Week 4 Muddiest Point(s)

I have two muddiest points this week:

First, I went to the Unicode web page, but I don’t understand it.  Is there a program (is it this version 5.2.0?) to download that gives you access to all the languages/fonts?  Or do you simply locate a particular character you want and copy and paste it from the charts?  It all looks very complicated.  I often need access to Arabic and Chinese characters--is this what I should be using?  I understand Office 2007 has a full symbols library that has what I need, but I don’t have Office 2007 on my computer (I could get it--I just can’t make the time for the transition at the moment).  So in a nutshell:  how do you access Unicode characters, and where do they go once you access them, and then what do you do with them? 

Second, at what point do you choose a compression file format?  Do you always have the option of saving an image as a TIFF, a JPEG, or a PNG?  Where do you get those options?  I don’t recall ever having any choice.  When I download images from my camera, they are automatically saved as JPEGs. 

Week 4 Blog Comments

Here are my comments on this week's blogs:

http://lostscribe459.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-4-readings-corrected.html?showComment=1285170684601#c4374115809531724169

http://mfarina.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-4-notes-multimedia-representation.html?showComment=1285171289921#c4409559409096417835

Week 4 Readings - Data Compression

I think the basic idea of the Wikipedia entry on “Data Compression” and the longer “Data Compression Basics” is that certain files, particularly color images, take up a lot of hard disk space and use a lot of bandwidth during transmission.  So data compression encodes the information in such a way that fewer bits are used, thus allowing more information to be stored and transferred in less time.  The compression method that recovers an exact original is referred to as “lossless” (which kind of makes sense to me, the suffix “-less” meaning “not having”; so “lossless” meaning “not having loss” or “not losing anything”).  But sometimes recovered information is not exactly identical to the original, so this is called “lossy.”  Run-length encoding (RLE) and Lempel-Ziv (LZ) are examples of lossless compression.  Now, I couldn’t really follow the theory and algorithms beyond the first basic example of “Mary had a little lamb,” but I can see the end result:  that data compression can reduce the file size significantly, amazingly to no or little detriment to the original.  The catch is that both the sender and receiver have to be on the same page as far as the encoding mechanism used for the compression process.  Regarding lossy data compression, it was interesting to me that the human eye or ear doesn’t really notice some loss of quality. 

The “Imaging Pittsburgh” project is fascinating.  Galloway’s article illustrates to me how all of these theories and algorithms are used in the real world, albeit in the background, to enable online access to visual images and photographic collections.  The Digital Library’s Image Collection is amazing.  The Historic Pittsburgh Collection alone now has 18,000 images, far exceeding the 10,000 anticipated at the time this article was written.  I also like their use of Dublin Core metadata—it’s simple and clear, easy to use and interpret.  I couldn’t help but look for my ancestors in the “Pittsburghers at Home” collection—my mom will flip when she finds out about this (she grew up in Homestead and Greenfield in the 30s and 40s). The project team had a goal to provide “consistent size and quality” of images (no doubt applying the principles of data compression).  I found the “image reproduction service” an interesting idea as a potential source of income for the project.  Why not?!  Very interesting to see how a project like this begins with a grant and a few partners, and expands way beyond the original goals, to wind up being an incredible gift to a region.  This would have been a great project to be involved in. . . .

Webb’s brief article describes the use of YouTube as a venue to promote your library.  Believe it or not, I have never gone to YouTube’s Web site directly to search for anything.  (I think I’ve always been afraid that I’ll get sucked in and won’t ever get up from the computer again.)  My experience with it is limited to the few times friends have sent me links to a video.  So I appreciated even the simple instructions of how to just sign up for an account!  I can definitely see how adding instructional or informational videos to library blogs or Web sites is a good idea—anything we can do today to get patrons and users involved in our libraries is important and all good.

Week 3 Muddiest Point(s)

In class, when the different versions of Linux were being described (Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu), I think you said that companies package Linux applications and then sell them as these different versions.  Well, then Linux isn't free anymore, right?  So how does that work? 

Also, really dumb question:  Where does one find the disk defragmenter?  I know I should know how to run this, but I don't.

Assignment 2 Flickr Link

Here is the link to my Flickr Photostream:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53967109@N08/

Hope I did this right . . .

Week 3 Blog Comments

I made the following comments on this week's blog entries:

http://sarahwithtechnologyblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-3-reading-notes.html?showComment=1284732838603#c2571478468302987148

http://emilydavislisblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-3-computer-software.html?showComment=1284733907811#c3555775163588327899

Week 3 Readings

This week's readings all have to do with operating systems, about which I was pretty much clueless.  I have a little better idea now, after reading about Linux, Mac OS X, and the Windows update, that there are alternatives to the only one I’ve ever really known, Windows, if one were so inclined to tinker with what one already has.  But I’m probably destined to be one of those “lusers” Garrels refers to—at least for the time being, and at least till I’m forced to “RTFM” (loved this guy’s sense of humor!). 

