CNN.com http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/11/19/att-looks-beyond-the-iphone/
Looking past the iPhone, is it possible already? AT&T thinks so; they are currently tearing apart the telecommunications industry, beating up everyone on the way. They are able to do so with the help of exclusive rights to the amazing iPhone. Since AT&T is the only telephone company that has the iPhone, their control of the distribution of the phone has given them a complete monopoly over the product. Although, all good things must come to an end, and that means that the exclusive rights only allow for three more years. This is all arranged between AT&T and Apple Inc. After the contract is up then all phone service providers will have the iPhone available with their company. Hence, AT&T is already researching and developing new ways to improve the technology that is on the market so they can stay ahead of the curve.
The scientists and engineers are working on a way to flip videos from your phone right into your flat screen television in your home. The process would work just as if you were flipping through or sliding through pictures on your iPhone. The software is in the works and they are now working on bringing it all together on a much larger scale.
These types of technological gadgets are always exciting and always create a buzz that stretches. I have never been up to date on the current hot items, but it is interesting to watch how far we have come. The intense competition drives companies to try and get ahead of the most recent hot item. Looks like Christmas presents for next year might be from AT&T!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Web Hoaxes
Well, after reading the article, “Web Hoaxes, Counterfeit Sites, and other Spurious Information on the Internet,” it was very surprising to see some of the major network television stations included in this discussion of accusations. The accusations being stated were the misconceptions, lies, and distortions of information. This information varies from major events broadcasted on major networks such as ESPN or CNN to simple harmless stories of a deer and a vest. Although, the information that is being presented is coming from websites on the Internet that are not only misleading but dishonest. The validity of the information that is given off from these sites is not credible and not scholarly. There needs to be careful and close consideration in the evaluation process of these Hoax sites. These sites are created every day with no peer reviews or annual subscription needed to view. It does not take much to create a website, but it does take a long reviewed process to be published in a scholarly journal. Obviously, for your serious information one should consult the information in an accredited journal. On the other hand it is very easy and convenient to consult the Internet when needing quick reliable information. So, when using the Internet there should be some research done on who created the website and who posts the information on the site. These creators and writers should be evaluated by their credentials to determine if they are reliable. If we can stop using these hoax websites then maybe there will be less of them to choose from.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is an online dictionary that is free to all Internet users. Wikipedia has been around since 2001 and was founded by Larry Sanger and Jimmy Wales. Wikipedia is not your typical dictionary / encyclopedia. There are options for any user of the site to edit any information that is presented on the site. Therefore, many professors, teachers, and scholars do not allow their students to use this site or do research for school on this site. The information is available for anyone to edit, which discredits the site. Alexander M.C. Halavais, an assistant professor of communications at Quinnipiac College, decided to do an experiment on the Wikipedia website. Halavais, a scholar who one would think would not be questioned, posted an article containing several errors. Some of the errors were obvious and some seemed to be scholarly written and would possibly make it past a normal person’s judgment. Although, to Mr. Halavais surprise the editors of Wikipedia quickly caught on to the errors and they were corrected. Despite Halavais’ experiment and his conclusions of the credibility of the website, there are still doubters out there.
I think that the doubt from the scholars and academics comes from just the available access that the site has to anyone and that everyone can edit the information. On the other hand, I love Wikipedia and I use it almost as much as I use Google, but I should be reserved on how much I use it. I think eventually Wikipedia will gain enough confidence from the academics to be credible.
I think that the doubt from the scholars and academics comes from just the available access that the site has to anyone and that everyone can edit the information. On the other hand, I love Wikipedia and I use it almost as much as I use Google, but I should be reserved on how much I use it. I think eventually Wikipedia will gain enough confidence from the academics to be credible.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Digital Newspapers
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2008/10/24/pleitgen.digital.paper.cnn
Digital paper is among us and will be the wave of the future. In a current article at CNN.com a futuristic company called Plastic Logic, that specializes in plastic items, has began to develop a digital but plastic newspaper. The item is made of plastic but has a digital cover that with the waving of a thumb will change the pages on the cover. The new item is designed to replicate newspapers across the world. The paperless news periodical will be run through either wireless connections or blue tooth capability, and downloads the most current articles for the intended reader. Plastic Logic is naming this device as the E Reader and the main objective for going plastic or “going green” with this device is to cut back on the use of trees for paper materials. Four billion trees are cut down every year for paper goods and Plastic Logic is attempting to minimize that number as much as possible.
