Archive of ‘technology literacy’ category

Microsoft’s HoloLens

Microsoft’s HoloLens explained: How it works and why it’s different

http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-hololens-explained-how-it-works-and-why-its-different/

Microsoft’s HoloLens prototype has all the innards of a computer built directly into the headset. That means no cords or even a smartphone required.

Just as VR rivals Oculus (owned by Facebook) and Google are trying to reimagine virtual experiences with their head-worn devices, Microsoft wants us to imagine a world without screens, where information merely floats in front of you.

 

laptop selection

Looking for a new laptop?

http://www.productchart.com/laptops/

Excellent interactive chart available from Global Network Discovery

Here is a wonderful interactive chart from Global Network Discovery that you can use to compare the affordances of different laptops. The chart compares a wide variety of laptops on criteria that include things such as : memory, storage capacity, screen size, and weight. You can also use the search functionality accompanied with the chart to refine your search by CPU, brand or model. Hovering your cursor over any laptop icon  will display a small box with details pertaining to that product. These details include, besides the specs and features of that laptop, an updated version of its price.
Keep this interactive chart handy  to use next time you want to buy a laptop. If you are looking for the best laptops for teachers, you can check this list instead. You can also use the “more” option in the chart to search for other comparison charts on smartphones, flash drives and SSD drives.
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2015/01/a-handy-interactive-chart-comparing.html

DPLA aggregation webinar

DPLA aggregation webinar

https://global.gotowebinar.com/join/561128425722875393/722195006

Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)

Open Archives Initiative, OAI http://www.openarchives.org/

DSpace http://www.dspace.org/

XSLT http://wiht.link/XSLT-intro

Heather Gilbert and Tyler Mobley from the South Carolina Digital Library
http://scmemory.org

Metadata schema and elements: required, recommended, optional.
required: e.g., contributing institution, date digital, digitization

one central hub as aggregate and 3 other hubs to collect, scan etc.
use ofTab-separated values TSV, http://www.json.org/ JavaScript Object Notation JSON, OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications  ODF

Tyson Mobley:
OCLC multi-site server, aggragated Blacklight catalog –

Project Blacklight :: Blacklight (open source)
Apache Solr – java based search index. highly scalable

complications: multiple metadata formats, but variations of Dublin core.
Solr is not a relational dbase, so management of separate partners’ records in a single Solr index was issue to make it relational.

Gretchen Gueguen
Data Services Coordinator from DPLA
metadata mapping
aggregates data from libraries, archives, museums etc
Content hubs and services hubs (so LRS at SCSU)

For q/s:
http://tiny.cc/ncdpla
https://github.com/ncdhc/dpla-submission-precheck
https://github.com/ncdhc/dpla-sample-repox-xslt
https://goo.gl/ujzZHS

Metadata is basis of the work of DPLA. We rely on a growing network of hubs that aggregate metadata from partners, then we, in turn, aggregate the hubs’ metadata into the DPLA datastore. As we continue to grow our hub network, we have found the practical matter of how to aggregate partner metadata and deal with quality control over the resulting aggregated set becomes our biggest challenge. If your organization is interested in becoming a part of the DPLA network, or if you are interested in how the DPLA works with metadata, we will be hosting a webinar on January 22nd, at 2pm Eastern, about our workflows, and our future development in this area. The webinar will examine the aggregation best practices at two of our DPLA Service Hubs, as the basis of a conversation about metadata aggregation practices among our Hubs. In addition, DPLA has been working on some new tools for metadata aggregation and quality control that we’d like to share. We’ll preview some of our plans and hope to get feedback on future directions. Speakers: Lisa Gregory and Stephanie Williams of the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center Heather Gilbert and Tyler Mobley of the South Carolina Digital Library Gretchen Gueguen of DPLA

 

Signage

There is an informative discussion on the LITA board regarding signage, both hard/software-wise as well as design-wise.

From: Hess, M. Ryan [mailto:MHESS8@depaul.edu]
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2015 6:14 PM
To: lita-l@lists.ala.org
Subject: [lita-l] Re: Digital Signs – Best practices, hints & tips

Hi Christa,

I don’t manage the signs in our library, but had a part in getting them put in place and designing workflows. Along the way, I found some interesting research on the topic:

San Jose Public Library (2009). San Jose Public Library Signage Design Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.olis.ri.gov/ services/ ce/ presentation/ SJW-SignageDesignGuidelines.pdf

Envirosell (2007). San Jose Public Libraries & Hayward Public Libraries Final Report. Retrieved from http://sjpl.org/sites/all/files/userfiles/svpl-hpl_final_report.pdf

Barclay, D. A., Bustos, T., & Smith, T. (June 01, 2010). Signs of success. College & Research Libraries News, 71(6), 299.

