Comment 1
Comment 2
Comment 3
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Muddiest Point Week 8
I have a question about searching within a site. Why is it that the search feature of so many sites just doesn't work well? I nearly always end up using Google to search within a site. Is it inexperienced programmers? The massive resources of Google? Something else?
Unit 9 Reading Notes
Introducing the Extensible Markup Language (XML)
-XML helps the user combine documents, identify formats, add comments to files.
- XML tags are stuctured and logical, moreso than similar features used by word processors.
- It's clear where the tags begin and end.
- You can create your own tag sets using DTD.
- XML files are easily stored in databases and are easily changed to fit any database.
-XML files are easily transferred to many different kinds of hardware and software. The files will not get outdated quickly, and will only need to be updated.
A survey of XML standards
- XML has different sets of standards, which can make it difficult for new users to determine which standards to use. Standards can be complex. He adds that XML has a lot of components and can intimidate new users.
- This article focused on what the author thought of as the "core XML technologies."
- Some updates to XML are controversial. Some believe changes are not worth it if the benefit is too small.
- The article briefly summarizes several types of XML systems. XInclude is a way to combine XML documents and break them into smaller chunks. XLink is a way to use links that are more complex than basic HTML links.
- I found this one a little harder to follow because I'm not familiar with the many systems he discusses.
Extending your Markup: a XML tutorial by Andre Bergholz
- Starts off by commenting that XML is said to be simple and also does everything you need. He says that this is partially hype, but that XML is useful once you get past the hype.
- Provides several examples of XML and compares these examples to HTML.
- You can learn most of what you need to know about XML online.
- Explains in more detail the difference between using links in HTML and XML, for example, XML links can lead to a specific section of a document, whereas HTML URLs only direct the user to a specific document.
- Goal of XML Schema is to replace DTDs, but only time will tell whether it can.
- I found this reading more beginner-friendly than the previous one because it contained more explanations right in the text rather than primarily linking to other resources.
XML Schema Tutorial
- Tutorial about how to read and create XML Schemas. Like the previous reading, it shows how XML Schema can now be used instead of DTD, and this tutorial aims to show the ways XML Schema is superior.
- Showed differences between XML Schema and DTD. (Supports data types and namespaces.)
- The tutorial went pretty in-depth, I'm not sure how much of the information I absorbed-- and this is only one aspect of what I'd need to know.
- Like the previous tutorials, I found them useful, but can't help being distracted by the ads and the sidebar crowding the page on the right.
-XML helps the user combine documents, identify formats, add comments to files.
- XML tags are stuctured and logical, moreso than similar features used by word processors.
- It's clear where the tags begin and end.
- You can create your own tag sets using DTD.
- XML files are easily stored in databases and are easily changed to fit any database.
-XML files are easily transferred to many different kinds of hardware and software. The files will not get outdated quickly, and will only need to be updated.
A survey of XML standards
- XML has different sets of standards, which can make it difficult for new users to determine which standards to use. Standards can be complex. He adds that XML has a lot of components and can intimidate new users.
- This article focused on what the author thought of as the "core XML technologies."
- Some updates to XML are controversial. Some believe changes are not worth it if the benefit is too small.
- The article briefly summarizes several types of XML systems. XInclude is a way to combine XML documents and break them into smaller chunks. XLink is a way to use links that are more complex than basic HTML links.
- I found this one a little harder to follow because I'm not familiar with the many systems he discusses.
Extending your Markup: a XML tutorial by Andre Bergholz
- Starts off by commenting that XML is said to be simple and also does everything you need. He says that this is partially hype, but that XML is useful once you get past the hype.
- Provides several examples of XML and compares these examples to HTML.
- You can learn most of what you need to know about XML online.
- Explains in more detail the difference between using links in HTML and XML, for example, XML links can lead to a specific section of a document, whereas HTML URLs only direct the user to a specific document.
- Goal of XML Schema is to replace DTDs, but only time will tell whether it can.
- I found this reading more beginner-friendly than the previous one because it contained more explanations right in the text rather than primarily linking to other resources.
XML Schema Tutorial
- Tutorial about how to read and create XML Schemas. Like the previous reading, it shows how XML Schema can now be used instead of DTD, and this tutorial aims to show the ways XML Schema is superior.
- Showed differences between XML Schema and DTD. (Supports data types and namespaces.)
- The tutorial went pretty in-depth, I'm not sure how much of the information I absorbed-- and this is only one aspect of what I'd need to know.
- Like the previous tutorials, I found them useful, but can't help being distracted by the ads and the sidebar crowding the page on the right.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Unit 8 Reading Notes
The HTML tutorial explained the basics of using HTML to create a web page. I have to say that the page itself was cluttered and a little hard to read, with the main text being surrounded by so many boxes and ads. Their editor was a useful way for a user to make sure they understand the concepts and a quick and easy way to test out some HTML. I really liked that aspect of the site.
