I don't have a muddiest point this week.
I will admit that I was a bit thrown off when I saw my previous muddiest point presented in class. I do not view this as a bad thing, mind you. I just didn't expect my blog to be followed with such detail. My hat is off to Dr. He and Jiepu for the unexpected surprise.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Assignment 3: Jing
This is just a placeholder for my assignment links. I am currently having some technical difficulties with my microphones, and hope to have the problem resolved soon.
As a spoiler for those interested: I will be giving an introduction to Portable Apps.
Edit: September 30, 2010.
The problem has been solved (in a way), and the links are below. My apologies if my sound quality is a bit off. Still trying to solve that problem on this machine.
I will warn you that the screen resolution may be odd; I did this on a netbook (less clutter than my main machine), which has a drastically different screen size.
Video: http://www.screencast.com/t/YmYxOWM1NGU
Photos (In "Order"):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5040332996/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5039713063/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5040333626/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5039713713/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5040333340/
As a spoiler for those interested: I will be giving an introduction to Portable Apps.
Edit: September 30, 2010.
The problem has been solved (in a way), and the links are below. My apologies if my sound quality is a bit off. Still trying to solve that problem on this machine.
I will warn you that the screen resolution may be odd; I did this on a netbook (less clutter than my main machine), which has a drastically different screen size.
Video: http://www.screencast.com/t/YmYxOWM1NGU
Photos (In "Order"):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5040332996/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5039713063/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5040333626/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5039713713/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11089894@N08/5040333340/
Week 5 Comments
The following links are the comments I have made on other blogs:
http://archivist-amy-in-training.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-5-databases-and-metadata.html?showComment=1285793325472#c7642784553039345459
http://marclis2600.blogspot.com/2010/09/readings.html?showComment=1285794137039#c4897273030151638065
http://archivist-amy-in-training.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-5-databases-and-metadata.html?showComment=1285793325472#c7642784553039345459
http://marclis2600.blogspot.com/2010/09/readings.html?showComment=1285794137039#c4897273030151638065
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Week 5 Reading Notes
Note: As I've already written this, I'll be changing the date for next week's time so it can be found with the relevant discussion.
Database Wiki Article
I never had much experience with databases outside of utilizing them for schoolwork, so I’m grateful for seeing how they work, what sorts are available, etc. The article covered a variety of details, but the sections that seem relevant to me consisted of the various kinds of databases, storage structures and indexing notes. Oddly enough, I never did think of the internet as a database per se, primarily due to the problems of sorting and indexing the data, but according to this article, it can be considered as such. I wonder if there is going to be a better way of indexing such a database, especially since there are so many other databases within this database.
One thought the crosses my mind while reading this: what sort of approach will libraries take when it comes to sorting and organizing digital libraries? Clearly libraries will become a database with the increased number of digital resources, so I can’t help but wonder what will happen here.
Introduction to Metadata
Ah, yes, an article that speaks about “data about data.” When you really consider it, most of what we (and by “we,” I mean everyone who is searching for something, and not just librarians) work with is metadata. Our searches for data consist of metadata, looking for other similar metadata, in order to find the data we seek. We essentially work with tags associated with what it is we seek, and on words and phrases written about this information. The metadata I personally work with the most is something the article already referenced: the Library of Congress Subject Headings.
I do like how the article brings the subject of metadata outside of the libraries and into other fields. The idea of archiving information, including museums, is heavily reliant upon metadata, and now with the increased access and new approaches provided by the internet, metadata becomes even more important.
There was one note that stands out to me as I read this article: “there is no single metadata standard that is adequate for describing all types of collections and materials.” This leaves me wondering if it is too lofty of a goal to find a way to categorize and sort data as a whole, especially since the requirements and opinions of metadata vary depending on the topic at hand.
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
I think this is the first article I’ve run into that I didn’t have at least some semblance of background knowledge of the subject. That being said. . .
At the beginning of this article, I started to believe that I spoke too soon regarding my thoughts on metadata standards across disciplines. The Dublin Core Data Initiative is essentially an attempt to break down the barriers between disciplines when it pertains to metadata.
The article proceeds to explain the requirements of the project, which boiled down to being capable of working on an international scale, identifying various sorts of information, refining data from broad terms, and remain modular enough to be used all around.
There is one flaw in this approach, which is why I consider this a lofty goal: the designers of this program will face against the same problem that has plagued librarians and other researchers over the years: how do we classify data? With that in mind, is this approach the correct approach, or is this another dead end in the system?
Database Wiki Article
I never had much experience with databases outside of utilizing them for schoolwork, so I’m grateful for seeing how they work, what sorts are available, etc. The article covered a variety of details, but the sections that seem relevant to me consisted of the various kinds of databases, storage structures and indexing notes. Oddly enough, I never did think of the internet as a database per se, primarily due to the problems of sorting and indexing the data, but according to this article, it can be considered as such. I wonder if there is going to be a better way of indexing such a database, especially since there are so many other databases within this database.
One thought the crosses my mind while reading this: what sort of approach will libraries take when it comes to sorting and organizing digital libraries? Clearly libraries will become a database with the increased number of digital resources, so I can’t help but wonder what will happen here.
Introduction to Metadata
Ah, yes, an article that speaks about “data about data.” When you really consider it, most of what we (and by “we,” I mean everyone who is searching for something, and not just librarians) work with is metadata. Our searches for data consist of metadata, looking for other similar metadata, in order to find the data we seek. We essentially work with tags associated with what it is we seek, and on words and phrases written about this information. The metadata I personally work with the most is something the article already referenced: the Library of Congress Subject Headings.
