Posting #5
This weekend I decided to take a break from social media and deactivated my Facebook and Gchat, as well as turned off my phone. In many ways, I was able to explore other tech trends that had not been as prominent in my life. I finally had the chance to listen to David Sedaris by logging into my Overdrive(http://overdrive.chipublib.org/B997E831-7D7E-42A4-A4A0-D1273A896B65/10/375/en/Default.htm) account at the Chicago Public Library, as well as watch a movie on my Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/)streaming account without getting distracted every couple of minutes. It was also nice to write actual e-mails that were closer to hand-written letter versus the short, hurried notes that I usually type as responses to e-mails or posts on people’s walls.
I have nothing against technology. In fact, so much of my life is on Google applications I don’t know what I would do if they started charging me. My friends and I recently set up Dropbox (http://www.dropbox.com/) accounts so that we can share music together, and in many ways we are creating community through our interactions online, even though it might not look like the community our parents might have participated in. So many of our inside jokes are shared as e-mail threads and all of our dinner plans and parties are not planned through e-vites, e-mail groups or GoogleWave. When something good or bad happens, we send e-cards (http://www.someecards.com/).
However, I think that because I grew up in this generation, it is easier for me to accept new tech trends. With new things coming out every day, I am constantly reminded that there are new apps to check out or new tech trends to keep up with. As a future librarian, it is important to keep in mind that everything is changing, especially our role as librarians. There’s really no way to predict which things will take off
(Google, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare) and which won’t (GoogleWave, Friendster, Bing!). The important thing to remember is to not get attached to any one format or program, and to be open to switching to new things. I just hope that I don’t get so attached to Facebook that if there’s a day when something else takes over I won’t be able to let go.

Posting #5
Reading about mobile trends is interesting for me because I am one of the few remaining without a smartphone (mostly because I can’t justify the cost right now). There’s been a lot of talk about whether these devices are just making us lazier etc. While that’s a valid point, I think it’s something you have to consider personally. There comes a certain point where technology cannot be resisted. Libraries shouldn’t hold back at the risk of losing their users where they are. Google is on smartphones, but most databases are not. The new generation of users is not going to be able to remember a time when their phones couldn’t do everything, and if they can’t use their phone to access the library then there’s a problem. I’ve been seeing a lot of disheartening articles about the relevance of libraries and it’s in areas like this that they could lose out. Also, designing a mobile site for your library’s website seems like it would be a good exercise in simplicity of design. What features are absolutely necessary?

I am fascinated by the idea of QR codes (though again, no smartphone with which to try them out). It seems like they have a lot of potential in libraries, particularly in the interaction between physical and virtual space. My library is having to downsize our print collection quite drastically so I’ve been toying with the idea of putting QR codes on the shelves where a journal should be to link to our online holdings. It could have interesting implications for RA as well, a code that links to similar works. Obviously implementation will depend on your users – I work at a medical library and I can safely assume a lot users have a smartphone and comfort with technology.

The benefit of being late to the game with this post is that I can get a sense of everyone else’s opinions on cloud computing. It really seems to be a love/hate relationship. I love Google Docs because I can access a paper at home, at work, and at school without having to make sure I’m carrying the file around with me. But I totally panicked when I thought Delicious was going away and I get annoyed at not being able to easily access my Twitter archives. I can’t even argue that paper is better because I lose things that way too. You can throw away things on accident just as easily as you can delete a file on accident. It seems to me that the best method to follow is LOCKSS – Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe. Cloud computing is great, but don’t throw out your files and your hard drive. Digital chores can be just as important as household ones.

