10/23 Notes for readings/viewings Week 7
“How Internet Infrastructure Works”
Finally, an article lets me understand how my home computer actually connects to the internet. Every time I moved to a new apartment (and I’ve had over 15 in the last 15 years) I’ve had to go through the challenge of connecting my computer to the internet. I have a Mac and had to choose between Ethernet, Pop, Tcp/ip and such options that made absolutely no sense to me! Sometimes I would need to enter my IP address, which of course I didn’t know. I’d try all the options until I could find one combination that worked. As the years have gone by, it has become increasingly easier to set up my computer- thank goodness. So, perhaps this article is a little too late to help me actually connect to the internet, but I’m glad to have read it and finally know what all that ‘gobbledygook’ means!
“Dismantling Integrated Library Systems”
Understanding exactly what an ILS is, prior to reading this article, would have been very helpful. It seems to me that this is a case of fixing something that wasn’t broken in the first place. In fact, fixing something that had 25 years of experience and improvement put into it, making it a logical and usable product.
I understand the need to continuously upgrade and improve ILS in light of new technology and increased patron dependence on the internet. It must be really difficult and costly to keep up, however, as technology changes so quickly. It sounds like there are many vendors competing to get their products chosen and purchased. It was interesting to read that the MARC record is holding back library automation.
Even on our own university library site, we have a choice between Pitt Cat Classic and Pitt Cat +. One could assume that the + option is better, more modern, yet I often get better search results using the Classic version. We are soon going to another system, I’m told, which shows that our library, too, is in a constant state of change. I’m curious to use the new system, as it will then give me hands-on experience with three systems.
“Inside the Google Machine”
I love the world map of Google usage. It really drives home the enormous scale and scope involved in the entire world using Google- in terms of the traffic load of queries. Really impressive! The graph showing queries into the group Las Ketchup is a great way to show trends. I learned about the Google Foundation.
Some interesting facts I’ve learned about Google as a company include: Brin and Page both attended Montessori school, Google employees are permitted to spend 20% of their time on self-selected projects, Google isn’t afraid to put effort into many new ideas, etc. I’d like to work for Google in some capacity- what an exciting company.
It was also interesting to hear about innovations that were new and exciting at the time of the recording (2004) and have since become obsolete. Their idea of making advertising useful, not simply annoying is great. How interesting that Google is able to serve the entire world, even poorer countries, based on the revenue generated from advertising. Finally, I was glad to hear that it is important to Google to present true information.
