Week 2 Readings

From this point onward, I will begin clearly outlining the sections of my responses and the articles I am talking about.

Wikipedia Article on Computer Hardware: This is a very interesting Wikipedia entry. I have never been too familiar with the anatomy of a computer. One section in particular that raises questions for me is the point of the article where the CPU of the Motherboard is described as the "brain" of the "body" (2) . The comparison to human and animal anatomy, in conjunction with our discussion in class about MIT offering its students the opportunity to "build your own laptop", made me think about the compatibility of certain parts with each other. When patients have to undergo transplants for donating an organ or receiving one, the doctors have to be absolutely sure that both bodies have compatible traits such as blood type and (I would assume) health of the organ. How can one determine if a specific output device (for instance) is compatible with a particular motherboard? Are computers more or less particular than human bodies? Overall, this metaphor of the body was the most thought provoking aspect to me (having little computer anatomy exposure).

Wikipedia Article on Moore's Law: This article took me a few tries to completely absorb its content. When accompanied with the Scientific American video, I feel that I completely grasp it. For me, the most interesting aspects of Moore's Law are it's economic component and existence as a "self-fulfilling prophecy". Since the amount of transistors that can be "inexpensively placed" increases to twice the amount every two years (1), it is clear that Gordon Moore has made an economic prophecy as well as a technological one. I found it difficult to believe that our ability to put transistors on an integrated circuit would never divert from its economic course. In other words, I wonder why the rate will never increase and sticks to Moore's precisely predicted course. Perhaps there is something I have misunderstood in the article. I look forward to reading responses.

Computer History Museum Website: I spent some time browsing the museum website and am very interested in a visit. As one can read in the literature, the Computer History Museum provides many examples and ways of illustrating the progress towars our current computers and operating systems. In such a place, one can clearly observe the inner-workings of a computer and its different sections such as the "motherboard" mentioned in the previous article. I'm particularly excited at the prospect of seeing Moore's Law in practice. In other words, I would like to see the changes in size of integrated circuits and numbers of transistors in a museum. Overall, this collection should prove to be interesting.

Week 1 Murky Point

In general, the expectations and assignments of this course seem reasonable. I have, however, had difficulty figuring out when I am expected to post certain things in this weekly blog. I have already begun the second week's reading because I originally thought that those were the ones we are supposed to respond to by this Friday. Although this does not count as the muddiest point of the subject mater, I still feel it is important to bring up.
Conceptually, the muddiest point for me has been the attempts to illustrate technological processes (can be seen in the slides). The picture of the internet, for instance, would have served me better if labels accompanied it (i.e. "This is Google", etc.). Of course, cannot expect such small details to be so easy to come across, but more detail would have given me a better mental map.

Week 1 Readings

In my opinion, the most interesting aspect of the assigned readings for week 1 is the relationship between the subject matter of each article. The OCLC article "Content, Not Containers" provided me with written confirmation of the library and it's increasingly important role as the place that "establishes the authenticity and provenance of content" . I certainly agree that the methods by which we receive information (books, films, newspapers, etc.) has become consolidated due to the wealth of information that digital sources provide. I wholeheartedly believe that the internet and many of the "term" items in the article have kept text and the act of gathering information by reading alive. The section that discusses the rising sales of e-books was the one tht most convinced me. The OCLC article also demonstrates to me that the act of acquiring information via technologies such and the internet and blogging have not excluded other mediums. In fact, I think that this article completely validates the importance of new information technologies. The internet and it's features keep many different ways of receiving information alive by incorporating them together. Overall, this article made me feel secure about my career choice.
The article by Clifford Lynch seems to provide an explanation of why, in such an environment and time when information doubles at an incredible rate, that being educated in both the "how to" (practical) and "why" (theoretical) aspects of information technology is mre important than ever. This article made me think extensively about my own technological education. For the longest time, I have known about t basic applications of a computer, but have never had the faintest clue about how it works. I have always known how to save a file, but I never knew why clicking on the corner of a picture on my computer screen and selecting the word that describes the action I want can accomplish the "save" action. This article, when read accompanying "Content, Not Containers", informed me of the dangers I face as a consumer of information. In short, I need to increase my "Information Technology Literacy".
The article "Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still" is equally interesting because it shows me an example of how the content of the previous two articles will directly impact my career in everyday situations. I've always realized that there is not "finish line" for technological development, but I was never so daunted about how often these changes take place. I can clearly see how all the aspects of running a library fac direct impact from new technology. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to see an example of how an academic library must constantly adapt in order to maintain it's important role. Overall these three articles serve as a perfectly valid intoduction to the problems I wil have to solve in the not-too-distant future.