I registered with Merlin. I can see its usefulness for tech training if it is actively updated and the training opportunities are truly statewide contributions.
I like that Topix can bring up local information based on your zip code. Even though most of my results were obituaries. A real downer!! I actually brought up my blog using Technorati. Neat!!
However, I can’t say that I found the search tools very intuitive. Many of my search results brought up nothing or quite old information. The usefulness of the results for finding current information is questionable. Would I want to have a feed to potentially dated information? The search tools need more investigation on my part before I use them regularly.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Week 4. Thing # 8 RSS & Bloglines Account
Hey! I really get it. How they create an RSS is still a mystery but maybe some day I’ll even get that.
RSS has possibilities for getting the word out about new services, upcoming programs and new materials to our customers. Yet, I wonder how many customers use RSS. Perhaps initially it has a place in communicating with staff.
On a personal level, I could really get carried away. Next thing you know you're spending your day reading all your feeds. Of course, many of the topics of personal interest currently don’t exist or were not free feeds. This could become as addictive and time consuming as reading email.
By the way here is my public Bloglines URL
http://www.bloglines.com/public/Bellefontaine
RSS has possibilities for getting the word out about new services, upcoming programs and new materials to our customers. Yet, I wonder how many customers use RSS. Perhaps initially it has a place in communicating with staff.
On a personal level, I could really get carried away. Next thing you know you're spending your day reading all your feeds. Of course, many of the topics of personal interest currently don’t exist or were not free feeds. This could become as addictive and time consuming as reading email.
By the way here is my public Bloglines URL
http://www.bloglines.com/public/Bellefontaine
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Week 3, Thing # 7 Neat Technology
Rome Reborn 1.0
See the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, or the ancient city of Rome as a detailed 3-D computer generated reconstruction created by an international team of architects, computer scientists, archaeologists, and classics scholars. Sections of the Rome Reborn 1.0 simulation are available at http://www.romereborn.virginia.edu/ .
The digital model can be updated to reflect the latest archaeological discovery. The dream is that scholars will share information no longer just in text but through similar digital models to which all scholars can contribute their findings. Other scholars are beginning to create these models. It is hoped that a database of these models and related textual resources will follow.
Shortly tourists in Rome will be able to view a simulation of ancient Rome Reborn on satellite-guided handsets and as a 3-D orientation movie. What a great way to understand the ruins you are visiting!
As a potential educational tool this type of simulation is awesome for grasping history and culture. Both students and scholars would benefit from what could potentially be a visual encyclopedia of the world's cultural heritage.
The article mentions the application of “reverse modeling” used by engineers interested in the design of the Coliseum. The Coliseum was recorded as a great people mover that allowed people to enter and exit the building quickly. The engineers peopled the model with virtual spectators and studied the simulated traffic flow.
Their are so many creative possibilities for using this type of technology.
Two articles, “Ancient Rome reborn in virtual reality” on MSNBC at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19173006/ and “Rome Reborn” in Newsweek http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19169594/site/newsweek/ introduced me to this project.
See the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, or the ancient city of Rome as a detailed 3-D computer generated reconstruction created by an international team of architects, computer scientists, archaeologists, and classics scholars. Sections of the Rome Reborn 1.0 simulation are available at http://www.romereborn.virginia.edu/ .
The digital model can be updated to reflect the latest archaeological discovery. The dream is that scholars will share information no longer just in text but through similar digital models to which all scholars can contribute their findings. Other scholars are beginning to create these models. It is hoped that a database of these models and related textual resources will follow.
Shortly tourists in Rome will be able to view a simulation of ancient Rome Reborn on satellite-guided handsets and as a 3-D orientation movie. What a great way to understand the ruins you are visiting!
As a potential educational tool this type of simulation is awesome for grasping history and culture. Both students and scholars would benefit from what could potentially be a visual encyclopedia of the world's cultural heritage.
The article mentions the application of “reverse modeling” used by engineers interested in the design of the Coliseum. The Coliseum was recorded as a great people mover that allowed people to enter and exit the building quickly. The engineers peopled the model with virtual spectators and studied the simulated traffic flow.
Their are so many creative possibilities for using this type of technology.
Two articles, “Ancient Rome reborn in virtual reality” on MSNBC at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19173006/ and “Rome Reborn” in Newsweek http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19169594/site/newsweek/ introduced me to this project.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Week 3, Thing # 6 Flickr Third-party Applications
Here is my attempt at a magazine cover. Don't think I'll be hired by any magazine publishers.
Thing # 6 introduced some really clever applications for Flickr. I spent more time than I should have looking at Flickr Colr Pickrs and FlickrMontagr. Neat!! Next I found Flickr Sudoku at http://flickrsudoku.com/ Had to try that out. Montagr and Flickr Sudoku are MashupAwards winners.
