Readings #2

COMMENTS



http://jwi5.blogspot.com/2008/08/reading-notes-1.html?showComment=1220321100000#c735261855577950079

Computer Hardware:From Wikipedia

Although I have watched the development of computers over the past decades until reading this article I never knew how very little I know about computers. Most of the terms such as Motherboard, CPU, Ram, CD/DVD drives, Hard Disk, and Power Supply just to name a few are terms that I have been familiar with or at least had heard about from my working around computers. If asked to explain or show the relationship of the various pieces of hardware I would not have been able to do that task. This article was very helpful for me i showing the diagrams and relationships of the various hardware. I could further click on the names of the different parts to get a more detailed description and definition. It will be very helpful to me in my future studies and work with Information Technology.

Moore's Law & Computer History Museum

I was amazed at the trend in the history of computer hardware and the size and amount of transistors that are being placed on integrated circuits. The fact that the number is doubling approximately every two years is remarkable. Moore's law has caused much controversy among various scientific settings: economical, social, political, mathematical, etc. There are many who think his law will not hold up over time. Christie Nicholson in the video explaining Moore's law state the transistors will become so compact they will lose their ability to work. The transistors are reaching the size of molecules. Some say the closer they reach the size of atoms Moore's law will fall apart. When viewing the timeline of the computer and exploring the Computer History Museum it came to my attention that one computer use to take up many rooms of space. No one ever thought you would be able to have something as small as a molecule acting as a computer. Throughout time man has been at the crossroads of predicting failure when dealing with the unknown. Could it be possible that somewhere in the future using Moore's law man will be designing transistors that ride on the electrons inside of atoms?

Reading #1

Reading the articles was very interesting and informative with data representing the shifts taking place in the Libraries. In the OCLC report “Five-Year Information Format Trends”, the statement “the universe of material that a library must assess, manage and disseminate is not simply shifting to a new set or type of materials, but rather building into a much more complex universe of new and old…” caused me to reflect on my everyday working experience. Working in libraries for many years and now working for the Free Library of Philadelphia as a Library Assistant in a branch with mostly older patrons, has allowed me to experience many of the shifts referred to in the article. Many of the patrons come to the library needing help with access to computers and online information. While waiting for their reservations and assistance they browse the stacks searching for large books in print, books on tape, and VHS video recordings. The FLP is in the process of updating its resources keeping up with many of the trends mentioned in the report. Many of the older and some younger patrons now have to switch to books on cds and DVDs. Those who can’t make the switch have to scrounge around trying to find ways to satisfy fulfilling their needs of acquiring knowledge and information. After reading Clifford Lynch’s article “Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture one could possibly view these patrons as trying to fulfill their need for increasing their information literacy and information technology literacy in order to function and succeed in today’s increasingly technological society. Just as in Jason Vaughan’s article “UNLV’s Lied Library” the FLP has been striving towards an increasingly digital environment. It seems to be an overwhelming event this complex universe of new and old. My being in the MLIS program is one way in which the FLP is increasing the information literacy and information technology literacy of its staff in order to accommodate the needs of its patrons.

COMMENTS

MUDDIEST POINT #1
My first muddiest point is making sure I understand the proper times and dates to do the readings and submit the assignments. It is my understanding 1) Muddiest point is to be submitted on Friday (this week); 2) Reading notes are to be submitted on Friday (this week) formal or informal; 3) Submission of 2 comments/answers on other students muddiest points or readings are due on Monday of the next week; 4) A clear presentation of my ideas in one or two pages is due 3 pm on the due date 1st one on September 2nd. I am not sure if I have my submissions correct. Since this is the first time I am doing a blog it has taken me much longer than 10 minutes to set up my blog. I had difficulty in getting my links to be live.

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