Wednesday, September 29, 2010
9/27 Muddiest Point
Regarding the article on the DCMI, I was curious as to approximately how many nations are willing to comply with the standards of such initiatives, and if these nations are willing to contribute to the cost of such initiatives.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 4 Muddiest Point
For the 9/20 readings, I was curious as to how frequently Windows XP is used among many academic institutions as opposed to Windows Vista or Windows 7.
10/4 Reading Notes
Database
I found this article to be informative, because before reading this article I was not very familiar with the terminology used to describe the structure of databases. Although I was aware of such databases as the Internet Movie Database and other online literary databases, the information provided for other specific databases lie Operational databases and Data warehouses seems to be essential information that could have future use. I thought that the sections discussing the types and the models of databases were the most informative since I was not familiar with much of the terminology of the article.
Setting the Stage
The importance of metadata is unfortunately not recognized by many outside of the academic community, although metadata provides necessary information about many subjects outside of academia. The different kinds of metadata described within the article are examples how metadata is greatly important to society as a result of the tremendous increase of digital information within the last decade. All of this information that has been created resulting from vast digital information output is maintained by metadata, even if the information itself is not truly important to some aspects of society. Considering how important metadata is to maintaining digital information, there need to be new ways created to maintain the metadata itself as digital technology improves. Metadata is something that needs to be recognized by much of society as being important to maintaining digital information, because it is essential to providing credibility to not only scholarly information, but also digital information that serves a useful purpose to society.
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
Projects such as the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative are crucial to the future of information preservation as digital technology develops. Some of the issues that are discussed in the article, such as the clarification of vocabulary and internationalization are very important to the amelioration of databases and metadata as the amount of digital information increases. Unfortunately, many students and other seekers of scholarly data are not able to obtain necessary scholarly information without searching for hours on online scholarly databases, or academic library databases. Initiatives such as the DCMI need to be implemented and funded, so to maintain existing metadata, and to allow existing metadata to create easier access to scholarly information contained on academic databases.
I found this article to be informative, because before reading this article I was not very familiar with the terminology used to describe the structure of databases. Although I was aware of such databases as the Internet Movie Database and other online literary databases, the information provided for other specific databases lie Operational databases and Data warehouses seems to be essential information that could have future use. I thought that the sections discussing the types and the models of databases were the most informative since I was not familiar with much of the terminology of the article.
Setting the Stage
The importance of metadata is unfortunately not recognized by many outside of the academic community, although metadata provides necessary information about many subjects outside of academia. The different kinds of metadata described within the article are examples how metadata is greatly important to society as a result of the tremendous increase of digital information within the last decade. All of this information that has been created resulting from vast digital information output is maintained by metadata, even if the information itself is not truly important to some aspects of society. Considering how important metadata is to maintaining digital information, there need to be new ways created to maintain the metadata itself as digital technology improves. Metadata is something that needs to be recognized by much of society as being important to maintaining digital information, because it is essential to providing credibility to not only scholarly information, but also digital information that serves a useful purpose to society.
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
Projects such as the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative are crucial to the future of information preservation as digital technology develops. Some of the issues that are discussed in the article, such as the clarification of vocabulary and internationalization are very important to the amelioration of databases and metadata as the amount of digital information increases. Unfortunately, many students and other seekers of scholarly data are not able to obtain necessary scholarly information without searching for hours on online scholarly databases, or academic library databases. Initiatives such as the DCMI need to be implemented and funded, so to maintain existing metadata, and to allow existing metadata to create easier access to scholarly information contained on academic databases.
9/27 Reading Notes
Data Compression
Upon reading this article, lossless compression seems to be ultimately a better method of data compression due to the accuracy of the compression. Even though lossy data may require less space for files, according to this article, lossy data can still lose a significant amount of data after so many compressions. In many instances, lossy compression may be beneficial, so to save space for files, or if maintaining the quality of specific files is not as important as maintaining the quality of other files. The end of the article efficiently described the difference between data compression and data differencing, and this section may lead one to question whether data compression or data differencing is more efficient in maintaining data.
