w15 readings

I noticed the term "Clouding Computing" changes according to various experts. It is interesting to see how the meaning changes from business perspective to everyday use. I've heard of this term being touted as next big thing for the technology. A bank in Spain decided to try Clouding Computing with their computers... probably only reason I am aware due to the media coverage. The goal is to create more storage for the data... through the servers. This doesn't create warm feelings because of the potentialities of destructive force such as virus. Imagine, a virus attacks server then it affects whole group of people instead of one person. The article from Futurist Speaker was... interesting, especially the comments. There were some people who seems to be determined that the libraries are useless as cassette tapes- this struck me odd... like they do not realize that not everybody has latest technological device. Does they really want the libraries to become elite information center for selected economic class? It just defeats whole purpose for the libraries as the accessible place for all. This is to not say I am against the development of kindles and nook. It just means libraries should remain accessible even with the advances in technological devices. I believe as the generation grows up with technology, they will be more savvier with the use.

Good Luck, everyone with end of the semester! :)   

nothing to do with the courses

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17682294

The article made me think how the data overload affects our patrons and librarians... just drop your thoughts in comments if you have time :)

w14 readings

Each article sheds a light on the bulging data servers. "Man's trash is a treasure to other man" perfectly describes the information that is being stored on the programs and servers with personal data on the individuals. Individuals only can hope that their data is secure by placing trust in the companies. Lately I've noticed the increased reports of hackers accessing the servers that has personal data on the individuals. The worrisome problem is what is the hacker doing with the personal data? Some hackers might claim they are standing up for the underdogs; however this does not mean stealing the identity or bank accounts from the server. It seems to me that it is increasingly difficult to protect my identity online and offline. No-Fly List have garnered lot of attention since 9/11. There is another anecdote of a little boy scout, like eight years old landed on this list. It made his family's journey on flight quite unpleasant. It was interesting to see that head honchos in the situation of Johnnie Lockett Thomas claiming they could not take her off the list. Even in authority position, they still cannot do this. This is the part which I am puzzled about, is there a policy that locks the list down? Why are there no chain of command where person can get their name off with proof? Heavens forbid, they might put me on no-fly list because I used her name in this post. Supposing I typed these words such as Allah. Al Qaeda. Taliban. Al Shabab. Every words are being recorded and flagged as possible danger. There are programs that seek and flag certain words in the database. "Do not trust the government"; no place to hide forgot corporates. Corporates also have the data on the people as well. The people also forgot the government serves as the mirror to their demands. EPIC website serves good timeline as to demonstrate how fast people jumped on and off the bandwagon in the name of safety.  It is quite heartening to see people standing up and say, this is not right, it is invasive. I applaud the librarian who stood her ground, not giving in the tactics employed by Vermont State police.  

13th Lab

http://liswiki.org/wiki/User:Mlv24

W13 Readings

Blossom Link was quite interesting- it expands on how the social media works. The primary goal is the audience. People write and share with their followers. Just imagine, a web of connectives all over the world.  The content are renewable, re-used like never before.  The example of this is the wiki instruction by Eastern Tennessee State University. The knowledge and experience is passed down via the wiki. However the downside of re-used is repeating the information to the point it become hard to trace toward back the original source. The information about  Jimmy Wales and Wikipedia were new to me. I didn't realize wikipedia is based on free software. There was a part in the dialogue which he mentioned how the voting process on the article works in the wikipedia- the volunteers enforce the rules of neutrality. I'm not sure if the neutrality can be fully used in the websites. I also wonder about the possibility of the users to become closed-minded due to the information source they choose to use. This reminded me of an article in Washington Post online newspaper- this omsbudman talked about comments section, free speech versus the user policy. There was a online commentator mentioning that this troll who was spouting racist lines like "The president should be white person." Now, this line falls in free speech- however this comment was removed due to language use. The commentator said his comment was more offensive because it included "scum"; however it was not removed. If you want to read further about this, http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-post-should-moderate-its-comments-gently/2012/03/30/gIQA7tW4lS_story.html

Lab 11

First Image is Google Scholar while the second image is web of knowledge. Google Scholar had more results with words such as library. However I find it interesting to see the contrasting search results in web of knowledge. You can see in third image, by merely adding a quotation marks, it reduced the search results to one.

W12 Readings

Web Crawling, Page Ranks, Deep Web and metadata harvesting were interesting read for me. I imagined the databases as the oil pumps with the ocean of the data around it. The graphic information were helpful, it allowed me to understand how deep the web is. Millions of the data floating in the cyberspace, to access them all is a challenge. Page ranks certainly makes sure the information and the websites are still there, this also might mean the website have not updated and it shows the limitation- if the word were popular association during certain years. It also depends on the importance of the data to the user. If the user is not satisfied, more time devoted to digging through the search engine.

