#30 The End

I did learn quite a bit through the Learning 2.0 program. I found the most useful lessons to be those that allowed me to explore how added tools work with technology I'm already using. So, enjoyed adding stuff to my blog; enjoyed looking at how others are using wikis; and was particularly impressed with the online productivity tools. YouTube was fun, so was LibraryThing.

I haven't changed my mind: there are tools that I didn't find useful for me: MySpace seems to be another blog/wiki technology. I looked at academic institutions who had created a MySpace area for information useful to students--why isn't a web page enough? Why does everyone need a place to comment, to post their information--which is the only use I can see with MySpace. While I enjoyed creating my own search engine, I didn't find Rollyo or Technorati to be a tool I will use.

Now that it's over, my challenge is how to keep up!

#25 Google Lab/Base

I looked for information on Google Base because I'm not sure why this is a unique service. It seems to be yet another database to store information that is available for others. If I want a recipe, why switch over to Google Base when Google can bring up a spicy chicken recipe from Wolfgang Puck--not readily available on Google Base. This is my opinion from a researchers point-of-view. But if you don't want to host your own website of free recipes, Google Base is a good service. Also looks like Base is a place to advertise--I did a search on research papers and found several services that were available via Base.

What may be useful for libraries is the events and activities section. I did a search for UAF and found concerts and sporting events listed.

Google Labs looked more interesting--I started working on creating a web page. Very easy to use. I also looked at the accessibility features, read up on the work that Google is doing to make sites more accessible to the visually impaired.

Again, I don't know that I would use these features on a daily basis--it's one more place to go!

#29 Rasmuson's Stuff

I'm reading Sarah Crawford Isto's Good Company, the story of her parents' arrival and thirty eight years in Fairbanks. Came across some names that I recognized (walking down Loftus in my neighborhood, I've often wondered who Loftus was). Going out to Vilda was great--some photos of Isto's parents and other names that she mentioned in her story. It was also great for background information on geographic or place names that are mentioned. Ever heard of the Curry Hotel--the stop off place for the Alaska Railroad between Fairbanks and Seward? There are photos of that place, even images of the geographic area as it was being developed.

Let's see if I can get some links to some photos:
Curry Hotel

Here's what I want to know: when are more photos going to be added?

#24 Google Maps

Fascinating how one can get sucked in and spend minute after minute playing around with this stuff! Yes, Google Maps can get you the directions you need (no aerial view of my house, although neighborhood was available) and the Google Pedometer can track your miles. Google Earth did have a blurry picture of my residence. What I wanted, many minutes into this assignment, was a site to log running miles. And whaalaa I found one: America's Running Routes . Fun to imagine me logging the miles--okay, will I really try the Geist to Farmer's Loop to Yankovich to Miller Hill to Sheep Creek to Parks Highway to Geist Road route? Stay tuned . . .

Looks like the running site used the Google map of Fairbanks, but the site also has other local routes that Fairbanksans have saved. Fun site!

#28 Opera

Tried Opera but didn't find anything that was more useful than Firefox. Like Forefox's tabs and that its presentation is clean. IE always seems too busy whenever I use it.

I'm getting into the widget idea--downloaded a clock for this assignment. Not much else to report!

#20 YouTube

I did several searches and found videos that showed how You Tube could be used by a library's publicity staff or as how-to introductory shorts. The challenge: is the Library ready and willing for this type of service?

Sure there's lots of fluff but there's also good stuff--found a great video on a search for the reclusive author Cormac McCarthy--UAF's Midnight Sun Writer's Program could tape the authors' presentation and have them available via You Tube. The question is, why? We already videotape these presentations and they're available for checkout. Perhaps the best use is a short of last year's authors to be used for publicity.

And a number of UAF funny videos for students are great--cabin life is a great one! Here's potential to reach out to students about what to expect in Alaska.

I searched for Parkinson's and found a wonderful video on Deep Brain Stimulation--not too gory, but did explain the procedure. There are other videos out there that discuss this disease. The potential uses for science are many!

My biggest complaint regarding You Tube is its searchability--hard to narrow the searches to your specific topic. And it all depends on how the video was tagged!

I'm going to post a librarian video in this post. Here goes: