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Wednesday, May 15, 2002 |
The State of Innovation: Information Technology
"It’s no news flash to say that computers are going to keep getting smaller, as they have for the past 50 years. But even as they vanish from sight, computers will, in an important sense, grow much larger.
That’s because the time is coming when computing devices connected in a wireless web will permeate our entire physical environment, toiling behind the scenes to monitor and manage our houses, factories, roads, vehicles—even our bodies. But this lofty vision will be realized only through a series of small improvements in computing’s nuts and bolts. Some researchers, for example, are developing ways to bring new capabilities to the existing Internet, such as powerful network-based services that can link a company’s inventory systems with its accounting and customer databases. Others are studying technologies to broaden the Web’s physical reach—among them more power-efficient microchips and high-quality broadband wireless systems.
In the world created by these converging trends, networked computing devices will surround us—but we will no longer think of them as 'computers.' They’ll simply be part of the furniture. We’re already well down that road. 'Your car has dozens of processors that adjust all kinds of things, yet you just think of them as the heating system and the air bags and the brakes,' says Richard Burton, who manages distributed-systems research at the Palo Alto Research Center in the heart of Silicon Valley. 'You’re not aware of all the computation there.'
This movement—toward what’s variously known as 'ubiquitous,' 'pervasive' or 'embedded' computing—is hardly new. But it is gaining momentum. Thanks to recent advances in underlying technologies such as semiconductor manufacturing and networking software, proponents have moved beyond the stage of spinning gauzy theories and started tackling the technical problems. 'Ubiquitous computing will be the dominant paradigm in information technology,' predicts TR100 judge Juzar Motiwalla, a partner at Green Dot Capital in Singapore.
At first blush, it might seem that computing is already ubiquitous. After all, the World Wide Web transformed the Internet from the province of academic scientists into history’s biggest town library, village marketplace and sidewalk soapbox. Now, though, software designers, including several members of this year’s TR100, are turning the Internet and the Web into the media we’ll use to stay connected, share our favorite content, tap into distant computing resources and run our businesses—and do it all faster...." [Technology Review]
This first part of the article is the overall theme of my Information Shifting presentation. This future will happen eventually, and I try to frame a discussion for how libraries must begin adapting now in order to serve their patrons in such an environment.
11:59:45 PM Permanent link here
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"iaslash was upgraded to the current CVS version of drupal to get ready for the next major version upgrade. The most visible change you will see in coming months is the addition of the taxonomy module. The drupal team allowed me to help specify this module, so expect a flexible controlled vocabulary tool that allows poly-hierarchy, synonyms, related terms, and scope notes. I'll slowly be adding the taxonomy functionality as the controlled vocabulary of subjects becomes available." [ia/ - news for information architects]
I want this for Radio categories!
11:45:38 PM Permanent link here
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"MLT reader Kevin Collins writes 'If you think hearing an accordian version of [You Shook Me All Night Long] was wild, you should check out Hayseed Dixie.'
Their album 'A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC' is a set of bluegrass covers of AC/DC songs." [ MP3 oh my brothers ] [More Like This WebLog]
11:37:23 PM Permanent link here
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"Joe Kraus has proposed a Consumer Technology Bill of Rights which caused Cary Sherman of the RIAA to remark:
'What now has changed such that if I buy it once, I'm entitled to use that content forever, in any format of my choosing? It means that if I buy a hardcover book, I'm allowed to get it in paperback without paying anything more so that I can have one at the beach house? There are all these leaps of judgement here, just because technology has made it possible.'
I would guess Fair Use is a foreign concept in his world." [LibraryPlanet]
Big ol' ditto on that one! I guess Cary Sherman has never lent a book, CD, or videotape to a friend or family member. It's not about getting multiple formats by default - it's about being able to shift what you bought to adapt to the way you personally want to use it (noting that widespread distribution is clearly illegal).
For example, if I buy a hardcover book, I can loan it to my neighbor, donate it to my library, rip out a page and give it to a stranger, photocopy a page and post it at work, scan it, or copy the whole thing longhand if I so choose. I'll bet Sherman has done at least one of the things on that list in his lifetime, if not recently. Does he forward emails? Does he print out web sites? Does he quote from books or articles? Maybe he would be able to see this if he could relate the issue to situations outside of his own personal business model.
11:17:35 PM Permanent link here
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Scour To Promote Songs By Sony Artists
"Almost two years after suing the Scour Exchange for enabling distribution of copyrighted songs on the Internet for free, Sony Music Entertainment is using the service to promote the work of five of its artists.