W11 reading

The Mischo article was not appealing read for me... I'm not sure what is bothering me in this article. I noticed the difference between Dewey and Repository article. Their end goals were slightly different but their issues were same. Dewey article focused on the digital content and how to bridge the expectations between computer scientists and the librarians. Repository discussed about preserving scholarly works in a long run. As some blogs mentioned the hyperlink rot in Mischo article, this illustrates the challenges of preserving the scholarly works online. The technology field changes rapidly; some issues become moot. As the library makes its transfer to the digital world- I believe it is still possible to have both of best; digital and physical library. This is navigable field, there will be lot of shifts and growing with the technology. Academia will forge on to find solutions.. in another decade, we might look back on the changes and say, wow, we were really anxious. With time, librarians will be proficient and comfortable with technology.

Lab 9 Activity

http://pitt.edu/~mlv24/lab9.html

W10 notes

I can see the differences between HTML5 and XML. However I struggle with the idea of various ways to set up a website. There are ways to build a mountain. XML is certainly simpler with attributes and values. The similarity is within the writing the code. Both requires ending of the attribution and value. From my perspective, it seems as if HTML is universal while XML is set up by smaller community within cyberspace. I am still figuring out how to code so the information about XML is overwhelming. IBM websites helped to clarify the differences and discussed as how to code in XML.

Week 9 readings

HTML5 claims to be the future of the web design. It was adjusted according to the changing time.. it was interesting to see that <font> that was used in 4.0 HTML is now dropped in HTML5- I quite did not understand the reasoning except that it have become obsolete. There is a list of obsolete terms that is not used by HTML5. However video, audio and other various features is now added to the HTML5. This have not become standard... yet. In such rapid changes, the goal is to have standard raised for the websites. I am not quite sure if the data in web storage is much safer than the cookies. There is little new information in each readings about HTML.

8th lab

http://www.pitt.edu/~mlv24/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74092965@N07/6952503745/

Lab 7 Activity

http://www.pitt.edu/~mlv24/index.html

week 8 readings

One thing I got out of these readings is that I realized how the website really comes from pure imagination. I could write it by hand and have it uploaded in matter of time...(well... actually maybe couple days for me to do that..) I have noticed writing html and cascade is like a language, to define and link to create a page. It is surprisingly similar to math; the answer boils down to right or wrong. By a glance, it deceptively looks very simple and yet complicated. From the activity and reading, it really takes enough of mental power to catch tiny mistakes in the language of html and cascades. I just need to practice my website skills...>_< one day I can be good at this- 10,000 hours will make me an expert, got to keep on hoping :-D

Week 7 Readings

Beyond the HTML article is quite a glimpse of the future of the library. It seems to be more important than ever is to develop technology skills as needed for the library... as illustrated by the GSU library. CMS system sounds easier for the librarians to use. It clearly was very helpful for the librarians to have a web development librarian- sometimes technology is like as the data tsunami, overwhelming with technological terms. Strangely, I never learned how to build the HTML link or website in this technological era... As I read on the instructions as how to design an link.. It feels like I will need 10,000 hours to become an expert. The coding is a language I need to learn, to dance on the keyboard fluently. The coding also requires sharp eyes as I have learned on coding academy website. The space and placing also are important in the coding. These will be helpful as I move on to learn how to design HTML link.

Lab 6

Barcode:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74092965@N07/6903284415/

Marc Record:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74092965@N07/6903290977/ 

Week 6 Readings

Internet has been part of my life for more than decade, I didn't really think about the basic structures. The instantaneous information from the internet used to be a luxury during modem dial ups; with fiber optics it is common. When I read about fiber optics... I recall reading the articles about companies putting in fiber optics lines on the properties. In spite of the damages, evidently fiber optics is widely used all over the country. It is quite a vast linking of the servers and networks.  Some of these articles were horrific due to the costs in the damages. By then, we've become more interconnected thanks to fiber optics. The lecture about Google was really fascinating- their picture of globe with colors representing languages in Google search. 20 percent of its time to focus on the small projects was quite interesting, something to think about as librarian. Google books are one of their projects. Educause website had praises for their project. Their project represented a step in rapid changing technology. It would have been nice to read about the opposition against this project.

Week 5 Lab

The screenshot of IP address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74092965@N07/6864211163/

The link for index html: http://www.pitt.edu/~mlv24/index.html

Week 5 Readings

Wikipedia articles expanded on the basic terms and definitions. It also describes the limitations of the computer network. The computer network gives me better understanding as how China was able to block the information about Tienanmen Square to their citizens. RFID tags article was quite interesting article. The size of technology piece are getting smaller. It also opens up an old issue of protecting patrons' privacy. Such electronic automation would create a reading list in the system... how far we must protect our patrons from invasion of their privacy. The library would face variety of the situations like a hacker could access the network to find out their reading list or Federal agency requesting a reading list. To develop a full automation system would mean less workers for the library, is this something we want in long run? One could observe Walmart, where they have self-checkout scanners... most of time customers get frustrated with their self-checkout scanners.  I'm in favor of RFID tags; only up to a point where the workers are not replaced by the machines.