Data compression basics
These articles effectively expound upon the information provided in the Wikipedia article. The articles provide more detailed descriptions of what data compression is, and also provide better examples as to how lossless and lossy data are different. After reading both sections discussing lossless and lossy compression, lossless compression still seems to be the better method of maintaining data, because of the accuracy and lack of data degradation. The section concerning video compression was just as informative as the first two sections, although without actual videos to accompany the text. Even though descriptive videos would've been helpful, the video compression section effectively described some basic information about Internet video streams, graphics resolutions in animation, and video motion.
First Monday Website
This website is a good introduction to peer-reviewed online journals based primarily on the community of scholarly digital information. The website is easily navigable, and also provides links to a few other online peer-reviewed journals that can be useful sources of scholarly information for academia and the general public. Regarding the website's article on bubbles and gullibility, in a way, it does not seem surprising that many companies and individuals have reacted irrationally to the burgeoning markets over the last decade as a result of the vast developments in information technology. The increase in technological developments over the last decade led many companies and individuals to assume that the markets associated with information technology would provide revenue over the course of many years, although their exaggerations of the burgeoning markets were a great impediment.
YouTube and libraries: it could be a beautiful relationship
The ideas expressed in this article should most definitely be considered by many if not most libraries around the world. A website such as YouTube provides easy access to many videos that could be viewed by students and the general public that could be very useful in improving the public image of libraries. Even though a website such as YouTube could seem to be the Internet's video uploading version of Wikipedia, YouTube could definitely be put to better use if libraries would become more involved with the website. Other academic institutions may become interested in uploading educational videos on the website if enough libraries were to contribute to the general educational improvements of YouTube.
Upon reading this article, lossless compression seems to be ultimately a better method of data compression due to the accuracy of the compression. Even though lossy data may require less space for files, according to this article, lossy data can still lose a significant amount of data after so many compressions. In many instances, lossy compression may be beneficial, so to save space for files, or if maintaining the quality of specific files is not as important as maintaining the quality of other files. The end of the article efficiently described the difference between data compression and data differencing, and this section may lead one to question whether data compression or data differencing is more efficient in maintaining data.
Data compression basics
These articles effectively expound upon the information provided in the Wikipedia article. The articles provide more detailed descriptions of what data compression is, and also provide better examples as to how lossless and lossy data are different. After reading both sections discussing lossless and lossy compression, lossless compression still seems to be the better method of maintaining data, because of the accuracy and lack of data degradation. The section concerning video compression was just as informative as the first two sections, although without actual videos to accompany the text. Even though descriptive videos would've been helpful, the video compression section effectively described some basic information about Internet video streams, graphics resolutions in animation, and video motion.
First Monday Website
This website is a good introduction to peer-reviewed online journals based primarily on the community of scholarly digital information. The website is easily navigable, and also provides links to a few other online peer-reviewed journals that can be useful sources of scholarly information for academia and the general public. Regarding the website's article on bubbles and gullibility, in a way, it does not seem surprising that many companies and individuals have reacted irrationally to the burgeoning markets over the last decade as a result of the vast developments in information technology. The increase in technological developments over the last decade led many companies and individuals to assume that the markets associated with information technology would provide revenue over the course of many years, although their exaggerations of the burgeoning markets were a great impediment.
YouTube and libraries: it could be a beautiful relationship
The ideas expressed in this article should most definitely be considered by many if not most libraries around the world. A website such as YouTube provides easy access to many videos that could be viewed by students and the general public that could be very useful in improving the public image of libraries. Even though a website such as YouTube could seem to be the Internet's video uploading version of Wikipedia, YouTube could definitely be put to better use if libraries would become more involved with the website. Other academic institutions may become interested in uploading educational videos on the website if enough libraries were to contribute to the general educational improvements of YouTube.
