Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Library Mobile Site
The mobile library website provides a wealth of information for the user. I definitely would use it in the future to look up books or computers. I used a Blackberry and everything was really straightforward and user friendly on the site. The link titles all made sense – sometimes there will be a link to a sub page that you’re not quite sure where it will lead you. I don’t feel that anything was left out in regards to what information is available. The site loaded quickly and was easy to navigate. I particularly like the fact that one can look up what computers are available as well as the floor maps. I am forever wandering around the library looking for a particular section in the general collection and a mobile map is so helpful. However, if I hadn’t taken this course I wouldn’t be aware of what the library of congress classification system is and therefore would not have chosen that particular link in order to find where to go. As for the computer availability, I like that you can see how many but it would be even more beneficial if you could see where. The site was visually appealing and there wasn’t anything that particularly bothered me. There was enough information provided for a mobile site especially because links to the UNCW and full library website are at the bottom. I followed those links and the mobile site is very well done, much more appealing and user friendly.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
News Report 11/11/10
Stage Set for Showdown on Online Privacy by Edward Wyatt 9 Nov 2010 NY Times
This article discussed the idea of a ‘do not track’ feature that would be attached to certain websites or web browsers. This do not track idea is similar to the do not call lists that circulated during the height of telemarketing. There are opposing viewpoints by government officials about internet privacy. On the one hand top commerce officials would like to keep the internet self-regulated, each site presenting its own privacy policy, collecting information from you but letting you know about it and telling you what they are going to do with it. On the other hand, top trade commission officials are leaning toward having websites or browers that allows the user to choose whether or not they would like their information to be shared, a do not track option. However, both sides have valid arguments as to how these would both be good and bad for both consumers and the technological networks on which they rely. People would like their information to be kept private by firms they are doing business with, but turning off tracking altogether would make it difficult for systems and commerce to keep running as it is at that high a technological level. In the meantime, while this decision is being made, there will probably be higher standards on privacy policy.
I think that privacy on the internet is very important because so much of our information is shared to online firms and technology makes it so simple to store that information and send it off or do with it whatever you choose. Each site does give a privacy policy but rarely do they ever get read. They are several long-winded paragraphs long and most consumers simply click agree and go to the next step, not really aware of what their information may be used for. However, this it a difficult thing to monitor because of how free the web is.
This article discussed the idea of a ‘do not track’ feature that would be attached to certain websites or web browsers. This do not track idea is similar to the do not call lists that circulated during the height of telemarketing. There are opposing viewpoints by government officials about internet privacy. On the one hand top commerce officials would like to keep the internet self-regulated, each site presenting its own privacy policy, collecting information from you but letting you know about it and telling you what they are going to do with it. On the other hand, top trade commission officials are leaning toward having websites or browers that allows the user to choose whether or not they would like their information to be shared, a do not track option. However, both sides have valid arguments as to how these would both be good and bad for both consumers and the technological networks on which they rely. People would like their information to be kept private by firms they are doing business with, but turning off tracking altogether would make it difficult for systems and commerce to keep running as it is at that high a technological level. In the meantime, while this decision is being made, there will probably be higher standards on privacy policy.
I think that privacy on the internet is very important because so much of our information is shared to online firms and technology makes it so simple to store that information and send it off or do with it whatever you choose. Each site does give a privacy policy but rarely do they ever get read. They are several long-winded paragraphs long and most consumers simply click agree and go to the next step, not really aware of what their information may be used for. However, this it a difficult thing to monitor because of how free the web is.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
News Report 11/2
Old Media Dead in 10 Years?
By John P. Mello Jr PC World
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20101029/tc_pcworld/oldmediadeadin10years
More than two thirds of the people surveyed in an online poll responded that they prefer traditional media (newspapers, newscasts, and magazines) to digital media. Then why is it that over half of the people surveyed also said that their primary source of news is digital media retrieved from the internet. This is a trend that has forced its way into our culture and many predict that traditional media will be obsolete ten years down the road. The polls also stated the concern with younger generation in that 65 percent of the youth get all of their news from the internet. Although the numbers are split almost down the middle with digital and traditional, the numbers for digital media users and supported grows substantially each year. New forms of media are being embraced while older printed forms are becoming “outdated” and obsolete.
I think that it is unfortunate that so many people are relying on the internet for their news. Although it is extremely convenient and I am not against getting information from the internet, traditional forms of media have always been there for us very reliably. I wonder what sites these younger people are getting their news from because most of them are probably not from as accredited sources as the New York Times or ones local news channel. It makes sense what is happening especially due to the convenience factor but I don’t agree with the reliability of information sources that are freely available to the everyday consumer. While I understand the trend of digital media I oftentimes hope for a traditionalist to come along and save the newspaper.
By John P. Mello Jr PC World
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20101029/tc_pcworld/oldmediadeadin10years
More than two thirds of the people surveyed in an online poll responded that they prefer traditional media (newspapers, newscasts, and magazines) to digital media. Then why is it that over half of the people surveyed also said that their primary source of news is digital media retrieved from the internet. This is a trend that has forced its way into our culture and many predict that traditional media will be obsolete ten years down the road. The polls also stated the concern with younger generation in that 65 percent of the youth get all of their news from the internet. Although the numbers are split almost down the middle with digital and traditional, the numbers for digital media users and supported grows substantially each year. New forms of media are being embraced while older printed forms are becoming “outdated” and obsolete.
I think that it is unfortunate that so many people are relying on the internet for their news. Although it is extremely convenient and I am not against getting information from the internet, traditional forms of media have always been there for us very reliably. I wonder what sites these younger people are getting their news from because most of them are probably not from as accredited sources as the New York Times or ones local news channel. It makes sense what is happening especially due to the convenience factor but I don’t agree with the reliability of information sources that are freely available to the everyday consumer. While I understand the trend of digital media I oftentimes hope for a traditionalist to come along and save the newspaper.
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