I do like how the article brings the subject of metadata outside of the libraries and into other fields. The idea of archiving information, including museums, is heavily reliant upon metadata, and now with the increased access and new approaches provided by the internet, metadata becomes even more important.
There was one note that stands out to me as I read this article: “there is no single metadata standard that is adequate for describing all types of collections and materials.” This leaves me wondering if it is too lofty of a goal to find a way to categorize and sort data as a whole, especially since the requirements and opinions of metadata vary depending on the topic at hand.
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
I think this is the first article I’ve run into that I didn’t have at least some semblance of background knowledge of the subject. That being said. . .
At the beginning of this article, I started to believe that I spoke too soon regarding my thoughts on metadata standards across disciplines. The Dublin Core Data Initiative is essentially an attempt to break down the barriers between disciplines when it pertains to metadata.
The article proceeds to explain the requirements of the project, which boiled down to being capable of working on an international scale, identifying various sorts of information, refining data from broad terms, and remain modular enough to be used all around.
There is one flaw in this approach, which is why I consider this a lofty goal: the designers of this program will face against the same problem that has plagued librarians and other researchers over the years: how do we classify data? With that in mind, is this approach the correct approach, or is this another dead end in the system?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Week 4 Comments
Here are my comments for Week 4.
http://marclis2600.blogspot.com/2010/09/unit-4-readin.html?showComment=1285252917120#c869052036179934659
http://jonas4444.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-4-reading-notes.html?showComment=1285255010388#c7200632698770690119
http://marclis2600.blogspot.com/2010/09/unit-4-readin.html?showComment=1285252917120#c869052036179934659
http://jonas4444.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-4-reading-notes.html?showComment=1285255010388#c7200632698770690119
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 4 Readings - Corrected
After that mix-up with assignments, here is my redone posting on the CORRECT subject material. . .
As a disclaimer: this post may be smaller than my usual posts, as I'm on a tighter deadline due to work and other class responsibilities. My apologies to my peers if this doesn't help as much as usual.
Data Compression Wiki
I've seen my fair share of file types, but I never understood what most of them stand for, or the major differences between them. This article clears that up a bit by explaining the process of compressing data, denoting various file extensions and where they originally came from and what their purposes are.
I did like the explanation that the encoder and the receiver need to understand each other in order to decompress the files; I just lumped it with it being a necessary program function instead of a "language problem" of sorts. Beyond that, nothing else in this article really stood out.
Data Compression Basics
This is a beast of a reading assignment, covers a variety of compression methods/algorithms, starting with losless before moving into the lossy methods, and makes a valid point about lossy data compression providing accurate although minutely different data. One of the most valid points made (to me, anyway) was the concept of generational loss, which was often seen as making a copy of a copy in older media. Instead, we have to worry about how many times data was compressed and decompressed (and with which methods) to determine loss. Additionally, the third section had some useful information on the concept of streaming video, and video encoding. I'll need to look into that last part in a bit more detail when I start using various camcorders again.
Imaging Pittsburgh
This article covered an idea that I am not unfamiliar with, as my colleagues at work have been preparing to do something similar with old photos from Berks County. The purpose is not very new, either, as it shows not only the history of the location, the people and shifts in style, but the changes in the environment as a whole.
One thing I can relate to is the concept of the challenges. Website design is always a challenge, especially when one must consider metadata restrictions. Metadata can make searches easier, but as anyone who's ever used a tag-based search would know, it can be horribly unreliable as everyone prefers different terms.
YouTube and Libraries
I found this to be a dead link. Did anyone else have the same problem?
As a disclaimer: this post may be smaller than my usual posts, as I'm on a tighter deadline due to work and other class responsibilities. My apologies to my peers if this doesn't help as much as usual.
Data Compression Wiki
I've seen my fair share of file types, but I never understood what most of them stand for, or the major differences between them. This article clears that up a bit by explaining the process of compressing data, denoting various file extensions and where they originally came from and what their purposes are.
I did like the explanation that the encoder and the receiver need to understand each other in order to decompress the files; I just lumped it with it being a necessary program function instead of a "language problem" of sorts. Beyond that, nothing else in this article really stood out.
Data Compression Basics
This is a beast of a reading assignment, covers a variety of compression methods/algorithms, starting with losless before moving into the lossy methods, and makes a valid point about lossy data compression providing accurate although minutely different data. One of the most valid points made (to me, anyway) was the concept of generational loss, which was often seen as making a copy of a copy in older media. Instead, we have to worry about how many times data was compressed and decompressed (and with which methods) to determine loss. Additionally, the third section had some useful information on the concept of streaming video, and video encoding. I'll need to look into that last part in a bit more detail when I start using various camcorders again.
Imaging Pittsburgh
This article covered an idea that I am not unfamiliar with, as my colleagues at work have been preparing to do something similar with old photos from Berks County. The purpose is not very new, either, as it shows not only the history of the location, the people and shifts in style, but the changes in the environment as a whole.
One thing I can relate to is the concept of the challenges. Website design is always a challenge, especially when one must consider metadata restrictions. Metadata can make searches easier, but as anyone who's ever used a tag-based search would know, it can be horribly unreliable as everyone prefers different terms.
YouTube and Libraries
I found this to be a dead link. Did anyone else have the same problem?
Week 4 Muddiest Point
The muddiest point this week is about the assignments. I'm seeing notes for assignments being given out, but I see nothing of them posted online. Added to that is the confusion with the blogs; the change in assignments there threw me off, and I'm certain other classmates must be feeling the same, especially those of us who are not in the classroom.
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