Good-bye, Chris

Today, The Tech Desk says good-bye to Chris Hunsanger. Chris has been a library aide in the Library's Technology Department for the past three years, and is moving on to pursue other opportunities to further his career.

Chris has been an asset to the the Technology Department. He has taught classes, helped design troylibrary.info, and has been a tremendous help to not only patrons but also staff when it comes to fixing a variety of computer issues.

Chris has also been a contributor to The Tech Desk since its creation. Here are some examples of Chris' work:

• Remove the Annoying Mini Toolbar in Microsoft Office 2007
• Portable Storage: The Showdown
• The Future of Web Browsers series
• Two PDF Tools to Add to Your Arsenal
• eResource Feature: What's Next

We at The Tech Desk wish Chris the best of luck in his future endeavours. 

Fun Friday: The Wilderness Downtown

Interested in the next generation of music videos, not to mention web video? If so, take a look at The Wilderness Downtown, which utilizes the song We Used to Wait from the Arcade Fire's new The Suburbs album. Enter in an address such as your childhood home, and the address you enter will be incorporated into the video using images from Google Maps and Google Street View.

"The Wilderness Downtown" is an amazing example of what web designers are going to be able to create with new technologies such as HTML 5. Please be aware that it is processor intensive, and needs to use a browser that is capable of rendering HTML 5, such as Google Chrome.

Some End-of-the-Year Reading

As a public service alternative to football games, here are a few end-of-the-year items of interest:

The 100 Essential Websites from the Guardian of London

How Google Changed the Game in 2009 from Smartware

Newspapers and Technology: Network Effects from The Economist

What Does it Mean to be Literate in the 21st Century? a video from bibliosmartgirl

Happy new year to all!

Technology in '10

What do the experts say we can we expect for technology in 2010?

According to Nuri Djavit and Paul Newnes, writing on the blog Digital Media Buzz, the coming year will be one where Facebook replaces email, mobile commerce becomes a reality, we will register only once for many different sites, and crowd sourcing becomes a common idea.

Meanwhile, the technology staff at the Guardian (of London) predicts a year of more Google, green technology, apps and Apple.

What do you think?

Tech Gifts Under $50

Live with Regis and Kelly featured the best Tech Gifts for under $50. For less than $50, you can get a T-shirt with an actual electric guitar on it or an underwater digital camera.

Read the list here and then hit the malls! Or avoid the crowds and shop online.

Dell Steps into the Future with Wireless Charging Laptop

One of my favorite blogs, Gizmodo, recently reported that Dell has released a laptop that charges its battery through wireless technology. The laptop is called the Latitude Z, and it promises to end the lifelong hassle with laptop power cords. On top of providing wireless charging capabilities, the new Latitude also allows you to connect to other monitors through a wireless connection as well.

Take a look at the video below, from Gizmodo, to get a closer look at this cool new technology.

The World's Oldest Bible Goes Digital

Today, technology is helping libraries protect print material -- especially old and rare material -- from damage. See how you can read the world's oldest bible online, from Time magazine.

Library Journal is Tweeting

Technology is bringing the world together. There is no doubt in it. Did you know that the Library Journal is using Twitter? If you want to know latest updates in the library world, follow Library Journal.

Top Technology Trends Today

I just returned from one of my favorite cities, Chicago, where I attended the American Library Association's annual conference. Of the ten workshops I attended, my personal favorite was the Top Technology Trends panel put on by the Library & Information Technology Association (LITA).

The panel consisted of Library Technology experts: Eric Lease Morgan, Joan Frye Williams, Clifford Lynch, John Blyberg, Geert van den Boogaard and Roy Tennant. Their comments and predictions were presented to a packed ballroom, humming with the clicks of blogger's keyboards and tweeter's mobile phones. At the time of the event, the discussion was streaming live. The entire presentation can now be viewed on Ustream.

Mobile and Accessible

The panel confirmed many of the technological advances we have already written about here at The Tech Desk. Much of their discussion was devoted to the rise in mobile technology and the practical application of mobile devices in libraries. When asked to address the access gap, Williams stated: "More people have mobile phones than have ever had computers." Lynch added that "mobile devices are rented by the month. In some ways that makes them more accessible."

Panelists also spoke on the rise of cloud computing. While the concept of cloud computing is an exciting trend, some heeded caution. Said Lynch, "Bandwidth is a problem and it's getting bigger. The rise of the cloud is pure rhetoric if the bandwidth can’t support it."

Lynch also spoke on the disappearance of data: "How much are we willing to put into the cloud, and how much are we willing to trust it? ... Some things are just vanishing suddenly, but we aren’t dealing with the consequences. Corporate records, corporate history, public records."

Blyberg addressed end-user technology tools creating rapid trending. However when asked if Google, Twitter, and Facebook are encouraging group-think and making us dumber, he was quick to argue the contrary: The internet is a tool that has made us smarter than ever before.

The Flow, The Cloud, The Rain

In the end, it was Tennant's metaphor for technology trends as the Water Cycle that resonated the most with me. Tennant's comments were broken into three segments, The Flow, The Cloud and The Rain.