The HTML cheatsheet was just a listing and brief explanation of many basic HTML tags. Though I will say, I remember trying to learn HTML years ago and not being able to find a simple, organized cheatsheet like this one.
The CSS tutorial was on the same site as the HTML tutorial, and so it was also cluttered and a little hard to read. It was more distracting because I'm not as familiar with CSS. I've seen it used and I've had it explained to me, but I've never actually used it myself, so jumping right into reading a tutorial that didn't give any actual background for CSS was a little confusing at first. However, the tutorial seems pretty straightforward. CSS is more complicated than HTML, though. Of course, it also allows you to do more...
I should have read the Library Hi Tech article first, actually. I think it might have helped clear things up a little, since it discussed HTML and CSS use in libraries, with a major focus on CMS. Good CMS is so important, and I feel should be easy for pretty much anyone to use. This article discusses the use of CMS in libraries to develop a "collaborative publishing process" which connects librarians and web developers.
The HTML cheatsheet was just a listing and brief explanation of many basic HTML tags. Though I will say, I remember trying to learn HTML years ago and not being able to find a simple, organized cheatsheet like this one.
The CSS tutorial was on the same site as the HTML tutorial, and so it was also cluttered and a little hard to read. It was more distracting because I'm not as familiar with CSS. I've seen it used and I've had it explained to me, but I've never actually used it myself, so jumping right into reading a tutorial that didn't give any actual background for CSS was a little confusing at first. However, the tutorial seems pretty straightforward. CSS is more complicated than HTML, though. Of course, it also allows you to do more...
I should have read the Library Hi Tech article first, actually. I think it might have helped clear things up a little, since it discussed HTML and CSS use in libraries, with a major focus on CMS. Good CMS is so important, and I feel should be easy for pretty much anyone to use. This article discusses the use of CMS in libraries to develop a "collaborative publishing process" which connects librarians and web developers.
Muddiest Point
Do people still use HTML (frequently) to build web pages, or is it mostly CSS now? And how much HTML do you really need to know to use CSS-- is a basic familiarity enough?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Assignment #4: Jing video
http://www.screencast.com/users/rrosspitt/folders/Default/media/909c240d-eafb-4594-8f13-992d30bb1775
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2920135504/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2920135632/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2919290021/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2920135822/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2919290193/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2920135504/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2920135632/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2919290021/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2920135822/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30525270@N03/2919290193/sizes/o/
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Muddiest Point from 9/30 lecture
In class, the range of RFID was discussed, and it was said that the distance at which you can read it is maybe 10-20 feet. Is that on purpose, or could we create some which have a longer range?
Unit 7 Reading Notes
How Internet Infrastructure Works
This was a pretty good summary of how the internet works, and covered a lot of basic topics. (The parts where it discussed dial-up made me remember when that was all I had. I don't know how I managed without my high-speed access!) And I agree with this "One of the greatest things about the Internet is that nobody really owns it." Though I know some people are trying to. The site also gives a little bit of history, and I think it's interesting to read about people creating the frameworks for what we have today. I don't really have much else to say about this one, though.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
Discusses what is needed for an effective ILS. New technology and developments cost, but libraries can't or don't pay enough to keep updates and innovation moving well enough. New services may not integrate well with existing systems. It basically sounds like no one really knows where to go with ILS systems. Systems are changing, and it is getting more complex to integrate everything.
Inside the Google Machine
Cool visual representation of people using Google, by language.
Search patterns - you can see by country who is searching for things and can also compare interest levels on various topics this way.
Little activity in Africa so far
1 second representation of queries and traffic
Google Foundation and Google Grants - gives ad credit to charities
Googlette - small experimental/innovative project at Google (Google News) is used to keep innovations going. 20% of time can be used for anything.
I think Google is a fascinating company. The talk was pretty interesting.
This was a pretty good summary of how the internet works, and covered a lot of basic topics. (The parts where it discussed dial-up made me remember when that was all I had. I don't know how I managed without my high-speed access!) And I agree with this "One of the greatest things about the Internet is that nobody really owns it." Though I know some people are trying to. The site also gives a little bit of history, and I think it's interesting to read about people creating the frameworks for what we have today. I don't really have much else to say about this one, though.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
Discusses what is needed for an effective ILS. New technology and developments cost, but libraries can't or don't pay enough to keep updates and innovation moving well enough. New services may not integrate well with existing systems. It basically sounds like no one really knows where to go with ILS systems. Systems are changing, and it is getting more complex to integrate everything.
Inside the Google Machine
Cool visual representation of people using Google, by language.
Search patterns - you can see by country who is searching for things and can also compare interest levels on various topics this way.
Little activity in Africa so far
1 second representation of queries and traffic
Google Foundation and Google Grants - gives ad credit to charities
Googlette - small experimental/innovative project at Google (Google News) is used to keep innovations going. 20% of time can be used for anything.
I think Google is a fascinating company. The talk was pretty interesting.
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