How the Internet Works
It is pretty crazy how the networks are connected to incorporate every computer on the internet. I thought this article was really great, it explained some acronyms that I had known before, but not known their meanings. (ie POP) The article was really easy to follow at the beginning, but got a little heavy near the end.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
Everybody wants everything to be connected. Library systems are no different. It is important to note the shortcomings of your network and be able to connect to a system with better or different resources. As the authors pointed out though, the price of integrating these systems in enormous. I was very excited when we learned about open source library software in class, this article pointed out its fallback. It is difficult to link to other libraries, because they have to use the same network database. It is a huge decision to decide which Integrated system to use, hopefully we are headed toward a futre with highly compatible systems, so that individual libraries can use the program that suits their facility best, and still have access to networks on different systems.
Inside the Google Machine
My computer doesn't have a soundcard, so I wasn't able to experience the full effect of this. I'm going to try and get some headphones and get to the library this week so I can hear it. However, I was struck by the some of the comments related to the video. It is amazing how Google has really changed the world. The philanthropic and special interest programs created and endorsed by the company have done a lot to shape our view of the world. I am renting a house, and my landlord lives in California, before I ever saw the house in person I was able to view it on Google maps, and he was able to view my house the same way. It is a little creepy, but it gave us something to connect about and opened a different line of communication. (ie, you have a nice house, it looks like you've got a big yard, etc)
Muddiest Point
Cable Vs. DSL
Cable and DSL differ in that a cable connection is shared, so if 3000 people are watching TV while I am getting on the Internet, I can feel the results. DSL is not a shared line, but it goes through he phone lines. Do phone calls eat up bandwidth? Why can't cable provide the same private line capabilities? Etc Etc etc.
Explanation for lateness: I was fixing my computer and an anti-virus program was running until about 3 am, I fell asleep before I could complete the assignment, so I did it saturday morning. Sorry :(
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4 comments:
I am also a big fan of Google maps, having moved here not knowing a darn thing about Pittsburgh.
I wonder if Google and the CIA will team up and share satellite information on Africa. Now Africans can know what we know about them, and we can, in turn, learn more about Africa and what they know we know about them. oohhhh Regardless, most likely Americans will be too busy Googling McDonald's (which, insistently is one of the most searched words in Google. Mom is number one in most countries---fun fact).
i think that google and the cia have already teamed up...been to google earth. i can see the roof of my house quite clearly. i also l adore google transit....anybody riding free on the port authority should check it out...been wondering if i could take public transportation this way across country??? may have to catch a few greyhound buses to fill in the gaps, like say in nebraska of kansas? just a thought. get you computer some anti-bacterials or something?!
it cost money to provide cable access, since cable has so far works, i do not think that cable company would go to give you private line
Agreed, it is a little creepy what Google can do, but I, like a lot of people here, was able to use Google maps just so I could have a point of reference when I drove into Pittsburgh looking for my new apartment. Anyway, while I think that having the Google Foundation increase internet usage is good for the short term, I am hestiant to grant it any good will for the long term since, in the end, it doesn't encourge any much competitionor alternate methods of connection. It's a good thing, I guess, but I'd be more impressed if it weren't called the Google Foundation, which means free corporate advertisement
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