Title: All-in-one Nettops resurrecting desktop market

Author: Erica Ogg

Website: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/04/15/cnet.all.in.one.nettops/index.html?eref=rss_tech
The article “All-in-one Nettops resurrecting desktop market” is about a new category of computers that that is basically a cheaper and simpler computer. The new type of computer is called a nettop and has less capabilities than a normal desktop or laptop but is about half of the price. They were created about a year ago and experts thought they would plummet to bankruptcy but with the sudden change in the economy they are now booming. The targeted audience is people who only need a computer for basic things like using the internet and basic computing. Experts say this is a great thing for the computer world and the economy.
I think nettops are a great idea and are going to make a lot of money. When you think about all the people out there now that have a computer and don’t use or even know 80% of the things their computer does. I know I only use some of my computers capabilities and really have no intentions of ever using them. For only a couple hundred dollars you can buy a computer that is everything you need, how can you beat that? The computers even run on a Windows XP or Linux. The only down side is the screens are smaller, which doesn’t matter, and they aren’t very portable. These problems don’t even matter because anyone who would buy these computers obviously doesn’t use them very often and doesn’t need a portable computer. I think these are going to make a lot of money over the next few years

News Report #4

Title:  “Brain Wave Chick” Digitally Performs Mind Music

Author: Sara Lipka

 

The article “Brain Wave Chick” Digitally Performs Mind Music is about a woman that basically plays music through her brain waves.  In order to do this she places a headband on her head on stage and presses three different electrodes to her brain’s frontal lobe.  She has a Bluetooth adapter that sends the brainwaves to her computer to which then converts it into music that is played through a synthesizer.  She claims that she just goes on stage and meditates because the calm brainwaves make the best music.  She makes this music in an attempt that the audience will realize that there is more clarity in a calm mindset than a one with much anxiety. 

            I think this woman has a great idea of creating a new type of music and I think many people will enjoy this music.  It is a wave of the future in the music industry but I think it is a slightly loony idea.  What I don’t understand is just how the computer is going to convert the music in an in sync manner.  If someone made a program for her that plays good music on brainwaves then maybe the program is just making the music in the first place.  I think her brainwaves might have nothing to do with it because it doesn’t seem very logical to me.  If the woman is crazy enough to come up with an idea of brainwaves making music then I think any kind of computer programmer could sell her their product to produce her music.    

Reading Report #5

Title:  Information Navigation 101

 Author: Andrea L. Foster

             The article “Information Navigation 101” is about the current increase in the number of sources that can be used for finding information and how little students actually use them.  The author is from Cal State Fullerton and tells how they have classes at the California State Universities that help teach students how to find scholarly material that is legitimate.  This was the beginning of the information literacy movement that has now fled all over the country.  Foster defines this movement as “a growing librarian-led movement to make students more adept at locating and evaluating electronic data.”  The article continues on telling about the history of information literacy and what other universities are doing to help inform students of electronic resources.  

            I think this movement is a great idea that is very necessary for many reasons.  I know that I have made it almost all the way through my undergraduate degree and have never used online resources unless it was required.  I do understand that electronic data is very valuable and it is a great idea to inform students early in their college life about these great resources.  I think classes and tests of this nature should be part of a basic studies curriculum so students are forced to take them.  When you consider how much money libraries spend on these databases it only makes sense that the students should use them.  Throughout this class I have learned the importance of good research and the information literacy movement has convinced me that electronic data is very useful.

Reading Report #4

Title:  “The Infodiet, How Libraries Can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google”

 Author:  Steven J. Bell

             The article “The Infodiet, How Libraries Can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google” is about figuring out how to encourage students to use databases more than just Googling everything.  Bell claims students think they know how to do effective research but in reality have no idea.  Bell feels since students have been able to Google any research topic their research and end results have gone downhill.  Another professor created the term “infobesity” which describes the bad results you get whenever you Google a question; he believes the result is an “infodiet” This infodiet basically says that librarians and aggregators need to find a way to make their databases more attractive and easier to use.  Bell believes some databases are too confusing and hard to use so he thinks they need to make it more like Google.  Bell is a firm believer in if aggregators, professors and librarians work together then they can bring databases back to the top.

