different interface, it might discourage them from using library computers, which would decrease library use. What is Mac OS X? This site outlines the basics of Mac OS X, beginning with its history. Steve Jobs became involved in Apple again in 1997 as the acting CEO. His projects NEXTSTEP and OPENSTEP were integral components of the new Mac OS X. Darwin 7.0 uses Apple as well as open source packages. Open Firmware is important for booting up a Mac and can be used for other purposes as well. BootX is a little confusing to me, but seems to make sure the computer boots up the way the user wishes it to. From Bootx and beyond this text got more and more confusing to me. There are so many acronyms and other forms of abbreviation that I didn't understand. Too many in fact to look each and every one up in an online dictionary and manage to gain even a kernel :) of understanding. I'm hoping our class this week helps a little. I am interested in learning more about the history of computers. I may have to rewatch "Pirates of Silicon Valley." While reading about Mac OS X I had fun figuring out when I first got a computer (1993 Macintosh Performa) and how that related to Mac OS X. I also got an iMac in 1999 which I think ran Mac OS 9. It was a big deal back then too. My iMac loaded web pages in about 1 minute whereas I had to wait 10 min. on my Performa. Also the iMac had a build in modem, which used to be a big deal. I haven't kept up with the Mac world in college as I learned on Windows computers after elementary school, but I have friends that always complain that they can't play video games (like Spore) on their Macs because they have tiger and needleapard or something. Back to the article, I really enjoyed the sampling of Mac OS X features. Changing a battery without powering off could come in really handy in some situations. I remember having fun with the speech interface on my iMac. It wasn't very accurate, but for a middle schooler it was fun to play with. However, for a college student, Mac laptops are just a little spendy in my opinion. Also there still are comparability issues with some applications professors want you to run. I know that most of the programs I used in my biology classes couldn't be run on Macs. Also I now remember that in high school I wrote my papers on the iMac and had to print them from a Windows machine at school. Wow that was obnoxious! Mac OS X Wikipedia First statement: I should have read this article before the previous one. It was much easier to follow. I have a couple questions now though. Is the Windows Aero theme similar to the Mac Aqua theme, because they sound identical? I know they used the large cats as code names that eventually became public as well, but why did they choose large cat names? Furthermore, what happens when they run out of large cat names? Also, if they made the iPod Touch, why havn't they created a tablet laptop yet? They're really handy for taking notes, and I'm surprised with Mac's apparent talent of making great portable devices that they havn't explored that market. An Update on the Windows Roadmap Also interesting to read. I've used Windows 95, 98, XP, and Vista. So far XP has been my favorite, as I still seem to get more glitches on Vista. My brother-in-law actually has a beta version of Windows 7, and he says that it's much better than Vista. I'm willing to take his word for it more than I am the word of someone trying to sell me something. I loved how Bill Veghte skirted around actually saying that most customers were not happy with Vista and wanted to go back to XP. I guess that's why they're offering support for XP so far into the future. Yet overall my experience with Windows has been that a lot depends on the hardware. My five year old HP laptop that runs XP is still doing just fine, and is not really all that slow despite its age, but my husband's two year old Toshiba running Vista has so many weird quirks he's ready to chuck it. I also have a 2 year old laptop running Vista, but it's an HP and I never want to let it go. It helps that it's a tablet PC and so much fun, but still. I do have issues with how long it takes for Vista to start up. Even just taking my computer out of sleep mode is a test of my patience, but for all I know that could be an HP quirk. I haven't tried out other brands enough to be an expert.

Week 2 Comments

For week 2 I commented on the following blogs: Brent Nicewander's http://blnblog13.blogspot.com/2009/09/personal-computer-hardware-i-dont.html#comments and Ashley Taylor's http://laine05.blogspot.com/2009/09/reading-notes-for-week-two.html#comments

Comment URL's

I commented on Locke's blog at: http://brandonlocke.blogspot.com/2009/09/week-one-reading.html#comments and also at Chaney's at: http://jennchaney.blogspot.com/2009/09/muddiest-point.html#comments

Week 1 Muddiest Point

Perhaps the muddiest point is supposed to be more intellectual, but my muddiest point from Thursday's lecture was the deadline for reading notes. I wrote down Saturday evening, but when I read through the syllabus today with a highlighter, it said Friday. So, my posts may all be late, but as it's the first week, I guess I'm just figuring it out as I go.

Week 2 Reading Notes

Article 1: Computer Hardware This Wikipedia article gave a run down of the hardware of a computer that makes it work. Every personal computer needs various elements to create, store, translate, and communicate information. In addition, computers must be powered somehow, so must have mechanisms for regulating the flow of electricity as well as conducting it. Information can also be transferred to a computer through other devices such as CDs and flash drives. Video cards which have to do with computer screen function are always one step behind game producers which makes me wonder if there is a better way to make this system work. Sound cards allow computers to receive and put out sound. Other devices input messages into a computer such as keyboards, mice, and microphones. Article 2: Moore’s Law and Video Moor’s law basically seems to say that digital devices are getting exponentially better at everything that can be quantitatively measured. There seems to be a subtle balance though between cost and density. Just as when you buy in bulk, the more transistors you put on a chip, the less each one costs individually, but the more in that space, the higher likelihood of defects. Kryder’s addresses the fact that the increase in hard drive capacity is positively related to the increase in transistor count. Other ways of measuring increased efficiency are RAM storage capacity and optical fiber data. Pixels are used in the case of digital cameras. The compensator for Moore’s law is that new programs will accomplish the same task, but faster than their older counterparts. Some believe Moore’s law will end when transistors can’t get any smaller by human means, but other feel some new technology will replace transistors before this happens and so Moore’s law will continue to be in effect. Article 3: Computer History Museum The computer history museum is located in California, and houses artifacts dealing with the evolution of computer technology. The message repeated over and over in the articles listed on this web site is that computers used to be too big, expensive, slow, and difficult to use to be helpful to the general public. Analog computers on the other hand have been in use for centuries. The slide rule is a good example of an analog computer. Computers were used for simple games in the beginning, but the games became more complex with time, as we can see from modern computer games. Besides articles on the website, this site has a catalog search where you can search for images, articles, and even audio files about everything leading up to the state of modern day computers. I did a search for Atari and came up with some fun results.