Here are the main points I picked up:

Garrels's "Introduction to Linux" describes how Linux was developed by a guy who wanted a free system for smaller PCs that would work with the original UNIX, which was developed for mainframe computers.  He put out a “message in a bottle,” so to speak, for ideas on how to build what he wanted, and build it they did, as a community, which later we would all refer to as “Open Source.”  Pretty cool.  His description of Open Source is very helpful for understanding the impact such software can have on the world.  Also pretty cool is that it’s free.  Linux is written in the C programming language, which I’ve heard of but never worked with.  There are lots of pros—can work with any hardware, you don’t have to reboot all the time, it’s secure, and errors are found and fixed quickly because so many people develop and use it.  There are few cons, but there’s a big one for me:  the fact that it’s not very user friendly and confusing for beginners.  Though Garrels insists there is a Linux “Distribution” for everyone, I would beg to differ with him that “you needn’t be a programmer to install” it on your system.  This is something I would be very afraid to try on my own. 

Amit Singh’s 2003 document on the Mac OS X operating system was difficult to get through, especially since I am not an Apple user (anymore, that is--I had one back in the early 90s) and am definitely not a “hacker.”  But if one were a hacker, there’s a plethora of information of tools and programs available for use with Mac OS X.  Singh’s brief history of the Mac OS X was interesting (what I could understand of it, apart from all the abbreviations and acronyms).  Sorry, but most of this document was way over my head.  I’m sure it’s a perfectly fine operating system (it is definitely the author’s preferred OS, though he gives props to Linux and Windows at the end), but it isn’t free, and it requires Apple hardware. 

Wikipedia’s entry on Mac OS X was a little more accessible to me.  (I especially appreciated the pronunciation guide, “X” = “ten”—I wouldn’t have known that.)  Now I understand that version X has improved stability and reliability, and includes software development tools.  I wasn’t too surprised to read that Mac OS X is the “second most popular general-purpose operating system in use for the internet, after Microsoft Windows.”  Wikipedia describes this as “the most successful UNIX-like desktop operating system on the internet.”  Makes it sounds like an “also-ran,” even though it has “over 4 times the penetration of the free Linux.”  Curious that the Mac OS versions are named after “big cats.”

The SuperSite blog entry reprinted the text of a 2008 email from Microsoft’s senior vice president, Bill Veghte, in which he provides an update on the state of Windows .  This seemed a little out of date, since we’ve now seen the release of Windows 7.  Veghte thanks the billion users of Windows for their input, which makes me think of those TV commercials with all the people who say “Windows 7 was my idea.”  I’m still using Windows XP, both at work and at home, but I guess I’ll be forced to change by 2014, when Microsoft will apparently stop supporting XP.  I don’t think I’ve heard as many complaints about Windows 7 as I did about Vista, so maybe Microsoft is getting better about working out the kinks before they release a product.  I do wish they’d make security a top priority, though—virus susceptibility remains my biggest concern.  I thought it was interesting that Veghte states the planned release date for Windows 7, which was three years after the release of Vista.  Does this mean we’ll be seeing a new Microsoft OS every three years?

Week 2 Muddiest Point

Who/What determines what is stored in cache memory?  Is that something that the user has control over or could change if desired, or is it predetermined when you purchase a computer?  And what sort of data gets put there instead of into the main memory?  When you say that cache memory stores “frequently used instructions and data,” does this mean instructions for, say, simply turning on the computer?  Opening a browser?  Retrieving a Word document from a folder?

Blogs I Commented On - Weeks 1 and 2

Week 1: 

Sherry’s Intro to Info Technology Blog

http://sherry-lis2600introinfotech.blogspot.com/2010/09/additional-notes-on-readings-week-1.html?showComment=1284131160527#c8980338253487029651

I can relate to your experiences with e-readers. I thought I would wait till I was done with this program to splurge on a Kindle, but my boss gave me one last year for my 20th service anniversary. I was so excited! I DO really love it (or I love the IDEA of it--the fact that I can have a whole library at my fingertips, if I wanted to), and I have downloaded and read a few books already on it. The freebies are nice, too. Mainly I've been using it to download "samples" of books I've read reviews on, and that I think I might like to read someday. It's a great way to see if a particular book is something you'd like. But you know what? I am still reading real books, too! Still, I feel I've found a happy medium between the Kindle and the old-fashioned book.

