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Sunday, December 7, 2008
Makeup Reading Notes, Week 7
See Muddiest Point #8...Zhen informed me that we may make up an assignment if we were short one as a result of thinking that 10, instead of 11, posts were necessary to complete all blogging assignments.
How Internet Infrastructure Works
This article gives a nice overview of what the internet actually is. I think most of us, at least I have, sometimes tend to think of it as a concept rather than a distinct network of computer systems. The illustration, while not all that necessary, helps explain how it works at its core.
While the internet is a collection of systems and not owned, it is, obviously, monitered and maintained in order to avoid numerous problems. I suppose that's part of the reason for ISPs.
Anyway, this is a good article. I think the router illustration and explanation is especially effective in trying to explain how the internet works. Also, if you're wondering about the seemingly random progression of numbers that makes up you IP, this article answers why it's not so random.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
I understand Pace's frustration with dismantling of the ILS. Every few years, it seems like it's going to have to be deconstructed from its current from in order to keep up with existing technologies...only to be dismantled once again. With technology increasing at a greater speed year after year, one wonders if an ILS can ever have an constancy.
Inside the Google Machine
Wow, a twenty minute video; this is probably twice as long as the longest video we've been required to view. Anyhow, this video enlightened me (how could it not?) on how Google works for all kinds of people, users and founders.
The beginning illustration was cool....and effective. It literally showed where the Google users are. Of course, it's not just Google users, but those who have an internet connection. Some of the answers were predictable: The US, China, Japan, India, parts of the Middle East, and Europe. Africa was almost completely absent, but as Brin pointed out, it's because there's a lack of power.
Part of Brin and Page's intent is to increase internet usage, mostly to places like Africa where there's very little of it. Obviously, yes, they'd like to turn a profit and promote their company; I mean, it IS called the Google Foundation, so it's definitely self-promotion as well. Still, I'd like to think that at least half their intent is altruistic. Besides, using Google searches to illustrate overall usage seems to be a pretty accurate measure since it's the most popular search engine on the internet.
How Internet Infrastructure Works
This article gives a nice overview of what the internet actually is. I think most of us, at least I have, sometimes tend to think of it as a concept rather than a distinct network of computer systems. The illustration, while not all that necessary, helps explain how it works at its core.
While the internet is a collection of systems and not owned, it is, obviously, monitered and maintained in order to avoid numerous problems. I suppose that's part of the reason for ISPs.
Anyway, this is a good article. I think the router illustration and explanation is especially effective in trying to explain how the internet works. Also, if you're wondering about the seemingly random progression of numbers that makes up you IP, this article answers why it's not so random.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
I understand Pace's frustration with dismantling of the ILS. Every few years, it seems like it's going to have to be deconstructed from its current from in order to keep up with existing technologies...only to be dismantled once again. With technology increasing at a greater speed year after year, one wonders if an ILS can ever have an constancy.
Inside the Google Machine
Wow, a twenty minute video; this is probably twice as long as the longest video we've been required to view. Anyhow, this video enlightened me (how could it not?) on how Google works for all kinds of people, users and founders.
The beginning illustration was cool....and effective. It literally showed where the Google users are. Of course, it's not just Google users, but those who have an internet connection. Some of the answers were predictable: The US, China, Japan, India, parts of the Middle East, and Europe. Africa was almost completely absent, but as Brin pointed out, it's because there's a lack of power.
Part of Brin and Page's intent is to increase internet usage, mostly to places like Africa where there's very little of it. Obviously, yes, they'd like to turn a profit and promote their company; I mean, it IS called the Google Foundation, so it's definitely self-promotion as well. Still, I'd like to think that at least half their intent is altruistic. Besides, using Google searches to illustrate overall usage seems to be a pretty accurate measure since it's the most popular search engine on the internet.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Reading Notes, Week 14
What Cloud Computing Really Means
Well, this week I got to learn about cloud computing: a term I had not heard until today. Basically, it's "an updated version of utility computing," which means that there are virtual servers now on the intenet. Some go further stating that anything you consume outside the firewall, into the cloud, is cloud computing.
Apparently this is a problem for IT professionals, but I feel so poorly versed in this area that I couldn't really tell you why. Unfortunately, I think this article, while written well enough for a layperson to have a basic understanding, is still too geared toward those who have familiarity with this issue...whatever that may be. Anyway, it was still interesting to read the seven ways of breaking down cloud computing. I guess my conclusion, probably naive, is that it's always better to have more user options. By my reading, that's what this concept allows, and at a lower cost.
