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links for 2005-10-28
Skype patches critical flaws - Computerworld Ho hum ... patches patches patches ...... From
Monkeymagic on October 28, 2005 at 8:46 p.m..
Web 2.0 - das neue Netz
Gerade reingekommen: Das Informationsportal add knew knowledge (dahinter stehen digital spirit bzw. Wolters Kluver) ist mittlerweile eine hilfreiche Sammlung von Artikeln geworden - im Kern zu all den Themen, über die ich auch schreibe. Heute heißt es leider, "dass die... From
www.weiterbildungsblog.de on October 28, 2005 at 6:51 p.m..
The Joys of Shallow Thinking... , Connectivism Blog
This is an item that fits pretty well with the talk I'm giving this evening, a look at how to maintain professional development in an age of chaos. In this item, george Siemes defends 'shallow thinking', that is, a generation of onloy a surface level awareness of some things as a means of recognizing and ordering an information flow. Related, found (today) through From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
Computers Alone Can't Bridge Digital Gap , Inter Press Service News Agency
Interesting look at the program to place computers and internet access into Argentine schools and at what happens next. And there needs to be a 'next' because of things like this: while everyone at the school uses the equipment "to read the news and search for information," e-mail is used only by the staff, not the students, because "they don't have any relatives to write to." What needsw to happen is the placement and training of teachers who know how to use the technology. "In order to bridge this gap, the solution does not lie in the acquisition of equipment, but rather in th From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
CRIA Me a River , What is the (Next) Message?
What I would like to know is, why would the Globe and Mail finger file sharing as "the most likely culprit" in declinig music sales in Canada, when all the evidence points elsewhere. [ From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
Metadata for Learning Resources (MLR): As a simplified Kernel and a Complex Schema , Ipseity
Norm Friesen rethinks learning object metadata and comes up with a 'core' schema with optional extended elements. "The model presents 6 core elements. All are top-level, mandatory or required: Identification, Description, Creation, Contextualization, Access, and Record. Each of these elements is also an element category, containing further sub-elements." [ From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
Small Company Makes Big Claims on XML Patents , ZD Net
In a claim that strikes me as pretty ridiculous, a small company is claiming to have patented XML and is now seeking royalties on the widely used encoding language. The patents date from 1997. According to Scientigo CEO Doyal Bryant, "We're not interested in having us against the world." Too late. [ From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
The Future of Citation Analysis , The Scientist
An article like this, which compares between the usefulness of Google Scholar and Thomson Scientific's Web of Science, can only be considered a snapshot, partially because Google Scholar remains in development, and partially because there is an ongoing, though gradual, migration of scientific work from the closed to the open web. That said, this article raises in my mind once again the question of why scientific research should be barred by commercial interests from public view, and insofar as Google Scholar is rated the poorer of the two services, that is the measure of the degree to whi From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
Open Letter to the UK's Science Minister , BioMed Central
Authored by the publisher of BioMed Central, this letter takes the Minister to task regarding remarks made about open access, and specifically his comments that open access is in decline and that there needs to be a "level playing field" between open access and commercial publishing. Matthew Cockerill remarks, "BioMed Central strongly agrees that this is desirable. But the continued strong growth in open access has not occurred on a remotely level playing field. It is a testament to the strength of the open access model that its growth has occurred despite the playing field being anything but From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
Open the Door to a Free Way of Working , The Guardian
This is something Canada needs (and I would willingly work in such an institute, where I would likely be more comfortable): "A new Open Source Academy, supported with £1.3m from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is aiming to tackle both fud (fear, uncertainty and doubt) and misplaced enthusiasm." It seems to me that much of this sort of work is needed, both in the area of open source software and open content. A great deal of misinformation and (in my view) outright fabrication is circulating, and this needs to be addressed, at some level, by someone. Otherwise (in my view) we in thi From
OLDaily on October 28, 2005 at 6:45 p.m..
Google Print And Libraries; Google Print Or Libraries
I agree
with Siva - libraries are great and important. What we disagree on is whether Google Print should be measured by the fact that it's not a library. Siva suggests that we have to choose between Google Print and a "cool public library text-search index." In fact, we have to choose between Google Print and any other competitors. He argues that Google's patents, other IP, and contractual rights will prevent competition. And that's why the privacy implications, use restrictions, From
A Copyfighter's Musings on October 28, 2005 at 5:47 p.m..
Student Comments
There are many ways to measure improved student achievement, but it is clear that improved achievement can be defined differently from student to student. Below are comments from Cyber School students describing how this alternative method of learning has... From
Teaching and Developing Online. on October 28, 2005 at 4:57 p.m..
Old Data, new findings????
This new US Census Bureau Internet Use report (16 page PDF) came out this month... it is well written and interesting, but the data is from 2003. Chasing the Dragon's Tale: Just how informative is a 'new' internet use report... From
Teaching and Developing Online. on October 28, 2005 at 4:57 p.m..
