http://www.alatechsource.org/blog en Common Sense Media's New App: Kids Media http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/05/common-sense-medias-new-app-kids-media.html <p><a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile">Kids Media</a> is Common Sense Media’s new app. Free and available for Android, iPhone, and iPad, it's a convenient way to access the content from the website offering parents and educators reviews of games, movies, books, TV shows, and more.</p> <p>I have a love-hate relationship with Common Sense Media, Unlike typical reviews, Common Sense Media helps parents find age-appropriate media for their children. Each review identifies the most appropriate age group to consume the media, as well as specific content that might concern parents: sex, violence, drug use, materialism. For example, the review of the new "The Great Gatsby" movie identifies the target age as 14 and alerts readers to the following acts of violence, among other things: “A man is held by two others while someone else hits him, in a very brief scene. Another character runs over a woman with a car; her body is shown many times hitting the windshield and thudding to the ground. A man is also shown shooting someone from a distance and then putting the same gun in his mouth. A man strikes a woman hard.”</p><p> </p> <p>As a parent, reading aloud or popping in a DVD,  I appreciate knowing about scenes that might frighten or confuse my daughter. As a librarian, I sometimes use Common Sense Media to help me determine whether or not a book is going to work with my middle school students, a notoriously tricky age group. But also as a librarian, I bristle at the way Common Sense Media can strip a book down to its faults. While the “Is it Any Good?” section helps balance the quality of the work against its moral pitfalls, this sort of rating can make books and media appear far more sordid than they are. A parent who is concerned with providing age-appropriate reading materials to his or her child may pass by high-quality titles because of a few curse words or a brief description of teen drinking.</p> <p>The Kids Media app is attractive and easy to use, with a scrolling list of new reviews along the top, including new video reviews, and a breakdown by media-type underneath (movies, games, apps, websites, TV, books, and music). Users can also browse by age (2-17) and select “Top Picks” to quickly access CSM’s “best-of” lists in each category. Among the 71 Top Picks book lists, you’ll see “Strong Female Characters in Books” and “Love Books for Little Ones”;  or in the Top Picks apps lists, “Best Zombie Apps” and “Storytelling Apps.”</p> <p>Users can also search for a specific title. The review includes everything that is published in the website review, including the overall rating, target age, and ratings on specific issues like educational value, positive messages, and language. Tapping on each rating brings details. “Sensitive readers should know that there are graphic descriptions of what it is like to suffer through cancer,” reads the “violence” section of John Green’s <em>The Fault in Our Stars.</em> Users can add the title to their favorites and also see other recommendations at the bottom of the review.</p> <p>The “My Kids” section is strictly for parents, who can add a profile of their children, including name, age, gender, target age range for recommendations, and a photo. I entered my daughter Evie’s information, and once saved, found “Evie’s Picks,” which include the TV show "Sid the Science Kid," the game "Just Dance: Disney Party," the "Super Why!" app, and the book <em>Mouse was Mad</em> by Linda Urban. I was not impressed by the recommended books list as a whole, as it included mostly classic titles like <em>Hi, Cat!</em> by Ezra Jack Keats, <em>The Lorax</em> and <em>The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins</em> by Dr. Seuss, <em>Mommy</em> by Maurice Sendak, and <em>Frog and Toad All Year</em> by Arnold Lobel. While these books are classics for a reason, I also would have liked to learn about exciting new titles that are less familiar.</p> <p>Finally, the “Favorites” section is where users can access all of the favorites that they have identified through their searching and browsing. These favorites are arranged chronologically as added, rather than by genre, which might make it hard later on to find a specific title. The list can also be edited to remove particular titles.</p> <p>Common Sense Media has a wonderful mission: they are “dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world full of media and technology.” Our children and students are drenched in media—according to CSM, they “spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school.” Parents often struggle with the challenges of selecting the best media for their kids, and a product like Kids Media can have a positive impact on those decisions. That said, Common Sense Media and its app are not substitutes for hands-on experiences with media, or reviews from librarians, which may come in the form of a conversation as well as text. I recommend this app for those who need quick access to information on specific media, or who want help finding materials based on certain criteria. The app is easy to use, provides an enormous amount of information, and is one powerful tool in any parent's toolkit.