Friday, September 24, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
comments for week 3 readings
September 18, 2010 5:45 PM
http://magpie-maggiemagpie.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-3-readings.html?showComment=1284857135630#c8779524871659918514
September 18, 2010 6:11 PM
http://magpie-maggiemagpie.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-3-readings.html?showComment=1284857135630#c8779524871659918514
September 18, 2010 6:11 PM
week three readings
"Introduction to Linux: A Hands On Guide"
I thought this article was a bit confusing to comprehend. From what I read, it was started in the early '90s by a man name Linus Torvalds, and basically created a "clone" of Unix. By this time most people had home computers, so he wanted to create an operating system that was free. Some complaints about Linux are that it's confusing for beginners and they question whether its open source software is trustworthy. I still don't fully understand what "open source" entails. There are also thousands of software packages to choose from, which may be overwhelming for people especially if they don't really know what they need or want. So it seems that Linux may not be right for everyone.
"What is Mac OS X?'
This was another difficult article to read, especially the section on Architecture of Mac OS X. I thought the speech interface was interesting to read about though. I recently got a Mac and still have a lot to learn, but so far I like it! As long as it doesn't crash on me midway through the year I'll be happy.
"An Update on the Windows Roadmap"
This article discussed the updates on Windows Vista and Windows XP and the launch of Windows 7. Most people in the world use Windows, so this email sent by Bill Veghte would probably be most relevant to them. Windows 7 was scheduled to be released after January 2007-is it out? The article mainly focused on the improvements of Windows Vista, which is recommended for new PCs. It was recommended that those with older PCs stick with XP, until I'm assuming 2014 when Microsoft stops supporting it, which at that point I'm guessing they'll have to upgrade to a new computer if they haven't already. I'm not sure what the differences are though between XP and Vista. From reading this though, making a decision about what kind of computer to invest in is even more difficult, especially when there are upgrades every few years or so.
I thought this article was a bit confusing to comprehend. From what I read, it was started in the early '90s by a man name Linus Torvalds, and basically created a "clone" of Unix. By this time most people had home computers, so he wanted to create an operating system that was free. Some complaints about Linux are that it's confusing for beginners and they question whether its open source software is trustworthy. I still don't fully understand what "open source" entails. There are also thousands of software packages to choose from, which may be overwhelming for people especially if they don't really know what they need or want. So it seems that Linux may not be right for everyone.
"What is Mac OS X?'
This was another difficult article to read, especially the section on Architecture of Mac OS X. I thought the speech interface was interesting to read about though. I recently got a Mac and still have a lot to learn, but so far I like it! As long as it doesn't crash on me midway through the year I'll be happy.
"An Update on the Windows Roadmap"
This article discussed the updates on Windows Vista and Windows XP and the launch of Windows 7. Most people in the world use Windows, so this email sent by Bill Veghte would probably be most relevant to them. Windows 7 was scheduled to be released after January 2007-is it out? The article mainly focused on the improvements of Windows Vista, which is recommended for new PCs. It was recommended that those with older PCs stick with XP, until I'm assuming 2014 when Microsoft stops supporting it, which at that point I'm guessing they'll have to upgrade to a new computer if they haven't already. I'm not sure what the differences are though between XP and Vista. From reading this though, making a decision about what kind of computer to invest in is even more difficult, especially when there are upgrades every few years or so.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Week 2 Readings
After watching the video on Moore's Law (which made a bit more sense than the Wikipedia article), and touring the computer history website, it's amazing to think of how far we've come since World War II. It's interesting to see how computer technology evolved-being a key component to decode Nazi signals during WWII, to the first successful commercial computer in the mid-1960s used mainly by businesses and manufacturing plants, to the first email sent in 1971, and to the creation of the World Wide Web in 1990. Not only do many households have computers, but even if one doesn't, it's still necessary to be proficient with one.
These are all things that have had a vital influence on our lives, and who could have predicted it better than Gordon Moore! While the progression of technology has occurred at such a rapid rate and continues to evolve, it can have negative consequences. As discussed in the Wikipedia article on Moore's Law, technology could grow too quickly, making current technology "obsolete."There is also the issue of not having enough natural resources to power the technology. The next big innovation should be "greener" technology! Solar powered computers maybe? The first article on the computer components would probably be more helpful if I was actually dismantling a computer and needed something as a guide to know what part I was looking at. As much as we use computers, it seems a lot of us don't know the basic parts and how they function together.
These are all things that have had a vital influence on our lives, and who could have predicted it better than Gordon Moore! While the progression of technology has occurred at such a rapid rate and continues to evolve, it can have negative consequences. As discussed in the Wikipedia article on Moore's Law, technology could grow too quickly, making current technology "obsolete."There is also the issue of not having enough natural resources to power the technology. The next big innovation should be "greener" technology! Solar powered computers maybe? The first article on the computer components would probably be more helpful if I was actually dismantling a computer and needed something as a guide to know what part I was looking at. As much as we use computers, it seems a lot of us don't know the basic parts and how they function together.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Week 1 Readings
Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture-Clifford Lynch
Whether one wants to or not, information technology needs to embraced, if one wants to be an informed, competent member of society. It's overwhelming, especially to someone who is not technologically savvy, to try to learn and use on an everyday basis the different computer programs and tools, especially when they are constantly growing. Considering how often people change careers, possessing these skills are crucial to adapt and succeed in various jobs, and also just to stay connected with the rest of the world!
2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers
One of the quotes I found interesting in this article was from the Washington Post describing the phone as a "little person," and how a person will often times take their phone with them but not their purse. That kind of tied in the with the theme of this article in the sense that we always have to be connected, and that people don't care as much about the format, so much as the quick delivery of it. With the easy access we have to information and creating information, it makes us impatient if we can't get it that second. Technology makes us more demanding, and imposes more demands on our lives.
Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still
This article seemed to articulate the issues we will be learning about this year-how libraries will adapt to the ways people access information, mostly through computers, and how libraries will stay relevant in our lives. I was surprised to read that computers are replaced every three years, and with over 600 computers in the library, how costly that must be. Reading the success of this library and how it continues to adapt to technological advances and stay current with student and patron demands, it is reassuring to know that library services are in demand, especially when there is concern that libraries will become obsolete in the future.
Whether one wants to or not, information technology needs to embraced, if one wants to be an informed, competent member of society. It's overwhelming, especially to someone who is not technologically savvy, to try to learn and use on an everyday basis the different computer programs and tools, especially when they are constantly growing. Considering how often people change careers, possessing these skills are crucial to adapt and succeed in various jobs, and also just to stay connected with the rest of the world!
2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers
One of the quotes I found interesting in this article was from the Washington Post describing the phone as a "little person," and how a person will often times take their phone with them but not their purse. That kind of tied in the with the theme of this article in the sense that we always have to be connected, and that people don't care as much about the format, so much as the quick delivery of it. With the easy access we have to information and creating information, it makes us impatient if we can't get it that second. Technology makes us more demanding, and imposes more demands on our lives.
Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still
This article seemed to articulate the issues we will be learning about this year-how libraries will adapt to the ways people access information, mostly through computers, and how libraries will stay relevant in our lives. I was surprised to read that computers are replaced every three years, and with over 600 computers in the library, how costly that must be. Reading the success of this library and how it continues to adapt to technological advances and stay current with student and patron demands, it is reassuring to know that library services are in demand, especially when there is concern that libraries will become obsolete in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)