Free Blogs for Schools
The subject of what was a good blogging platform for K-12 students was raised during our EdTech Talk brainstorm last night, and James jumped right in and offered to create a safe blogging environment for students. Free Blogs for Schools... From
Teaching and Developing Online. on October 28, 2005 at 4:57 p.m..
Online courses raise enrollment
While USD's increased enrollment came primarily from the larger than usual freshman class, the flexibility distance education affords has also helped to raise student numbers. This year, 2,271 students are participating in distance education, increasing enrollment in the program 16... From
Teaching and Developing Online. on October 28, 2005 at 4:57 p.m..
Joys of Shallow Thinking
This post by George Siemens really resonated down to my toes. I've gotten to the point where I've started to feel guilty about the way I read these days. My wife gives me grief because I don't spend as much... From
Teaching and Developing Online. on October 28, 2005 at 4:57 p.m..
De fuentes, rumores y betas
Leer este titular, Los blogs se consolidan como fuente de noticias, me ayudó a decidir cuál podrÃa ser el próximo tema a tratar en este espacio que amablemente nos cede el profesor Orihuela. Anécdota (te la puedes saltar si no tienes mucho tiempo para leer): cual doctor Jeckyl, me gusta experimentar ... From
eCuaderno v.2.0 on October 28, 2005 at 2:51 p.m..
Social Software Critic (Ross Mayfield)
A slew of social software startups have arisen as of late, and while we don’t cover the news here, it’s a good time to be a culture critic. Ning — Social Apps Ning is the latest entry into the... From
Corante: Social Software on October 28, 2005 at 2:48 p.m..
Hemorrhoidal poetry
First, read Jeneane's prose-poem, We used to bleed here. Then go to the Hemorrhoids Tips page and read the list of helpful information for hemorrhoid suffers. Two points: 1. The hemorrhoid page might want to refine its search string since it seems to be getting a feed of anything with "bleed" in it. 2. Congratulations, Jeneane, on having your poetry published in the prestigious literary journal, Hemorrhoidal Tips :) That's gotta be a first. (Thanks to Euan for the link. Plus, he has a PDF capture in case they fix their query.) [Tags: JeneaneSessum EuanSemple TheObvious poetry]... From
Joho the Blog on October 28, 2005 at 1:48 p.m..
On Facing the Heat
Last weekend at the annual conference of the
National Association of Science Writers, I was on a panel about how science writers (and science public information officers) can leverage weblogs and feeds. My fellow panelist, author
Carl Zimmer, who writes the science blog
Loom for Corante, made a great point during his presentation. He said: "People who start a blog and don't have a commenting function -- I just think they're cowards. I mean, if you&apo From
Poynter E-Media Tidbits on October 28, 2005 at 12:56 p.m..
IM as Your News Messenger
The Netherlands is somewhat of a test market for services around Instant Messenger, Microsoft's chat client. With 4 million active IM users in a country of 15 million, IM is incredibly popular, and becoming a mass medium in its own right. Microsoft is now starting to give out licenses for commercial "chatbots" that users can add to their buddy list. Dutch banks already have started to use the service: Postbank and SNSBank ran trials in which IM users could get account information within the IM chat -- just by typing in questions like "How much money do I have?" The (...)
Poynter E-Media Tidbits on October 28, 2005 at 12:56 p.m..
Any B.C. or Alberta-based users of LAMS? Atutor?
If you are currently using or planning to use
LAMS or
Atutor and are located in B.C. or Alberta, please
let me know. I am currently scouting out integration opportunities for our repository software, and these two are potential ones that have come up, but I need to know if its of any value to my current stakeholders (no, I'm not planning a takeover of Alberta; we have colleagues there who are also implementing the same repository software). - SWL From
EdTechPost on October 28, 2005 at 12:52 p.m..
From VB to MT
Does anyone know how to program a Visual Basic 6 (not .NET) form so that its contents get loaded into the Movable Type create-a-post Web form? So, imagine that I have a text box in VB that gets filled with the text "Here is my post." I'd like to press a button, launch a browser so that it opens up my MT editing page, and have the "Entry Body" text box there get loaded with "Here is my post." (I know how to launch a browser to a particular URL.) Note: Comments telling me that VB6 sucks and I suck... From
Joho the Blog on October 28, 2005 at 12:48 p.m..
Sutter strikers blog, student blogs
My conferences with students this week and my first encounters with the
Sutter Strikers Blog show how much energy a blogger gains by having a clearly-defined project or problem. Our conference conversations have been greatly aided by being able to talk about the likely and particular sort of readers the blog is serving and what would interest and inform them. We're able to make good suggestions about the writer's persona... From
Weblogs in Higher Education on October 28, 2005 at 11:50 a.m..
Great Books Without Great Authors?
I got an e-mail pointing to
this post at if:Book that asks "Can there be great textbooks without great authors?" The basic premise is that the movement to create collaborative texts a la
Wikibooks will never produce the quality required to truly replace traditionally authored texts. The open source volunteer format works for encyclopedia entries, which don't require deep knowledge of a particular subject. But the sustained examination From
weblogged News on October 28, 2005 at 10:47 a.m..