Monday, September 20, 2010
9/20 Muddiest Point
I have no Muddiest Point for this week. The class material for 9/20 was fairly easy to understand.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
9/20 Reading Notes
Introduction to Linux: A Hands on Guide
It seems that an operating system such as Linux is a truly self-improving system because of the ability of its users to allow the system itself to develop and increase its capabilities. The creation of Open Source software has enabled a system such as Linux to become much more than only an academic operating system. It appears that Linux has created a kind of innovation in the field of operating systems, in a similar way that Wikipedia has changed the development of online encyclopedias, in allowing for a kind of democratic means of operation among its users and contributors.
What is Mac OS X? and Mac OS X
The Mac OS X system, like most operating systems has endured criticism as a result of compatibility issues and operating efficiency. Even though the first article is rather bias toward the Mac OS X system, it does provide much detailed and useful information regarding Mac OS X that can make many new users, if they are familiar with computer technological idioms, less confused. Since these articles are intended to be read by individuals that are at least familiar with the Mac OS X operating system, many of the terms used to describe the command language will probably be foreign to other readers. Regarding the graphical developments for Mac OS X, it seems that the system offers innovation and unique designs with the newer generations, which provide easier accessibility for users.
An Update on the Windows Roadmap
At the beginning of this article, Veghte attempts to mollify the concerns of primarily many businesses and individuals working for businesses with their need for the continuation of the Windows XP version of Windows. Even though it would be probably less expensive to purchase the versions of Windows XP as separate retail software instead of having to purchase computers with Windows XP, companies and schools across the world continue to purchase computers at an increasingly rapid rate. Due to this increasing rate of computer purchases by many academic and business institutions, and considering that personal computers with XP would probably cost less than other newer versions of Windows, these institutions probably would not be spending exorbitant sums of money for these computers. Many of the institutions that would be purchasing computers with XP would probably be doing so because of the need to maintain a budget on technological expenditures, or because of the lack of the ability to train new employees to assist with the newest versions of Windows software, among other reasons. Regardless of the issues concerning compatibility and/or the durability of the versions of Windows, many of the institutions that are still using Windows XP efficiently can still benefit from the support that is being provided by Microsoft according to Veghte. Of course, the support that is being provided by Microsoft for XP users should still maintain the standards of the support for the newer versions of Windows software.
It seems that an operating system such as Linux is a truly self-improving system because of the ability of its users to allow the system itself to develop and increase its capabilities. The creation of Open Source software has enabled a system such as Linux to become much more than only an academic operating system. It appears that Linux has created a kind of innovation in the field of operating systems, in a similar way that Wikipedia has changed the development of online encyclopedias, in allowing for a kind of democratic means of operation among its users and contributors.
What is Mac OS X? and Mac OS X
The Mac OS X system, like most operating systems has endured criticism as a result of compatibility issues and operating efficiency. Even though the first article is rather bias toward the Mac OS X system, it does provide much detailed and useful information regarding Mac OS X that can make many new users, if they are familiar with computer technological idioms, less confused. Since these articles are intended to be read by individuals that are at least familiar with the Mac OS X operating system, many of the terms used to describe the command language will probably be foreign to other readers. Regarding the graphical developments for Mac OS X, it seems that the system offers innovation and unique designs with the newer generations, which provide easier accessibility for users.
An Update on the Windows Roadmap
At the beginning of this article, Veghte attempts to mollify the concerns of primarily many businesses and individuals working for businesses with their need for the continuation of the Windows XP version of Windows. Even though it would be probably less expensive to purchase the versions of Windows XP as separate retail software instead of having to purchase computers with Windows XP, companies and schools across the world continue to purchase computers at an increasingly rapid rate. Due to this increasing rate of computer purchases by many academic and business institutions, and considering that personal computers with XP would probably cost less than other newer versions of Windows, these institutions probably would not be spending exorbitant sums of money for these computers. Many of the institutions that would be purchasing computers with XP would probably be doing so because of the need to maintain a budget on technological expenditures, or because of the lack of the ability to train new employees to assist with the newest versions of Windows software, among other reasons. Regardless of the issues concerning compatibility and/or the durability of the versions of Windows, many of the institutions that are still using Windows XP efficiently can still benefit from the support that is being provided by Microsoft according to Veghte. Of course, the support that is being provided by Microsoft for XP users should still maintain the standards of the support for the newer versions of Windows software.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Week 2 Muddiest Point
Regarding the Discussion Topics, are there any particular due dates for responses to be posted on the Discussion Topic discussion board?