Week 4 Lab

Task 1:
http://www.screencast.com/t/I47SI4kL

Task 2:
http://www.screencast.com/t/GbxCrh68my

Lab 3 Activity

The citeulike url browser

http://www.citeulike.org/user/megven 

Week 4 Notes

The variety of databases shows the individual purposes for they serve. One piece of the article stood out to me, “Cloud Database”. The concept have become recurring theme in the news. The competing companies are pushing hard to integrate this concept into public consciousness.  There is a bank in Madrid, Spain had bought cloud program from Google- (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16486796). This might represent a step in the future of technology or it might die out.  The idea behind cloud technology is that the providers offer the access of the programs through the internet. It would allow the users to download necessary programs without going to different product. The goal of cloud computing is to make it easy for users to manage and less cumbersome to maintain. More information can be found at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing  

Clearly, this type of concept is not without pitfalls… like for instance; the virus could destroy a cloud program thus affecting dozens of computer servers. The challenge to maintain and protect data is greater in the cloud database.  Librarians should keep eye on advances in the field of technology. It might be a benefit for the library… to provide information and applications through the internet.   

http://www.phlonx.com/resources/nf3/

It is bit hard for me to wrap my mind around the concept of 3 Normal Forms. With visual images, I felt I was missing something. However the Wikipedia entry on the entity relationship cleared some blocks off the concept of Three Normal Forms. I liked the visual example of the entity relationship, this painted better picture of the database. It is quite interesting to note that, entity relationship model focuses on building from scratch programs and not suited for existing and current programs. The existence of entity relationship model rests in the foundation of the current programs.  While the concept of Three Normal Forms focused on the part as how to make the program work in certain way.

Week 3 Readings

As I read the Gilliland article as posted for the week 3 readings; the words look very familiar… it hits me; I’ve read this for the 2005 class. It is quite interesting to see the various forms of metadata can be in; it’s like stumbling across a market for the spices. The technical aspects of metadata are hard to get my brain to wrap around.  The article raises a point about usefulness of the metadata; “Good descriptive metadata is essential to users' ability to find and retrieve relevant metadata and information objects.” This might be the problem for the users who attempts to find something using library’s catalog. Good metadata would leave users satisfied with their findings, bad metadata leaves dissatisfied user/patron. In order to understand the technology, it is needed to know the mechanics behind it… at least the basic mechanics. Not understanding the role of the metadata is akin to driving a car and not knowing all the working parts. Dublin Core offers a picture as how it works with their program code. The idea behind the Dublin Core presents momentous challenge due to programming- the codes in different languages, working with large group of people on same goal. To develop codes for specific vocabulary is a dull affair, if one makes a mistake, one have to go through the coding to find it. As for using reference websites like Endnotes, it is really a choice for individual to use either ones. I once tried Refwork, it didn’t really work due to my preference doing sources on my own. This is good for long term research with multiple sources.

Lab 2

http://www.screencast.com/t/T2bd54nIc

Click the link above for my Jing video. Click the link below for the flickr account.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/74092965@N07/6736081501/

Week 2 Notes

Digitization: Is It Worth It? 

The article reminds me as how the libraries use Return of Investment to assess their worth. Stuart talks about the benefit of the digitization project. The benefit goes to small group of the scholars. To me, this is difficult part to determine, after all, the internet is anonymous. Accessibility is the topic- in case of the digitization project, it would mean accessibility is limited to the technology. The project becomes a form of preservation. Stuart talks about the costs of the project... he did not talk about the object itself which is entirely different can of worms. For this article, he chose to discuss the broad topic which is the cost of the digitization. It is noteworthy to see this article was published in 2001. Technology have changed rapidly since then.

European Libraries 

This article sheds a light on the persuasive power of the Google. It is interesting to see the reactions among the countries. France reacted by encouraging the local alliances rather than going to the Google. Even through they assert they are not "at war" with the Google. To keep in mind for the background,  E.U. do not like business monopolizing the market. (Remember the ruling in European Commission which orders Microsoft company to remove its programs in order to allow the competition to "flourish".) Against such background, it is not surprising to see such resistance. However this does not stop some libraries from engaging in confidential talks with Google. Money is always the problem for all projects. Like Stuart says in his article, digitization compiles more cost than the original project itself. This is glaring problem faced by the European libraries. Interesting part of the article is the main problem is in the basic digitization.  In spite of the digitization problem, the European libraries have moved on forward to developing their collection.
There is more information about these institution; click here.

Wikipedia Entries 

Compression entry is harder to understand due to complex algorithms terms which I am ignorant in. From what I am able to understand, compression basically cuts the corners to make room on the memory drives (cd). Cutting corners affects the quality of the object- for instance, video become blurry or pixelated. I am not able to see the solution in compression entry. If anyone did, please let me know in the comments!
 

:)

Hope everybody had wonderful holiday break... feel free to leave comments/feedback on my reading notes. It's been a while since I tried blogging so here's another attempt to blog.