Saving my links for the end:
Recent article on QR codes/moble app: http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/5014
LOCKSS: http://lockss.stanford.edu/lockss/Home

Post 5
After reading the articles for this module, I have hope that Chicago Public Library (CPL) will soon offer mobile device friendly features. I frequent the library and the website so I have my library card number memorized, but wouldn’t it be easier and faster to have the ability to scan your library card? It would be even better if there was a good app out there to access my CPL account. This would give me the ability to quickly find out which holds are in and when I have to pick them up by or which resources are due so that I can avoid fines. It should also use my phone’s GPS to help me determine the closest locations with resources that pertain to my search query. I don’t think that too much to ask of my library service, especially with today’s mobile computing technology. My Yelp and Flickster apps have similar capabilities. With library systems like San Jose Public Library (see http://bit.ly/c866jM for the Librarian in Black’s blog post about its launch), the District of Columbia Public Library, and New York Public Library (see http://bit.ly/gDky5v for Library Journal’s article “Interfaces Galore for Mobile devices) leading the way, CPL can’t be far behind, right? As I write this post from a nail salon using the Google Docs app on my iPhone, I wonder when CPL will begin offering these types of features. On my way to the salon, I received an email from CPL letting me know that a hold I placed is in: if only I could easily find out which book it is from my phone so I know if should stop at my local branch after my pedicure.

Posting 5
Comcast’s internet service has been craptastic for me the past week, and since Thursday I’ve had Internet in ten-second spurts. These readings were completed while hitting “refresh” over and over in the hopes of hitting a period of connection (and I couldn’t connect long enough for “Cloud Computing in Plain English”), and my posts were first completed in Word, then copied and pasted into the Tech Trends group. Among other things on my to-do list this week, I had hoped to continue my Facebook message conversations, send out some e-mails, double check my bank account and credit card balances, upload a video to YouTube, add to my Amazon wishlist, create a Dominick’s shopping list, and update my public and internship blogs, but these were near-impossible tasks without a reliable connection or at least Word or Notepad and cut and paste. However, my rather unproductive week has given me an appreciation of how cloud computing dominates my daily life.
Turning in my portfolio recently has made me hyper-aware of just how much work I’ve done that slipped past me unsaved because of the ubiquity of the cloud. Class posts to Ning and Blackboard have been forever lost, as well as an HTML project put on a long-forgotten web hosts. Personal stuff, too – Facebook messages, e-mails, posts to car troubleshooting message boards, or my progress on online games. Or, sometimes I’ll look at my inboxes and clean up sent and received e-mails, then want to kick myself three months later when I realize I deleted something important.
(I did get an apologetic e-mail from Citi about a hack into their name and address database [http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/04/05/consumer-email-addresses-hacked.html], but I can’t tell you the contents of that e-mail because I deleted it. Two downsides to cloud computing.)
Anyway, it seems like many cloud-utilizing websites are pretty good at saving works in progress. Dominick’s Just for U program (http://www.dominicks.com/IFL/Grocery/Offers-Landing-IMG) and Jewel’s shopping list (http://www.jewelosco.com/shopping-list/viewmylist) still save your shopping list even if you close your browser; I can’t remember if Target’s Weekly List saves your list (http://mytargetweekly.target.com/). Yahoo and Blogger regularly save drafts every few minutes. Since we’re all relying so heavily on the cloud, it makes sense to have drafts saved, since connections can fail, or you can just be suddenly interrupted and need to work on your blog post / e-mail / shopping list / game sidequest later or at a different computer. Oddly, Facebook hasn’t caught on to automatic draft saving for their messages.
Aside from draft saving, I hope cloud-utilizing sites begin to offer options to save our cloud-originating work to our desktop. The aforementioned stores allow you to send your shopping list to e-mail, which is good, but I also have lots of things sitting out there that I would like to hold onto – Xanga and Blogger posts, those Facebook messages, my farm in Farmville when I was addicted to that. So far, the only method of saving these things is copy, paste, and Word. Or print screen and Paint. It would be nice if we could hit an export button and have a document created and sent to us. Otherwise, we’re stuck with the backwards methods that don’t do a good job of preserving layout. Not necessarily for printing purposes, but it would be nice to hold on to our work and our experiences in the ever-changing world of the Internet where we’ll use websites for a few months and abandon them, like this group site.
If sites soon offer exportation, though, Stephen Fry probably shouldn’t print out his Twitter feed. It would take 10.5 million pieces of paper (http://www.cartridgesave.co.uk/printeffect/twitter/stats/stephenfry).