</p> <p>Another Common Sense Media resource of interest to educators is an excellent and comprehensive K-12 <a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum">digital literacy curriculum</a>.  Though too large and complex for me to teach in its entirety, I've used numerous activities as jumping-off points with students. The curriculum includes everything from “My Online Neighborhood,” a lesson on staying safe online for kindergarteners, to “Retouching Reality,” a unit on digital image editing for high schoolers.</p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/05/common-sense-medias-new-app-kids-media.html#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 15:37:37 +0000 Sarah Ludwig 1019 at http://www.alatechsource.org Books-to-Shorts Learning http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/05/books-to-shorts-learning.html <p>One of the best parts of my job is sharing books with students. Sometimes, as a school librarian, I get so overwhelmed with research and technology instruction that I forget about books (it’s true!). But we have a robust YA collection that enjoys high circulation, and partly because three times a year, our middle school students are required to read a free-choice book over a long break in fall, winter, and spring. While requiring reading goes a bit against the grain of pleasure reading, the students can select any book they like and they do not have to finish it, which takes some of the pressure off. Before the break, every one of our middle school English classes comes into the library to hear about new books from me and to browse our collection for something to take home. The best part of this cycle, however, is the reflection. </p><p> </p> <p>Rather than asking students to write a report about their book or take a quiz, the English teachers work with the library to craft fun, creative projects that allow students to share books with each other. At my school’s recent afternoon of teacher-driven professional development, one English teacher and I co-presented on our most recent project, using stop-motion technology to create book mashups. The project touches upon numerous critical thinking and creative skills, as well as introduces a new technology to students.</p> <p>The students were paired up by the teacher. Students had to explain to each other  what their book was about. Moreover, each student had to describe in-depth one character in their novel. With that information in mind, the pair collaboratively wrote a script (using Google Docs) that placed the two characters into a new setting and had them interact based on their characteristics.  For example, two girls used the character Cassia from Ally Condie’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matched-Ally-Condie/dp/014241977X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1368018354&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=matched+ally+condie">Matched</a> and Bryce from Lara Avery’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anything-But-Ordinary-Lara-Avery/dp/1423163869/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1368018392&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=anything+but+ordinary+by+lara+avery">Anything but Ordinary</a>. In their 21-second film, one character falls from a cliff and the other helps her. In the novels, one character is a diver who has a terrible accident at the start of the story, and the other takes refuge in huge rock formations when she is on the run. These interpretations may seem elementary, but script depicted one character’s  traits of bravery and drive to help and the other’s stubbornness and independence. </p> <p>To animate their short films, the students used iPads and Barbies, Legos, play-dough, and cut-out 2D drawings. We first practiced in the classroom by animating a pencil spinning in a circle. Once they were comfortable with the app’s interface, the students then had a day to write their scripts and gather materials. Filming took one day, with a few students needing extra time during their study halls to finish the project. The films were shown in class, giving the students a chance to explain their work.</p> <p>These tiny movies served multiple purposes. First, the script-writing encouraged creativity and critical thinking—identifying character traits and imagining a new setting and scenario. How could these characters authentically meet and what would happen if they did? In addition, students had to collaborate and share with each other to write a script that made sense and included elements of both books. Te students had to actually film their movies, meaning they had to be adept at using iMotionHD. (And some were better than others, as in all cases). Finally, the project required planning and organizing. The students who tested the filming process and adapted their techniques fared better than others. And the kids had to divide the responsibilities—who would hold the camera, who would move the objects, who would write the speech bubbles. This decision-making encouraged positive communication between the partners as well as problem-solving.