For my entry this week I decided to talk about the different topics that we had to read about for this week: Podcasts and Digital Storytelling. I really have never been into either one to be truthful but I am more familiar with Podcasts. Digital Storytelling was definitely a new technology that I had never heard of. While reading about the storytelling, it made me think of old radio shows and audio books. I am not sure if this is a good way to compare them but that is what I thought of. I thought of old radio shows especially because of the way that the person telling their story is supposed to use different tones and music to make their story more interesting. I can see their value for educational purposes in that libraries could use it as a way to reach out to its patrons that do not come to the library physically. I think depending on the topics being discussed and the messages, podcasts are very useful to get patron involvement.
Digital Storytelling could be a great marketing tool. I believe if anything it could be used to make the library appear more interesting to people because if they listen to the stories told, they may want to come look at an exhibit or speak to a librarian whose shared his or her story regarding a project they have done. I enjoyed learning about both and look forward to doing the podcast for the wiki.
This is completely off topic but I finally signed up for Twitter.com and I find this site a bit addictive. There are quite a bit of celebrities on there talking to people but NPR is also on there and CNN. I like that with short messages and links I can stay informed of things happening in the world. So if anyone is on twitter, feel free to follow me and send me a message. Got to love technology!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Blog Post 4
This week we listened to Dr. Ball's podcast on Privacy and Technology. I want to reflect on this because while I do have a love for technology I still find myself worried about who is checking out my information when I purchase something online or why is it when I am on a social networking site, they are able to know what type of ads to put up to catch my attention. It is neat to notice the ads but at times it is a bit scary too.
While listening to the podcast I began to think about when I buy things online. As a matter of fact I love buying things online. I love that I do not have to go to the mall to buy clothes. I love that I do not have to deal with fellow shoppers with attitude or road rage! Truth be told, if I could I would buy toilet paper online and just have it delivered but the shipping and handling fee stops me from doing so! I think you get the point.
On the flipside, I know some people who just refuse to succumb to the ability to shop without leaving their home because they fear that their information will get hacked into and just like on the television commercials regarding identity theft and credit fraud, another person will be running around the world pretending to be Joe Schmoe or Mary Smith while having a shopping spree on the real Joe or Mary. I understand the fear, because like them, I have that fear too. I know it happens, but I think I value the convenience and take the risk. It allows me to be lazy every once in a while! At the same time I have had countless discussions about the reality that people can get their information in other ways and not just from the internet. They still are not convinced of using the internet nor are they convinced of the fact that people can get your information without getting online to www.buythisnow.com.
I do value my privacy, but I do think that we sign it away whenever we sign up for things because we are allowing organizations to peer into our lives and study us. They have been doing it for quite some time even before all this new technological advances were around.
Is it a bad thing? Depends on what the information is being used for and who is accessing it. It can be good in the sense of medicine because if I have heart problems I want people to be able to find me if I am having a heart attack and I am alone. If a chip inside of my shirt can help someone bring medical assistance to me, then I have no problem with my information being accessed! It is a bad thing if the information that is being accessed is used for others to try and profit off of me or scam me in some way or form. It is bad if a hacker is the one accessing my information because they will create that other Raquel Lopez and go on a shopping spree courtesy of me!
With regard to libraries, privacy is a big issue. We are in the business of providing technology but at the same time we protect our patrons. If we continue to advance technologically, are we going to be able to protect our users as we do now? What measures do you think can be taken to continue that? That is something we all should be thinking about as we continue on our career paths as librarians.
While listening to the podcast I began to think about when I buy things online. As a matter of fact I love buying things online. I love that I do not have to go to the mall to buy clothes. I love that I do not have to deal with fellow shoppers with attitude or road rage! Truth be told, if I could I would buy toilet paper online and just have it delivered but the shipping and handling fee stops me from doing so! I think you get the point.
On the flipside, I know some people who just refuse to succumb to the ability to shop without leaving their home because they fear that their information will get hacked into and just like on the television commercials regarding identity theft and credit fraud, another person will be running around the world pretending to be Joe Schmoe or Mary Smith while having a shopping spree on the real Joe or Mary. I understand the fear, because like them, I have that fear too. I know it happens, but I think I value the convenience and take the risk. It allows me to be lazy every once in a while! At the same time I have had countless discussions about the reality that people can get their information in other ways and not just from the internet. They still are not convinced of using the internet nor are they convinced of the fact that people can get your information without getting online to www.buythisnow.com.
I do value my privacy, but I do think that we sign it away whenever we sign up for things because we are allowing organizations to peer into our lives and study us. They have been doing it for quite some time even before all this new technological advances were around.
Is it a bad thing? Depends on what the information is being used for and who is accessing it. It can be good in the sense of medicine because if I have heart problems I want people to be able to find me if I am having a heart attack and I am alone. If a chip inside of my shirt can help someone bring medical assistance to me, then I have no problem with my information being accessed! It is a bad thing if the information that is being accessed is used for others to try and profit off of me or scam me in some way or form. It is bad if a hacker is the one accessing my information because they will create that other Raquel Lopez and go on a shopping spree courtesy of me!
With regard to libraries, privacy is a big issue. We are in the business of providing technology but at the same time we protect our patrons. If we continue to advance technologically, are we going to be able to protect our users as we do now? What measures do you think can be taken to continue that? That is something we all should be thinking about as we continue on our career paths as librarians.
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