Historia del hipertexto
Enlaces de apoyo a la sesión sobre Historia del hipertexto: Vannevar Bush y el Memex As We May Think MIT: Memex Interactive Animation Ted Nelson y Xanadu Project Xanadu Ted Nelson Computer Lib Douglas Engelbart History in Pictures Doug Engelbart 1968 Demo Aspen Movie Map Aspen Moviemap (vÃdeo) Aspen Movie Map (fotos) IRIS Brown University Intermedia: An Introduction The Victorian Web HyperCard Teach Yourself HyperCard Pantechnicon Wiki: HyperCard ... From
eCuaderno v.2.0 on October 28, 2005 at 7:52 a.m..
Media Moguls Circle the Wagons
Traditional media publishers are running scared of the internet, which explains why these hidebound conglomerates have begun scooping up online companies almost at random, a marketing executive says. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
The Mystery of the Green Menace
It's been celebrated as a muse and banned as a poison. Now an obsessed microbiologist has cracked the code for absinthe -- and distilled his own. By Brian Ashcraft of Wired magazine. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
Broken Adapter-Tip Removal Squad
Apple's PowerBook AC power adapters have a flaw: The tip tends to break off inside the power port. DIY struggles to remove it ensue. From Leander Kahney's Cult of Mac blog. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
DTV by 2008?
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted yesterday to bump up the digital TV deadline by a year. Plus: Vodaphone U.K. is now selling mobile phones from vending machines. From the Wired News blog Gear Factor. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
Chip Could Replace Car Mirrors
A center dashboard panel with multiple image views could eliminate having to look left, up and right to see what's going on behind you. Plus: Device claiming better fuel efficiency raises questions. From the Wired News blog Autopia. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
Mobile Porn? No Thanks
Why I'm not a fan of XXX on my iPod. Plus: Video blog offers free downloads of amateur strippers in action. From the Wired News blog Sex Drive Daily. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
U.S. Cell Phone Tracking Clipped
Judges reject Bush administration arguments that law enforcement should be able to use cell phone signals to track users' movements, ruling that the feds first need 'probable cause' to believe someone's committed a crime. By Ryan Singel. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
Mmmmmmmm, Brains
Stubbs the Zombie blends humor and intense action to create a polished experience, but the game could use more variety. By Chris Kohler. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
Coming Soon: Online Sex Games
A game-industry veteran foresees a bright future for adult-oriented titles where men and women can come together and play. Or is that play together and come? Commentary by Regina Lynn. From
Wired News on October 28, 2005 at 7:45 a.m..
Waiter, there's a Fly in my classroom
I just returned from New York city, having attended a day-long "Technology in Education: Classrooms of the 21st Century" conference co-sponsored by the New York Institute of Technology and the Milken Institute. There were a number of fascinating presentations by some real heavy-hitters, including Carmen Farina, the New York City Schools Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning; Paul Vallas, Philadelphia Schools Superintendent; Stanley Litow, President of the IBM Foundation; Ted Mitchell, CEO of the New Schools Venture Fund and former dean of the UCLA School of Education and former President From
The Electric Lyceum on October 28, 2005 at 4:47 a.m..
Day 5: Travel is all about expectations
The following is from my journal from our wedding trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for Tuesday, Sept. 27th: "Travel is all about expectations," Aunt F said. She should know - she was the travel agent that arranged the trip. She knows that a good vacation is not about the number of ice cubes in your Brown Cow, it's about achieving a certain state of mind. Today, we headed to Punta de Mita by taxi. We were basically going to emulate one of the catamaran tour packages at a fraction of the cost. Even the price of the taxi was haggled down to $10 US a person, roundtrip. (Aside: Never pay full p From
silentblue | Quantified on October 28, 2005 at 12:55 a.m..
3D stereogram movies
You know those 3D pictures you have to go cross-eyed to see? Here are some short 3D movie clips of the same sort. To get the illusion, start off with a still from the AVI and get it to go all 3D on you. Then hit the play button. (If you can't get them to pop into 3D, poke around on the Web for instructions. I don't know what to tell you.)... From
Joho the Blog on October 28, 2005 at 12:48 a.m..
Day 4: Imagine a day where you only had one appointment
The following is from my journal from our wedding trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for Monday, Sept. 26th: Due to Mexican legal statutes, we had to take a mandatory blood test. (I later discovered this is to ensure we in fact did not have syphilis.) It was very painful because no blood would come out and the hotel medic kept digging the needle into my vein like he was digging a foxhole. Finally, he just gave up and made a second incision. Worse still, ther was some weird movie on his television involving Winona Ryder in a redneck family. Oh, and the blood tests were $180 US and no, it was not i From
silentblue | Quantified on October 27, 2005 at 11:55 p.m..