Week 8, #19 iHCPL

November 30, 2007

iHCPL Assignment, Week 8, #19.

Oh, yeah - this is great! Word processing on my desktop whithout MS software. So you might write a report, create a data base, write a novel, . . . all right!

Now, let's see if we can export this thing to my blog.

syotos-m*

Yes! Just go to "Publish" then click on "Go to Blog" (or "Update Blog Posting.")

["See You On The Other Side-maybe"]

Week 8, #18

"Social Networking" - a way to expand one's acquaintances. It's like having your picture in your school yearbook - you can meet folks you haven't seen before even though they are just down the hall from you.

Yes, I watched the "Social Networking in plain English" video, but I did not sign up for "Bookface" (don't wish to be on that, thank you) so I couldn't tour it. The Newsweek article on the growth of Facebook is no longer available, but their are dozens of articles about the popularity, uses, etc. However, none of them inspired me enough to want to join.

- The Myspace "home page" (is that what you call it?) had nothing of interest to me.
- Facebook requires you to "signup" in order to view any aspect of it - thanks, I prefer not to.
- Ning looks very similar to Myspace - there didn't appear to be any difference between them.
- Yahoo360, same stuff . . . These things give the impression that this planet covered with people who are desperately looking for companionship yet can't find it? Sad.
- Dogster is an excellent network, but I was surprized that of the claimed exhaustive list of breeds they failed to list the Anatolian Mastiff. So I sent them an e-mail asking why it's omitted.

Week 7, #17

This assignment is to "blog" about some aspect of technology. I'd like to bla, bla, blog about "CVT." You know, the "Continuously variable transmission." Well, if you don't know, welcome to the club. I, too, didn't know what it was, so I'll share the results of my inquiry with you. (And I think you'll soon see what it has to do with "technology.")

Wikipedia lists 9 variations of the CVT, but defines them as follows:

"The continuously variable transmission is a transmission in which the ratio of the rotational speed of two shafts, as the imput shaft and output shaft of a vehicle or other machine, can be varied continuously within a given range, providing an infinite number of possible ratios."

Further, it says, "The CVT should not be confused with the 'power split transmission' (PST), as used in the Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles that use two or more inputs with one output, despite some similarities in their function." (See Wikipedia: Continuously variable transmission.)

What prompted my curiosity is the fact that Toyata states, in its Prius literature, that the only transmission available in that car is the CVT. How is it that Wikipedia says the Prius tranny is not a CVT, yet Toyota says it is?

Could it be that Wikipedia is incorrect? Which, of course, brings me to the aspect of this that deals with "technology." To wit, is the fact that the very Wikipedia article that states that the Prius tranny is not a CVT, yet later on lists "New automobiles equiped with CVT" and includes the Toyota Prius, an error?

Does this prompt us to ask which statement in Wikipedia is in error? And this is the technology issue: "What is the reliability of the information found in the multiplicity of 'sources' on the Internet?"

I discovered the answer to the question on this specific subject, but challenge you to find out for yourself.

Week 7, #16

Wiki Wiki, whose got the wiki? The British version of that question is, "When does a wiki get sticky, & become a Sticky Wiki?" (Someone said these exercises are supposed to be fun & I admit that I'm having fun playing with them. If you fail to see humor in my "contributions," I sincerely apologize, but do allow me to gone with my frivolity) The answer is, "The Wiki gets sticky when the questions can only be answered by suppositions."

Yep, I went to the hcpl wiki template & left my "Curiosity was here" message. What's the next order of practice? Well, it's back to the assignment list - will return shortly. Since I don't understand how to add a blog to a wiki, I must seek help. bfn.

Week 6, # 15

"Libraries & Librarianship are in transition." Is this a profound statement, or is it an "obvious as the nose on your face" recognition of the pace of technology? Library 2.0 is the term for the almost amazing change that is occuring in this generation.

"Icebergs" are the stuff that is in the way of the "library boat" as it sails into the sunset.

Corporate interest in the process is addressed by OCLC & perspectives on "time" seems to be focused on the "future" which seems to be arriving now.

What it all means to me is: "TMI!" That's right "too much information" is the description of our world overflowing with information that is desperately in need of being transformed into "Knowledge," which needs to be mitigated by wisdom. It is wisdom that appears to be the absent factor in the "Information Age." My take on it: "More than I can comprehend.

Week 6, #14

"Technorati" - an interesting idea whose time has passed. It produces varying results in its 3 different search progressions. However the utility /usefulness of it may not be great. It appears that the information searched/retreived is "mostly opinion" as opposed to documeted fact.

"Searches," "Popular" & "Video" - appears to be the compilation of what other bloggers think is interesting. In the "for what it's worth" depatment, I have no interest in opinion about such things. But it's interesting to look at & know that there are others who think it's useful.



So there, sports fans, is it for this lesson.