The future of our world is digital and this only makes sense to convert the newspapers over digitally as well. The environment takes a beating more and more every year from many different sources of man made instruments, so the option to cut back on the destruction of trees is always a plus. Although, most people do not even read the paper anymore, instead they just go online and research the news on the Internet. Also, on the other hand there is always the type of old school individuals that love to sit back with a cup of coffee and read the daily paper. Can we convert these types into buying an E Reader to save paper? Well Plastic Logic plans on dropping this item into the market next year so we will find out soon enough.
Digital paper is among us and will be the wave of the future. In a current article at CNN.com a futuristic company called Plastic Logic, that specializes in plastic items, has began to develop a digital but plastic newspaper. The item is made of plastic but has a digital cover that with the waving of a thumb will change the pages on the cover. The new item is designed to replicate newspapers across the world. The paperless news periodical will be run through either wireless connections or blue tooth capability, and downloads the most current articles for the intended reader. Plastic Logic is naming this device as the E Reader and the main objective for going plastic or “going green” with this device is to cut back on the use of trees for paper materials. Four billion trees are cut down every year for paper goods and Plastic Logic is attempting to minimize that number as much as possible.
The future of our world is digital and this only makes sense to convert the newspapers over digitally as well. The environment takes a beating more and more every year from many different sources of man made instruments, so the option to cut back on the destruction of trees is always a plus. Although, most people do not even read the paper anymore, instead they just go online and research the news on the Internet. Also, on the other hand there is always the type of old school individuals that love to sit back with a cup of coffee and read the daily paper. Can we convert these types into buying an E Reader to save paper? Well Plastic Logic plans on dropping this item into the market next year so we will find out soon enough.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Infodiet
This article, written by Steven Bell, relates very closely to the current education that our class is receiving in our library class. Bell writes on the availability of information to college aged students, and how they find information for not only school research but every day life questions. When one asks another a question about something and their peer does not know the answer, typically they will say, “Google it!” This is the issues that Bell writes on, and he humorously relates all the issues to fast food. Students want quick fast answers. So, instead of doing a well though out and extensively researched paper for school, students use Google for their resources. The library pays thousands of dollars every year for subscriptions to journals so they are available for students. Most students do not take advantage of these resources simply because it is too difficult to utilize the libraries resources. Once again students want quick easy answers. The problem with a Google search is referenced as “Infobesity.” Google results are broad and not trust worthy like the scholarly academic information that you will find in the library.
I feel that it is true that if the library research process was easier than more students would use the library. Although, I agree with some of what Bell writes that students working on research papers should be well though out and should not be easy. Students need to learn how to research and work hard. On the other hand for every day answers to just about anything, it is hard to go wrong with just “Google it!”
I feel that it is true that if the library research process was easier than more students would use the library. Although, I agree with some of what Bell writes that students working on research papers should be well though out and should not be easy. Students need to learn how to research and work hard. On the other hand for every day answers to just about anything, it is hard to go wrong with just “Google it!”
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Google Phone
http://www.google-phone.com/t-mobile-1gb-data-restriction-undone-24410.php#more-410
Published on September 24, 2008 by, Brenda Stokes on Google-Phone website.
Yesterday T-Mobile announced the future release of the G1, the first ever Google phone. The critics are already comparing it to the I-phone, which has taken the telecomunications industry to a new level. The article that I read on Google's website talks about the planned initial release is to be in October, by T-mobile. This news is of importance or relevance because it displays the actions being taken by an Internet website to take over the technology world. The article talks about some of the extreme features that will be offered by the new phone. At first, the data plan was going to be almost too expensive for the average person to afford. The Google company decided to down grade the expenses to allow more common people, especially Google customers, to be able to afford it. All customers will experience the full data capabilities of the device and the full 3G network. The data plan for the phone will cost T-Mobile customers twenty five dollars, in addition to their regulsr plans. Google and T-Mobile feel that this is a reasonable price for all to afford, if they desire to have the most recent and most technologically advanced phone on the market. I feel that this phone, just like the I-phone, should be available for all cell phone customers, and not just AT&T or T-Mobile customers. It just so happens that I am a Verizon customer and the only way I can purchase one of these awesome phones is to but it off of Ebay for several hundred dollars. The new phones are great for society and the communication world, but I just wish they were available for all.
Published on September 24, 2008 by, Brenda Stokes on Google-Phone website.
