When I started this blog nearly 12 weeks ago, I was new to the world of tablet computing. To be honest, I wasn't sure that I would even use my Nexus 7. Did I really feel like carrying around another gadget in my already overstuffed purse? Would it just end up as a really expensive coaster or paperweight?
Much to my relief, that didn't happen. Now, I use my tablet for all kinds of activities: following blogs, reading books, listening to music, watching videos, posting to social networks, sending instant messages, writing emails, playing games, checking BlazeView, and so much more.
I also learned a valuable lesson from this experience: Always keep an open mind when it comes to new technology, and be ready to learn and adapt. That, I think, is the key to the survival of libraries. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, "many library patrons are eager to see libraries' digital services expand" (Zickuhr, Rainie, & Purcell, 2013, para. 1). They crave free Internet access, as well as new gadgets, apps, and even GPS navigation to library materials (Zickuhr, Rainie, & Purcell, 2013). Let's do what we can to listen to their needs and deliver.
References
Zickuhr, K., Rainie, L., & Purcell, K. (2013, January 22). Library services in the digital age. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/library-services/
Friday, April 26, 2013
(Mis)information overload
Eleven days ago, two explosions shook the city of Boston – and the nation. Horrifying photos and videos from the scene flooded our television screens, smartphones, Web browsers, and social-media feeds just minutes after the blasts. Many of us couldn't take our eyes off the coverage. What happened? Who did this? Why?
Well, we got plenty of answers; unfortunately, we didn't always get the right answers.
Earlier this week, Carr (2013) pointed out some of the major falsehoods that were spread across the Internet – and, in some cases, on major news networks – immediately following the tragedy:
According to Montgomery, Horwitz, and Fisher (2013), officials released store surveillance video and photos of the real suspects last Thursday largely because of all the misinformation surrounding the incident. Law-enforcement sources told the Washington Post that they wanted "in part to limit the damage being done to people who were wrongly being targeted as suspects in the news media and on the Internet" (Montgomery, Horwitz, & Fisher, 2013, para. 17).
Figure 1. The FBI posted this surveillance video, retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80DXI932OE, of the bombing suspects, later identified as brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (FBI, 2013).
That's not to say, however, that the group effort to crack the case – also known as "crowdsourcing" – didn't have its strong points. Many runners and spectators at the Boston Marathon sent photos and videos from the scene to investigators, and, as Wadha (2013) argued, "there is no police snooping network that could rival the surveillance regime of our smartphone lifestyles" (para. 5). Furthermore, after the FBI posted photos of two suspects online, "the FBI tip line filled with calls, including one from the brothers' aunt, who provided her nephews’ identity" (Montgomery, Horwitz, & Fisher, 2013, para. 30). Would investigators have been able to track down the suspects that quickly if they hadn't used new technology to their advantage?
At any rate, whether you love or hate these new channels for disseminating and receiving information, they appear to be here to stay. According to a new Pew Research Center for the People & the Press report (2013), 63% of Americans were strongly interested in this story. Although most Americans (80%) used television to keep up with the latest developments, 49% said they turned to the Web or mobile technology for updates, and 26% used social media (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2013).
That's where we come in as information professionals. It's obvious that the public and even reporters need a guide in this new digital age. When people ask you why librarians and libraries are still relevant today, that can be your answer.
References
Carr, D. (2013, April 22). The pressure to Be the TV news leader tarnishes a big brand. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/business/media/in-boston-cnn-stumbles-in-rush-to-break-news.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2013, April 18). Surveillance video related to Boston bombings [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80DXI932OE
Montgomery, D., Horwitz, S., & Fisher, M. (2013, April 20). Police, citizens and technology factor into Boston bombing probe. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/inside-the-investigation-of-the-boston-marathon-bombing/2013/04/20/19d8c322-a8ff-11e2-b029-8fb7e977ef71_print.html
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. (2013, April 23). Most expect 'occasional acts of terrorism' in the future. Retrieved from http://www.people-press.org/2013/04/23/most-expect-occasional-acts-of-terrorism-in-the-future/
Wadhwa, T. (2013, April 22). Lessons from crowdsourcing the Boston bombing investigation. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarunwadhwa/2013/04/22/lessons-from-crowdsourcing-the-boston-marathon-bombings-investigation/
Well, we got plenty of answers; unfortunately, we didn't always get the right answers.
