November 2014

Beacon Technology in Libraries:

Beacons are small devices that can transmit messages to bluetooth enabled devices. They made their debut in some Major League Baseball stadiums this past summer, welcoming people to the ballpark, offering discounts, and a selected history of the field according to Chris Velazco of TechCrunch. In upstate New York, the Fayetteville Free Library has begun utilizing a number of these devices from the company BluuBeam to promote things like upcoming library events and daily cafe specials. You can read more about the use of these devices in libraries from Matt Enis of Library Journal.

Survey on Faculty Use of Technology:

Inside Higher Ed recently conducted a Survey of Faculty Attitudes on Technology, with a focus on online learning. While the report does not necessarily address library technology specifically, Steven Bell gives a library spin on the results of the survey in his article Looking for Clues. You can download a full copy of the report here.

Digital Currency:

Forbes recently released a series of articles exploring digital currency with economist Susan Athey. They talk about what digital currency is, how it can make money more secure, and how it might benefit different people. If you’ve been hearing about bitcoin and wondering what in the world it is, the first article might be for you.

Thoughts on Digital Humanities:

Still not quite sure what the digital humanities are or you’d like to learn more? This article from Brian Matthews briefly explores what the digital humanities are and how they relate to the library at Emory University.

Order Girl Scout Cookies Online:

Starting this season Girl Scouts can now opt to sell their treats online through individual kickstarter-like pages called “Digital Cookie.” To keep the personal touch, to order cookies online you need to know a Girl Scout and have her send you an email invitation to purchase the cookies. They will also still be sold for a limited time, so be sure to stock up! You can read more about the program from the Verge.

Late October 2014

Google, Oxford and AI:

Google and Oxford University are joining forces to work on advancing research regarding artificial intelligence with a focus on image recognition and natural language understanding. For a few more details check on this article from The Next Web or Google’s Europe blog.

Understanding Shakespeare:

JStor and the Folger Shakespeare Library have partnered to create a resource called “Understanding Shakespeare.” With it scholars can click on different lines of the bard’s plays and be brought to a set of items in JStore which reference that particular line.  For more detailed information check out their about page.

Google’s Inbox:

Google has released a new Inbox app for Andriod and iOS that allows you to use your inbox as a “To Do” list. There are, however, two caveats. The first is that it is available by invitation only (I’m still waiting for my invite). The second is that it only works with @gmail.com email addresses. Hopefully there will be Google Apps integration in the near future, but if you can snag an invite it might be interesting to explore for your personal Gmail account. Check it out on The Verge.

Privacy and Technology:

Libraries have historically been protectors of patron privacy. We don’t give out information about what books our patrons have checked out or that they’ve checked out in the past. However, this is a whole different ball game when third parties, such as Adobe enter the mix. Adobe Digital Editions keeps track of the books that patrons are reading and sends information about this back to Adobe. Read more on the issue from Slate.  

3D Printing and Scanning:

Each day it seems that there are new uses for 3D printing. Recently a project called Touchable Memories has used 3D printing to transform photographs into physical objects to aid the blind in remembering past life events. The Verge gives a few more details or you can check out the Touchable Memories website.

Along another vein, HP is working on a line of 3D printers that allow for multiple nozzles, resulting in incredibly fine detail, and much faster print times. While the printer won’t be available till 2016 it’s exciting to think about what types of items could be created with it. More details can be found from Forbes.

HP has also released a new PC that has a built in 3D scanner called Sprout which seems to be tailored toward those interested in creative work. Engadget gives an overview of the features of the new PC here.

Learning to Drive Tools:

A coaching tool for teen drivers called License+ was recently launched by the company Automatic. A device is plugged into the car and monitors various driving habits - speed, breaking, etc. as well as the condition of the vehicle. New drivers can also earn badges as they work on their driving skills. A more complete overview of the tool can be found from TechCrunch.  

The Robots Make Headlines:

The Robots mentioned in my September post gained quite a bit of media attention. The Digital Shift gives us some further information regarding the project for those who are interested.