Scour owner CenterSpan Communications on Tuesday said current music by B2K, Five for Fighting, Macy Gray, Flickerstock and John Mayer can be accessed at Scour.com for online delivery by its C-StarOne network.
One song from each of the artists' latest CDs are available through the 30-day promotion, said Sony Music spokeswoman Laurie Jakobsen.
It is the first time Sony has used peer-to-peer distribution to promote its artists' work, said CenterSpan, which disclosed on March 1 that it would pay Sony up to $4.5 million for access to its songs.
The songs can be downloaded from the Scour site, and users can listen to them - on their computers only - as many times as they wish for 30 days, CenterSpan said. Users are able to forward songs they've downloaded to recipients who must register with Scour before they can listen to the music under the same restrictions." [Newsbytes]
As we like to say at SLS, baby steps.
10:55:09 PM Permanent link here
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"Yet another ideal part of the home assistant. The queries that let it look up information need not be limited to a specific area, as a search algorithm is a search algorithm. The key is having access to information....
Now, if Higgins [a bot] cannot access say, LexisNexis (which is YOW! $250.00 a week!) or some other existing system, that may well hamper the search. Imagine the money to be made by a company that provides this functionality. While yes, I have seen Desk Set, and I do not believe that a computer can replace a team of dedicated researchers, I think that it can leverage the work so that the researcher is more efficient." [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog]
I agree with Ryan about Desk Set (and what librarian doesn't love that movie!), but database access is an interesting topic. There's no way individuals could afford to subscribe to multiple databases on their own, but pooling resources through tax-supported libraries is an ideal solution. Granted, most libraries aren't going to subscribe to LexisNexis, but most subscribe to at least one database, if not more.
So the key is indeed having the access to the information. My home library is relatively small, but they offer residents free access to four databases. Illinois residents are lucky enough to have a State Library with some foresight and vision, and the folks there provide free access to several FirstSearch databases for every Illinois resident. So if your bot can hook into your local library and it has stored your library barcode number, Higgins would be able to complete his assigned tasks rather easily. :-)
10:25:00 PM Permanent link here
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"Congratulations! You've been asked to represent a client in a well-publicized TV trial, the 'Case of the Fallen Abs'. This is a chance for all you attorneys (and would-be attorneys) to test your legal trivia skills and become eligible for a shot at a $500.00 Grand Prize*. Or, you may also qualify for other prizes from the FindLaw Bureau of Assorted Goodies (B.A.G.). Good Luck!" (Requires Flash.) [FindLaw, via Bag and Baggage]
Bruce, let me know how you do!
9:41:59 PM Permanent link here
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The Technology Behind Napster is Far from Dead
"Initially, Creative Commons is building technology that helps people license their work on terms they set. The idea is to create a database that can be easily queried by those who want to make further use of such works.
One of Lessig's collaborators in this project is Aaron Swartz, who's become well-known in several small but important corners of the Net. He's working on the software that will help turn Creative Commons into a reality.
I knew of Aaron Swartz (www.aaronsw.com) before I met him last week at a World Wide Web conference in Hawaii. He's here this week in Santa Clara, and will be on stage when Creative Commmons makes its official debut Thursday. He's an object lesson to the dinosaurs who run Hollywood and think they can control the uncontrollable. The young people of this world will ultimately decide how this turns out.
Shawn Fanning was a college student in Boston when he created Napster. Aaron Swartz is 15." [SJ Mercury]
I guess it's the young that will inherit the earth, not the meek.
9:06:49 PM Permanent link here
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Conference Blog: Earthquakes, Wizards, Words and Email Stats
"Here's what I learned at the net.marketing conference last week in New York City....
I've wanted to be cool since the fifth grade. So I'll just blog today. Maybe you'll learn something. Maybe I'll crack the boring and predictable factor Roy H. Williams, the Wizard of Ads, warned us about in the keynote....
He showed a series of anatomical slides while he explained different areas of the brain that turn sounds into syntax and language into action. According to Williams, left-brained (analytical) thinking doesn't work in successful marketing. Right-brain (i.e. intuitive and symbolic) thinking does. You've heard this before, of course: people make decisions driven by emotion, not intellect.
(A fellow ClickZ columnist recently made a convincing case that online marketing requires both right and left-brain skills to be successful.)....