</p> <p>While iMotionHD is one fun way to encourage students to reflect on their reading, tons of other resources that are equally fun and simple for students to use. Here is a sampling:</p> <p><a href="http://launchpadtoys.com/toontastic/">Toontastic</a> is a free iPad app that allows users to easily make animated shorts using either original characters and backgrounds or preset drawings that come with the app.</p> <p><a href="http://sketchnation.com/">Sketch Nation</a> is an iPad app for making  games, which could be based on a book. Users can draw directly on the iPad or draw on paper and then photograph the work to use in the app. </p> <p><a href="http://www.toondoo.com/">ToonDoo</a> is a free web-based comic creator that can be used to make strips, books, and characters. Users could either comic-ify a book or create a new story based on their book. <a href="http://www.toondoospaces.com/">ToonDoo Spaces</a>, a subscription service, allows teachers to create a school-safe online space and to manager accounts. </p> <p><a href="http://blabberize.com/">Blabberize</a>, a web-based service, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/face-talk/id451240996?mt=8">Face Talk</a>, an app, both allow students to animate speaking mouths over still images, which is a fun way to have students create their own book talks. Students record their own voices.</p> <p>To see all of my students’ stop motion movies, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyZ_NoWsrgSAQD6t-HcCV7pHme_Ga9v4O">click here</a>. </p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/05/books-to-shorts-learning.html#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 15:23:50 +0000 Sarah Ludwig 1018 at http://www.alatechsource.org The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Memory and Technology http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/05/the-stories-we-tell-ourselves-memory-and-technology.html <p>Last time, I said I’d talk about memory, but I just went back and checked the post to be sure. Our memories are dark, <a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2013/02/19/how-to-instill-false-memories/">murky backwaters</a> where events shift, timelines change, and we’re never really on stable ground. The <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hidden-motives/201203/unreliable-memory">more</a> I <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/neurophilosophy/2012/jan/27/1">read</a> about how <a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/freakonomics-radio/sure-i-remember">untrustworthy our memories</a> are, the more I feel like I’m sliding into a more tedious, daily-life version of the movie Memento (did I do the dishes? Did I send that email? Not exactly murder and mayhem, thankfully.) </p><p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s not a bad place to approach technological and training issues from. I have spoken to people weeks and months after a training session only to have them swear that I did not tell them about a particular button or functionality. I know that I did. It’s on my outline. It’s on my notes. I always cover it. But maybe I missed it that time. Maybe I’m substituting memories from another training session when I cast back to the one in question. Thinking of memory as spongey and tricky helps me address the matter at hand - here’s what that button does – rather than get caught up in what did or did not happen at a long-ago training session.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The longer we live with a technology, the more our memories of it can have an impact on how we use it. When we first start using a new tool, we simply accept what’s there, but as we use it longer (and especially as various companies start to copy or carry over interfaces), our memories of what lives where and how things work start both helping and hindering us. If you have a smartphone, think of your first weeks and months with it. You likely frequently wondered if there was a setting/button/option for the thing you wanted, but once you’ve lived with your phone for a while, your use becomes automatic and occasionally, when you can’t quite find something, you’re sure the button used to be someplace else.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everyone who works with tech has had the experience of solving a really frustrating problem and then committing that solution to memory; making you look like a genius the next time the issue comes up. We’ve all had the opposite experience as well: being convinced of a setting or option that simply doesn’t exist or exists someplace completely different than the place we’re looking. When you’re casting about, trying to find a checkbox or radio button that you’re sure is there somewhere, it can feel like you’re losing credibility as the resident techie, but I’m not so sure that’s true anymore.   </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I sense a shift in how we handle that slippery sense of “there was a button that did this…” Anyone who has been through a few ILS migrations jokes about not being quite sure which system had a particular feature, and I think the expectation that tech types have everything about a program memorized is changing. If “being good at technology” doesn’t mean having every last radio button and check box committed to memory, so much the better. The task of the techie becomes convincing those we help with their tech to use their memories to their advantage.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Recent news stories about <a href="http://anniemurphypaul.com/2013/02/when-siblings-remember-childhood-differently/#">sibling memory and how siblings will tell radically different versions of the same story</a>, sometimes even appropriating each other’s versions touch on the importance of individual narratives when it comes to memory. Our memories, to some extent, define who we are, grounding us in the world. The narrative our colleagues and patrons tell themselves about their relationship with technology is important.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps you’ve witnessed someone, normally perfectly confident and competent, lapse into fear and self-doubt when faced with a new piece of software or an unfamiliar interface. “I’m bad at technology,” she tells you. (And I’ll note as an aside here that  women tend to blame themselves when technology doesn’t work for them, while men tend to blame a glitch or the machinery.) Maybe you hear, “Every time I try to use the computer, I have a problem.” You might be thinking, “Really? EVERY time?” and you’re right to be skeptical. Not every time, but the bad memories have obliterated the good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is the opportunity for library techies to boost the confidence of their less-techie colleagues. Providing happy memories of ease with technology is a good place to start, but perhaps we can do one better? Keeping an informal success log for our least confident users or suggesting that they keep their own tally of wins and reminding them of their technological competence might help overwrite their “I’m bad with computers” narrative. Maybe it’s not enough to be happily available to help. Perhaps a longer-term outlook requires us to remind those seeking our help of past achievements and skills.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Techies, is that asking too much? Is it the proverbial teaching people to fish or is it providing technology therapy?  </p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p> </p><p> </p> <p> </p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/05/the-stories-we-tell-ourselves-memory-and-technology.html#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 13:51:14 +0000 Kate Sheehan 1017 at http://www.alatechsource.org Sue Polanka and Jamie LaRue Discuss the Next Episode of American Libraries Live http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/04/sue-polanka-and-jamie-larue-discuss-the-next-episode-of-american-libraries-live.html <p>We are very excited about our upcoming episode The Present and Future of E-Books, which is going to take place next Thursday, April 18th at 2pm Eastern. I had a chance to talk briefly with our moderator Sue Polanka and panelist Jamie LaRue about what they plan on discussing.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5qu4cSXfXuo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p>Please be sure to tune in next Thursday! You can pre-register at <a href="http://goo.gl/WjrDP">http://goo.gl/WjrDP</a>. Pre-registration is not required. If you can't attend live, the event will be recorded and available at www.americanlibrarieslive.org shortly after it concludes.</p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/04/sue-polanka-and-jamie-larue-discuss-the-next-episode-of-american-libraries-live.html#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:54:00 +0000 Daniel A. Freeman 1014 at http://www.alatechsource.org Skills We Can’t Teach: Facilitating Authentic Experiences with Digital Citizenship http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/skills-we-can-t-teach-facilitating-authentic-experiences-with-digital-citizenship.html <p>Can students learn online skills from a teacher? More and more, I’m thinking the answer is no. Countless times, I  see high school students watch a YouTube video to better understand a concept that was already covered in class. It’s how kids learn. When they work independently, they apply and therefore retain the skills.</p> <p>Yet we can’t turn students loose on social media without some discussion of responsibility. Character education is as important as Internet research. We have a charge to cover copyright, fair use, effective communication, and privacy. But how? Without real-world consequences, how will students understand that they really can’t use someone else’s image without asking? Do we teach our students these topics for the sake of plausibility? We teach them as is our duty, in other words, but they can choose whether or not to listen?