I don’t know where to stop. Dumpr.net presents two rather unique ways to present your photos to family or friends, Brilliant Circles at http://www.dumpr.net/brilliant-circles.php and Brilliant World of Easter Eggs at http://www.dumpr.net/brilliant-eggs.php Have a look!
I don’t know where to stop. Dumpr.net presents two rather unique ways to present your photos to family or friends, Brilliant Circles at http://www.dumpr.net/brilliant-circles.php and Brilliant World of Easter Eggs at http://www.dumpr.net/brilliant-eggs.php Have a look!
Week 3, Thing # 5 Flickring Images
Since I do not own a digital camera, my recent trip to New Zealand was documented on 35 mm film. Not too conducive for using Flickr. However, this photo that I found on Flickr does give you an idea of why I was so awestruck by the Huka Falls. The deafening rumble of rushing crystal blue-green water was breathtaking. No kayaking here.
Huka Falls
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93474406@N00/462672029 Photo owned and uploaded on April 17, 2007 by Fritzy2
The Maori word “Huka” means “foam”. These wonderful falls are just north of Taupo, New Zealand. 62,000 gallons of water per second pour down the Falls. The Falls are caused by the Waikato River, which goes from 250 yards across to a confining 50 ft wide, forcing the water through a hard volcanic rock gorge. Today, the flow of water is controlled depending on the rainfall and the needs for power generation from the hydo-electric dams on the river downstream. It is hard to believe the water comes from the placid fresh-water Lake Taupo.
The entire Lake Taupo area is within an active volcanic region complete with bubbling mud pots, geysers, floating rocks (pumice), steaming cliffs, and boiling lakes. The lake itself was formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption. Yes, we even experienced an earthquake!
Huka Falls
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93474406@N00/462672029 Photo owned and uploaded on April 17, 2007 by Fritzy2
The Maori word “Huka” means “foam”. These wonderful falls are just north of Taupo, New Zealand. 62,000 gallons of water per second pour down the Falls. The Falls are caused by the Waikato River, which goes from 250 yards across to a confining 50 ft wide, forcing the water through a hard volcanic rock gorge. Today, the flow of water is controlled depending on the rainfall and the needs for power generation from the hydo-electric dams on the river downstream. It is hard to believe the water comes from the placid fresh-water Lake Taupo.
The entire Lake Taupo area is within an active volcanic region complete with bubbling mud pots, geysers, floating rocks (pumice), steaming cliffs, and boiling lakes. The lake itself was formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption. Yes, we even experienced an earthquake!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Week 2, Thing # 4 A Registered Blog
Yessss!! I'm registered. Bring on my prize and the CEUs of course.
Week 2, Thing # 3 Setting up a Blog
Well I finally made it. I must have spent 15 minutes just trying to set up the account. Finding an available name for the blog address took the most time.
After creating my blog, I had to sign out. When attempting to do my first posts, I had trouble logging on to my blog through Blogger. It told me an account didn't exist even though I could bring up my blog through the blog address.
Somehow I managed to get to this page to edit my blog, but I'm still confused. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do any customizing of the page.
I guess I'm on the track since the posts seem to be appearing on the blog. I'm sure it will all be a breeze next week.
Blogging is neat! It should be useful both on a personal and professional level.
After creating my blog, I had to sign out. When attempting to do my first posts, I had trouble logging on to my blog through Blogger. It told me an account didn't exist even though I could bring up my blog through the blog address.
Somehow I managed to get to this page to edit my blog, but I'm still confused. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do any customizing of the page.
I guess I'm on the track since the posts seem to be appearing on the blog. I'm sure it will all be a breeze next week.
Blogging is neat! It should be useful both on a personal and professional level.
Week 1, Thing # 2 Being a Lifelong Learner
I consider myself a lifelong learner. How else can you keep abreast of all the changes going on around you? It takes less than a nanosecond for me to become curious about most any topic. If I really get into the topic I’ll find ways to learn more and more about it.
I've got it!!
The first 2 habits are the easiest for me. Once I’ve determined what I want or need to learn, I can usually determine how and what I need to do to reach that goal.
It's really hard!!
Viewing problems as challenges is hard for me. I tend to get caught up in the situation and to seek the quickest remedy. After the fact, I might look into how to prepare myself for handling the situation better should the problem reoccur.
I've got it!!
The first 2 habits are the easiest for me. Once I’ve determined what I want or need to learn, I can usually determine how and what I need to do to reach that goal.
It's really hard!!
Viewing problems as challenges is hard for me. I tend to get caught up in the situation and to seek the quickest remedy. After the fact, I might look into how to prepare myself for handling the situation better should the problem reoccur.
Week 1, Thing # 1 Learning 23 Things
Finally a chance to really grasp what those tech terms really mean. This learning approach may do the trick.
“ All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” Galileo Galilei quote
“ All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” Galileo Galilei quote
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