News Report 4

The Wired Campus
April 14, 2009
Microsoft's Encarta, Rendered Obsolete by Wikipedia, Will Shut Down by Brock Reed

I found this to be a very interesting article. The once extremely popular encyclopedia, Encarta, is going to be “euthanized” thanks to information powerhouses like Google and Wikipedia. Although the encyclopedia is only fifteen or so years old, Microsoft announced that it will no longer continue the series. I remember using Encarta as a child and it was usually one of the first sources that I would rely on for small grade-school projects. I remember being overwhelmed at the amount of information that the series contained and on the sheer amount of items it contained. Now, however, I am sure that many people have forgotten completely about Microsoft’s Encyclopedia Encarta. Unfortunately for Encarta, internet sites such as Wikipedia and Google have won over many hearts of today’s students and researchers. I think that it is unfortunate that people rely solely on these two sites in general, when there is so much more to be offered. However, Microsoft was the first to admit that the information was not as relevant and up to date as the information that Wikipedia and Google offer. Those two sites have constant updates and information added to them every day, sometimes every hour, and the sheer amount of information that can be obtained on these two sites alone is incredible. Although some people are forever against Wikipedia due to the unknown source of information at times, there are so many other means of obtaining information. So we must say farewell to the beloved Encyclopedia Encarta and never forget the wonderful projects that the series helped us to complete.

News Report #4

Investing in The Future: Pressing onward in an uncertain economy, many industry players are adding staff and expanding development
By Marshall Breeding -- Library Journal, 4/1/2009


Here is an interesting news report that deals with the scholarly communication crisis that has come up so much in class. Libraries of today are constantly striving to stay alive in the struggling economy, as well as improving their technology to appease their clientele. Many libraries are making most of their efforts in the “software” branches. The more up to date the software, the more likely the library will be visited and used as a resource. This software growth is called “Software as a Service” or SaaS. This is a difficult service to maintain due to the high maintenance fees that often exceeds the fees that users contribute, a perfect example of the scholarly communication crisis. The library has suffered in several ways due to the scholarly communication crisis. For example, the number of new customers has seen a significant drop in the past two years. This is affecting the income of the libraries on a very significant level. Libraries rely on annual fees to keep their software updated and their databases open. However there have been several library-related companies that have been able to expand despite the struggling economy. Companies such as The Library Corporation and the Polaris Library Systems have added more staff to deal with the increase in customer support. The new technology and software of these companies is drawing in mew customers and adding the annual revenue of local libraries. Small steps like these are crucial in recovering or avoiding the scholarly communication crisis of today.

Reading Report 3/17

This was an extremely relevant reading for the Library 103 class. This article discussed the need for information literacy in colleges, and how many students are not proficient enough to find the information that they are seeking. This is a problem for many professors. For example, when asked to do research for a paper or research assignment, many students simply rely on Wikipedia or Google instead of searching scholarly databases that libraries offer for free to students. Although as we have found in our Library 103 class, Wikipedia does offer sound information for most cases, the information can be edited by anyone so there is no guarantee that its 100 percent accurate. Many colleges are requiring that students are proficient in information retrieval by requiring library classes, a passing of a standardized test in information retrieval, or other means of proving proficiency. This is helping to broaden student’s horizons when it comes to retrieving information for research topics. According to the article, most colleges are in favor of information literacy proficiency, but there are some that are not. They argue that many of the research techniques that are being taught are not relevant any more, for example Boolean phrases. I can agree with this statement. I am completely capable of finding valid research on library databases and I have never used Boolean phrases until I had to for Library103. I think that it should be required that students prove proficiency in retrieving information by a means other than just Google or Yahoo, however. I think that a requirement of a library class for graduation is a good idea for future students.

Reading Assignment #3

This is an interesting article in several ways. As an avid arte lover, I was really interested in the beginning section that explained how library archives were involved in the recovery of DaVinci’s precious works. Many people view libraries as large room filled with books and nothing more, which in fact is incorrect. Different libraries were involved in the recovery or DaVinci’s work as well as protecting it and restoring it. This plays a major role for history in that without the preservation of his works, art would be different from what it is today. The article also had interesting views on the future. The section that captured my attention was the one on technology, and how the “status quo” is continually changing. I can apply this logic to my own life. I remember when I was little and my parents had a spin-dial phone. I thought that we were something advanced when we got our first button phone, and look how much things have changed from that point. Now we have Blackberries, IPhones, and other various cell phones that not only can be used to make calls but tackle email, play music, and even provide GPS systems. The article is right on when it says that technology is forever changing and will always be replaced by something “new and improved”. Libraries are experiencing technology changes as well in several ways. They have advanced from the standard library card catalogue to faster, more efficient computer systems. They have online journals and article archives. Soon, many hope to have digitized copies of books. Technology is forever changing; the question is whether or not it will ever reach an ultimate point where no more advancements can be made.