Comments from Weeks 1 and 2
Week 1 Comments:
James McNeil said...
I agree with your response to Lynch's essay, in that Lynch's expectations are very difficult to achieve, and unlikely as of the present. Even so, the educational standards will need to be increased as technological development increases, and students in high school at some time in the future could have the same educational standards as undergraduate college students. Currently, this perspective may seem too idealistic, especially financially, although the technological education of younger generations is crucial to the improvement of societies internationally. In many nations, the United States included, the educational standards of technological skill acquisitions need to be increased for technological efficiency in societies, as well as societies themselves, to be ameliorated. High schools, colleges and universities across the world need to at least try to maintain concerted efforts to improve the advanced technological skills of students.
Your post was observant and interesting, and I wish to comment on more of your posts throughout the next several months. September 2, 2010 5:50 PM 
I agree with your response to the OCLC article's claim of people's format agnosticism by stating that older generations seem to have an affinity towards books as opposed to digital content. Libraries can benefit from preserving the past, as a means of educating younger generations with first-person experiences of articles and books from the past. It seems that one of the most important issues that both public and academic libraries must address is how to appeal to individuals with an increasing predilection towards digital content and information. Both public and academic libraries need to encourage individuals to become more fastidious in selecting information, and to be as objective as possible when obtaining content and information. Libraries also need to allow people to realize that libraries are still one of the most reliable sources of content and information to society, even though many libraries are slowly adapting to the shifts in content.
Your post was insightful and concise, and I am interested in commenting on more of your posts. September 2, 2010 5:10 PM
James McNeil said...
After reading your response to the Moore's Law article, I believe that it would be interesting to see how much influence Moore's Law could possibly have upon other computer technological developments after the doubling of transistors has reached its limit. If the idea of "singularity" ever occurs within the field of computer technology, will Moore's Law still be regarded as being useful, or will it be considered obsolete? September 10, 2010 4:32 PM Regarding your response to the personal computer article, I believe that the information contained within the article should be taught to high school and undergraduate college students to a greater extent. It seems that students in many high schools are taught the basic elements of computer hardware and software, although the students are not taught this information in a truly applicable form. It may be that the basic high school computer classes need to become more strenuous, and teach the students more complicated details about computer hardware and software. By being more strenuous, these classes could allow many more students to become more technologically efficient, thereby contributing to the burgeoning knowledge of technological advancement throughout the world. September 10, 2010 4:53 PM
James McNeil said...
Your post was observant and interesting, and I wish to comment on more of your posts throughout the next several months.
Your post was insightful and concise, and I am interested in commenting on more of your posts.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Week 2 Reading Notes
Personal Computer Hardware
Although I am accustomed to using computers on a daily basis, I am merely a novice regarding the specific knowledge of the hardware and software components of personal computers. Upon reading the article, I was familiar with many of the various parts and phrases mentioned (input, output, internal buses), although I was not sure as to the specific function(s) of each part described before reading the article. This article contains some basic and detailed information about personal computers that should be taught to students in both high school and college to a greater extent, even to the students that do not intend to major in computer science or any other computer science related academic fields of study.
Moore's Law
This article can lead one to wonder what the future of computer technological advancements is capable of producing, considering that only so many transistors can be reduced to an atomic level size. The fact that other laws have been established that were greatly influenced by Moore's Law, such as Kryder's Law and Butter's Law, is an example of the precedent that Moore's Law created. Considering the influence of Moore's Law among recent computer technological developments , one may wonder how influential the law could be after the doubling of transistors in integrated circuits has reached its limit. Even if the inhibitions of computer performance, such as efficiency, bandwidth, and storage in a CPU eventually cause stagnation, and if computer technological advancement can cause predecessor computer technologies to be rapidly obsolete as the article states as a possibility, Moore's Law could still possibly lead to other laws predicting the future of computer technology.