Yesterday T-Mobile announced the future release of the G1, the first ever Google phone. The critics are already comparing it to the I-phone, which has taken the telecomunications industry to a new level. The article that I read on Google's website talks about the planned initial release is to be in October, by T-mobile. This news is of importance or relevance because it displays the actions being taken by an Internet website to take over the technology world. The article talks about some of the extreme features that will be offered by the new phone. At first, the data plan was going to be almost too expensive for the average person to afford. The Google company decided to down grade the expenses to allow more common people, especially Google customers, to be able to afford it. All customers will experience the full data capabilities of the device and the full 3G network. The data plan for the phone will cost T-Mobile customers twenty five dollars, in addition to their regulsr plans. Google and T-Mobile feel that this is a reasonable price for all to afford, if they desire to have the most recent and most technologically advanced phone on the market. I feel that this phone, just like the I-phone, should be available for all cell phone customers, and not just AT&T or T-Mobile customers. It just so happens that I am a Verizon customer and the only way I can purchase one of these awesome phones is to but it off of Ebay for several hundred dollars. The new phones are great for society and the communication world, but I just wish they were available for all.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Internet Blackouts
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/17/ike.internet.outage.ap/index.html Published September 17, 2008....CNN.com
Loss of Internet Power
The blackouts across the gulf coast, caused by power outages from Hurricane Ike, has affected the Internet service of millions of Americans. On over four hundred networks there was service interruption in a way that put individuals apart from reality. Internet connections in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania were the hardest hit. But the storm also caused outages in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana. Surrounding states had scattered outages as well. Apparently, this outage was the largest blackout or Internet shortage since the Northeast blackout of two thousand three. The information for the number of blackouts was computed by the number of networks who lost power for at least an hour. A network can consist of one neighborhood, a University, or an individual Internet service provider. On Wednesday, September 17 NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas was still having Internet and power issues; this was several days after the impact of the hurricane.
The idea of entire schools or communities being with out the Internet is intense and possibly devastating to the typical Internet user, who depends on the Internet for everything. In today’s day and age we as a society have become so dependent on the Internet for all of our daily information. We use the Internet for everything from the news to music, and for even watching movies or our favorite television shows. I think the Internet is a good thing but we should not be so dependent on it for our daily activities.
Loss of Internet Power
The blackouts across the gulf coast, caused by power outages from Hurricane Ike, has affected the Internet service of millions of Americans. On over four hundred networks there was service interruption in a way that put individuals apart from reality. Internet connections in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania were the hardest hit. But the storm also caused outages in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana. Surrounding states had scattered outages as well. Apparently, this outage was the largest blackout or Internet shortage since the Northeast blackout of two thousand three. The information for the number of blackouts was computed by the number of networks who lost power for at least an hour. A network can consist of one neighborhood, a University, or an individual Internet service provider. On Wednesday, September 17 NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas was still having Internet and power issues; this was several days after the impact of the hurricane.
The idea of entire schools or communities being with out the Internet is intense and possibly devastating to the typical Internet user, who depends on the Internet for everything. In today’s day and age we as a society have become so dependent on the Internet for all of our daily information. We use the Internet for everything from the news to music, and for even watching movies or our favorite television shows. I think the Internet is a good thing but we should not be so dependent on it for our daily activities.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Information Literacy
Information Literacy
The general idea is the lack of information literacy that the up and coming generation has obtained through school. Most students are very well trained in areas like Facebook or how to “Google” something on the Internet. If you ask a current student how to do a proficient academic research online, then a large percentage of students will go to Wikipedia, which is not always true facts. To attempt to change and diversify this lack of research knowledge in today’s students, librarians around the country are gathering up to educate the undergraduates. These teachers are first setting up an online effective method for students to have access to, when they need the resources to a valuable, scholarly, academic information useful site. These library sites that contain the scholarly journals and effective research tools are all present in the libraries on our campuses; what the librarians are doing for us, to these tools, is placing them online so we have easy access to them. The information is organized so effectively that the student only has to type in a subject title or keyword to find intelligence on the topic of interest.
I feel as if this type of engagement for the younger generations should be started at an early age, in middle school when writing my first research paper. If we teach the students at an early age then this will be their only way of knowing how to research. This will in turn minimize the amount of information literacy in our society.
The general idea is the lack of information literacy that the up and coming generation has obtained through school. Most students are very well trained in areas like Facebook or how to “Google” something on the Internet. If you ask a current student how to do a proficient academic research online, then a large percentage of students will go to Wikipedia, which is not always true facts. To attempt to change and diversify this lack of research knowledge in today’s students, librarians around the country are gathering up to educate the undergraduates. These teachers are first setting up an online effective method for students to have access to, when they need the resources to a valuable, scholarly, academic information useful site. These library sites that contain the scholarly journals and effective research tools are all present in the libraries on our campuses; what the librarians are doing for us, to these tools, is placing them online so we have easy access to them. The information is organized so effectively that the student only has to type in a subject title or keyword to find intelligence on the topic of interest.
