Data Compression / Wikipedia & Data Compression Basics / DVD-HQ
These clearly written & easy to understand articles on data compression covered some basics I am familiar with:
- Compression can help save bandwidth & disk space - very important for those of us with limited computing power. Compression allows you to be a better steward of resources.
- In order for data compression to be successful, both the sender & receiver must understand how the information is encoded
- You probably won't be able to play WMA music files on some MP3 players - the files will have to be converted first.
But the articles also raised some important points that I wasn't aware of:
- Lossless compression - original data can be retrieved
- Lossy compression - loses some of the data so it can be compressed, but the results are not the same as the original. This is like making a copy of copy - the more copies you make of the copy, the less it looks like the original.
As we librarians digitize & share more information, we have to be sure we're using the right formats/techniques for our users.
Imaging Pittsburgh / Galloway
This article emphasizes the importance of collaboration, planning, metadata. I appreciated how he explained all of the challenges (metadata, selection, website) involved in this project & how they arrived at solutions that were accepted by all collaborators. The resulting website is impressive & demonstrates how important projects like these are to not only libraries & historical societies, but also to the public.
Youtube & Libraries / Webb
This article on using Youtube for library marketing, promotion, & instruction is pretty timely for me professionally. In the near future my web committee will be creating a Youtube channel to promote our career center's services, events, & tips on career planning. Youtube (in addition to Facebook) is probably one of the best ways to get the attention of our target undergraduate audience - it's free, the students use Youtube already, & there are relatively few administrative hoops we'd have to jump through.
I was pretty surprised to be reading Wikipedia articles for this class. Wikipedia has come a long way, but my inner old-school librarian was skeptical. Maybe this to drive home the point that good information can be found in non-standard places?
Personal Computer Hardware / Wikipedia
This article didn't really offer anything new for me to consider - I was already aware of basic computer parts. It did bring up bad memories of the dreaded Iomega Zip Drive. That was my first and last attempt at early tech adopting.
Moore's Law / Wikipedia
Moore's Law states that the number of transistors manufactured "at optimal minimal cost" doubles approximately every two years. There's been some conjecture over the years over exactly what time frame Moore really specified (18 months, one year, three years). People mistakenly think it refers to increased processing power - although it can be a nice side effect of smaller, more efficient chips that are developed. Although it's not actually a law, the technology industry seems driven to keep up with it, using it as a measurement of their progress. It also seems that every ten years or so, scientists or companies will say that the trend will expire ten years into the future. Some futurists believe Moore's Law will bring us to a technological singularity, a period of growth so great that it will usher in a new age of artificial intelligence & hybrid human/machines. I don't know if I completely believe that particular theory, but I do know that we've experienced exponential growth in technology Moore described over 40 years ago.
Computer History Museum
The first glance of that site was not that interesting to me - I wasn't sure what we were supposed to focus on. As I explored throughout the site, I found the exhibits page was surprised to find an exhibit dedicated to the Babbage (or Difference) Engine, which is considered to be one of the first computers. In 1821, mathematician Babbage had hoped to create an steam-powered calculating engine. While the Difference Engine proved to be a failure, Babbage salvaged some of it to work on the Analytical Engine - a true forerunner of computers. He was aided in expanding the purpose of his engine by Ada Lovelace, widely considered the first computer programmer. I was pleased to see her & her contribution mentioned, because women aren't represented very well on this site. Are contributions by women to computer history/technology so few, or are they just poorly represented in the field, or are they just given short shrift altogether?