Mid-October 2014

Digitized Manuscripts at the Vatican Library:

The Vatican has recently made a digitized collection of manuscripts freely available online to the public. Check out the archive here, or learn more about the project here.   You can also read more about it from Phys.org.

3D Printed Body Parts:

There are lots of different applications for 3D printed objects. This article from Wired gives some real world examples of 3D Printed body parts being used in humans.

Apple Event:

Apple had another event this month, this time announcing new iPads and iMacs as well as the new Mac operating system, Yosemite. The Verge highlights “8 of the Most Important Things  to Know” regarding this product launch. If you’re on the market for a tablet and are trying to decide between Apple or Android this article from Yahoo Tech compares the iPad Air 2 with available Android tablets.

Facebook’s Safety Check Feature:

Facebook has added a new feature which allows you to let your friends know that you’re alright after a major disaster, such as an earthquake or tornado. Your safety status and messages will only be shared with your Facebook friends. Read more about it on TechCruch or watch the video from Facebook: http://vimeo.com/108971365

More Crowdsourcing:

The NY Times is crowdsourcing data for their ads from the 1960s. You can help to identify the ads on different pages, and create transcriptions of their text.  Check it out here: http://madison.nytimes.com/

1000+ Coffees:

In a world where we seem to connect more and more with people digitally rather than in real life and where lists of Facebook friends can number in the thousands one guy has decided that he is going to have coffee with each of his 1000+ Facebook friends. The Huffington Post discusses the project here, and if you’re interested you can read all about his coffee meet-ups on his tumbler: http://1000pluscoffees.tumblr.com/

September 2014

Humanoid Robots:

Have you always dreamed of having a Rosie the Robot of your own? Well, we’re not quite there yet, but the public library in Westport, CT will soon have a pair of humanoid robots tasked with helping children learn computer programing. The robots are NAO Evolution from the company Aldebaran. More details about the robots and the public library programming, set to begin on October 11th, can be found in this Wall Street Journal Article.

Net Neutrality:

Some of you have probably heard about the concept of “Net Neutrality” which in essence means that all data shared through the internet is treated equally. A more detailed explanation of the concept can be found in this video:  

Additionally, this article by Anne Flaherty of the associated press gives a good overview of why Net Neutrality is now being discussed:  5 Questions, Answers on ‘Net Neutrality’

Apple:

Apple had their annual iPhone event earlier this month where they revealed the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, along with iOS8 and their new product Apple Watch which should be released early next year. You can watch the recording of the release and explore all of the new products on Apple’s website.

The launch of some of these products however has met with some issues. Since the release of the iPhone 6 Plus there have been numerous reports that it bends when placed in a back pocket. According to Apple, however, there have only been nine official complaints. This incident is now being referred to as “bendgate” and a quick Google search for the term will yield a myriad of results. After the release of iOS8.0.1 many users were unable to make or receive calls and thus Apple pulled the software update, posting instructions on how to revert back to iOS8. An overview of these issues can be found in this article from Reuters.

Windows 10:

Product releases this month also included Windows 10 (and you didn’t miss anything, they skipped over the number 9). An overview of the new system, including features, can be found in this article from c|net which also includes a gallery of Windows 10 images.

Ello Social Media Network:

Ello is the new social media site that has been buzzing in the last few weeks. It’s being advertised as an ad-free Facebook and to use it you have to sign up for an invitation (my invitation has yet to arrive). MIT Technology Review gives an overview of this new social network here.  

New Kindle:

For those of you who attended the Tech Petting Zoo, or who might be interested in purchasing a stand-alone e-reader, Amazon has released an updated version of its basic Kindle which now includes a touch screen. This seems very similar to the 2011 Kindle Touch which was on display at at the Petting Zoo. A review of the new device from Tech Crunch can be found here.

August 2014

New in the Library/Museum World -

• A Bookless Library:
  Imagine a library without books. That’s exactly what the new Florida Polytechnic University (FPU) opened this past month. Their library, called “The Commons,” provides access to a variety of online databases in addition to 125,000 ebooks, and there is also a PDA program with a budget of $60,000. For a more complete picture of this new library check out the article from Library Journal by Sharon Riley.

