Category: Uncategorized

Human Factors for Librarians. “I love libraries and applaud every step they make into the digital age. But I wish they knew something about interface design and human-computer interaction…. The standard library catalog interface dates way back; I used to see it running on Vax/VMS systems. Everything about it is counter-intuitive, unforgiving, and obstructive. At… Continue reading Human Factors for Librarians

Codeless Googlebox. “Create a googlebox on your website without having to know a single bit of code.” [via …useless miscellany] Cool – so now any library could put one on its site! I suggest using related searches in webliographies and author searches in reader's advisory pages for starters. [The Shifted Librarian]

Macromedia Unveils MX Family. Release represents the first fruit of Macromedia's merger with Allaire. [Internet Product News]

2002 'warmest for 1,000 years'. “The first three months of this year were the warmest globally since records began in 1860 and probably for 1,000 years, scientists said yesterday. Dr Geoff Jenkins, director of the Meteorological Office's Hadley Centre, said the record on land and sea was consistent with computer predictions of the effects of… Continue reading 2002 'warmest for 1,000 years'

Jenny continues the conversation on next gen devices and PCs.  I stretched my mind a little more on this topic.  The fight is clearly between three hardware platforms:  PCs, phones, and TVs.  Everything else is peripheral.  Only PCs are getting the full benefit of doubling rates in processor power and storage capacity.   Here is how I think the battle will evolve in… Continue reading Jenny

Zoe is doing stuff to email that I want “Radio” to be able to do. I played around with it for 30 minutes and am impressed! First glance shows major promise. Zoe is a Java Desktop Website Application [Hack the Planet] [Adam Curry: Adam Curry's Weblog]

At Home on the Edge of a Profession. “This gigantic room full of books was indispensable to our civilization, and this one person was indispensable to this particular room of books. To me, that seemed like a lot of responsibility without a lot of fanfare. As I spent the rest of the weekend listening to… Continue reading At Home on the Edge of a Profession

“Google is now a clearinghouse for reference questions. Curious about the accuracy, cost and timeliness of the new service, I ask both Google and NYPL's Ask Librarians Online the same question, “What is the origin of the term 'shoestring' as it is used to refer to a small budget?” Each site has a requirement; Google… Continue reading

“Google is now a clearinghouse for reference questions. Curious about the accuracy, cost and timeliness of the new service, I ask both Google

Setting Priorities by Janice Fraser. Quote: “A consultant I was working with at the time gave me a TQM-style process for prioritizing initiatives. I've refined and simplified it over the years, and have ended up with a tidy little process that's easy to use. Here's how it goes” Comment: I have used such a process… Continue reading Setting Priorities by Janice Fraser

Window Pains. Gates testified monolithic OS design is a necessity today. He lied. He knows that he lied. Nothing new. Here are my predictions: Windows is already being componentized and fractured. Windows will soon become a commodity. The tradition of building monolithic systems is already dead. Finally: The notion of the government being invloved in this process… Continue reading Window Pains.

Gates testified