Earlier this week, Carr (2013) pointed out some of the major falsehoods that were spread across the Internet – and, in some cases, on major news networks – immediately following the tragedy:
- Early in the investigation, CNN incorrectly reported that police had arrested a bombing suspect. Several other news organizations followed, then backtracked after investigators denied the claims.
- The New York Post published a photo of two innocent young men on their now-infamous "Bag Men" cover.
- Users of Internet forum Reddit launched their own amateur investigation and identified innocent bystanders as suspects.
According to Montgomery, Horwitz, and Fisher (2013), officials released store surveillance video and photos of the real suspects last Thursday largely because of all the misinformation surrounding the incident. Law-enforcement sources told the Washington Post that they wanted "in part to limit the damage being done to people who were wrongly being targeted as suspects in the news media and on the Internet" (Montgomery, Horwitz, & Fisher, 2013, para. 17).
Figure 1. The FBI posted this surveillance video, retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80DXI932OE, of the bombing suspects, later identified as brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (FBI, 2013).
That's not to say, however, that the group effort to crack the case – also known as "crowdsourcing" – didn't have its strong points. Many runners and spectators at the Boston Marathon sent photos and videos from the scene to investigators, and, as Wadha (2013) argued, "there is no police snooping network that could rival the surveillance regime of our smartphone lifestyles" (para. 5). Furthermore, after the FBI posted photos of two suspects online, "the FBI tip line filled with calls, including one from the brothers' aunt, who provided her nephews’ identity" (Montgomery, Horwitz, & Fisher, 2013, para. 30). Would investigators have been able to track down the suspects that quickly if they hadn't used new technology to their advantage?
At any rate, whether you love or hate these new channels for disseminating and receiving information, they appear to be here to stay. According to a new Pew Research Center for the People & the Press report (2013), 63% of Americans were strongly interested in this story. Although most Americans (80%) used television to keep up with the latest developments, 49% said they turned to the Web or mobile technology for updates, and 26% used social media (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2013).
That's where we come in as information professionals. It's obvious that the public and even reporters need a guide in this new digital age. When people ask you why librarians and libraries are still relevant today, that can be your answer.
References
Carr, D. (2013, April 22). The pressure to Be the TV news leader tarnishes a big brand. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/business/media/in-boston-cnn-stumbles-in-rush-to-break-news.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2013, April 18). Surveillance video related to Boston bombings [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80DXI932OE
Montgomery, D., Horwitz, S., & Fisher, M. (2013, April 20). Police, citizens and technology factor into Boston bombing probe. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/inside-the-investigation-of-the-boston-marathon-bombing/2013/04/20/19d8c322-a8ff-11e2-b029-8fb7e977ef71_print.html
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. (2013, April 23). Most expect 'occasional acts of terrorism' in the future. Retrieved from http://www.people-press.org/2013/04/23/most-expect-occasional-acts-of-terrorism-in-the-future/
Wadhwa, T. (2013, April 22). Lessons from crowdsourcing the Boston bombing investigation. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarunwadhwa/2013/04/22/lessons-from-crowdsourcing-the-boston-marathon-bombings-investigation/
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Are desktop computers a dying breed?
Remember how I said it was time to take my old computer "out behind the woodshed and put it out of its misery"? Well, I did it; it's good and dead. Its replacement – a sleek, refurbished Lenovo laptop – cost only $320 and does everything I want it to do. Best of all, it's portable. (As you've probably discovered from reading my blog, portability is kind of a big deal to me.)