Explaining Cloud Computing
I should watched this video first. It makes the cloud computing concept easier to understand. Evidently, my conclusion from the first article wasn't really all that naive, even though I made it based on limited information. But I have a question: When I chose to use Google for my last assignment of designing a website, was that an instance of SaaS? I am using an internet service to create something that normally, or at least years ago, required some kind of software. But instead, I accessed a website, used its HTML editor, and created my own website at no cost or storage space. I realize these are pretty simple questions for a lot of people in this class, so feel free to make fun of me.
Also helpful in understanding this idea is the analogy to an electricity grid. Poor Microsoft, they can't run a monopoly.
The Future of Libraries: Beginning the Great Transformation
I liked this article, especially the introduction that explained the history value of libraries to all societies before books so ubiquitous. Today, of course, the libraries are still valuable but for different reasons. Information is readily available for just about anybody, at least in the industrialized world. That means that libraries must function a different manner, but with the same purpose. Obviously people still frequent the library for information, but since they can get what they want just about anywhere (I'm not speaking of those who choose to go there just so that don't have to purchase something), it means that they are going there because it offers faster communication (Trend #1) or more efficiency in locating the desired information (Trends #4 and #5)
The trends listed in this article break down the future of library services quite well. I think the first and seconds trends are the most important "live by" if you're a librarian, because you have to realize that all technology has a lifespan. What's the value of a library if any regular person that uses the same technology on a day-to-day basis? Well, then you're just a discount book lender.
Trend #7 I have the most doubt about. I mean, really...there will be zero literacy? We'll be a verbal society? I don't think it's that black and white, even if growing technology verbal communication a near necessity. People will always have a desire to read and write simply because it's either a) the preferable form of communication or b) more likely, they just like to do those things. I'll "only" be 70 years old by then, and I can promise anybody reading this that I'll be reading and writing, because it's what I love to do. Trend #10 is a bit dubious...too vague.
Well, this week I got to learn about cloud computing: a term I had not heard until today. Basically, it's "an updated version of utility computing," which means that there are virtual servers now on the intenet. Some go further stating that anything you consume outside the firewall, into the cloud, is cloud computing.
Apparently this is a problem for IT professionals, but I feel so poorly versed in this area that I couldn't really tell you why. Unfortunately, I think this article, while written well enough for a layperson to have a basic understanding, is still too geared toward those who have familiarity with this issue...whatever that may be. Anyway, it was still interesting to read the seven ways of breaking down cloud computing. I guess my conclusion, probably naive, is that it's always better to have more user options. By my reading, that's what this concept allows, and at a lower cost.
Explaining Cloud Computing
I should watched this video first. It makes the cloud computing concept easier to understand. Evidently, my conclusion from the first article wasn't really all that naive, even though I made it based on limited information. But I have a question: When I chose to use Google for my last assignment of designing a website, was that an instance of SaaS? I am using an internet service to create something that normally, or at least years ago, required some kind of software. But instead, I accessed a website, used its HTML editor, and created my own website at no cost or storage space. I realize these are pretty simple questions for a lot of people in this class, so feel free to make fun of me.
Also helpful in understanding this idea is the analogy to an electricity grid. Poor Microsoft, they can't run a monopoly.
The Future of Libraries: Beginning the Great Transformation
I liked this article, especially the introduction that explained the history value of libraries to all societies before books so ubiquitous. Today, of course, the libraries are still valuable but for different reasons. Information is readily available for just about anybody, at least in the industrialized world. That means that libraries must function a different manner, but with the same purpose. Obviously people still frequent the library for information, but since they can get what they want just about anywhere (I'm not speaking of those who choose to go there just so that don't have to purchase something), it means that they are going there because it offers faster communication (Trend #1) or more efficiency in locating the desired information (Trends #4 and #5)
The trends listed in this article break down the future of library services quite well. I think the first and seconds trends are the most important "live by" if you're a librarian, because you have to realize that all technology has a lifespan. What's the value of a library if any regular person that uses the same technology on a day-to-day basis? Well, then you're just a discount book lender.
Trend #7 I have the most doubt about. I mean, really...there will be zero literacy? We'll be a verbal society? I don't think it's that black and white, even if growing technology verbal communication a near necessity. People will always have a desire to read and write simply because it's either a) the preferable form of communication or b) more likely, they just like to do those things. I'll "only" be 70 years old by then, and I can promise anybody reading this that I'll be reading and writing, because it's what I love to do. Trend #10 is a bit dubious...too vague.
Muddiest Point #10
I am in Zhen's group. If I currently have 9 reading responses, 9 comments (18 total) and 10 muddies (counting this one), does that mean I only need to post a reading response for week 14 (this week) and the required comments to get full credit, or do I have to post one more reading response (total 11) and comments to get full credit? There's been some confusion with this, so any answers, either by Zhen or those who count their scores through her statistics, would be great. Thanks.
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