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Friday, October 29, 2010
Week 8 Notes
HTML Tutorial
This website tutorial was an extremely helpful guide in basic html construction. Before this class/reading I have never even thought about trying to learn how to create an html document (web page). I thought it would be complicated and in a language so foreign to me that I would never understand it. However, with this tutorial learning the basics wasn’t so hard. I mean I am not a master in it, but the “try it yourself” examples really helped me in grasping the beginning knowledge of html headings, paragraphs, formatting, styles, and etc.
HTML Cheatsheet
This website didn’t provide as much detail or explanation as the tutorial, but it will be a great handy guide for the construction of an html document. I felt that the cheatsheet wasn’t really to educate you on how to apply the correct html tag or syntax, but more of a list that would be helpful to print out and have next to you so that you can quickly find the syntax you need.
CSS Tutorial
Similar to the html tutorial, this website tutorial teaches you how to construct cascading style sheets, which is important because you need to create a CSS to display the html elements in your webpage. It provided the basic information, with the same “try it yourself” examples of CSS styling backgrounds, text, fonts, links, tables, and etc. However, what I found the most helpful was the CSS Demo where you can “see how it works.” In the demo you can view how a webpage would look in three different styles and then they provide the stylesheet for each style you saw. It was nice to match up the tags and proper syntax to how it would actually look on the document/webpage.
“Beyond HTML: Developing and Re-Imagining Library Web Guides in a Content Management System” by Doug Goans, Guy Leach, and Teri M. Vogel
This article studied and reported on the new content management system that was designed for the Georgia State University Library to manage their numerous web-based research guides. I feel that the most important information of the article was how the collaboration of the web development personnel and the liaison librarians were the reason of the success to the change and construction of the CMS. This case study is a great reference in to see who to consult and how to go about trying to switch systems and to provide the most content-rich guides for their patrons.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Muddiest Point for Week 8
With Google possessing the majority percentage (83.34%) of market shares for search engines, do you think that they would ever take over the whole market? Is that a plausible thought that it could happen?
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Week 7 Notes
Jeff Tyson “How Internet Infrastructure Works”
“The Internet is simply a network of networks.” I love this quote and feel that it sums up the internet perfectly. This article was an excellent guide in educating one about how internet infrastructure works; from basic structure to how information is sent to connection among networks/computers. I found it interesting to learn about how different companies can become part of one network through Network Access Points (NAP) and how every machine has an IP address, which could then be given a domain name. The examples provided within the article were also of great help in understanding the specific details.
Andrew K. Pace “Dismantling Integrated Library Systems”
After looking up the definition and becoming familiar with all that entails with an Integrated Library System (ILS) I found the article very interesting. I enjoyed the statement near the end of the article that discusses the two different choices a library vendor has; either to maintain the existing large system or to “dismantle” the existing module and integrate the system through web services. I agree with the latter version, for I feel that mixing the new with the old is not only inevitable with the advances on technology, but would be a better system for the future.
Sergey Brin and Larry Page Google Video
In the beginning of the video where they show how much activity on Google is happening around the world, really makes you think of how much a powerhouse Google really is. I mean I just think of how much I use and rely on Google. Not only is it my homepage, but I use gmail, gchat, Google docs, and for everyday random searches. Don’t get me wrong, I love Google. Especially, their changing logo, which I feel brings to light cultural and social events/people/dates that people might forget about. For example, today, October 21st, they honor jazz great Dizzy Gillespie with their logo because today is his birthday. Also, in the video I really enjoyed how insider information was told about the company. I never knew about all the charities they were involved with and how they allow their workers to work on anything they want 20% of the time. I think that’s an amazing concept to promote creativity and innovation. Lastly, it was nice to finally see what the founders looked like, especially after reading and hearing about them for so long.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Week 6 Notes
Local Area Network (Wikipedia)
The Wikipedia article was a great general explanation of a local area network (LAN). It was helpful in describing the use of, the history, and the technical aspects of a LAN. I learned that LAN was more for smaller, limited areas such as your home or school or office building (one or a couple in close proximity of each other). It was interesting to read that LAN was only really established in the late 1970s, so therefore has only been around 35 to 40 years of existence. Also, it was explained which cables were used for connection and how Ethernet and Wi-Fi are the most popular now, over twisted pair cable. Since, I understood all the terminology, the article was very easy to follow and a nice read.
Computer Network (Wikipedia)
A computer network help facilitates communication among users. In the Wikipedia article the numerous components of a computer network is explained. Firstly, the article describes the four purposes of computer networks, which are communication, sharing hardware, sharing files, data and information, and to share software. Then connection methods and types of networks follow. Learning about the different types, was the most enjoyable aspect of the article. From LAN to GAN I finally understood the range of each type and learned interesting facts such as the internet is an example of a Global Area Network and a Wide Area Network spans not only a city, but could span a country or even intercontinental distances. Lastly, hardware components such as repeaters, hubs, and routers were described. The article in a whole was very detailed and helpful in expanding my knowledge on terms I was familiar with.
Common Types of Computer Networks (YouTube Video)
The YouTube video by Relativity, narrated by CEO Frank J. Klein, was a wonderful short quick summery of the types of computer networks. I wouldn’t recommend the video if you are trying to learn in depth details of the different types, but it was nice to learn by just listening rather than reading.
“Management of RFID in Libraries” by Karen Coyle (Journal of Academic Librarianship)
This journal article was an educational summary of the definition of RFID and how this technology can affect and impact libraries. RFID is a radio frequency identifier that consists of a computer chip that can be attached or printed on paper. It is similar to a barcode, but uses an electro-magnetic field to be read. It can also contain more information than a barcode, which is a benefit within the library system. With supplying more information on the book that is attached to the RFID tag, the library can acquire more knowledge on the circulation of the book. Also, the benefits of using an RFID tags are the advancement in inventory tracking, an anti-theft security mechanism, and the ability to check out a stack of books at once. However, with these benefits also come disadvantages. Coyle reveals that one can dupe the RFID tag by placing a piece of aluminum over it or by simply removing it, since most tags are attached just on the inside of the book. Also, with this new technology and the invention of self-checkout, there will be a decrease in the need for a circulation staff. It is hard to deny the pros to RFID tags, but I would never agree with the cut of staff or jobs. I still feel that man to man contact is needed and important to library checkout, just for the fact that if the patron needs to ask a question, a machine cannot verbalize or explain the answer.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Muddiest Point for Week 5
How much information or data has to be involved to consider it a database? Are there requirements or limits to the amount? For example, my own personal excel spreadsheet how much data would have to be listed for it to be considered a database?
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Week 5 Notes and Comments and Muddiest Point for Week 4
I will not be making posts this week and will like to have this week not count towards the ten that I need.
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