</p><p> </p> <p>More and more students are locking down their Instagram and Twitter accounts or choosing extreme Facebook privacy. Students don’t want teachers and parents in their space. They are finding creative ways to live a public life with some modicum of control. We, as their teachers, cannot force that control.</p> <p>At the National Association of Independent School’s 2013 annual conference, I was lucky enough to hear danah boyd speak. She discussed students’ desire for control with specific attention to the American experience of making friends in college. The day after the speech, she wrote about this topic in a<a href="http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2013/03/01/facebook-college.html"> March 1st post</a> on her website. Essentially, boyd believes that because incoming college students can use social networks to connect with their future classmates before school even starts, “they begin a self-segregation process that results in increased ‘homophily’ on campuses.” Homophily, boyd explains, is the socological phenomenon of birds of a feather flocking together. She asserts that college is ideally a time to “connect incoming students with students of different backgrounds.” Therefore, this pre-frosh use of Facebook undermines the educational experience.</p> <p>I can’t stop thinking about this speech. It touches upon concerns I’ve had for a while about the way we teach digital citizenship in schools. A couple of weeks ago, I spoke with a fellow educator about the frustrations of introducing digital ethics to students. One day, she lamented, students were handing in well-crafted papers on the pitfalls of social media; a week later, they were being disciplined for online bullying. So how do we authentically teach our students to use technology responsibly and ethically? And how can we avoid instilling a sense of fear in our students through that focus on responsibility and ethics?</p> <p>Many commenters on boyd’s article disagree with her. “The first semester of college is a really rough shock for many students and being able to retain something of a social safety net can really help them adjust to the change,” writes one. “I would prefer to have a safe place to escape from the world and then emerge to talk to my diverse neighbors when I’m relaxed and rested than be forced to deal with regular conflict in what’s supposed to be my safe space.” So this is the heart of the matter: Are students creating a safe space for themselves online? Or are they simply isolating themselves from the greater world around them?</p> <p>I have never been comfortable with the scare tactics that I sometimes see in courseware for Internet education. I nevertheless find myself resorting to them at times to get students to understand the seriousness of the topic. Partly because I’m short of time. These lessons often get mashed into two or three days out of a students’ academic year. That’s not enough. These lessons need to be woven right into the curriculum. Any time students are asked to do online research or create a digital product, their teacher  reminds them of their expectations: use fair-use images only. Credit all media, not just text. Represent our school well. Take a moment to analyze the source of your information.</p> <p>As librarians, we have a responsibility to educate faculty about digital ethics at the school level. If a teacher is not comfortable teaching their students how to filter fair-use images in Google, then we need to model that—for the teacher as well as his or her students. We must be a voice for responsible use of online resources that goes beyond “don’t swear” and “treat each other well.” The ethical issues that surround online research and tools are thorny and complex. They deserve as much class time as possible.</p> <p>Technology opens up the world. This is a good thing. We need to find a way to flip the way we teach students how to live online. An idea that resonates with me is that we should facilitate student-driven projects that touch upon the concepts of digital citizenship. In a<a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-PBL-projects-andrew-miller"> recent column for Edutopia</a>, Andrew Miller writes about targeting ISTE standard # 5 for students, which calls on students to “understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.” (<a href="http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-s-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2">source</a>) He suggests using this standard’s learning targets to create a rubric for assessment of the project. And he emphasizes authenticity. “Students can create awareness, solve a problem, design a program and more. This authentic purpose will help you focus the inquiry and create a driving question that is purpose-driven and in student-friendly language.” Let the students take the lead. They know far better than we do what issues are facing their peers and themselves.