My inner English major shuddered when Williams promoted 'Frosting' and 'Seussing' copy to improve it. He defines 'Frosting' (after poet Robert Frost) as, 'transforming drab communication into razor-edged wordsmanship.' 'Seussing,' (after Dr. Seuss of Green Eggs and Ham fame), is making up your own words. ('Wordsmanship' isn't in the dictionary, in case you're wondering.) The point is to break out of the common and predictable and increase what he calls 'the impact quotient' of your marketing copy.
Try his 'Which Means' exercise next time you're trying to list key benefits of a product or service. You might find yourself starting with marketing speak such as, 'Our product reduces down time.' (I know I'm guilty of this at times). Keep going, peeling back layers, until you finally get to a sentence that really means something. That's what you should use in your messaging, on- and offline.
If this kind of thing appeals to you, check out Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads. It's a compendium of one-off musings about marketing, business, words and life, with ticklish quotes such as 'Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind' (Rudyard Kipling); and 'The risk of insult is the price of clarity' (Roy Williams). I'm still figuring out that last one." [ClickZ]
Far more interesting than debating left versus right political blogging is framing a different debate around left- versus right- brain blogging. I would argue that you need to have a good mix of both in order to maintain an interesting (and successful) blog, but you can see definite leanings in many bloggers.
Left-brain bloggers tend to provide insight and commentary rather than just reposting a link. Examples in this category would be Lawmeme, Jim McGee, 802.11b News, and Dan Gillmor. They do some right-brain musings, too, but often they provide something missing from the article itself - context.
Right-brain dominant blogs appeal to me emotionally and they personalize a link or story. They tend to include in their posts one-liners that do a beautiful job of summarizing an issue, often making a backhand point to the story (good or bad). I'd include librarian.net, bOing bOing, Doc Searls (the blog version) and Mary Wehmeier's Blog Du Jour in this category. That's not to say that they don't do some wonderful left-brain analysis, but it's definitely the tunnel into their emotional thoughts that keeps me coming back. The word "fun" often comes to mind when reading these.
The ones that successfully mix the two sides of the brain are my favorites, though - Kottke.org, Scripting News, Adam Curry, and Ernie the Attorney to name a few. Sure, these guys get all of the press, but they are also the "big picture" folks who provide analysis and emotional connection, and from their standing in the blogger community (and hit counts), I'm not alone in this assessment.
This is the type of online communication towards which marketers should be striving. The Macromedia blogs are a good start, but they don't give me enough bigger-picture context to connect with me on a more emotional level. They don't grab me and make me say "hallelujah" or "yes, I'm going to do that!" Of course, I don't think they're supposed to perform this particular function and these guys already have full-time jobs, but their marketing division could pursue something more right- or mixed-brained. (Hey, I'm "Seussing" and making words up as I go along!) The left- and right-brain mix is probably the Cluetrain connection for marketers.
Next thing you know, we'll all be posting our Meyers-Briggs scores to compare mental blogging geography. Or maybe we'll just create a meta tag for that....
On a side note, I've noticed a trend in library-related blogs to begin adding commentary, rather than just posting factual content. This is a Martha Stewart Good Thing because it gives me additional insight and perspective that is different from the subconscious bias I automatically bring to what I read. Most notably, I've observed more commentary at Library Stuff, It's All about Books, and The Handheld Librarian.
10:10:46 AM Permanent link here
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Three articles to read later because they sound so interesting:
Virtual reality lets parents "touch" fetus in womb "A new computer system combines 3D imaging and virtual reality devices to give parents the chance to "feel" their unborn baby."
Hot on the Contrails of Weather "The three-day shutdown of domestic air travel in the United States following the terrorist attacks allowed meteorologists to study what they've long suspected: Airplane condensation trails may affect the weather."
Lying with video. "Researchers at MIT have created videos of people uttering sentences they never said that consistently fool viewers and are accepted by them as real. Once upon a time, it was a lot harder to be false with film, but whether the medium will be in any way trustworthy going forward seems doubtful. What will it mean when you can't even believe your own eyes?" [via MetaFilter]
7:27:52 AM Permanent link here
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"This doesn't have any direct applicability to handheld computers, but
it piqued my curiousity so much, I wanted to post it here. Have any
of you considered using a bot for live reference or for any other types of library
services? Steve Coffman, a true technology pioneer is at it again. Go here
http://www.virtualreference.net/virtual/bots.html to get a fascinating description
of bots doing reference and about an exciting program being presented
on the web on Monday! It would be interesting to see what everyone here thinks
of this idea. Try Deborah too, the experimental bot they have set up at NCSU." [The Handheld Librarian]
I wish I could say yes to this question, but I'm still trying to make headway with IM in my own organization, let alone with the public at my member libraries. I think bots as a library version of the "Wal-Mart greeter" can have their place, so I'll be interested to see if anyone pipes up on this one.