Post #4: I really enjoyed the article about 11 technologies that are in danger of going extinct, which can be found at http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/09/01/11-technologies-in-danger-of-going-extinct/. Some of the technologies on the list were definitely not a surprise. I can’t remember the last time I used a fax machine, I haven’t had a landline phone in years, I’ve never had a beeper, and blue-ray players have been out for a long time. I really liked the paragraphs on how devices like the iphone and the ipad are making dedicated e-readers and ipods extinct. There really is no reason to continue having separate devices for reading and for music now that we have portable devices that can do all those things. The only item on the list that I would really be sad to loose is the computer mouse! I do a lot of graphic design activities at work, and I always choose a mouse over anything with a touch screen for this. Even with the most sensitive touch screens, my finger is simply too big for me to get my work done efficiently. I think that programs like Microsoft Publisher would have to be completely redesigned in order to facilitate adequate touch screen capabilities, and maybe that is what will happen eventually. The presentation on mobile technology in libraries http://www.slideshare.net/ellyssa/libraries-to-go-mobile-tech-in-libraries-presentation?type=powerpoint was also very interesting, and I think that this is definitely the direction in which libraries are heading. I was just reading an article called “Libraries in a Digital Age” in the March 2011 issue of Architectural Record about how the design of the physical space of libraries is changing to reflect this new trend by provided more spaces for people to come together in community and less space for physical items like books. I am interested to see what libraries look like ten years from now!

#6 No surprise here reading that Opera mobile is the reason for the explosion of mobile internet use. I’ve used it on my blackberry for several years now and it is by far the EASIEST browser I’ve found. Things just display right. It knows what I’m trying to look at, and zoom on, and click on. It makes sense to hear that relatively little data is transferred though, since the bookmarks seem to save each page. Effectively you can load 4 commonly read sites above ground, and switch between them while on the train with no service. I certainly see mobile and cloud computing as the biggest advances and the direction of MY internet life.
Cloud computing, however, has it down sides which seem to be regularly glossed over. At work, we’ve used a remote server setup for the past 10 years. Each PC in the office only has to connect to the LAN or a user connects to the server through the internet. Keystrokes are sent, graphics are returned. Hardware requirements are low and you don’t have to worry about an employee losing a laptop full of irreplaceable data. We do regular backups and have never had a server meltdown, but will inevitably hit the wall and have to get new servers again in a few years. I read an article in a business magazine (bad library student, I forgot which one) emphasizing the lack of control you have once you’re in the cloud. The host will upgrade the software when the new one come available with no regard for your work flow, learning curve or opinion. A feature you used in the old version might be gone. Programs may stop being compatible and no longer share data the way they did in an old version. (when your mdb database is suddenly converted to sql overnight) And let us not forget that sometimes, not matter how hard you try, you cannot connect to the internet. (usually for me in an emergency when I need to contact a person whose paper business card I trashed months prior when they were added to my address book) For the personal user, it’s a pretty great thing. I can have a place to store pictures of my kid and never have to panic when my 7 year old laptop crashes. For an organization, the impact of upgrades, changes in formats, and connectivity to your data must be balanced with hardware savings and peace of mind of offsite storage.

Posting #3

I have to admit that I think cloud computing is the best thing since sliced bread! Ever since I discovered Dropbox, managing my school/work/personal files has been so much easier! I think everything I’ve ever done for library school lives in my Dropbox. In a time where people not only have their personal computers, but also work computers, smart phones, and tablets/readers, the cloud helps us store and access digital items conveniently. Just last week, Amazon launched their Cloud Player (http://mashable.com/2011/03/29/amazon-cloud-player/). As the linked article states, Google and Apple will probably release their versions of cloud player soon. With these types of new technologies permeating people’s everyday lives, user patterns and expectations will surely evolve, and it’s important that libraries are ready to adapt to meet these emerging needs. I think it’s also exciting to think about the cloud not just as a storage solution, but what kind of implications could it have for libraries and archives in terms of resource sharing and opening up access?