Computer History Museum Website
This website provides an interesting and condensed history of computer technological development for neophytes to the general history of computers, as well as some interesting information about the individuals that have contributed to computer history. One section of the website that I found to be very informing was the Timeline of Computer History, which describes and shows the various developments of major contributing companies and technological inventors. This section is interesting because it describes how certain companies such as Hewlett-Packard and AT&T were established and how they developed, and how the U.S. Census Bureau utilized the first commercial computer in the early 1950's. The timeline even provides information about innovations such as the first digital drawing system, known as SuperPaint in the early 1970's, as well as the Amiga 1000, which was a computer released in 1985 containing advanced audio and visual abilities. I appreciate how this website lacks pretension, yet still is able to provide information that is interesting and easily available to anyone interested in the general history of computer technology and innovations. I believe that websites such as this could allow more students to become informed about the basic and general information of computer history, by providing important visual information along with important written information.
Although I am accustomed to using computers on a daily basis, I am merely a novice regarding the specific knowledge of the hardware and software components of personal computers. Upon reading the article, I was familiar with many of the various parts and phrases mentioned (input, output, internal buses), although I was not sure as to the specific function(s) of each part described before reading the article. This article contains some basic and detailed information about personal computers that should be taught to students in both high school and college to a greater extent, even to the students that do not intend to major in computer science or any other computer science related academic fields of study.
Moore's Law
This article can lead one to wonder what the future of computer technological advancements is capable of producing, considering that only so many transistors can be reduced to an atomic level size. The fact that other laws have been established that were greatly influenced by Moore's Law, such as Kryder's Law and Butter's Law, is an example of the precedent that Moore's Law created. Considering the influence of Moore's Law among recent computer technological developments , one may wonder how influential the law could be after the doubling of transistors in integrated circuits has reached its limit. Even if the inhibitions of computer performance, such as efficiency, bandwidth, and storage in a CPU eventually cause stagnation, and if computer technological advancement can cause predecessor computer technologies to be rapidly obsolete as the article states as a possibility, Moore's Law could still possibly lead to other laws predicting the future of computer technology.
Computer History Museum Website
This website provides an interesting and condensed history of computer technological development for neophytes to the general history of computers, as well as some interesting information about the individuals that have contributed to computer history. One section of the website that I found to be very informing was the Timeline of Computer History, which describes and shows the various developments of major contributing companies and technological inventors. This section is interesting because it describes how certain companies such as Hewlett-Packard and AT&T were established and how they developed, and how the U.S. Census Bureau utilized the first commercial computer in the early 1950's. The timeline even provides information about innovations such as the first digital drawing system, known as SuperPaint in the early 1970's, as well as the Amiga 1000, which was a computer released in 1985 containing advanced audio and visual abilities. I appreciate how this website lacks pretension, yet still is able to provide information that is interesting and easily available to anyone interested in the general history of computer technology and innovations. I believe that websites such as this could allow more students to become informed about the basic and general information of computer history, by providing important visual information along with important written information.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Week 1 Reading Notes with "Muddiest Point"
2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers
The vast shifts in formats and content retrieval over the last decade have caused much of the world to expect information at such an accelerated rate, that libraries will need to discover new ways to appeal to the interests of the public. Not only the youth of the world has contributed to this tremendous increase in the demand for information, whether the information is scholarly or not. The amount of information that is pervading the web has demonstrated that libraries around the world are not quite considered to be the bastions of scholarly content that they once were. Despite this pervasion of information, libraries still could be considered one of the most reliable sources of scholarly information, because of their ability, albeit in many ways slowly, to still adapt to the changing environment of the web and content shifts.
Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture
Lynch's expectations of the technological education of society can cause one to speculate upon the future of technological advancement. Even though Lynch's essay was published in early 1998, it does provide interesting and important proposals for the development information and information technology literacy. These proposals, if advocated by many concerned individuals in the academic technological community, could yield a greater interest in refined technological skills among the youth of current society, as well as the current youth's posterity. Many individuals around the world are technologically ignorant in refined technological fields, whether this ignorance is a result simply of apathy, or the financial inability to become educated in refined technological academic fields. This ignorance could most definitely prevent many individuals from being able to contribute efficiently in a technologically advanced society in the near future. Although younger generations are at least remotely technologically adept, the lack of expertise in professional technological fields is an issue that should be addressed in order to prevent individuals from losing employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the improvement of society, and the world.
Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still
The Lied Library of UNLV seems to be exemplary of an academic library that is privileged enough to provide its students and faculty with technologically advanced equipment and accommodations. Unfortunately, not many colleges are able to afford the equipment and accommodations that the Lied Library has been able to afford, and as a result, many academic libraries seem to be losing crucial funding. The endeavors of the Lied Library, described by Vaughan as resulting from technological support problems, overheating issues, and security problems, should not have been unexpected. Even technology that is only a few years old is considered to be antiquated by many, due to the development of software and hardware. Despite these obstacles, which are ubiquitous in most libraries, the Lied Library has still been able to provide its students and faculty with access to a plethora of digital and technological equipment, according to Vaughan. Vaughan's article, along with others similar to it, could provide motivation for other college and university libraries to technologically develop their libraries so to invest in the future of their students, thereby investing in the future of the a better educated society.
"Muddiest Point"
Regarding the Hands-on Point, will this weekly activity be discussed for the online students each week, and if so, when and where should the these discussions be viewed?
The vast shifts in formats and content retrieval over the last decade have caused much of the world to expect information at such an accelerated rate, that libraries will need to discover new ways to appeal to the interests of the public. Not only the youth of the world has contributed to this tremendous increase in the demand for information, whether the information is scholarly or not. The amount of information that is pervading the web has demonstrated that libraries around the world are not quite considered to be the bastions of scholarly content that they once were. Despite this pervasion of information, libraries still could be considered one of the most reliable sources of scholarly information, because of their ability, albeit in many ways slowly, to still adapt to the changing environment of the web and content shifts.
Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture
Lynch's expectations of the technological education of society can cause one to speculate upon the future of technological advancement. Even though Lynch's essay was published in early 1998, it does provide interesting and important proposals for the development information and information technology literacy. These proposals, if advocated by many concerned individuals in the academic technological community, could yield a greater interest in refined technological skills among the youth of current society, as well as the current youth's posterity. Many individuals around the world are technologically ignorant in refined technological fields, whether this ignorance is a result simply of apathy, or the financial inability to become educated in refined technological academic fields. This ignorance could most definitely prevent many individuals from being able to contribute efficiently in a technologically advanced society in the near future. Although younger generations are at least remotely technologically adept, the lack of expertise in professional technological fields is an issue that should be addressed in order to prevent individuals from losing employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the improvement of society, and the world.
Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still
The Lied Library of UNLV seems to be exemplary of an academic library that is privileged enough to provide its students and faculty with technologically advanced equipment and accommodations. Unfortunately, not many colleges are able to afford the equipment and accommodations that the Lied Library has been able to afford, and as a result, many academic libraries seem to be losing crucial funding. The endeavors of the Lied Library, described by Vaughan as resulting from technological support problems, overheating issues, and security problems, should not have been unexpected. Even technology that is only a few years old is considered to be antiquated by many, due to the development of software and hardware. Despite these obstacles, which are ubiquitous in most libraries, the Lied Library has still been able to provide its students and faculty with access to a plethora of digital and technological equipment, according to Vaughan. Vaughan's article, along with others similar to it, could provide motivation for other college and university libraries to technologically develop their libraries so to invest in the future of their students, thereby investing in the future of the a better educated society.
"Muddiest Point"
Regarding the Hands-on Point, will this weekly activity be discussed for the online students each week, and if so, when and where should the these discussions be viewed?
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