• Crowdsourcing at the Smithsonian:
  Organizations have been using crowdsourcing (the idea of getting the public to contribute their services, usually via the internet) to complete projects for some time. For example the University of Iowa Libraries launched DIY History to transcribe handwritten items such as letters and recipes from their collections. The Smithsonian has also created a way for the public to help them transcribe their collections through the Transcription Center. You can find out more about how to help and what they’re transcribing in their new release.

Social Networks -

• Nextdoor.com
  There’s a new social network in town and it’s specifically for your neighborhood. One of the effects of staying in contact with friends and family far away can be a disconnect from those around you. This social network is a private network specifically based on where you live so that you can connect with and get to know your neighbors. The Verge sums up the social network in an article by Ben Popper.

• Twitter Analytics
  Have you ever wondered how many people actually see your tweets? Twitter has just released new analytics tools to the public that lets you find that out. Now you can log in (analytics.twitter.com) and view the reach that your tweets have had going back to mid July. Greg Kumparak from Tech Crunch gives an overview.

• Pinterest Analytics
  Analytics are big news in the social media world. Pinterest also released a new analytics dashboard for business users to show the reach of different boards, how people are interacting with the content - favorite, repinning, etc. along with basic demographic information.  An overview from Ryan Lawler at Tech Crunch can be found here.

Other Items of Interest -

• Ignore No More
  A mom who was tired of her teen not replying to her messages created an app that prevents them from using their phone until they return her call. Right now it is only available for Android devices, but an iOS app is in development. Chris Velazco at Engadget has the details or you can check out this quick news clip from CBS New York.

• The Smartwatch:
  It would seem that the smartwatch will be the tech item to look out for in September. While they are currently available from companies like Sony and Samsung, rumors are flying that Apple might enter the game with their September 9th launch event. Get an overview of what to expect from Josh Ong on The Next Web.

July 2014

Trendy Tech:

• Kinect for Windows - Many of you have probably seen (or used) Microsoft's Kinect for XBox which essentially allows the player to control the game using his or her body. The Kinect has now however been unbundled from XBox for use with Windows. It will be interesting to see how software develops that utilizes this motion-control. Perhaps we're moving closer to gesture control computers found in the movie Iron Man. Tech Crunch gives a brief overview.  
  
  Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA has already started using this tool in the creation of a “media wall” in the lobby of their library. It displays a variety of content, some of it shared by students via social media, and is controlled by multiple Kinect devices. Check it out in the video below:

• Kindle Unlimited - The Netflix for eBooks
  I'm sure that many of you have seen this already, but it's worth mentioning just in case you missed it. In mid-July Amazon launched a service that is essentially Netflix for ebooks.You pay $9.99 a month for access to as much content as you can read, both ebooks and audiobooks from a selection of about 600,000 titles. A lot of folks in the library world have been talking about what effect this might have on libraries. However, there are limitations to the service, like the fact that several of the larger publishers have not jumped on board yet according to a New York Times article about the launch. For a more complete picture of the service Matt Enis gathers the facts in his post to The Digital Shift.

• 7 Gadgets You absolutely Should Not Buy Right Now - Thinking of purchasing a new piece of technology? Here’s a list from Daniel Howley at Yahoo of a few things you might want to wait a little bit longer for before purchasing.

• Amazon 3D Printing Store - Amazon recently launch a part of their site where you can purchase customizable 3D products. Like a bobble-head that looks like you.  This might seem a little bit silly, but there are also other applications for it. The Next Web summarizes the new virtual storefront.  

For Fun:

• Smarty Pins - Google is at it again. They've added a trivia layer to maps both on the web and in it's mobile apps. Answer the questions by dropping a pin on the correct location. A summary of the new product can be found at the Verge.

• Far Out Google Projects - This is a quick video (about 4 minutes long) from Donald Bell of C|Net that looks at some of Google's more interesting projects such as Google Fiber. Bell also does a variety of other top 5 videos.