INFO 525 Digital Technologies is an elective paper in the PGCertIS at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
The focus of this blog is ‘widgets’, specifically a customised widget focused on New Zealand content.
WHY A VIETNAM WIDGET?
The widget I have created (see bottom of blog) links to a personal interest I have in New Zealand and the Vietnam War. Growing up as a child in military camps, both in NZ and overseas, you tend to take interest in significant Army related happenings ... War fits that bill nicely.
HOW DID I CREATE THIS WIDGET?
The widget was created by registering with DigitalNZ and creating my very own search tool. In developing the search tool I did the following:
• Search – chose to include everything
• Keywords – (Vietnam AND War) OR (Kiwi AND Vietnam) OR (ANZAC AND Vietnam)
• Source – chose content from all sources
• Date range – no limiters
HOW DID THE WIDGET RESULTS FAIR?
During the ‘testing’ phase I used the following search terms and received various results, but results nonetheless! The number of records for each are listed below:
• Kiwi = 54
• Agent Orange = 7
• Friendly fire = 2
• Nui Dat = 5
• Fragging = 0
• ANZAC = 20
• Protest = 49
• Anti-Vietnam = 31
HOW HELPFUL WAS THE WIDGET?
I found the value of the results to be pretty accurate in matching my search terms measured against my own knowledge of the topic and this would be a useful tool for any bloggers interested in learning a little more about New Zealand’s involvement in the Vietnam War. DigitalNZ provides autonomy to access authoritative content, located across multiple websites, through the one portal.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
INFO 525 | e-Readers: An introduction to Android and iOS technologies
INFO 525 Digital Technologies is an elective paper in the PGCertIS at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
In this blog I will provide an environmental scan of Google's Android and Apple's iOS technologies.
Software giant’s Google and Apple are becoming prominent players in the development of mobile operating systems (mOS) technologies. In what was once a strictly mobile phone market, mOS now features in many smart devices including Apple’s iPad, Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader and Samsungs Galaxy Tab.
Comments?
Did you find this blog useful? Would you recommend improvements? Would you like any point clarified? Your feedback is valued so please feel free to post a comment below.
Sources:
In this blog I will provide an environmental scan of Google's Android and Apple's iOS technologies.
Software giant’s Google and Apple are becoming prominent players in the development of mobile operating systems (mOS) technologies. In what was once a strictly mobile phone market, mOS now features in many smart devices including Apple’s iPad, Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader and Samsungs Galaxy Tab.
There is significant variance between the development of the mOS technologies including foundational architecture, third party access/licensing and the types and brands of devices supported.
Comments?
Did you find this blog useful? Would you recommend improvements? Would you like any point clarified? Your feedback is valued so please feel free to post a comment below.
Sources:
All slides:
Google vs Android image:
http://www.lifeofandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/android-vs-apple.png
Slides 2 & 3:
http://google.about.com/od/socialtoolsfromgoogle/p/android_what_is.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-android-technology.htm
http://kobobooks.com/android (Slide 3 only)
Slide 4:
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Miscellaneous/Conceptual/iPhoneOSTechOverview/IPhoneOSOverview/IPhoneOSOverview.html
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/android-vs-apple-the-2011-cage-match/43682
Slide 5 & 6:
http://androidcommunity.com/apple-ios-vs-google-android-in-latest-changewave-research-report-20110718/
Slide 7:
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-27/news/29820903_1_android-tablet-tablet-market-ipad-sales
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
INFO 530 | Te Reo Maori and the e-Book
INFO 530 Maori Information Sources is an elective paper in the PGCertIS at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
In this blog I will look at some of the issues around e-Books and te Reo Maori, an official language of New Zealand / Aotearoa.
Tonight's INFO 530 lecture focused on resources available in te Reo Maori (Maori language).
Of particular interest to me was the discussion around commercial viability for resources in te Reo Maori. Does the cost related to publish or produce these resources (in print) really outweigh its value to the intended audience, albeit a small market segment? From a business perspective, you certainly do not want to purchase/produce/sell products that result in a loss against cost/benefit. Though from a cultural perspective, loss in terms of knowledge and information sharing, may arise from not purchasing/producing/selling the product.