Unsurprisingly, I didn't even consider buying a desktop PC and probably never will again. How could I carry a desktop computer with me to the coffee shop, work, or on vacation? How would I make room on and under my desk for the tower, monitor, and other peripherals?
Of course, desktop computers do have plenty of good qualities. Purewal (2012) points out that desktops are usually less expensive and more powerful than laptops. Additionally, desktops are better for graphics-intensive games (Purewal, 2012). (This is not really an issue for me, since the most complicated game I play these days is the oh-so-addictive Words With Friends.)
Paul (2012), however, offers a different perspective and lists several "desktop killers," which include many of the usual suspects – laptops, tablets, smartphones, the Internet/cloud computing, and the recession. Google's Chromebook, a small, lightweight laptop that relies on cloud storage and a Web browser-based operating system, also made the list (Paul, 2012).
So are desktops a dying breed? Maybe. According to the Pew Research Center (2013), 61% of American adults owned laptops in 2012, just outnumbering the 58% who owned desktop computers. Sales statistics, however, look more grim for desktops: Baker (as cited in Paul, 2012) says laptops now make up 80% of PC sales.
What do you think? Are desktop computers still marketable today? Do you own a desktop, laptop, or neither?
References
Paul, I. (2012, January 23). Desktop PC killers: Past, present, and future. PCWorld. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/248610/
desktop_pc_killers_past_present_and_future.html
Pew Research Center. (2013). Device ownership. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/data-trend/media-and-technology/device-ownership/
Purewal, S. J. (2012, October 9). 10 reasons why the desktop PC will live forever. PCWorld. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/2011391/10-reasons-why-the-desktop-pc-will-live-forever.html
Unsurprisingly, I didn't even consider buying a desktop PC and probably never will again. How could I carry a desktop computer with me to the coffee shop, work, or on vacation? How would I make room on and under my desk for the tower, monitor, and other peripherals?
 |
| Figure 1. A photo of my new baby, a refurbished Lenovo G570 laptop. |
Paul (2012), however, offers a different perspective and lists several "desktop killers," which include many of the usual suspects – laptops, tablets, smartphones, the Internet/cloud computing, and the recession. Google's Chromebook, a small, lightweight laptop that relies on cloud storage and a Web browser-based operating system, also made the list (Paul, 2012).
So are desktops a dying breed? Maybe. According to the Pew Research Center (2013), 61% of American adults owned laptops in 2012, just outnumbering the 58% who owned desktop computers. Sales statistics, however, look more grim for desktops: Baker (as cited in Paul, 2012) says laptops now make up 80% of PC sales.
What do you think? Are desktop computers still marketable today? Do you own a desktop, laptop, or neither?
References
Paul, I. (2012, January 23). Desktop PC killers: Past, present, and future. PCWorld. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/248610/
desktop_pc_killers_past_present_and_future.html
Pew Research Center. (2013). Device ownership. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/data-trend/media-and-technology/device-ownership/
Purewal, S. J. (2012, October 9). 10 reasons why the desktop PC will live forever. PCWorld. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/2011391/10-reasons-why-the-desktop-pc-will-live-forever.html
Saturday, April 13, 2013
The silent treatment
Guys, we need to talk – or do we?
On Wednesday, I finally became eligible to upgrade my phone, so I opted for Google's Nexus 4 smartphone. (Apparently, in the spirit of Pokemon, I "gotta catch 'em all" when it comes to Google devices.) In the past few days, I've used the phone to do the following:
Only this morning, when I heard the unfamiliar sounds of a new default ringtone, did it hit me: I hadn't actually used my phone to take any calls – or place them – yet.
According to a recent TIME magazine poll, that's not so unusual these days: Americans in the 18- to 29-year-old age bracket "send and receive an average of nearly 88 text messages per day, compared to 17 phone calls" (Kluger, 2012, para. 5). The poll also found that "32% of all respondents said they'd rather communicate by text than phone, even with people they know very well" (Kluger, 2012, para. 5).
But perhaps Troy from NBC's Community explained it best:
Figure 1. In this video clip from Season 3, Episode 15 of the NBC comedy Community, Troy says of Britta, "She was born in the '80s. She still uses her phone as a phone" (Harmon & Tsuchida, 2012).
What this means for libraries is this: It's important to keep up with this growing mobile technology. According to a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project survey, about 13% of Americans over 16 years old have used mobile technology to access library services/websites (Rainie, Zickuhr, & Duggan, 2012). In another study of online chat and text-messaging reference services, employees from various sizes and types of libraries said their libraries received anywhere from 350-1,500 chats per month, with 0.5%-25% of those chats taking place via text message (Frantz & Tucker-Raymond, 2011).
Impersonal? Maybe – but this seems to be the direction communication is headed.
References
Frantz, P., & Tucker-Raymond, C. (2011). Integrating text messaging into reference services. Library Hi Tech News, 28(5), 8-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07419051111163839
Harmon, D. (Writer), & Tsuchida, S. K. (Director). (2012). Origins of vampire mythology [Television series episode]. In D. Harmon (Executive producer), Community. New York, NY: National Broadcasting Company. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd8uJswc2Tc
Kluger, J. (2012, August 16). We never talk anymore: The problem with text messaging. TIME. Retrieved from http://techland.time.com/2012/08/16/we-never-talk-anymore-the-problem-with-text-messaging/
Rainie, L, Zickuhr, K., & Duggan, M. (2012). Mobile connections to libraries. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/12/31/mobile-connections-to-libraries/
On Wednesday, I finally became eligible to upgrade my phone, so I opted for Google's Nexus 4 smartphone. (Apparently, in the spirit of Pokemon, I "gotta catch 'em all" when it comes to Google devices.) In the past few days, I've used the phone to do the following:
- Send and receive 29 text messages
- Check my email
- Browse and post to several social-networking sites
- Chat on AOL Instant Messenger
- Search the Web
- Listen to music
- Play games
- Read posts on a gaming forum
- Read the digital version of my local newspaper
- Take about a dozen photos
- Record a video of my pets (because the Internet can never have too many cat videos)
Only this morning, when I heard the unfamiliar sounds of a new default ringtone, did it hit me: I hadn't actually used my phone to take any calls – or place them – yet.
According to a recent TIME magazine poll, that's not so unusual these days: Americans in the 18- to 29-year-old age bracket "send and receive an average of nearly 88 text messages per day, compared to 17 phone calls" (Kluger, 2012, para. 5). The poll also found that "32% of all respondents said they'd rather communicate by text than phone, even with people they know very well" (Kluger, 2012, para. 5).
But perhaps Troy from NBC's Community explained it best:
What this means for libraries is this: It's important to keep up with this growing mobile technology. According to a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project survey, about 13% of Americans over 16 years old have used mobile technology to access library services/websites (Rainie, Zickuhr, & Duggan, 2012). In another study of online chat and text-messaging reference services, employees from various sizes and types of libraries said their libraries received anywhere from 350-1,500 chats per month, with 0.5%-25% of those chats taking place via text message (Frantz & Tucker-Raymond, 2011).
Impersonal? Maybe – but this seems to be the direction communication is headed.
References
Frantz, P., & Tucker-Raymond, C. (2011). Integrating text messaging into reference services. Library Hi Tech News, 28(5), 8-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07419051111163839
Harmon, D. (Writer), & Tsuchida, S. K. (Director). (2012). Origins of vampire mythology [Television series episode]. In D. Harmon (Executive producer), Community. New York, NY: National Broadcasting Company. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd8uJswc2Tc
Kluger, J. (2012, August 16). We never talk anymore: The problem with text messaging. TIME. Retrieved from http://techland.time.com/2012/08/16/we-never-talk-anymore-the-problem-with-text-messaging/
Rainie, L, Zickuhr, K., & Duggan, M. (2012). Mobile connections to libraries. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/12/31/mobile-connections-to-libraries/
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Social Networking: What It Is and Why We Do It
Although I briefly discussed social networking in an earlier blog entry, I decided to explore the topic a little more for my YouTube/PowerPoint assignment (and use Google Docs' presentation app for the first time!).
