Technology & Culture

Apple "Computers"

Corey Timpson — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:51:00 +0000

Apple Computers dove into the mobile phone market last week with the release of their latest gadget, the iPhone. The iPhone boasts decent technical specifications (which you can read about from the link below) and combines iPod functionality with web browsing capabilities in a mobile phone.

What intrigues me most, however, is that Apple officially dropped "Computers" from their corporate name with this launch. While, technologically speaking, the iPhone is not going to be the greatest, most robust mobile phone on the market, it won't need to be. The same way many of the iPod's competitors often offer more memory, more features, and more "more", the iPod remains the most popular portable personal music device and this is largely due to it's design.

The company that developed the desktop metaphor for human computer interaction (later copied by Microsoft and released as "Windows") has continued to produce exceptional interface, interaction, and industrial design across all their products. As Apple continues to expanded beyond computers and into gadgets, this core ideology has become all the more important. The latest Mac computers now use Intel processors, however, they and the suite of software they possess, are far more usable than their Windows PC counterparts.

While their competitors throw more bells and whistles into less usable products, intelligent, sophisticated design, with a focus on usability (and inherent learnability), will result in Apple's continued success.

For more on the iPhone, please see this link
http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Best of Web 2.0

Suhas Deshpande — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:58:28 +0000

Here is a very interesting list (grouped by category) of the the best Web 2.0 applications. This is a very useful list and I will keep any eye out for updates by the authors.

Technology Trends for NonProfits

Suhas Deshpande — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:55:01 +0000

I came across a very interesting compilation of resources on technology trends for non-profits. I am still working my way through these documents but thought I would share.

Create and Publish Podcasts Free

Suhas Deshpande — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:12:58 +0000

Odeo Studio is a tool that lets you record and post podcasts. I will be giving this free online tool a trial and will post my review here. This is potentially an excellent tool for museums who wish to create podcasts to accompany items or an exhibit in their collection.

Create and Publish Podcasts Free

Suhas Deshpande — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:12:58 +0000

Tools to help you track traffic to your Web site

Suhas Deshpande — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:09:00 +0000

Watching what visitors do at your physical museum can be done in a number of straightforward, inexpensive, but time consuming ways. Determining exactly what visitors do at your museum Web site is a bit trickier, but it can now be done in a way that is very inexpensive and takes very little time. The author of Four Must-Have Web Stat Tools » SOME RANDOM DUDE has provided some excellent reviews of tools that you can use to keep track of the number of visitors to your Web site, as well as determine what they do once they get there. Most of these tools are either free or inexpensive.

Enterprise Level Applications are Moving to the Web

Suhas Deshpande — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:22:17 +0000

Web 2.0 meets the enterprise | CNET News.com

This is a very interesting article that talks about enterprise level applications adopting a Web 2.0 feel. This is happening at the same time that productivity applications that were traditionally installed on a users` desktop are enjoying growing popularity in online form. Thanks to "Web 2.0" applications being offered by Google and others, you can enjoy free access to applications online that cost hundreds of dollars to purchase.

In a sense the adoption of Web 2.0 at the enterprise level -- which is by no means complete -- is a significant transformation of enterprise applications.

Why is this important to museums? It holds out the promise of the blending of more traditional business applications, with some of the newer, Web 2.0 technologies. It offers the possibility of lower cost and greater interoperability among these products. Stay tuned!

BBC NEWS | Technology | Digital archiving gains new tool

Suhas Deshpande — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:15:51 +0000

BBC NEWS | Technology | Digital archiving gains new tool
From the article:

A tool that makes it easier to gather and store digital archives has been developed by the National Library of New Zealand and the British Library.
As more and more information goes online the race is on to create meaningful digital archives.

The web curator tool automates the process of collecting and storing information.

It will become a key part of the British Library's existing digital preservation programme.

The Future of the Internet....

Suhas Deshpande — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:45:00 +0000

... according to Pew Internet, as examined in their document Future of the Internet. This document contains many interesting insights into future trends on the internet, as expressed by experts and users alike. This is an important document for cultural institutions who have or would like to have an online presence. It contains insights that will help in planning for future directions in IT for institutions.

Web 2.0 Powered Brainstorming

Suhas Deshpande — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:50:00 +0000

wridea is a Web 2.0 tool that powers brainstorming on an individual or group level. As with most Web 2.0 technologies, it is freely accessible and fairly simple to use. wridea allows you to create pages with ideas that are grouped in a bubble type of format. It is essentially a visual aid to collaborative or individual brainstorming.

This tool is still under development, but is very promising and definitely worth checking out.

Study on Vodcast User Experience at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Suhas Deshpande — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:50:12 +0000

IMPACT Communications | Video iPod Pilot Study

This is a terrific summary report on users experiences with a Video iPod at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The study found that using video on an iPod ("vodcasting") enhances the museum visitor experience. The researchers say that they will next look at the use of vodcasting for museum pre-visits. The findings of this research project are very encouraging for museums who are contemplating implementing their own vodcast tours.

Find Museum Blogs all on one site

Suhas Deshpande — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:28:55 +0000

MuseumBlogs.org is a terrific Web site that features...well, museum blogs. It is a wonderful way to peruse museum blogs. If you are the author of a museum blog, be sure to add yours and help the community grow!

Facebook: An Overview

Suhas Deshpande — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:36:16 +0000

Facebook - The Complete Biography - Mashable!

If you have heard of Facebook but are not sure exactly what it is, here is an overview and history of this online phenom. If you have not heard of Facebook, please take a moment to have a look. This is the second most popular social networking site on the Web (behind only MySpace). Some museums are now experimenting with Facebook in an effort to reach youth, who dominate this space.

eLearning Technology: Web 2.0 and eLearning 2.0 Start-Up Guides

Suhas Deshpande — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:42:57 +0000

eLearning Technology: Web 2.0 and eLearning 2.0 Start-Up Guides

Tony Karrer has highlighted some terrific starter Web 2.0 resources in his blog, eLearning Technology. These are highly recommended if you are new to Web 2.0 and want to get up to speed quickly.

eLearning Technology: Web 2.0 and eLearning 2.0 Start-Up Guides

Suhas Deshpande — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:42:57 +0000