Web 2.0, The Machine Is Us/ing Us

Blog Post #3

In watching an informative you tube video named “The Machine is Us/ing Us”, I think I understand the reason Professor Wesch named it so.  Courtney, in her book Library 2.0 and Beyond…(2007). explains that Web 2.0, whether a real concept or just a buzz word and piggyback term off of an earlier concept of Web 1.0 created with the World Wide Web, is changing and affecting us as a society.  Web 2.0 helps us better understand these changes in the web and our communication “evolution”.  I think this video eludes to the question “Is all this web content necessary and/or even useable?”  There used to be an issue with web content format but this is no longer.  We are uploading and posting information, photos, maps, thoughts, opinions, and so on and so on in unbelievable quantities.  Because we can all add this information to the web whenever and almost however we want, we have created a massive cesspool of information, useful or not.  Millions of blogs are posted everyday.  With this massive uploading of information comes the burden of organization.  How do we do it?  Who does it?  We all do.  We tag our information and photos and thus teach the web.  Who knows what all it does with this information about us.  But we are providing the information.  We are the driving the machine and yet we are the machine at the same time.  The web is one big database, so we are, too.  We even have it automatically exchanging data while we sleep and while we’re awake.  Are we going about this all wrong?  Are we going overboard in the use of the web?  We as a society are continually evolving towards becoming web driven beings.   I am not so sure we will recognize older forms of communication and information deriving ways in the near future.  Whether we are using the machine or we are the machine, Web 2.0 is linking information & people.  Web 2.0 is all about collaboration and sharing.  With these changes in communication and information publishing, we have to consider the changes in the information’s credibility.  As the video asks, how does this idea affect copyright, anonymity & privacy, control, commerce, and ourselves?  We must continually answer that question and try to make this machine work for the better good of us all.

Handheld Devices

Handheld Devices Blog #2

I just received a $10,000 budget for which I am to purchase handheld devices for the library.  I have decided to purchase netbooks and PC, android based device tablets. 

This decision is based on the current need and advancement of the technological skills of the students that frequent the library.  The main purpose of the purchase of these items is for the students, but staff and faculty can use them as well, when needed.  They are to be used in any area necessary related to education.  Any leftover money will go to purchase necessary additional software and such to make these handheld devices useful in our library.

The netbooks will especially be useful for the physically handicapped students that frequent the library.  They are so much easier to manipulate than the desktop computers.  I can get a good rate on netbooks (without the unnecessary software preloaded) for $200/each.  I will buy about 25 of them.  Our school district technology department can then load the software that we use on them for a nominal price.  These netbooks are much easier to use for my students that have limited mobility (in wheel chairs, etc.) and cannot reach the standard desktop computers easily.  There are many variable uses for these netbooks.  Mainly, they are used as any regular computer would be used except they are much smaller and portable.  If these mobility challenged students are not in the library and another student needs to use the netbook b/c there are not enough computers available in the library, they can also use them.  I will always keep a few in the library available for the physically challenged students, but can make several available to classrooms that need to check them out for a project, as well. 

Besides the netbooks, I also want to purchase the tablets as well.  I can get them for about $450 each.  I will buy about 8 of them.  They are useful for the visually impaired and physically immobile students (b/c of the ease of use touch interface) as well as regular students.  The student can use ebooks, partake in internet research much easier, and many other things they are asked to do in any given class.  They are lightweight, mobile, and have an easy to read format.  All of these features make the tablet a viable option for general education and special education students.  It is a very good option for those not tech savvy who need to use the internet.