</p> <p>Some ideas for projects like this:</p> <ul><li> Have students create materials to educate their younger peers on specific issues related to digital life. Encourage them to discuss their own personal experiences, not rely on hypothetical situations. These materials might be videos, webinars, online tutorials, or digital presentations. </li> <li> One of the most fascinating aspects of danah boyd’s talk was her focus on ethnography. Consider undertaking a project like this at your school. Students can identify areas they’d like to research and then undertake a study of particular trends. Using infographics, interviews, raw data, or polls, students could then analyze their findings and put forth theories on how technology affects their community. </li> <li> Similarly, a documentary-style project would be fascinating, either as a film or a written journalism project. Given enough time, students could create a snapshot of their school and the issues that are important to them. By following a small group of diverse peers, students could illustrate how technology affects this generation. </li> </ul> <p>More than anything, I think it’s important for us to remember that our students need to take responsibility for their own behavior online. And responsibility is not the kind of skill that can be forced. It has to be learned through experience. As educators, let’s do our best to provide those experiences, and to let our students share their own knowledge with us. Digital citizenship is a messy subject, and schools should be a safe place to explore it. </p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/skills-we-can-t-teach-facilitating-authentic-experiences-with-digital-citizenship.html#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:46:32 +0000 Sarah Ludwig 1010 at http://www.alatechsource.org Slides, resources from the Integrating Tablets workshop http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/slides-resources-from-the-integrating-tablets-workshop.html <p>Thanks to Rebecca K. Miller, Heather Moorfield-Lang, and Carolyn Meier for today's workshop, Part 1 of <a href="http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=3495">Integrating iPads and Tablet Computers into Library Services</a>. The slides are on slideshare and embedded below. The presenters also keep the Tumblr on <a href="http://tabletsinlibraries.tumblr.com/">iPads and Tablets in Libraries,</a> where they shared <a href="http://tabletsinlibraries.tumblr.com/post/45340911765/recommended-reading">Recommended Reading</a> for today's presentation. Watch that space for the App Guide in advance of next week's presentation of Part 2.</p> <!--break--> <p><iframe src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/17210119" width="427" height="356" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border:1px solid #CCC;border-width:1px 1px 0;margin-bottom:5px" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen=""> </iframe></p> <div style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/ALATechSource/integrating-ipads-and-tablets" title="Integrating iPads and Tablets into Library Services" target="_blank">Integrating iPads and Tablets into Library Services</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/ALATechSource" target="_blank">ALATechSource</a></strong></div> <p>Looking to learn more about how you can put tablets to work in your library? Rebecca, Heather, and Carolyn will be teaching the 6-week eCourse <a href="http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=3819">iPads, Tablets, and Gadgets in the Library: Planning, Budgeting, and Implementation&nbsp;</a>, starting May 13.&nbsp;</p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/slides-resources-from-the-integrating-tablets-workshop.html#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:50:48 +0000 Patrick Hogan 1009 at http://www.alatechsource.org Which 3D Printer is Right for Your Library? http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/which-3d-printer-is-right-for-your-library.html <p>Choosing the right 3D Printer for your makerspace is a big financial commitment, and one that you’ll likely have to live with for some time. Below are a few of the more common machines with pros and cons to help you make your decision. <a href="http://store.makerbot.com/replicator.html">Makerbot Replicator</a> - $1,749.00</p> <p>The Makerbot company has created a series of 3D printers that vary in price and capacity. The basic Replicator model works with all the major operating systems, including Linux and OSX, and accepts files in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)">STL format</a>. It uses 1.75 mm filament to heat up and create your objects, and most small projects are finished within an hour. At a hefty 32 pounds, this is not something you’ll want to move often.</p> <p><a href="http://store.solidoodle.com/index.php?route=product/product&amp;product_id=56">Solidoodle 3D Printer,</a> 2nd Generation - $499.00</p> <p>In comparison to other 3D printers on the market, Solidoodle offers a great product for comparatively little money. 