Week 11 Reading Notes

TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More)

This week's readings contained a lot of information on the current state as well as the future of libraries and how they will work together within the digital environment.  I am encouraged that synergistic relationships are developing between librarians and computer scientists.  It is this type of collaborative approach that will continue to yield productive results such as DSpace.  As cross-discipline partnerships continue to populate the landscape as opposed to siloed endeavors, the progress will be fast and furious in terms of scholarly communication.

Week 10 Reading Notes:

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Those of you who have followed my blog entries from the beginning of the semester, will remember that I am far from being a computer guru.  However, I have learned a ton over the past couple of weeks.  Perhaps it is my stubborn nature that had me determined to learn HTML and CSS code.  So, I spent two painstaking weeks working on Assignment 4-writing the code directly for each of the four pages.  Despite the frequent frustrations and ridiculously steep learning curve, I completed the assignment and submitted it a couple of days ago.  My sense of accomplishment was quickly dashed when I tried to read about XML in the readings this week.  I am sure that this will come to make sense as we work on our lab this week and I watch the lecture from class.  All I can say is that technology is something that will continue to evolve and evolve quickly.  People will always look for a better way to do things.  For example, in an effort to bridge the gap between how humans think and how computers “see” information, XML is a great solution.  I was particularly struck by the title, title and title possibilities and realize that XML provides the tool to minimize confusion and increase efficiency.  I suppose I am looking forward, albeit with some mild trepidation to learning XML and all of the extra extra extra tags/attributes/elements necessary. 

Lab 9: Embedded Video and Google Map

http://www.pitt.edu/~jlj74/Lab9/JLJLab9.html

Week 9 Reading Notes

Making Sense

The development of HTML5 makes sense to allow for improved functionality in this increasingly connected and therefore shrinking world.  The trend of multimedia has forced the creation of a language that is universal and enables pieces and parts to run with all systems and browsers. 

Gone in a Flash

Steve Jobs offered insight into the alternative to using Flash has incented developers to design a language that competes within the market.  Because of the tremendous number of smartphones and tablets, Jobs is in effect looking to insure that content is still able to be consumed.  It is not just about the content but the medium in which users consume that content.

Lab 8 CSS

http://www.pitt.edu/~jlj74/index.html

Week 8 Reading Notes

Webster

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines cascade as “something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding.” It makes sense that this would be the term used to describe style sheets since one of the benefits is that changing a style sheet influences the entire document. 

How do you like your brain?

As usual, reading the tutorials for this week, regarding CSS, have scrambled my brain a bit.  Although one benefit, is that it makes HTML seems a whole lot easier.  I can continue re-reading these articles, however the true test will be in applying this knowledge to actually design or work on a CSS of my own.  I would venture to say that this week’s lab will involve CSS and that is probably the best way for me to learn the material.  

Week 7 Lab

http://www.pitt.edu/~jlj74