            I definitely agree with the article in the sense of making it more like Google.  Google is so great because you can type in anything you want in any way you want and you will still get decent results most of the time.  I don’t think Google gives bad results by any means though.  If a student knows what a legitimate website looks like then you can only get good results from Google.  After taking this class and learning how to use these databases I can definitely say I will use them more.  But for those that don’t know how I feel Google is good alternative.        

Reading Report #3

Title:  The Future of Libraries Beginning the Great Transformation

Author: Thomas Frey

Website:  http://www.davinciinstitute.com/page.php?ID=120

 

            The article “The Future of Libraries Beginning the Great Transformation” begins with the amazing story of how Leonardo DaVinci was an incredibly smart individual that was way ahead of his time.  This article tells much about the unbelievable speed of technology and how it progressed so quickly.  It foretells how search engines started with text and will soon move to more responsive senses such as sound, touch, and feels.  The article proceeds to specify how technology in this world will continue to change and how the roles of libraries are constantly changing.  It tells how librarians need to embrace the change in order to help those that don’t necessarily understand the new areas of technology. 

            I think the article was great in informing the general public of how the technology changes and just how fast the changes are occurring.  I have accepted embracing new technology as a part of life.  I think it is great when new quicker and smaller gadgets are discovered and become available to the public.  Things like video games, iPods, and computers are becoming better and smaller everyday.  Even though these great toys are not always affordable people would still like to know how to use them.  This is where librarians come into play and can share their vast knowledge of the technology world.  Overall I think the article was great in informing others on how technology is changing and exactly how people think it is going to change.  Maybe they are right and maybe they are wrong but no one knows until it happens. 

News Report #3

Article:  Amazon Removes Rape Game

Author:  Christopher Nickson

Website: http://news.digitaltrends.com/news-article/19237/amazon-removes-rape-game

  

The article “Amazon Removes Rape Game” is about a game that was created by Illusion.  Illusion is company in Japan that specializes in 3D Hentai games.  This particular game Rapelay is a game where the objective is for the user to find the mother and her two daughters and rape them.  There is another mode to the game as well where you can rape any female character and invite others to join in.  All the games they make are not meant for sale or use outside of Japan.  Somehow a private seller was able to sell the game on Amazon in the United States.  Amazon had no idea what the game was all about because it was very discrete in the description.  Amazon found out about the game from a newspaper, The Belfast Telegraph, who wrote an article about how inappropriate the game actually is.  The game was immediately removed when Amazon became aware of this ridiculous game.

I think it is crazy that anyone would actually make a game like this.  I was completely shocked to hear that such a game exists.  Amazon definitely took the appropriate measures when they became aware of this game but I think there should be some kind of system that doesn’t allow games like this to ever be sold or even made.  Not only that but I find it absurd that people enjoy playing games like this.  I think you have to have a sick mind to purchase and play this type of game.

News Report #2

Article:  “Facebook Turns 5 – but can it Survive?”

 Author:  Simon Hooper

             The article “Facebook Turns 5 – but can it Survive?” begins by telling how Facebook came about.  Mark Zuckerberg is a genius who created this billion dollar website out of his dorm room when he was 19 years old.  This was five years ago when he was a student at Harvard University.  Within 24 hours of creating this website there were over 1,000 other Harvard classmates that had already joined the website and within a month nearly the half the University had become a member.  Mark Zuckerberg is now only 24 and one of the richest men in the world.  His site is valued at over 15 billion dollars and he is considered one of the Top 100 most influential people of 2008.  The question being asked is if the website will always be this valuable.  A writer in Fortune magazine thinks the website might not be around too much longer if things don’t begin to change.  He admits that is does bring in advertisements and a good amount of money but it is nothing compared to Microsoft, Google, or even MySpace which is their largest competitor.  The Fortune magazine writer thinks it is great idea that needs to change because it has been the same for over five years now.  Mark Zuckerberg assures him that the website will remain up to speed and will survive.  

            I think Facebook is a great website that has been the same for a while.  The article is very interesting in giving some background information that I wasn’t aware of before.  I had no idea that the creator was a 19 year old man that became a millionaire within a month and a billionaire within a few years.  I do think he will keep the website up to speed with the other competitors.  If the man is smart enough to create this website when he is 19 years old I think he is definitely smart enough to keep it up to date with the competitors.