Week 3 Reading Responses

(These are being posted early because I'll be on vacation next week)

For week three I read Garrels "Introduction to Linux" and Thurott's "An Update on the Windows Roadmap". My question is what exactly is an operating system? Is that the Windows that has Word and Excel? Or is an operating system something that Windows goes "on top of?" Which leads to me wondering if Linux and Windows are the same type of system. I know Linux is open and Windows is not, but once you get past that, do the have the same functionalities for the user? I'm thinking no, that Linux is not so much like Windows, but more of code that would enable Windows to operate.
I would love to see a list of the most common terms put together with their definitions and then an easy to understand diagram explaining how each are connected.

Week 2 Reading Responses

Computer Hardware http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware

For me, reading this was like trying to decipher hyroglyphics. While I realize the importance of technological know how in the library world, I prefer good old fashioned book side of librarianship, not the new world order of the techno boom. The more I clicked on the links in this article to find out the definition of say PCI, the more entrenched in the mud I became. Now, learning about information technology does not excited me, but I do realize the importance of it and would like to know more than I do, but this wiki just left me scratching my head.

Computer History Museum http://www.computerhistor.org/

I enjoyed this website. I don't know if the words "history" and "museum" took away from the coldness of "computer" for me, but it seemed to add warmth to technical topics in my opinion. The online exhibit of "The Babbage Engine" caught my eye and that's what I focused on.

• I realized halfway through it that the name Babbage sounded familiar because there used to be a computer store in a mall near me when I was little called Babbages!
• I think its fascinating that none of his designs were physically realized in his time, but what if the would have been? How much further would technology be today??
• It was surprising to see that after Babbage, there was no continuous line of development to automate computation.

Week 1 Reading Responses

Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for Digital Culture by Clifford Lynch

• How would info literacy and info tech literacy be taught in a schools curriculum with the rate at which the technological world advances? Would it be taught as a course or would more technological tools be introduced into existing curriculum for the students to get the oh so important hands on experience.
• Information literacy and information technology literacy must be balanced. I don't see how you can have one with out the other and be successfully well rounded.

Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers

• Can libraries afford to deliver microcontent? Aside from having free services, how can they compete with retailers with their budget restrictions?
• I'd never heard of the term "fleshmet" before this article and I think it's really disturbing. It takes the humaness out of human contact. It sounds like something an alien would say.
• As a book lover, I'm saddened by the information that fewer books are being printed.

Week 1 Muddiest Point

What's the difference between the url for my blog and the url for the feed of the blog?