3D files are uploaded in STL format, then printed out on 1.75 mm filament. The printer arrives fully assembled out of the box. It llacks some of the precision of the Makerbot, but makes up for that in price.</p> <p><a href="http://www.makergear.com/products/m-series-3d-printers">MakerGear M Series 3D Printer</a> - $1,450.00 - $1,750.00</p> <p>On of the lightest of the options, MakerGear’s printer weighs in at only 25 pounds while still filling out the same basic functions as other 3D printers. It also uses 1.75 mm filament, but what distinguishes this printer from the others is that it comes ready to assemble, so you to learn how to build your own printer.</p> <p><a href="http://www.makergear.com/products/m-series-3d-printers">Stratasys 3D Printing/Mojo Printing?</a> - $185.00/month lease</p> <p>Unlike many of the printers that we’ve seen, this one allows for you to make a short commitment with a leasing agreement through Stratasys.</p> <p><a href="http://www.mojo3dprinting.com/printers/default.aspx">3Doodler</a> - pricing not available</p> <p>Although not yet on the market, the 3Doodler is a smaller 3D printer that might make a splash in libraries. Funded by Kickstarter, it is a small pen that is capable of using filament to create physical designs that can be held in the hand. Unlike it’s larger cousins, this printer creates objects in minutes and requires no software.</p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/which-3d-printer-is-right-for-your-library.html#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:38:00 +0000 Caitlin A. Bagley 1008 at http://www.alatechsource.org Innovative Interfaces Absorbs SkyRiver and Withdraws Lawsuit Against OCLC http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/innovative-interfaces-absorbs-skyriver-and-withdraws-lawsuit-against-oclc.html <p>In a major shift in strategy reflecting a more collaborative style of its new ownership and management, Innovative interfaces has withdrawn the lawsuit it filed against OCLC in July 2010. SkyRiver Technologies, the sister company and lead plaintiff of the suit, has been absorbed into Innovative Interfaces, which will integrate the SkyRiver cataloging service into its product offerings.</p> <p>SkyRiver Technology Solutions was established by Jerry Kline, then owner of Innovative Interfaces, in September 2009 to provide cataloging services to compete with OCLC at lower costs. Complications arose when libraries using SkyRiver’s cataloging service, including Michigan State University, claimed that they were charged higher fees than expected when they wanted to load the SkyRiver records into the OCLC WorldCat database to support interlibrary loan. The complaint filed by SkyRiver and Innovative mentions this claim and other issues as the basis of the lawsuit. </p> <p>On July 28, 2010, SkyRiver Technology Solutions and Innovative Interfaces, Inc. filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Northern District of California against OCLC asserting that OCLC was operating as a monopoly in multiple sectors, including that of bibliographic metadata, interlibrary loan, and library automation, and was engaging in anticompetitive business practices.  While the complaint mentioned OCLC’s non-profit status, this issue was not its primary focus. The case was active in the courts with many filings made through October 2010, when the case was transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Another set of filings were made through April 14, 2011, when OCLC’s attorneys issued a motion to dismiss the charges. This motion has been awaiting a ruling of the court since that date.</p> <p>See a <a href="http://www.librarytechnology.org/web/breeding/skyriver-vs-oclc">list of the filings</a> related to the SkyRiver vs. OCLC case on <a href="http://www.librarytechnology.org/">Library Technology Guides</a>.</p> <p>SkyRiver had  the same owner as Innovative Interfaces—Jerry Kline, and it was part of JMI Equity and Huntsman Gay’s acquisition of Innovative Interfaces. Though organizationally independent, the company operated from space leased in Innovative’s Emeryville headquarters and contracted with Innovate for technology infrastructure and other services. As a result of a recent company reorganization, SkyRiver is now folded into Innovative Interfaces and will no longer exist as a separate company. Leslie Straus, president of SkyRiver since its establishment, has left the company. </p> <p>The vision of offering a competitive cataloging alternative to OCLC remains intact. SkyRiver’s cataloging services will continue as an offering of Innovative Interfaces. Tom Jacobson, Director of Resource Sharing, whose portfolio also includes INN-Reach, will oversee the SkyRiver cataloging services within Innovative. </p> <p>Since the filing of the lawsuit, Innovative Interfaces has undergone change of ownership and executive management. Jerry Kline, believed to be the primary force behind the lawsuit, is no longer directly associated with Innovative or SkyRiver. The new leadership at Innovative mentions an opportunity to establish a positive relationship with OCLC as a major reason behind dropping the suit. </p> <p>Within the library industry, companies can have complex relationships where they compete on some fronts and cooperate on others. The lawsuit meant a cloud of uncertainty for OCLC and a hostile business environment between it and Innovative.  