Christy Fic’s Blog

http://christyfic.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-notes-week-1-aug-30-2010.html?showComment=1284129979970#c1081571614641109883

I liked your analogy between information technology trends and McDonald's fast food! And look what cheap fast food has done to us! I haven't read the book "The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains" (by Nicholas Carr) yet, but it's on my "someday-when-I'm-done-with-this-program" list. From reviews I've read, though, I gather the author discusses how the Internet has made us distracted readers and samplers of information, while we are much more deeper thinkers and creative people when we read the printed word. So I wonder, if things continue the way they've been, what our society, our children, will be like in 50 years (or less). Perhaps our brains, as well as our bodies, will be obese, with no "muscle tone" to them to encourage critical thinking skills.



Week 2

Melissa’s Blog

http://maj66.blogspot.com/2010/09/wikipedia-articles.html?showComment=1284128548298#c99089415683600039

I worry, too, about the negative environmental impact technology creates. We're the same way in my household--have had multiple PCs, laptops, TVs, VHS/CD/DVD (in that order!) players, portable/cell phones, etc. over the course of the last twenty years. We try to hold out as long as we can upgrading and replacing, but eventually, time marches on and you have to fall in line behind everyone else. We bought a new HDTV last November, and we felt the minute it was delivered that it was obsolete. It was depressing. (And we STILL haven't figured out how to get it, the Blu-Ray, and the sound bar to hook in together!)

Did you know that you can take your old electronics to Best Buy, and they will--supposedly--recycle them. You give them $10 (for some reason), but they give you a $10 gift card for BB. (And you don't have to buy something first to do this.) We've taken several old TVs to the Bethel Park store (South Hills of Pittsburgh) this year.

I think I'm the only person at my gym that still carries around an old Classic 20GB (yeah, 20!) iPod. But it works just fine for me, and it's big enough to keep track of in my various bags and purses, so why replace it?


Rachel’s LIS 2600 Blog

http://millard2600.blogspot.com/2010/09/unit-2-computer-hardware-reading-notes.html?showComment=1284131937321#c766485778101233919

I am the same way--I'm fine with technology AS LONG AS IT WORKS! :) I have "rote-skill" computer knowledge mainly because I cannot seem to keep up with the changes! As soon as I am remotely comfortable with some aspect of technology, the world has moved on to the next generation of gadgets or hardware or software! I feel like I will always have a very superficial grasp of how it all works.

Week 2 Readings

“Personal Computer Hardware”

I have to say that I didn’t find this Wikipedia entry on computer hardware very helpful, but it would take a lot more for me to understand the inner-workings of a computer than what’s discussed here.  I know what I need to know to make the various computers in my life work, and when they work (which is most of the time), we get along just fine.  When they don’t work, I can often figure out a fix on my own, just by trial and error.  But when I get really stuck, I just call up the Pitt Help Desk (I'm staff), and they walk me through trouble-shooting if I’m working at home, or they make an "office call" and fix the problem for me if it’s my office computer.  They throw out terminology and explain parts on an as-needed basis, and when everything is working swimmingly again, I quickly forget what it all means, because I never really understood how it worked in the first place.  So I guess I need remedial help when it comes to wrapping my brain around things like “chip set” and “BIOS” and “Internal and External Buses.”  I think the only way I would ever really understand this is if someone actually opens up and dissects a PC in front of me, extracting each component and showing me firsthand what these parts mean and do.  I felt really old reading about “floppy disks” and the “Iomega Zip drive,” now apparently obsolete, but things I remember using “back in the day.”  I shudder to think that someday I may be called upon to open up one of these things and perform surgery on it.  I know it's important to understand how computers work; I know I'm not always going to have an IT staff at my beck and call. . . .

“Moore’s Law”

Okay, another article that just overwhelms me with numbers and statistics and graphs and charts—all the things I am horrendously inept at deciphering.  But I guess the basic principle behind Moore’s law is that the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years.  (I have trouble envisioning these things and how they work—I guess when I hear or read these terms, I just assume that they refer to things that somehow make my electronic gadgets “work.”)  I suppose all of this should make us wonder when we will reach capacity, and what sort of “new type of technology” will come along to take its place.  (And whether to wait before buying “the latest technology”!)  It is interesting that the trend has been that these numbers double every two years, and that people have been able to apply Moore’s law to other measures of digital technology.  And is it coincidental that Moore’s law seems to drive the technology industry’s marketing and engineering departments, or is it truly a case of “self-fulfilling prophecy”?

Computer History Museum Website

Isn’t it something that there’s a museum for computer history, which begins its timeline with the year 1939—not so long ago—and ending with 1994.  Which makes me realize just how much must have changed, how the field evolved, in those 59 years, in order to have an entire museum devoted to the subject.  I found the online exhibit “Timeline of Computer History” interesting.  I’m sure it’s a fascinating place for those who are really into computers—it looks like they have a lot of exhibits—however, if I were out near San Francisco, I’d probably find other things to see.  :)

Week 1 Hand On Point - My Experience with Ad-Aware

Okay, so I've been using a different version of this program for several years now (Ad-Aware SE, with a copyright date of 1995-2005--I think I probably got it from Software Licensing Services here at Pitt), on my office computer and my home PC, and I do run it periodically.  I have to say, though, that I never really understood how it worked, or what it did exactly, but I'd follow the directions and it seemed to do something. 

