Thing #21: Discover Wikipedia
WIKIPEDIA
You’ve probably heard of this free online encyclopedia. It’s a great resource for starting your search or learning fun facts, but for in-depth research projects it isn’t considered reliable enough. But Wikipedia is a great example of Web 2.0 working as efficiently as possible: there is a staff that oversees the site; then regular joes like you and me can get a free account and contribute content in a prescribed formula, including references; and the last piece of the puzzle is that others can access pages you’ve made and edit or update them. For example, if you look at the page for Albert Einstein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_einstein), you’ll see the main content split up into subheadings, then publications by Einstein and Wikipedia articles for further reading, followed by the list of sources for content and photographs throughout the article. There are also usually Web links at the bottom of the page, and a date that tells you when the page was last updated. The majority of the time, this system of careful fact checking and the ability to edit others’ information gives you some pretty reliable content.
Let’s take a look at some other interesting content: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Armour_Polly -- recognize this woman? She’s credited with coining the phrase “surfing the net”.
Thing #22: Search for “Cloud Computing”
CLOUD
Did your mother ever tell you to get your head out of the clouds? Now is the time to prove her wrong! We can use Wikipedia to look up a definition on the term “cloud” (no, not the cumulous type!): “Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network (typically the Internet).” What in the world does that mean? In a nutshell, the “cloud” is a virtual place for storage. For example, if you have a blog, the information you write and publish is accessible to others but they don’t have to have access to your computer in order to see it, read it, download it, etc. Your blog is stored on an outside computer that controls the blog service (so if you have a Blogger account, for example, Google stores the information for you). Another way cloud computing is used is through iTunes. If you purchase music from the iTunes store, they will automatically back it up to the “cloud” – meaning if your computer crashes or your hard drive fails, you don’t have to buy all that music again because it’s tied to your iTunes account and can be re-downloaded when you replace your computer.
Most cloud computing services will store your information for free, but there is a limited amount of space (usually several gigabytes, which you probably could never use up anyway). If you have a website, you might pay for more space to house bigger files, pictures, and video to display on the site. There is no limit to the amount of space you can occupy in the cloud, but the more you have the more you pay.
So go ahead, put your head in the cloud and keep it there as long as you want!
Thing #23: Explore Futuristic concepts on the horizon
BACK TO THE FUTURE!
Some of the futuristic ideas that are already here include: QR Codes, Augmented Reality, and Computer Clothing or Wearable Computers. Sure, these terms sound like a foreign language, but I promise they are real things! QR Codes are something you may have already heard about or seen. They are funny-looking square barcodes that can be scanned by smart phones, and once scanned they take you to a magical location on the Internet. Most businesses use this technology for unimpressive stuff, like their website homepage, but sometimes you can get coupons or deals at restaurants. Libraries use them, too, for fine reduction coupons or program sign-ups. Here’s an example of what a QR Code looks like: http://www.qrstuff.com/images/sample.png. A smart phone scans the three smaller boxes within the larger box, and immediately takes you to a website. You may see people using these on their business cards, or you might even see some on the covers of books in the library. They very often end up on common products, too, like Heinz Ketchup bottles and packages of toilet paper.
Augmented Reality takes the QR Code concept one step farther, making the real world a little more like the digital one. The future of augmented reality may make it possible for you to put on a pair of special gloves and use your fingers to “click” on objects or locations in the real world and display them on a device you wear around your neck, similarly to the way we click and move objects on a computer or smartphone. Imagine being in a strange city and having the ability to find your way around just by letting your index finger hover over a street sign. Some European countries are already using this technology with an iPhone app called Layar, with which you can snap a picture of a building the same way you would capture a QR Code, and then find out all kinds of information about the business inside, its history, whether they are hiring . . . The possibilities are endless! For a picture of what this looks like, click here: http://www.howstuffworks.com/augmented-reality2.htm.
So, are robots going to take over the world? Yes! But not the way you think: humans are actually going to become more computer-like. The future of computers is all about blurring the lines between humans and computers, and it’s as freaky as it is fascinating. Part of the way to achieve this robot transformation is through wearable computers. Here are some examples:
· Smart watches – Nike and Garmin make fitness smart watches that are able to monitor your heart rate, and include a data screen to customize a fitness program. Apple and other companies make a variety of wrist watch straps designed to fit the iPod Nano. They start as low as $6.99 on Amazon, but the fancier ones are closer to the $20 range. Of course, if you want the diamond-encrusted model, that will set you back about $18,000.
· Computer clothing – Levi’s makes a musical jacket that looks like a regular jean jacket but has MP3 capabilities built into it. The jacket is currently being marketed in Europe.
· Camera glasses – ZionEyes makes a pair of sunglasses that doubles as a camera. You can wirelessly transfer photos and video to your computer or phone right from the glasses! They are a bit pricey ($200).
· 3-D Printing – Fayetteville Free Library is getting a lot of buzz about their Fab Lab, which features a 3-D printer. This is really just a manufacturing machine that allows you to design products on your computer and then “print” them out using metals and other materials instead of ink. This technology is just in the beginning stages, but is already being used in some high school shop classes. Watch a fascinating video about it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHnMj6dxj4. Among the objects successfully designed and “printed” is a bike (it’s true – try it yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmxjLpu2BvY&feature=related)! Also, some guy made a flute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlq5R84TlVw&feature=related. And some woman made a bikini: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=d2iT8S0m3m4&NR=1. When these things become capable of making shoes, no price will be too high for me to have one in my home! J This video is a bit longer, but very fascinating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCXlJ36x-q0. It makes sense: why not use the old Stickley manufacturing building to help patrons learn to manufacture things?
So that’s all for me! Hope you learned a few things about being part of the Internet rather than just watching all that stuff go by in front of your computer screen. Collaboration is what Web 2.0 is all about! Congratulations – you’re one step closer to becoming a robot!
And now that you've successfully complete the 23 Things for Learning Web 2.0, join us for a presentation by Meg Backus of NOPL on Friday, April 20 at 3:00. She will be elaborating on some of these futuristic concepts, and totally blowing your mind!
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