This just released from the Pew Internet and American Life Project;
"Teens and Technology: Youth are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation
Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Paul Hitlin
Today’s American teens live in a world enveloped by communications technologies; the internet and cell phones have become a central force that fuels the rhythm of daily life.
The number of teenagers using the internet has grown 24% in the past four years and 87% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 are online. Compared to four years ago, teens’ use of the internet has intensified and broadened as they log on more often and do more things when they are online. "
Full report available at
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/162/report_display.asp
LibraryLaw Blog: How does California's new anti-spyware law affect libraries?
"How does California's new anti-spyware law affect libraries?
The Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act went into effect in California on January 1st. Although this is already being proclaimed as a model for the country, it was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in spite of objections raised by privacy advocates. Beth Givens (Director, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse -- and former librarian) and Pam Dixon (Exec. Director, World Privacy Forum) say that the law sets such high standards regarding actual knowledge that it could actually undermine existing statutes that protect privacy and prohibit deceptive practices.
Does the bill apply to library computers? It applies to computers "of a consumer in this state." It doesn't say the consumer needs to own the computer, so far as I read the law. It defines "consumer" as "an individual who resides in this state and who uses the computer in question primarily for personal, family, or household purposes." Calif. & Bus. Prof. 22947.1(e). I believe this should include public library computers (perhaps not other types of libraries), since they are commonly used by consumers for personal, family or household purposes."
http://blog.librarylaw.com/librarylaw/2005/01/the_consumer_pr.html
- Robin Good
As I wanted to make my small contribution to the Global Learn Day event which is taking place online at this very time (PC Windows users log in here), I just thought of making my own little presentation (with no slides ::: just my talking head) to simplify the logistic of contributing to the live event easier.
There are lots of individuals who want to rightly contribute to this live event, and I see hardly an opportunity to come up and take the podium for my little rap. So, I am taking permission to use some of these truly accessible tools to contribute to the event in my own little way. I really wanted to share a bit of my thoughts wihtout getting too technical with this, and I thought that a few of you may have liked to hear my thoughts, as an academic outsider, about what I see as being the key ten technologies that will change the way we learn in the future.
http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2004/11/21/ten_technologies_that_are_going.htm
Syllabus Magazine
Wed., Sept. 1, 2004
Tablet PCs: The Killer App for Higher Education
By Paul Asay
Although the laptop computer boasts the obvious advantages of screen size and hard drive capacity, it does have some deficiencies. Laptops take up most of a student's desktop. Once the laptop is open, the screen partially blocks the student’s view of the lecturer. Limited typing ability also hinders laptop use. PocketPC and Palm devices are in many ways more suited to classroom use, but are somewhat limited by their small screen size and the frustrating amount of scrolling required to access Web pages.
The Tablet PC may just land in that elusive middle ground between the bigger laptop and small pocket-sized device. Although the initial device designs vary, the concept is to have something the size of a writing tablet, about 8 inches by 10 inches and less than 1 inch thick. It has the functions of a laptop, but has digital ink technology so that users can write on it with a stylus similar to pen and paper. The operating system is a unique version of Windows XP with the digital ink and related software.
By David Koenig, Associated Press
DALLAS — As the superintendent of a fast-growing suburban school district, Mike Smith faces a textbook shortage every fall.
This year will be a little different at the Forney Independent School District.
Every fifth- and sixth-grader at Johnson Elementary, 100 to 150 students, will receive a $1,350 IBM ThinkPad computer loaded with digital versions of state-approved textbooks and 2,000 works of literature. If the experiment works, the program will be expanded to other grades.
"We think this is better than simply going out and buying more textbooks," said Smith, who expected a shortage of 600 textbooks in August. Enrollment is projected to rise 20% or more at the district, and it takes three months to get new books.
Forney is the first district in the country to sign up with IBM for the digital notebooks as the company tries to get an edge in the competitive school-computer market and jump-start educators' interest in using more laptops, which has lagged because of cost.
Read the story at http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2004-04-26-school-laptops_x.htm
Largest Mobile Initiative for a U.S. Medical School Wayne State University's School of Medicine has begun a mobile computing project it says is the largest and most comprehensive ever planned by a U.S. medical school. The school has signed a contract with Ann Arbor, Mich.-based CampusMobility Inc. to build the network, which will supply medical students and staff with mobile devices, educational and healthcare software, and wireless infrastructure. The technology will enable problem-solving exercises and the collection of patient encounter information during clinical internships. "The ability to interact with students in real time is critical in ensuring students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to begin independent patient care," said professor Matt Jackson, Ph.D., in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology.
The National Library of Medicine Defines Standard Content Model for Electronic Archiving and Publishing of Journal Articles Bethesda, Maryland - The National Library of Medicine (NLM) announces the creation and free availability of a standard model for archiving and exchanging electronically journal articles. http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2003/nlm-10.htm