Comments week #6

Maggie

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4657309357315020681&postID=2344548930214601528&page=1

Amanda
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=271112965323219834&postID=4136068326121933023&page=1

Muddiest point #5

When I try to watch a streaming video the video starts and stops and then restarts. Is this a problem with my connection?

Readings week #6

This weeks readings plus videos from YouTube were relevant to my current employment situation. I work at a large urban public library and the information about RFID was useful. We use a bar code plus target system for tracking and security. Material often goes missing and is never seen or heard from again. I wonder at the need for RFID since the trends are toward digital libraries. Why convert to an RFID system when actually physical materials in libraries are suppose to decline? The money could be spent elsewhere.
As for the privacy issues concerned with RFID, I certainly don't want to be tagged and tracked. Librarians are often concerned with privacy issues, so I can see that acceptance of RFID would be a hard sell from that vantage point. And as mentioned RFID can be blocked with sheets of aluminum foil. If we know that, thieves know it too. Also, the tendency in my library is to get the cheapest form of any technology which is usually the least effective. In the down turning economy it seems like a big investment in new technology at an inappropriate time.

The other readings and video concerned networks. LANs, WANs, PANs, MANs, CANs etc. It seems as though the boundaries between the different types of networks are blurring as new technology evolves.

Assignment #3

See my citation library at:

woodss53

http://www.citeulike.org/user/woodss53

Comments week #5

Jenny Z
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=61837130736160649&postID=6867533606216665537&page=1

Rebecca
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5720842264846496247&postID=3966077891775309429&page=1

Muddiest point class #4

Popular data models for databases are now relational, object-oriented, object relational, and multidimensional. Mentioned in the class video were network and heirarchical models that are considered out of date. What happens to the databases based on those models that are now out of date?

Readings week #5

Imaging Pittsburgh...
I found this reading to be extremely interesting since it related directly to my perspective field. This article related the challenges and issues surrounding working with different institutions as well as the challenges inherent in any digitization project. Of the most interest to me were the communications challenges the project faced. Do all the technological communication methods available lead to aceptable communication?

YouTube and libraries...
This article seemed like an advertisement for YouTube. It didn't really interest me at all. I don't have video recording equipment so I have no need to create an account. I have viewed videos on YouTube but they were for entertainment, not for instruction or training.

Data Compression
Two articles were about data compression using either lossy or lossless technology. I understand the need for compression in order to more efficiently store and transfer data. I now have some understanding of the different methods used to compress different types of data such as text, audio, and video. I also now understand that if you use a compression program to encode your data the receiver of the data must have the same program to decode the data. I am alittle concerned by lossy data compression in that the data obtained after decoding is not necessarily identical to the original. Although this method is usually used for images and audio I have to wonder if this is always the case. Who knows what text has been victimized by lossy data compression?

Assignment #2

Flickr photos

www.flickr.com/photos/woodss53/

Comments week 4 readings

Sr. Becky
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2369947867373070193&postID=7977490293481423923&page=1

Mazy
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6887347751761325191&postID=264760058908056757&page=1

Muddiest point class #3

What effect will exclusive use of web browser have on older computer hardware that is no longer supported by current operating systems?

Readings week #4

The readings this week focused on databases. The 3 articles combined with the chapters in the book were somewhat confusing because it seems that the same vocabulary has different meanings depending upon the author.
The article in Wikipedia originally caused confusion, namely concerning database models and database management system models. I realized that I confusing a structure to store data with a type of software used to organize the stored data. The database management system models in the Wikipedia article did not match those described in Discovering Computers 2009. I wonder why since both are suppose to be up to date?
The article on the Dublin Core Data Model was enlightening. In a global setting there is need for some standardization of databases, since the goal is to access information. The goal of this effort is to foster interoperability between databases by establishing a formal data model by identifying a set of metadata (data about data) elements that can be used to describe and search across information sources.
"Setting the Stage" was an article about metadata and its use in databases and other digital and non-digital information systems. This article also made reference to library situations! Also mentioned was the importance of structure of information objects and the need for some sort of metadata standards. The Dublin Core Metadata Element Set was also mentioned, as was the need for standards for purposes of interoperability. Information is processed data that is organized, meaningful, and useful, and hopefully retrieveable both now and in the future.

Discussion question ditgitization

A comment to the digitization question was posted by me
https://courseweb.pitt.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_9047_1%26url%3D

Muddiest point class #2

My question has to do with storage media life expectancies. I work with microfilm which has fallen out of favor for a number of legitimate reasons. Microfilm is being replaced by storage media that seems to have a guaranteed life expectancy of 10 years at the most. What happens then? If the media has to be replaced who will bear the burden of the cost? Is this a hidden cost of digitization?

Comments week #3 Readings

Sr. Becky
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2369947867373070193&postID=8474964051354392271

Renee
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7804417981817162815&postID=2717220004531265370

Week 3 Readings

These readings concentrated on operating systems, specifically Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Vista. The Linux and 2 Mac OS X readings were very technical. The Windows Vista reading was more like a sales pitch and not technical at all. As a person who is not very technically inclined, I think this is the appeal of Microsoft products and advertising. Like many other computer users, I jut want the system to work. That being said I have not upgraded to Vista at home because of negative experiences with Vista at work. Before Vista we were able to scan microfilm and email the pdf file to our patrons. This program was and still is uncompatible with Vista. We had to go back to XP in order to continue to support this service.
I agree that there apparently is no perfect operating system. As stated by Amit Singh in "What is Mac OS X" a user should determine which operating system fits their needs.
I thought that the articles demonstrated an interesting contrast between users of the different operating systems. Microsoft seemed to abe able to do no right, while Apple could do no wrong. Linux users seemed to be above the fray. More people use Microsoft which may be the reason they seemingly recieve more complaints.
Another interesting part of the readings was the sections concerning continued support of older operating systems by both Microsoft and Apple. Amazingly, the operating systems that one has to pay for will terminate support of certain "classic" system in set time frames, while Linux, the free system, runs not only on new computers, but "is also the system of choice for old and exoctic hardware that would be useless if Linux didn't exist" (Machtelt Garrels Intoduction to Linux).
I developed a real interest in Linux as a result of the readings. A free operating system tested by a mutitude of tester with no obvious monetary interest is unusual.

Comment--week 2 muddiest point

Maggie
http://maggie215.blogspot.com/