I never got around to downloading Ad-Aware onto my laptop, though, so I figured this would be a good opportunity to start fresh.

First, the thing froze my laptop, after about 20 minutes into the installation process.  So I started again.  I had to leave for an hour, so I figured I'd let it do a scan while I was gone.  Came home to find that it "was not responding"! 

Third time was the charm, however.  I ran a scan, and after about 5 minutes, it produced a record that showed it had found 3 cookies, which were successfully removed.

This looks different from the version I have on my other computers.  And it seems easier to use (after installation).  I think I'll load this version onto those other machines.

Week 1 Muddiest Point

After completing Assignment 1, I do not understand the difference between the blog and the blog feed.  What does one URL do that the other doesn’t?

Week 1 Readings

“OCLC Report”

The first thing that strikes me about this report is the date—it’s six years old.  Still, it was interesting to compare where the “information landscape” stands today.  For example, the report states that “e-books have entered the adoption phase”; in July 2010, Amazon reported having 630,000 Kindle books, and that it sold 180 digital books for every 100 hard copy books (Claire Cain Miller, “E-Books Top Hardcovers at Amazon,” New York Times, July 19, 2010, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/technology/20kindle.html?_r=1&ref=e-book-readers).  The OCLC Report accurately predicted the “convergence of technologies” that mobile communication devices have brought to the technology playing field.  In fact, a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project report found that “cell phone and wireless laptop internet use have each grown more prevalent over the last year” and cites astonishing statistics of Internet use via Wi-Fi connections, email and instant messaging use via mobile phones among adults, etc.  And they’re not just using cell phones to make emergency calls!  They’re taking pictures, playing games, accessing the Internet, sending email, texting.  Pew reports that in the U.S. today, “cell phone ownership is higher among African Americans and Latinos than among whites (87% vs. 80%) and minority cell phone owners take advantage of a much greater range of their phones’ features compared with white mobile phone users” (Aaron Smith, “Mobile Access 2010,” Pew Internet & American Life Project, available at http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Mobile-Access-2010.aspx), indicating the even greater-than-expected reach of technology.  So I think this report, despite its 2004 date, is interesting because it seems to have accurately predicted what was coming down the pike in technology and how that technology would be affecting libraries and their users.  I also enjoyed “the new vocabulary” section.  I’d not heard of many of these words—some of my favorites were “digital swarming,” “fleshmet,” and “snam and spim.” 

Lynch, “ Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy”

This article was very helpful for the distinction it makes between “information technology literacy” (technology infrastructure) and “information literacy” (content and communication).  I recognize that I lack skills in many IT literacy areas, particularly when it comes to understanding technology infrastructure.  But I agree with Lynch when he says that information technology literacy will be “critical for people to succeed in all walks of life, to function as informed citizens, and to continue to learn and grow in an evolving technological society.”

Vaughan, “Lied Library @ Four Years”

This article highlights the experiences and challenges faced by the Lied Library of UNLV as it maintained and upgraded its information technology resources.  Kudos to the library staff, who seemed remarkably cooperative, coming in early and doing a lot of physical labor to replace PCs and trouble-shoot.  Those in charge of the project were logical, well organized, and had good strategies for reducing negative impact on users.  There were lots of things mentioned here that I’d not considered before, mainly with regard to the physical plant.  Well, of course there'd be a need for a central uninterrupted power supply unit and for a central tape backup unit!  And of course one would need to understand the floor plan and building to make such upgrades as "hot jacks"--even just to add desks!  Don't even get started on the security and space issues!  I find that I take a lot of these types of things for granted.  Little did I know how much planning and work goes into providing computer services in a library!  It's an enormous task that requires cooperation, flexibility, and clear thinking from all involved.  The bottom line of this article, for me, anyway, is that staff really have to be adaptable to changing technology and changing environment, because “technology never stands still.”

Happy Labor Day!

Hi, everyone.  I'm late coming to this discussion because I've been away for a few days.  Hope you've all had a great holiday weekend.

I'm a "Margaret," and I usually go by "Meg," but since we've already got at least one "Megan" in the class, I decided to go with my second nickname, "Maggie," or "Magpie."  (Which may be more than appropriate, because I can be a chatterbox sometimes, just like the bird.)  So, apologies in advance for any confusion this naming business causes.

More on the readings and muddiest point soon. (Maybe my blog will be your muddiest point!)  I really just wanted to see if I could make this work.  :)