Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Week 4 Notes
Wikipedia: Databases
Just as an offhand comment, the fact that data is plural is rather off putting.
Databases are really big, but the definition is rather general. I've always considered databases to be those resources you use when you want to access a journal article. What is a database in more specific terms? What other roles of databases are there? Also, what does SQL mean? I assume it has some importance because a lot of database management systems include it in their name.
I'm trying to understand the different models of database systems. The navigational models sound like someone is just clicking on links to get to another page. Is this similar to going to a Wikipedia page and clicking on the different links that appear on the page? The relational model sounds like an Excel spreadsheet, in which the data is saved in rows and columns and the user can search for a term using the Find command.
The cloud database intrigued me, especially because of the computer industry's current focus on it. Microsoft started airing commercials about "the cloud," and Apple introduced a feature called iCloud. Are these examples of what the article is talking about? How do they work?
How secure are databases? Do different type of databases require different types of security measures? Are databases able to be hacked? How?
Wikipedia: Entity-Relationship Model
At first, the entity-relationship model seems really confusing. I had to read the the section on the building blocks several times. However, the model seems similar to communication models I've studied in the past as well as sentence diagrams.
How complicated can the diagrams for these models get? Do programs and designers map out the relationships on paper before trying to create such a database? How large and complicated do those get?
Phlonx
I've used Microsoft Access in undergrad to keep track of appointments at the University's Writing Center. I wasn't really sure how to use the program or how it was different from Excel. This tutorial helped me to understand how useful it can be. With that being said, why isn't this program offered for the Mac operating system? Is there an equivalent for that OS?
Just as an offhand comment, the fact that data is plural is rather off putting.
Databases are really big, but the definition is rather general. I've always considered databases to be those resources you use when you want to access a journal article. What is a database in more specific terms? What other roles of databases are there? Also, what does SQL mean? I assume it has some importance because a lot of database management systems include it in their name.
I'm trying to understand the different models of database systems. The navigational models sound like someone is just clicking on links to get to another page. Is this similar to going to a Wikipedia page and clicking on the different links that appear on the page? The relational model sounds like an Excel spreadsheet, in which the data is saved in rows and columns and the user can search for a term using the Find command.
The cloud database intrigued me, especially because of the computer industry's current focus on it. Microsoft started airing commercials about "the cloud," and Apple introduced a feature called iCloud. Are these examples of what the article is talking about? How do they work?
How secure are databases? Do different type of databases require different types of security measures? Are databases able to be hacked? How?
Wikipedia: Entity-Relationship Model
At first, the entity-relationship model seems really confusing. I had to read the the section on the building blocks several times. However, the model seems similar to communication models I've studied in the past as well as sentence diagrams.
How complicated can the diagrams for these models get? Do programs and designers map out the relationships on paper before trying to create such a database? How large and complicated do those get?
Phlonx
I've used Microsoft Access in undergrad to keep track of appointments at the University's Writing Center. I wasn't really sure how to use the program or how it was different from Excel. This tutorial helped me to understand how useful it can be. With that being said, why isn't this program offered for the Mac operating system? Is there an equivalent for that OS?
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Week 3 Notes
Introduction to Metadata: Setting the Stage
by Anne J. Gilliland
Ever since I
heard the term, metadata has confused me. I was given the
definition—“information about information”—and not much else. The term is just
so vague. Even Gilliland’s “big picture” way of thinking about metadata doesn’t
make much sense to me. The term itself also encompasses so much that it’s
difficult to grasp, at least in my opinion. The table near the middle of the
chapter cleared things up a little, though.
From what I
gather, metadata allows people to easily locate other information; it helps
with the search. How do people create the standards so that people can
seamlessly switch between programs? Do they create committees?
Why do
museums and archives seem to resist creating a uniform standard? Wouldn’t such
a standard only help them? What could the cons to this decision be?
I like the
idea of user-created metadata, which seems to give the users more freedom. If
they control the metadata, they should, in theory, be able to find what they’re
looking for faster. What happens though when something is tagged
inappropriately? Who is responsible for policing the results?