The withdrawal of the lawsuit opens up more of a possibility for Innovative and OCLC to find areas of collaboration, while still competing in the area of cataloging services. The statements issued by both OCLC’s Jay Jordan and Kim Massana, Innovative Interfaces CEO, reflect a more conciliatory and cooperative approach. </p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/03/innovative-interfaces-absorbs-skyriver-and-withdraws-lawsuit-against-oclc.html#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:29:04 +0000 Marshall Breeding 1007 at http://www.alatechsource.org Two Alternative Inputs Coming Soon: How will you use them? http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/02/alternative-inputs.html <p>I've seen some interesting alternative inputs technologies that will be coming to computer users this year. I'll share video demos of two that I&rsquo;m most excited about are: the Leap Motion and the Myo armband.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.leapmotion.com">Leap Motion</a> is a small camera-based sensor that connects to your computer and &ldquo;watches&rdquo; an area above your desk for hand movement, translating that movement into control of your computer. You can, for example, wave your hand to scroll a page, turn your fingers to control volume, and pinch and zoom images by literally pinching the air. Most of the gestures seem to be translated from current touchscreen technology, but I&rsquo;m very excited about the opportunity to develop a new language of interface with a product like this. The Leap Motion should be available for purchase this May, for $79.</p> <p>Here&rsquo;s a quick video to demonstrate how it looks and works.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_d6KuiuteIA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The second is a newer entry into this field, the <a href="https://getmyo.com/">Myo armband</a>. This device uses a very different method to achieve a very similar end, controlling the movement of things. Instead of &ldquo;watching&rdquo; your hands with cameras, the Myo is an armband that monitors the muscles movements of your forearm, and translates those implulses into a way of controlling technolgies around you.</p> <p>Two features of the Myo are of greatest interest to me. The first is that as a control mechanism, it&rsquo;s personal...you are wearing it, and it can get smarter as it learns from you. Not many types of input devices can make that claim. The second is that, because of its sensitivity, it can pick up micro-movements of your muscles before you are even aware that they are moving, allowing for imperceptible controls. As with the input devices that Vernor Vinge described in <em>Rainbows End</em>, microscopic movements can be translated into rich and robust interactions with your technology. Here&rsquo;s a video of the Myo in action.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oWu9TFJjHaM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Is there a place for these sorts of interfaces in libraries? I think so, but I would love to hear where you think they could be used.</p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/02/alternative-inputs.html#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:10:19 +0000 Jason Griffey 1005 at http://www.alatechsource.org Introducing the Book as iPad App- free webinar http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/02/introducing-the-book-as-ipad-app-free-webinar.html <p>Nicole Hennig will return this Friday, March 1, 1:00 p.m. Eastern, for a fresh look at how publishers are using the iPad platform to create a new kind of book. Not the straight text, you’ll read in a Kindle app, these books mix elements of film, videogames, and social media to create a new immersive experience for readers. Nicole’s webinar this past summer was a hit. Register for <a href="http://ow.ly/i4JIT">Introducing Books as iPad App</a>, and:</p><p> </p> <ul><li dir="ltr">See demos of fiction and nonfiction titles, including children’s books and graphic novels</li> <li dir="ltr">Discuss the qualities of a delightful reading experience</li> <li dir="ltr">Ask some questions about what these changes might mean for readers, libraries, and publishers</li> <li dir="ltr">Spark ideas for creative programs and services that you can offer in your library related to iPad book apps.</li> </ul> <p>See a what's new and get a taste of what Nicole has planned for her 4-week eCourse <a href="http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=3913">Book as iPad App</a>, which starts April 1. </p> http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2013/02/introducing-the-book-as-ipad-app-free-webinar.html#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:46:08 +0000 Patrick Hogan 1004 at http://www.alatechsource.org
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