I also found the OCLC report of privacy and people’s perceptions about privacy to be fascinating. In my experience, it seems that more and more people today are willing to compromise a little bit of their privacy in exchange for convenience. After reading for this module, I heard about the debacle with France wanting to keep web users’ personal data for a year (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcIROpaIgngw8P1fO7BXywMIhe5Q). Both Google and Facebook have filed complaints against the decree. I was a bit surprised that Facebook is actively opposing these measures. Weren’t they all about selling our information to third-party apps and websites? In any case, it will be interesting to see how this all unfolds.

Posting 4:

Just when I think I have caught up to all the popular tech trends, a new app or a new blogging platform appears over the horizon. Most of the time, I lose interest in whatever it is by the time the beta testing period is over, ie. Flow, but others become addictive and even information, ie. Tumblr. I think the same can be said of the hardware, as well. I’ve heard (or read) somewhere that smartphones are eventually going to replace standard cell phones, and I believe it. This is a change that I can easily embrace. A Pew internet study shows that minorities have been utilizing their smartphones’ web accessing capabilities at a greater rate than their Caucasian counterparts (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/mobile-internet-use-shrinks-digital-divide/?hp). Though this doesn’t necessarily bridge the “digital divide”, it does alleviate the issue to a small degree.
I believe that this year marks the first year that smartphones outsold personal computers. This demonstrates that more people are moving away from traditional computing and are looking for something that allows them to be, well, mobile. Libraries will do well to take note of this trend, as pointed out in this month’s issue of American Libraries (Hanson, Cody W. ”Libraries and Mobile Services.” American Libraries Mar.-Apr. 2011: 22.)
For educators, cloud computing has to be one of the best tech trend ever. One of the biggest buzzwords in education is “collaboration”. While there are some great schools that really embrace this concept, there are some that struggle to make collaboration a reality. I’ve found that one of the biggest obstacles to collaborating is that there’s no time for all the teachers to meet with each other. Though face-to-face meetings are definitely important, using various cloud computing tools can enable educators to share ideas without having to be physically present in the same room. I’ve found that sharing and editing ideas on a wiki and sharing documents via Box.net, or other similar programs, did not detract significantly from the quality of the work. I think educational institutions should make the effort to implement more of these collaboration tools into everyday practice. However, I don’t advocate using technology just because it’s new and fancy. Even adults need to use these technology tools in a way that is fiscally and ethically responsible.

Posting #5

Ever since the idea of iPad-toting roving reference librarians was planted in my head by a classmate in 704, I’ve had random thoughts now and then on how mobile devices open up new possibilities for libraries to add value for patrons. This week’s reading allowed me to branch out beyond those occasional thoughts or ideas, to see what’s actually going on and expand my mind to many new possibilities. For example, I had thought QR codes might be a good way to provide suggestions for similar reading material (“Like this? Try these: …”) or to let people scan codes near LC numbers to see what subjects are included in that row of materials. I was pleased to see similar ideas and so many more in the extensive list of QR possibilities in our reading. With my curiosity piqued, I looked a little further into QR codes in libraries, and found another great list of libraries using QR codes and in what capacity they’re using them: http://bit.ly/ezyfaJ. (Also, our classmate Lian did her web report on QR codes, if you haven’t checked it out.) For their use in things like user instructions or directional signs, these codes even allow for greater customization, like using different tags depending on where people are in the library. For example, one goal at a university library was to put directional codes throughout the library so users could “scan the one for law on floor 4 of the library, small staircase and it could display text saying ‘go up 2 floors, turn left and you will pass first the law journals, then law reports, then get to the books’” (http://bit.ly/eaWHde). There’s also potential to improve accessibility, like by making videos (or even just audio) that explain a sign available for those who can’t read it for any number of reasons.