I feel as if this type of engagement for the younger generations should be started at an early age, in middle school when writing my first research paper. If we teach the students at an early age then this will be their only way of knowing how to research. This will in turn minimize the amount of information literacy in our society.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
DaVinci
DaVinci
The creation of libraries began with the creation of art and presenting of ideas on a canvas. Here we have read about the artwork of DaVinci and how it passed through several hands through time to display the idea of transition in libraries. The similarities of the means of communication of a painting and books are the same, but just two different forms. As time has passed, the transition of the communication of ideas, facts, and events has evolved in to a machine. In the past individuals sometimes did not even have access to the knowledge set away in libraries, and if they did then there was sometimes a payment that crossed hands to view information. Now days we just need a computer or cell phone with the internet or a library card to be able to research something in just a few seconds. The discussion of where we want our technology of the flow of information to go in the future is of intense debate. The article speaks of getting rid of the keyboard and using our voices to transmit ideas to one another. This is a major development that will one day seem very current to everyone. The libraries and the books inside of them are feeling the pain of the technology wave. Yes people still do use the libraries and have the need for the customer service of librarians, but the desire or the amount of need has dramatically decreased. We must preserve the libraries and all the history inside them.
The creation of libraries began with the creation of art and presenting of ideas on a canvas. Here we have read about the artwork of DaVinci and how it passed through several hands through time to display the idea of transition in libraries. The similarities of the means of communication of a painting and books are the same, but just two different forms. As time has passed, the transition of the communication of ideas, facts, and events has evolved in to a machine. In the past individuals sometimes did not even have access to the knowledge set away in libraries, and if they did then there was sometimes a payment that crossed hands to view information. Now days we just need a computer or cell phone with the internet or a library card to be able to research something in just a few seconds. The discussion of where we want our technology of the flow of information to go in the future is of intense debate. The article speaks of getting rid of the keyboard and using our voices to transmit ideas to one another. This is a major development that will one day seem very current to everyone. The libraries and the books inside of them are feeling the pain of the technology wave. Yes people still do use the libraries and have the need for the customer service of librarians, but the desire or the amount of need has dramatically decreased. We must preserve the libraries and all the history inside them.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Music Lovers Dream: News Report 1
Travis Crow
Music Lovers Dream
In this CNN online article, the issue of the buying power of music is reevaluated and put into a different perspective. Three music lovers and Internet users have designed a website that not only allows you to buy the popular music that is out, but get a return on every purchase. Hannes Hesse, who is one of the creators of the site, Popcuts, is attempting to “align the interests of artists who want to sell their music and fans who want to get it for free.” Basically, Popcuts is a site that allows you to download music after purchasing each song for ninety nine cents. The idea behind their site that sets them apart is the credit back that each customer receives for each purchase. Every time a customer buys the same song that you previously purchased, then you are given a percentage of that sale. The percentage that you achieve from future sales, after your original purchase, currently goes into your Popcuts account as a credit line for future purchases. The owners of this site would like to in the future be able to give back cash refunds to the customers, but they are not quite at the level yet. The site currently has seven hundred songs from two hundred artists, and has contracts in the works to bring a more diverse selection. I think this is a great idea for a few reasons. One reason is that it gives the buyers of the music incentive to use their website. Another reason is that it allows the creators of the music to be compensated for their hard work. The artists getting a cut of the music they put their heart and soul into is something that I will always be a fan of.http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/09/03/music.site: CNN: Published September 3, 2008
Music Lovers Dream
In this CNN online article, the issue of the buying power of music is reevaluated and put into a different perspective. Three music lovers and Internet users have designed a website that not only allows you to buy the popular music that is out, but get a return on every purchase. Hannes Hesse, who is one of the creators of the site, Popcuts, is attempting to “align the interests of artists who want to sell their music and fans who want to get it for free.” Basically, Popcuts is a site that allows you to download music after purchasing each song for ninety nine cents. The idea behind their site that sets them apart is the credit back that each customer receives for each purchase. Every time a customer buys the same song that you previously purchased, then you are given a percentage of that sale. The percentage that you achieve from future sales, after your original purchase, currently goes into your Popcuts account as a credit line for future purchases. The owners of this site would like to in the future be able to give back cash refunds to the customers, but they are not quite at the level yet. The site currently has seven hundred songs from two hundred artists, and has contracts in the works to bring a more diverse selection. I think this is a great idea for a few reasons. One reason is that it gives the buyers of the music incentive to use their website. Another reason is that it allows the creators of the music to be compensated for their hard work. The artists getting a cut of the music they put their heart and soul into is something that I will always be a fan of.http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/09/03/music.site: CNN: Published September 3, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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