"The Flow" is information flowing on the internet as streams of data. A prime example of this is Twitter's constant stream of user comments. The downside to this flow is that after a significant period of time, the data is impossible to find: too far buried beneath new information.

"The Cloud" refers back to previously mentioned trends in cloud computing and their effects on servers and data storage.

"The Rain" symbolizes our state of economic recession, which seems to be affecting all libraries, large and small. Tennant's advice was, "Think carefully about how to cut wisely." He warns that in order for libraries to come out of the recession "on top" and continue to serve our communities in the best way possible, we need to be cautious and innovative with the ways in which we save money.

Happy Birthday to… Us!

A year ago, after discussing it for several months within the Library’s Technology Department, we started this blog. In our first post, Welcome to The Tech Desk, I wrote that we had two reasons for this project.

First, we wanted to continue the discussion we have with our public around technology issues. We wanted to share new websites and tools, improve our skills, and create a searchable body of knowledge useful for both Library staff and our users.

Second, we wanted to play with Web 2.0 technology. We had just begun a website redesign – a design of which we are in the final steps – and wanted to explore content management: allowing and encouraging all staff members to contribute to the content on our website. We believed, and still do, that such a site will be more user-friendly for our public and staff.

After a year, I would evaluate our progress as a success.

In terms of content, we have posted 556 stories, an average of nearly two per day. At the beginning, I set a goal of 20 stories a month: one per full-time staff per week, and one per part-time staff per month. But many staff members discovered that the more they wrote, the easier it was to write more. We have passed on new sites and tips from our computer classes, reviewed browsers and new products, commented on technology news, and publicized Library events.

In June 2009, our site was hit 2,200 times – not a bad number. We believe we have created a space for many of our technology-savvy Library users to keep in contact with the staff. We receive a slow, but steady stream of comments. And, as an added benefit, we have used The Tech Desk as a teaching tool for non-Technology Department staff, suggesting sites, resources, and computing tips.

In addition, the staff has used The Tech Desk to learn Web 2.0. We have learned how to write interesting, brief articles for the web that appeal to a broad range of computer user. We have learned to put sometimes complex processes into simple, step-by-step terms. And, though contributing to this blog has been voluntary, nearly 80% of the Department has chosen to do so.

And again, an unintended benefit is that by using this blog, staff has gained the confidence and interest to explore other social network sites, and expand the Library’s web presence on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and elsewhere.

So on our first birthday, I want to say thank you to all of you for reading us, making suggestions, sending ideas, and contributing to the success of The Tech Desk.

Troy Librarian John Robertson Wins Michigan Library Association Award

Congratulations to our Technology Librarian, John Robertson, who has won the Walter H. Kaiser Award presented by the Michigan Library Association!

John has been instrumental in helping the Library's Technology Department improve the electronic resources we offer to our Library users, In addition, John has greatly increased the number and scope of the computer classes we teach to the public, and has been part of the the team creating our new website.

Click here to read more about the MLA awards.

Find Current Information Using Our New Search Box

Notice something new on The Tech Desk?

To the right, near the top, there is now a "Search Technology" search box. This will make it easier to find technology information in our entire "neighborhood" -- on our site and all the other sites and blogs we read.

Here's how it works: You remember that we have written on a topic of interest to you, for example, Library electronic resources available to use on your iPod. So you search "iPod" in the search box. The results are displayed, with the first tab showing results from our blog; the second, results on the sites to which we are linked; and the third, results from the blogs we read:


So not only do you find a reference to our posts on the subject -- for instance, More Titles from OverDrive to be iPod Compatible -- but in the second and third tabs you find posts from several other sites we've referenced. This means that you will be able to use The Technology Desk as the starting point for your research on current technology issues.

Try it out and let us know what you think.

Using the Virtual World to Improve Our World

Virtual environments and social networking websites have become valuable tools for elearning and distance collaboration, often being used as a means for urging social change.

On June 3, the University of Michigan-Dearborn will host a free conference to discuss new and innovative approaches for using these applications to address societal issues. The conference, Using the Virtual World to Improve Our World, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the UM-Dearborn campus and simultaneously in the online virtual world of Second Life. The event is sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

Conference attendees will hear from guest speakers working in industry, non-profits, government and universities who are using various forms of technology to change society.

“This forum and discussion will provide for the exchange of best practices and innovative ideas that can accelerate the pace of change,” according to Bruce Maxim, associate professor of computer and information science at UM-Dearborn, who is coordinating the conference.

Those interested in attending the conference should register with Deborah Stark-Knight at 313.593.3403 or dstark@umich.edu by May 28.

Tweeting the Tech UnConference at MSU

Along with some of my coworkers, I attended a Technology UnConference at Michigan State University Main Library on May 15.

What is an unconference?

You know how people say that the best part of going to a conference is the networking? Not that prepared workshops aren’t informative, but it is always valuable to make contact with a colleague from a different workplace who is dealing with a similar situation as you are.