To view my slideshow, click here.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, and enjoy!
To view my slideshow, click here.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, and enjoy!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Laptops: They're not dead yet
Guess who's in the market for a new laptop computer?
"But Michelle," you're probably thinking, "why in the world do you want to drop several hundred dollars on a laptop when you just bought a tablet? You must be a complete moron!"
While the latter may be true, I'm going to go ahead and put this out there: A tablet is not a replacement for a laptop.
Think of it this way: Would you type an eight-page essay on a 7-inch tablet – even a tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard? Would you search Valdosta's databases and do other in-depth research projects on a tablet? And what about Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and all your other favorite programs? Are you willing to let go of them – or use smaller app-store replacements with fewer features – forever?
I'm not the first person to notice that a tablet isn't the ultimate laptop killer. Consumer Reports (2011) points out that while the less-bulky tablet works great for reading magazines, watching movies, and playing games, a laptop excels when it comes to business activities, transferring data, and typing long documents. Check out the full (and cheesy) video here:
Figure 2. This Consumer Reports video, retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvJZDel95WU, highlights the advantages and disadvantages of tablets and laptops (Consumer Reports, 2011).
Additionally, Pew Research Center (2013) reports that 61% of American adults owned laptops as of April 2012, up from 57% in August 2011. Even though laptops aren't experiencing the swift, sharp boom in popularity that tablets have in recent years, laptops are still more common – for now.
At any rate, don't throw out your laptops just yet, librarians (and librarians-to-be). Trust me on this one.
References
Consumer Reports. (2011, October 31). Tablet vs. laptop: Advice from Consumer Reports [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvJZDel95WU
Pew Research Center. (2013). Device ownership. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Trend-Data-%28Adults%29/Device-Ownership.aspx
 |
| Figure 1. Photo of a Nexus 7 with a keyboard case. Be honest: Would you want to type an entire research paper on this tiny thing? |
While the latter may be true, I'm going to go ahead and put this out there: A tablet is not a replacement for a laptop.
Think of it this way: Would you type an eight-page essay on a 7-inch tablet – even a tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard? Would you search Valdosta's databases and do other in-depth research projects on a tablet? And what about Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and all your other favorite programs? Are you willing to let go of them – or use smaller app-store replacements with fewer features – forever?
I'm not the first person to notice that a tablet isn't the ultimate laptop killer. Consumer Reports (2011) points out that while the less-bulky tablet works great for reading magazines, watching movies, and playing games, a laptop excels when it comes to business activities, transferring data, and typing long documents. Check out the full (and cheesy) video here:
Additionally, Pew Research Center (2013) reports that 61% of American adults owned laptops as of April 2012, up from 57% in August 2011. Even though laptops aren't experiencing the swift, sharp boom in popularity that tablets have in recent years, laptops are still more common – for now.
At any rate, don't throw out your laptops just yet, librarians (and librarians-to-be). Trust me on this one.
References
Consumer Reports. (2011, October 31). Tablet vs. laptop: Advice from Consumer Reports [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvJZDel95WU
Pew Research Center. (2013). Device ownership. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Trend-Data-%28Adults%29/Device-Ownership.aspx
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
LIS Technology: An Interactive Chronology
Although the term "information technology" often brings to mind images of computers and glossy gadgets, sometimes a technological development can be as simple as a piece of paper. This multimedia timeline details several centuries’ worth of innovations that have impacted the LIS field, starting in 3000 B.C. with the first written records and ending with the gadgets of today.
I put together this presentation using a fun interactive tool, TimelineJS. I highly recommend it; the script has even made an appearance or two on our website at work!
(If you are using an older browser that can't handle interactives, you can view the slides in a PDF here.)
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