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/

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.