Week 1 Reading Notes

Article 1: OCLC report: Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers (2004). In my opinion the implications this article made about the changes in society as a whole brought about through the increased use of information technologies were the most fascinating part of the piece. Based on the perspective of the author, it seems that society as a whole is caring less and less about the concept of quality as well as quantity of information. I’m not certain that I completely agree with this point of view. There is a difference between downloading one track of an online music album and downloading one sentence out of an online journal. Also, who are these “ordinary” people that can now bypass editors and publishers and self-publish on a blog? I do not see the harm in allowing every person with a computer the ability to put his or her opinion out there. It is up to readers to decide the value of a piece, and whether or not the writer is an authoritative source. Perhaps not everyone has the best judgment to decipher fact from fiction, but one must only enter a bookstore to see numerous examples nonauthoritative sources that have nonetheless been printed by respected publishing companies, so this is nothing new. However, I do see a major danger in the fact that scientists and other professionals may publish articles completely without peer review. If they were ever to be taken seriously be their fellow researchers, the whole scientific method may find itself in jeopardy when professionals publish results that have not been adequately tested and retested by their peers. Misinformation in the realm of the sciences cannot be tolerated, as it can lead to dangerous assumptions. Another part of this paper I feel may pose a serious challenge for humanity is the fact that future populations will interact more in the e-world than in the physical realm. There is a reason humans are social creatures, and I’m not convinced that e-interactions and communications can fill the void left by losing relationships with family and friends beyond the computer screen or smartphone screen. How much honey would a beehive produce if the bees never sent pheremonal messages or danced for one another, but instead relied on more unnatural means of communication? Beyond the issue of productivity, what would the quality of life be like for children who spend more time chatting online than playing outside with friends? One last comment, and then I’ll desist my rambling. The article mentioned that library users are now more “self-sufficient” at finding materials. Yet if I walk into an unfamiliar library today and try to find a book without the use of a computer or search engine, it would take far longer than if I simply asked for help from a librarian who had worked there for forty years. My point is that being able to use a search engine or a computer is not the same thing as being self-sufficient. Granted this article is about technology’s effect on libraries and society, but technology is not infallible. In my experience working at a small town public library, the power went out on two occasions within a one month period of time. Truly self-sufficient patrons did not need the help of any sort of catalog or of the librarian to find books, and in this instance had there not been several knowledgeable staff members on hand to aid in locating materials, every patron would have left the library that day emptyhanded. Article 2: Clifford Lynch, “Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture” The major important point that I gathered from this article was that modern librarians need to have more than just the skills to use computer programs and set up networks and databases, but must more importantly understand the connections between their job as information guardians and every other aspect of society. A world-view is needed in this situation. I agree wholeheartedly with this idea, though also understand how difficult it can be to implement. In a perfect world public school teachers would teach critical thinking as soon as children were mentally developed enough to respond. Yet for the sake of efficiency, K-12 programs, and many colleges to adhere to the practice of teaching skills only and leave students to make the connections between their own field and others themselves. Without understanding the many issues that effect librarianship today, I think we cannot hope to keep up with the needs of our patrons. Article 3: Vaughan, J. (2005). Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still. Library Hi Tech, 23(1), 34-49. This article was fascinating, and I especially liked the more scientific style that Vaughan chose to write in. It was very useful to read about not only results, but also methods. I’ll have to catch up on a lot of the programs mentioned, but it could prove a useful reference for any librarian who is renovating or even simply building a library. The take-home message of this one was that the library’s job isn’t just to store information, but also to reinvent and revitalize itself continually in order to meet the growing needs of its patrons. I did wonder why the staff of Lied library even allowed students and community members alike to play games on library computers. Every public or academic library I’ve visited makes games strictly prohibited. I did object a little to the concept of giving precedence to students versus community members. Once one type of patron is put above another, I would think that a library would need a complicated list of who gets booted off of a system first. For example, does a graduate student who sleeps in till noon and then comes to the library at its busiest hour (for example) begin to feel entitled to a computer to play games on even though there are community members who may have a more pressing need than games? What about community members that are alumni who are job searching? Emeriti? In my home town public library we restricted all patrons to one hour on our computers, but when a retired doctor who had held a library card since it was opened came in, he was allowed to stay on indefinitely. I never thought that was particularly fair, but that is an example of when favoritism can interrupt the workings of the library. On a more broad note, I would think that the issue of internet security in an academic library must be huge. Students are typically required to give everything from their social security number to their great-grandma’s maiden name in order to get a student identification card, and all this information could be very dangerous in the wrong hands.