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
by Eric J. Miller
This
resource dates back to 1999. Has anything happened with the DCMI since then?
Was it implemented? If so, how successful was it?
Creating a
universal model seems like a good idea, but as the previous reading mentioned,
language does create a problem. How does this international model offer
allowances for different languages? Is it only for English-speaking countries?
Also, I’m
lost every time I see a tan box with code in it.
Working with Endnote
Endnote and
Refworks seem remarkably similar (and are very similar, according to the
website). However, the main benefit of Refworks is that it’s free. Why would I
want to pay $79 for a comparable service that won’t charge anything?
Also, the
website even admits that Refworks is easier to use and is able to be accessed
anywhere. The only benefit seems to be that Endnote has more output styles and
reference types. It can also save images.
I think I’ll
stick with Refworks. It’s free, and I know how to use it.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Week 2 Notes
Wikipedia: Computer Hardware
Computer hardware seems pretty straightforward. After all, there's only a sentence.
Wikipedia: Software
Software on the other hand is a lot more confusing. I really got lost in the middle of the article after it started discussing libraries. I didn't really understand the Supreme Court decision that dealt with software either.
I thought it was interesting that prototypes of computers had existed for a while before the idea of software was mentioned. Even then, the term wasn't used for another 20 years. What happened in those 20 years?
Throughout the article, I found it helpful to draw a connection between the terms discussed and my personal computer. Every time a type of software was mentioned, I thought of a corresponding piece of software within my computer, which helped me visualize the topic and understand it just a little better.
Digitizing: Is it Worth it? by Stuart D. Lee
I liked that Lee discussed the hidden costs of digitizing. Far too often, the long-term costs of a project are ignored in favor of what seems to be a low-cost project. Managing a digital collection or determining what happens to the now-digitized source are both topics that need to be addressed before any project begins.
I do wish he had given a breakdown of these hidden costs rather than a generic description of three to four times. However, I do agree with him in that each scenario must be examined separately. The decision will not be the same in every situation.
European Libraries Face Problems in Digitalizing by Doreen Carvajal
I was intrigued that European libraries are worried about digital libraries becoming too American because of Google's efforts. I did not realize that digital libraries would vary based upon the ethnicity of the creator. Google has always used a clean, simplified look; it does not seem to be based on culture. What is the difference between European and American design?
The fundraising efforts of the European also seemed to be lackluster in results. How do you convince anyone that digitization is worthwhile? Also, how is digitization profitable and marketable?
Computer hardware seems pretty straightforward. After all, there's only a sentence.
Wikipedia: Software
Software on the other hand is a lot more confusing. I really got lost in the middle of the article after it started discussing libraries. I didn't really understand the Supreme Court decision that dealt with software either.
I thought it was interesting that prototypes of computers had existed for a while before the idea of software was mentioned. Even then, the term wasn't used for another 20 years. What happened in those 20 years?
Throughout the article, I found it helpful to draw a connection between the terms discussed and my personal computer. Every time a type of software was mentioned, I thought of a corresponding piece of software within my computer, which helped me visualize the topic and understand it just a little better.
Digitizing: Is it Worth it? by Stuart D. Lee
I liked that Lee discussed the hidden costs of digitizing. Far too often, the long-term costs of a project are ignored in favor of what seems to be a low-cost project. Managing a digital collection or determining what happens to the now-digitized source are both topics that need to be addressed before any project begins.
I do wish he had given a breakdown of these hidden costs rather than a generic description of three to four times. However, I do agree with him in that each scenario must be examined separately. The decision will not be the same in every situation.
European Libraries Face Problems in Digitalizing by Doreen Carvajal
I was intrigued that European libraries are worried about digital libraries becoming too American because of Google's efforts. I did not realize that digital libraries would vary based upon the ethnicity of the creator. Google has always used a clean, simplified look; it does not seem to be based on culture. What is the difference between European and American design?
The fundraising efforts of the European also seemed to be lackluster in results. How do you convince anyone that digitization is worthwhile? Also, how is digitization profitable and marketable?
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