It would seem that if you are an authoritative or established author, or if you have sufficient financial backing and support, publication particularly in print, will not be an issue. However for the majority, and this was discussed in length, financial outlay seems to be the largest barrier to whether or not publication occurs.
Why is te Reo Maori of little commercial value?
Te Reo Maori is one of three official languages of New Zealand / Aotearoa. The other two official languages are English and New Zealand Sign Language.
Recognised as an official language of New Zealand only, it is this very recognition that limits the commercial viability of te Reo Maori. Whilst French, English and Spanish, for example, are recognised in more than one country, te Reo Maori is not, therefore in a commercial sense, it serves a very small market segment.
Te Reo Maori has seen significant growth through the establishment of Kohanga Reo (Maori Language Kindergartens) and Kura Kaupapa (Maori Language Primary/Intermediate/Secondary Schools): te Reo Maori is the primary language taught and used by these schools, with English introduced later in the schooling curriculum.
Revitalisation is occuring, but is it going fast enough? From a librarian's perspective, when Kura graduates enter mainstream tertiary institutes, how do they support their student's learning needs? Te Reo Maori resources in academic libraries can be limited due to a number of reasons including funding allocations and scarcity of resources.
I think it is also important to note, that in the interests of biculturalism, New Zealand / Aotearoa tertiary institutes permit students to write their assessments, including Thesis and Dissertations, in te Reo Maori. These scholars, more than any, require appropriate resources in te Reo Maori.
How do you overcome barriers to te Reo Maori print resources?
One way certainly, is to digitise the content and move te Reo Maori print resources into the digital age: e-Books.
If the Orewa College's compulsory ipad stationery item proposition occurs, and e-Reading devices become the norm inside a student's school bag along with their lunch box, then there is a real possibility the e-Books will also become the norm.
The production of te Reo Maori in electronic format seems sensible and practical. Print costs would become a thing of the past, trees would be saved and the environment would be better for it.
The question I wonder now is, why hasn't there been an upsurge in te Reo Maori e-Books?
In this blog I will look at some of the issues around e-Books and te Reo Maori, an official language of New Zealand / Aotearoa.
Tonight's INFO 530 lecture focused on resources available in te Reo Maori (Maori language).
Of particular interest to me was the discussion around commercial viability for resources in te Reo Maori. Does the cost related to publish or produce these resources (in print) really outweigh its value to the intended audience, albeit a small market segment? From a business perspective, you certainly do not want to purchase/produce/sell products that result in a loss against cost/benefit. Though from a cultural perspective, loss in terms of knowledge and information sharing, may arise from not purchasing/producing/selling the product.
It would seem that if you are an authoritative or established author, or if you have sufficient financial backing and support, publication particularly in print, will not be an issue. However for the majority, and this was discussed in length, financial outlay seems to be the largest barrier to whether or not publication occurs.
Why is te Reo Maori of little commercial value?
Te Reo Maori is one of three official languages of New Zealand / Aotearoa. The other two official languages are English and New Zealand Sign Language.
Recognised as an official language of New Zealand only, it is this very recognition that limits the commercial viability of te Reo Maori. Whilst French, English and Spanish, for example, are recognised in more than one country, te Reo Maori is not, therefore in a commercial sense, it serves a very small market segment.
Te Reo Maori has seen significant growth through the establishment of Kohanga Reo (Maori Language Kindergartens) and Kura Kaupapa (Maori Language Primary/Intermediate/Secondary Schools): te Reo Maori is the primary language taught and used by these schools, with English introduced later in the schooling curriculum.
Revitalisation is occuring, but is it going fast enough? From a librarian's perspective, when Kura graduates enter mainstream tertiary institutes, how do they support their student's learning needs? Te Reo Maori resources in academic libraries can be limited due to a number of reasons including funding allocations and scarcity of resources.
I think it is also important to note, that in the interests of biculturalism, New Zealand / Aotearoa tertiary institutes permit students to write their assessments, including Thesis and Dissertations, in te Reo Maori. These scholars, more than any, require appropriate resources in te Reo Maori.
How do you overcome barriers to te Reo Maori print resources?