Shooting more from the hip, my opinion on digital signage is that commonly made mistakes with content include:

– multiplied narratives don’t work in most library cases. Keep everything short and on a single slide

– keep the slide visible for at least a minute to give people a chance to read it

– make sure your graphics are appropriately sized for HD screens (keep those images sharp and avoid pixelation)

On a technical note, we use a mix of solutions:

– PPTs on USBs

– We’ve experimented with Google Drive Slideshows too, to help streamline the work
M Ryan Hess
Digital Services Coordinator
DePaul University
JTR 303-C, DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, 2350 N Kenmore Ave., Chicago IL 60614
office: 773-325-7829 | cell:  650-224-7279 |  fax: 773-325-2297  | mhess8@depaul.edu

On Dec 22, 2014, at 2:20 PM, Hirst , Edward A. <Edward.Hirst@rowancountync.gov> wrote:

We are using a Plex Media Server feeding 3 Rokus over a wireless connection from a laptop. We use .jpg pictures for our slides. Each Roku is connected to a different folder on the Plex server since our displays are in different parts of the building.

Edward

—–Original Message—–
From: Junior Tidal [mailto:JTidal@CityTech.Cuny.Edu]
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2014 1:10 PM
To: lita-l@lists.ala.org
Subject: [lita-l] Re: Digital Signs – Best practices, hints & tips

Hi Christa,

We used two templates for our digital sign. We were using PowerPoint on a Windows machine.

Librarians would take turns updating the slides to promote databases, workshops, library hours, etc., and we had a stable of maybe a dozen or so slides. We updated the slides whenever we needed to promote specific events, usually a couple of weeks before it took place.

This past summer, we switched to using a Raspberry Pi setup installed with Screenly – https://www.screenlyapp.com/ose.html .

This made it much easier to update the slides, because we couldn’t remotely login into the PC with Powerpoint running. Now, we can connect to the RPi/Screenly, and upload images.

Best,
Junior

Junior Tidal
Assistant Professor
Web Services and Multimedia Librarian
New York City College of Technology, CUNY
300 Jay Street, Rm A434
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.260.5481

http://library.citytech.cuny.edu
Christa Van Herreweghe <christa@ucitylibrary.org> 12/21/2014 5:12

PM >>>

Hello all:

We are new to digital signs having just installed our first.  Would love to hear about any best practices you have developed.

How many slides do you show? (assuming you are doing slides – if not, would love to hear about your format).

Did you develop a template (or two) and develop a consistent “look”
on all your slides?

Who updates your sign and how often?

Other hints and tips are welcome.

Thanks,

Christa Van Herreweghe
Assistant Director/IT Librarian
University City Public Library
ucitylibrary.org

Tech In 2015 and flops in 2014

What To Look Out For In Tech In 2015

 http://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-look-out-for-in-tech-in-2015-2014-12#ixzz3O0Jpgipy

Venmo, the peer-to-peer payments app, will offer a solution for in-store merchants.

By year-end 2015, more people will have used a smartphone to unlock their doors than will have used a mobile wallet. 

The Amazon Echo will succeed

YouTube will get a ‘social’ make-over

The Top Technology Failures of 2014

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/533546/the-top-technology-failures-of-2014/

Google Glass

(See “Google Glass Is Dead; Long Live Smart Glasses.”)

Brazil’s EEG Exoskeleton

(See “World Cup Mind-Control Demo Faces Deadlines, Critics.”)

Bitcoin

(See “Marginally Useful.”)

STAP Cells

(See coverage by the Los Angeles Times and by Nature.)

Sapphire iPhone Screens

(See “Why Apple Failed to Make Sapphire iPhones.”)

Aereo’s Tiny Antennas

Electronics Graveyard

A Shadow Economy Lurks In An Electronics Graveyard

http://www.npr.org/2015/01/04/374780916/a-shadow-economy-lurks-in-an-electronics-graveyard

notes under the NPR article and on its Facebook posting most interesting, as usually. E.g.:

Brian Trudo I wrote my final paper in college english on this subject. I believe that ultimately it is the producers of electronic devices (like apple) responsibility to rebuy and recycle older electronics. especially whwn they come out with a new device every year

Dan Neidlinger I did a report on this kind of thing in college, just for a basic writing class. First world pollution of the third world is a big and nasty problem that’s not given great focus.

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