Well, imagine an entire conference of networking. No prepared presentations. No main sessions with limited discussion. Just 50 or so librarians coming together and sharing ideas, in greater or lesser detail, depending on each one’s particular interest.

That was the Technology UnConference. And it worked surprisingly well.

At the UnConference, as is said, "there is no agenda, until we make one up." We spent a few minutes brainstorming technology topics of interest. Nine ideas were put forward, including using content management software for websites, teaching technology to the public, and integrating social network sites into our work. Then, for the rest of the day, we divided and redivided into different small groups at different times, to discuss these ideas. The main sessions – save one – consisted not of a panel of experts, but report backs from the groups and further discussion.

This structure – or unstructure? – allowed for a maximum number of voices, experiences, and lessons to be heard.

One of the most interesting things to me was that several of us posted our thoughts about the UnConference on Twitter, the microblog site, tagging our tweets with #techuncamp.

For me, this meant two things. First, by reading other attendees’ tweets in real time, I felt like I was in several side conversations. This meant that I didn’t have only my own reaction to what I was hearing, but I could read others’ reactions. Oftentimes, these were insightful, informative, or just plain funny. This enhanced my experience as I felt like I was constantly engaged at different levels of discussion.

Second, by using the tag #techuncamp – which is searchable in Twitter – we made sure that our tweets were kept together. I can now search #techuncamp and find a record of all the side discussions, packed with tips, websites, and good people to follow. Or you can search #techuncamp and do the same, almost as if you were there.

The Technology UnConference was time well spent.

If you use Twitter, follow The Tech Desk @tpltechnology or me @pjkwik.

Obama's 100 Days: High Marks for Science, Low for Privacy

An interesting article, from Wired, grading President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, on science and technology related issues.

Good-bye, Barry

The Tech Desk says good-bye to one of our aides, Barry Hyland. Barry is leaving the Library’s Technology Department to move on up in the Troy Library world.

Beginning May 2, Barry will be the Library’s Systems Administrator, coordinating our move from one automated library software system to another. With 50,000 members and 350,000 items, this is a huge task. We are sure Barry is up for the challenge.

Barry joined the staff of the Library at a young age (see photo) and has been a fixture at the Technology desk ever since. He has helped hundreds of library users – and staff – master Excel. He has saved countless, crucial documents for our patrons – always with an eye toward teaching them proper skills. And he has answered questions about email, databases, scanning, and media files, that are too numerous to count.

In addition, Barry has used this blog to caution against technology run rampant, the decline of reading and communication, and the social costs of social networking.

While we will miss his expertise, it is good to know that an important project is in such capable hands. Barry has said he will keep you posted about the progress of his new assignments on The Tech Desk.

Best of luck, Barry.

14 Universities Receive Grants to Study Cloud Computing

The National Science Foundation announced that it will grant $5 million to 14 universities to work on developing new ways to share and organize data in the clouds.

The grants focus on leveraging the opportunities presented by “cloud computing” — using Web-based services to execute computationally strenuous tasks more easily and cheaply. Experts have been abuzz for some time about how the development of cloud computing stands to benefit higher education, particularly with regard to research and analysis.

Among the schools receiving grants are: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Yale University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the University of Maryland at College Park.

[via The Chronicle of Higher Education]

UM Online Evaluation System Crashes

Sometimes technology doesn’t work as well as expected.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, U. of Michigan's Online Teaching-Evaluation System Fails, the University of Michigan’s highly-touted online course-evaluation system, crashed on April 20, at the end of the school's winter term, and has been down since.

Last year, the new system was promoted as a major advance. It would save paper, allow for more customized surveys, and speed up results.

After four days, a University e-mail message apologized for the “immense disappointment” to the community. Just under 40% of possible responses had been received by the time the system failed, the message said, and further collection for this term was impossible.

New Role for Librarian in Today's Schools

In this age of information, the role of the school librarian is very different from what it used to be. Although they still hope to encourage a love of reading in their students, they are now also responsible for introducing them to new technologies and teaching them information literacy skills necessary for today's workplace.

An article in The New York Times, titled "In Web Age, Library Job Gets Update," demonstrates how one school librarian prepares her students for the 21st century.

First Ever Federal Chief Technology Officer Named

President Barack Obama has named Aneesh Paul Chopra as his choice for Chief Technology Officer. Chopra currently serves as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, and has previous acted as the Managing Director for the Advisory Board Company, where he advised executives on health care operations.

The CTO will be an assistant to the President, and the Associate Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He will work to develop and implement the President’s technology agenda.

During his time as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, Chopra championed several technology initiatives, including partnering with Cox and Comcast to broadcast free GED classes to Virginian residents; integrating iTunes U with Virginia's state education assessment framework; and creating a Ning-based social network to connect clinicians working in small health care offices in remote locations.

Chopra was recently recognized by Government Technology Magazine for excellent use of technology to improve government, and he was awarded Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2007 State Leadership Advocacy Award.

For more information on Chopra, see Tim O’Reilly’s post Why Aneesh Chopra is a Great Choice for Federal CTO.

[via TechCruch]