One way certainly, is to digitise the content and move te Reo Maori print resources into the digital age: e-Books.
If the Orewa College's compulsory ipad stationery item proposition occurs, and e-Reading devices become the norm inside a student's school bag along with their lunch box, then there is a real possibility the e-Books will also become the norm.
The production of te Reo Maori in electronic format seems sensible and practical. Print costs would become a thing of the past, trees would be saved and the environment would be better for it.
The question I wonder now is, why hasn't there been an upsurge in te Reo Maori e-Books?
INFO 525 | e-Readers in tertiary education
INFO 525 Digital Technologies is an elective paper in the PGCertIS at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
In this blog I will look at the some of the issues around e-Book use within a New Zealand tertiary environment.
Reality check?
What does your typical tertiary student do with print-based resources?
Are all e-Readers created equally?
In the Kobo versus Kindle war, it would seem the Kobo wins in its ease of use to highlight passages of text and find word definitions, the latter is certainly an important consideration if your area of study is in an unfamiliar subject. On the flip side, the Kindle seems to win with reliability and is less likely to fail/crash than the Kobo. Again, an important consideration if you plan to invest in an e-Reader device for 3 or more years.
In this blog I will look at the some of the issues around e-Book use within a New Zealand tertiary environment.
Working with nursing students on a regular basis, I can see benefits immediately: a lighter load and increased accessibility to resources for a start!
Weighty considerations?
Lugging around nursing textbooks (Craven & Hirnle and Potter & Perry have a hefty combined 3029 pages) requires the athletic prowess of a Greek god. Instead, simply slip the e-Reader, containing your light-as-a-feather e-Textbooks, into your handbag (or backpack).
On clinical placement and unable to make it to the library during opening hours?
Just download the e-Textbook you need and voila, reading at a day and time that suits you!
These are just two obvious benefits to using an e-Reader within the tertiary environment, but is it really that simple?
What does your typical tertiary student do with print-based resources?
- Highlight
- Mark with pencil
- Attach 'post-it' notes
Are all e-Readers created equally?
In the Kobo versus Kindle war, it would seem the Kobo wins in its ease of use to highlight passages of text and find word definitions, the latter is certainly an important consideration if your area of study is in an unfamiliar subject. On the flip side, the Kindle seems to win with reliability and is less likely to fail/crash than the Kobo. Again, an important consideration if you plan to invest in an e-Reader device for 3 or more years.
What other considerations are there?
The ‘digital divide’
The digital divide in New Zealand still shows there are many who have not used, and/or do not have access to, a personal computer, though public libraries are going someway to bridge this gap. However, e-Reading devices are not (yet) standard items available in New Zealand academic libraries (or public libraries for that matter).
Until such time as e-Reading devices are available in a library, as a student, you can of course acquire an e-Reading device in a number of ways: as part of tuition, through course related costs, or purchased from your local store. The choice is really yours.
e-Literacy – you’ve got it, but can you use it?
For some, the thought of using technology may, and does, cause incredible anxiety. You have your e-Reader, now what? Using fingertips to touch or scroll may seem second nature to some, but completely foreign to others. How do you learn how this fang-dangled device works? This obviously (to me at any rate) leads into the question of the academic librarian's role evolving into the e-Literacy Instructor, however I think that discussion really merits its own blog.
e-Textbooks - to borrow or to buy?
Investing in an e-Reader is only part of the process. You need the resources, namely, the e-Textbooks. Amazon has released an e-textbook rental programme though with issues around pricing and textbook availability, this programme is still very much in the early stages.
On a final note, in what is quickly becoming a technologically-dynamic world, would amendments to the admissions process be needed; extending the current assessment of a potential candidate's computer literacy level to include technological device literacy? Certainly food for thought.
e-Textbooks - to borrow or to buy?
Investing in an e-Reader is only part of the process. You need the resources, namely, the e-Textbooks. Amazon has released an e-textbook rental programme though with issues around pricing and textbook availability, this programme is still very much in the early stages.
On a final note, in what is quickly becoming a technologically-dynamic world, would amendments to the admissions process be needed; extending the current assessment of a potential candidate's computer literacy level to include technological device literacy? Certainly food for thought.
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