News Report #3

The computer powerhouse company Intel is planning an extremely expensive expansion plan. It is estimated to cost seven billion dollars over the next few years. The company plans to construct advanced factories throughout the United States. The plan is to produce faster and smaller chips that are “greener” for the world. President Obama has condoned this plan as a good one, claiming the company is investing in the betterment of America. The expansion plan will provide about seven thousand jobs for people that are highly skilled computer technicians, compiling more than forty five thousand jobs that Intel provides in the United States. According to the president of the Intel company, Paul Otellini, the chips will be used mainly in desktop and mobile mainstream systems. The chips will be named “Westmere” and they will increase the computer’s performance and simplify the system manufacturing compared to the current systems that are being used today. They will also be produced efficiently, adding to the world’s movement towards “green” production. Although I think that major companies like Intel produce new computer software frequently to keep consumers buying the “latest and fastest” technology, this seems like an interesting project. Not only will the company provide an ample amount of job openings, which is crucial in the current recession that the United States is experiencing, but the company is trying to produce the product efficiently. When other major companies that look towards Intel see that the company is going “green” they are likely to follow. It will also be interesting to see how much improvement the chip actually does for the everyday computer user.

Intel Plans To Invest $7 Billion In US Facilities-http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/32264/news.htm

News Report #2

Facebook had its fifth birthday recently. The creator, Mark Zuckerberg is now known as the youngest billionaire on the planet thanks to the online service. He created the program when he was only nineteen years old as a way to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances. Within twenty four hours and its creation, over a thousand of his fellow Harvard classmates had joined. Now, after Facebook’s recent fifth birthday, the online service now accommodates more than one hundred and fifty million users throughout the world. The online service offers a safe place for people to reconnect with friends throughout the world, the ability to join groups for different causes, as well as massive storage space for each user for the uploading of photos. Although Facebook faces rivals such as Myspace, the company is making the service beneficial for a wider population. It is said that the recent election of President Barack Obama owes some credit to Facebook. Facebook was used as a means to reach out to a younger generation that may not have previously voted or was not properly informed on their voting choices. I personally am a Facebook user and have been able to reconnect with several friends. Many people, not just the younger generation are joining the Facebook community. I know that many high school as well as college professors use Facebook as another way to stay connected with students. Overall Facebook meets many challenges for the future due to the recession like economy and other competitors but Zuckerberg plans on improving the system even more to meet the people’s demands.

Reading Report #2

I found this article to be very interesting. Wikipedia is an vast online encyclopedia that is created by anyone on the web that desires to add their input. There is a ton of controversy surrounding Wikipedia, especially among scholars and professors. However, Wikipedia is working on improving the information system and bettering the facts that are added to the site. This was proved by a professor named Alexander M.C. Halavais. He decided to insert thirteen random and false facts throughout the system to see how long it would take for the falsifications to be deleted or noticed at all. Some of the falsifications were blatantly obvious and others were not. It took Wikipedia professionals only three hours to root out the falsifications as well as send him an email about posting information that was not valid. This was an impressive feat for the professor. However, other scholars have not been so easily impressed. Michael Gorman is one of these skeptics. He does not agree with the fact that people other than scholars are able to contribute information to the system. Scholars like Larry Sanger agree with Gorman and have developed a similar site that consists of information that is only posted by academic scholars. Many still argue that Wikipedia is unique in the fact that anybody can contribute to the system, making the information system immense. The Wikipedia crew however, is trying to focus their attention less on the vastness of the program and more on the quality of content in order to win the approval of skeptical scholars and professors.

Reading Assignment #1

This was a very informative reading assignment. The article explained different web hoaxes and “tricks” that normal web users find themselves falling for everyday. There are many different sites on the internet that host information that is one hundred percent credible but there are also thousands of sites that do not. These sites can be disguised as official government sites, for example, so many web users believe that they are receiving credible information. The article used a Martin Luther King website as an example of internet hoaxes. This particular site contains information that is masked to look government cited. Here there are many links that are based solely on the web creator’s opinion and view of Dr. Martin Luther King but is not cited factual information. There are several links that lead the web user to other “White Power” cites that are opinionated to the creator as well. This can be very difficult for the average college student that is trying to find credible information on the internet about Martin Luther King for a school project for example. There are also web sites that disguise themselves as harmful Trojans or worms. These sites can infect the user’s computer and in extreme cases stop the computer from functioning at all. So from what I learned from this article, web users, especially ones that are not extremely knowledgeable of the internet, need to be extremely careful of internet sites that are not created by the government or other credible organizations when looking for credible information. There are many sites that are created solely to poke fun, have political certain stands, or simply mislead the web user. Always choose sites wisely when looking for credible information on a subject.

News Report 1

It is very obvious in today’s world that there is a need for new fuel efficient cars and alternative electric and battery operated vehicles. Many vehicle powerhouses such as Mercedes, Toyota, BMW, and Chrysler are developing new ideas for the future of motor vehicles. Chrysler is making a series of electric vehicles for a variety of people. The company hopes to have electric models of a minivan, Jeep Wrangler, a Jeep Unlimited, as well as a sports car. This is a great advancement compared to the current choices that are available in terms of electric vehicles. Now people have choices when it comes to choosing a electric vehicle. Mercedes is producing a new electric vehicle that has Mercedes mark of excellence in safety. There are choices for families with the new electric minivan that is produced by Chrysler. Sport utility lovers now have choices as well. Jeep Wrangler hopes to have an electric version of their vehicle by 2010. These new electric vehicles are being built by known and established companies and that will be better insurance for first time buyers. They are operated on a network of batteries and generators that will run a range of 50 to 200 miles. The batteries are plugged into standard outlets to charge. All of these companies are striving to make electric vehicles more readily available to the public as well as more affordable. Each of these companies hope to make these vehicles available to the public by 2010. Hopefully these advancements in the vehicle industry will take hold and make the world a cleaner and better place for all.

First Post

Here is the first post for Library 103