I'm going to try to join the online meeting noted at Steve's site. It's on Monday, May 20, at 10:00 a.m.
7:23:16 AM Permanent link here
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"I'm at Brewster Kahle's talk on the Internet Archive. My favorite quip so far: 'The major bug of the library of Alexandria was that it burned.' Brewster's a man with a vision -- he's thinking way way ahead. He's working to mirror the Archive to the actual (current) Library of Alexandria in Egypt, "on the other side of the fault-line." My last rant on this, about digitizing my books, spurred numerous suggestions to read 'Double Fold,' which I've been getting regular reports on from my co-worker, Seth, who's working his way through it and gave a talk on it at a conference we attended together recently. Brewster understands that the mutability and ephemerality and overall suckiness of bits are also their strength (something I'm going to be speaking about tomorrow). Brewster's talking about the legalities, technical challenges and, most interestingly, the social challenges of building the Internet Archive. I love his response to people who object on the basis of copyright violation, which is basically, 'Dear Sir/Madam: My deepest apologies for infringing your copyright. I will now remove your work from the historical record. Enjoy oblivion.' " [bOing bOing]
7:18:12 AM Permanent link here
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This Is War
"Michael Eisner loves his iPod. 'It's one of the most fabulous things I've seen in the past couple of years,' he says. Eisner has no problem with the technology itself, but he deplores the fact that people are using it to avoid paying for Disney products, in effect stealing from the company. 'Nothing about technology is threatening or upsetting or negative,' he insists. 'This is simply about conscious behavior, about right and wrong, and I just don't understand the enormous tidal wave of rhetoric that this issue has created from the so-called technology side. Shakespeare would find it interesting....'
To Andy Grove, this is typical Hollywood nonsense. These are the same people, he says, who fought tooth and nail to kill the VCR and today get more than 50% of their revenues from video rentals. Now they are running away from the greatest distribution channel ever imagined: the Internet. By failing to offer movies online, Grove continues, they have allowed piracy to flourish and instilled the belief in Web surfers that it's okay to grab whatever's available for nothing on the Internet. 'It is going to happen sooner or later,' the Intel chairman warns his adversaries. 'If it happens later, you will have corrupted your consumers and you are going to antagonize your consumers. So do you want to do it when your customers are still with you, or when they have abandoned you?...'
Yet they aren't all holding their tongues. Jobs was mortified in February when Eisner singled out Apple's 'Rip, mix, burn' marketing slogan in a Senate hearing as evidence that the technology community is promoting thievery to sell computers. It was particularly galling to Jobs because he is also CEO of Pixar, the digital animation studio that has co-produced hits like Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. with Disney. 'On a personal basis, I was just floored,' Jobs says. 'He used 'Rip, mix, burn.' He doesn't understand what it means. He thinks it means download, mix, burn, but ripping of course means you have a physical CD, which is what [the music industry] would like.'
Eisner is unapologetic. 'I didn't mention his company by name,' he says innocently. However, he clearly resents the suggestion that he doesn't 'get' technology. Eisner is tired of being told he should just overcome his fears, put his movies online, and trust market forces to work things out....
So what we have here is a game of chicken. Unless somebody flinches, both sides stand to lose. And there remains plenty to fight about." [Fortune, via Tomalak's Realm]
Granted this article is in Fortune magazine, but I still find it interesting that it notes that only "both sides stand to lose." Hellllloooo - there are 6 billion other people on the planet that stand to lose quite a bit, too (little things called "rights" for starters). It's also a change to read an article that tries to portray Eisner and his cohorts as the good guys in this "war." What other industry could declare war on its customers and still be in business?
Actually though, my bigger question here is what is Michael Eisner listening to on his iPod?? His proposed solution to the problem of piracy would make ripping CDs he owns illegal (let alone impossible). Is he downloading music from one of the legal MP3 sites? I doubt it since only one of them allows users to move music to MP3 players (I've lost track - is it Musicnet that does this?) I doubt he could fill 1GB, let alone 10GB, with their offerings.
So what is he listening to and where is he getting it? Did he rip, mix, burn, or inhale?
Addendum: I'd also love to be a fly on the wall in his home and see if he watches all of the commercials on TV when viewing a program!
12:32:57 AM Permanent link here
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© Copyright 2004 Jenny Levine.
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