However, this does bring me to a couple of concerns. Say these codes link to instructional videos on how to use library equipment. I think this is great, as some people certainly learn better by seeing something done than through written instructions on a page (again, yay, accessibility!). However, what happens when these videos include narration? Will patrons be expected to have headphones for their mobile devices or risk getting the stink eye for making noise in the library? I think that’s an unrealistic expectation, and one that would prohibit widespread adoption of many of the potential uses of QR codes and other mobile technology in the library. Thus, I think the section in Michael’s 2009 trends and technologies post that asserts libraries need to revisit their policies on mobile devices is an important step, not only since these tools are here to stay, but because they offer us new opportunities to serve our users rather than alienate them.

My other concern with many of the forms of mobile technology for the library we read about is that, while they offer great opportunities for libraries and some patrons, we must keep equity of access in mind. We can’t expect all patrons to have access to the technology needed to scan a QR code, look up catalog information from anywhere, or get mobile RSS updates from a library. Though of course mobile web use is “exploding” and more people are using cell phone communications technology than email (http://bit.ly/hjYAer), and we want to meet these users’ needs and interests, we also have to be careful to remember our other patrons who don’t have or use this technology and not let our service in those areas suffer. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s to come, as I have no doubt mobile technology will continue to transform libraries in the next few years.

Posting #5

I agree with the ACRL article that there is an “Explosive growth of mobile devices and applications will drive new services.” I have done most of the class module readings on my phone. I have also seen cell phones being used in lieu of transit and credit cards http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4051843/-Mobile-Suica-phones-board-Japan-s-rail-system. I have used a mobile boarding pass with QRcodes for my last few trips http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,66,00.html. I wonder how long it will be before we can use our mobile phones as library cards.

Though I love books, I also find my e-book reader irreplaceable. The fact that it is lightweight holds dozens of books, and I can download free, hard to find works onto it from the library make it convenient. Librarians who can cater to these markets can increase access and patrons. Libraries that are unable to keep up with these kinds of advances in technology run the risk of falling behind and losing patrons.

I find the increase of open source software and cloud computing great ideas to increase access while decreasing costs. I am still a little reluctant to move to the cloud for security issues http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/cloud-computing/3266134/isf-lists-seven-deadly-sins-of-cloud-computing/. Further enabling my reluctance was the WikiLeaks/Cloud Computing saga http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2010/12/13/amazons-wikileaks-response-threatens-cloud-computing/. Even though maintaining your own hardware, software, and server is pricey, both in time and money, at least it increases the feeling of security and control.

I think one thing that is obvious from our readings and just from observing our own lives and what is happening in the library and information world is that the use of technology amongst the common person is exploding. Pew recently did a survey and found that 47% of adults get news from their cell phones http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Local-mobile-news.aspx and adults under the age of 40 are more likely to donate to disaster relief through an electronic means http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Japan-Donations.aspx. I think these two surveys clearly demonstrate a shift towards an electronic culture. Library culture needs to keep up with what is going on now, people are demanding apps for their library and mobile access. The ALA conference brought up this fact in 2009. I think that many libraries, now in 2011, are slow to adapt their services to reflect the changing culture of technology. While many do offer iphone apps http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dcpl/id301077850?mt=8 and the like, still many others are slow to evolve and change their services. If libraries want to be relevant in 5 years, they need to keep up with the tech trends. Libraries also need to keep in mind that while technology is changing and new services are being offered, the values and professional ethics of the profession will remain the same. They may have to be adapted to facilitate the use of new technologies in the library, but privacy, intellectual freedom, etc. will all remain key issues in the library world.

It is also true that before implementing a new technology, a library should survey, study, analyze, etc to ensure that the new technology they are putting in place will be used by their patrons and still relevant in a few years. I think many of the technologies libraries are implementing today will help to change the face of the library and hopefully save it from its certain death if it remains unchanged.