Monthly archives: March, 2014

3D Printing: The Manufactory of Knowledge

Ken Strutin’s article addresses the increasing use and impact, social and legal, of the emerging and high visibility technology known as 3D printing. The technology’s use in a wide range of sectors – including education, manufacturing, firearms, robotics and medical devices, as well as in the home – is raising a plethora of patent, trademark and intellectual property issues. In addition, libraries and museums are beginning to embrace 3D technologies for archiving and collection development. And the widespread ability to create three-dimensional objects via technology is transforming information collection, storage and communication across a spectrum of fields.

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Subjects: Criminal Law, Features, Gadgets, Legal Research Training, Legal Technology, Libraries & Librarians, Library Software & Technology, Technology Trends

Using Raspberry Pi and Open Source to Understand Technology

Elmer Masters, Director of Internet Development at the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, has a new column which he had graciously agreed to share with LLRX readers. In this article he examines the concept of using the open nature of a Linux powered Raspberry Pi to better understand some of the tech tools we use all the time. He describes Raspberry Pi as an excellent little computer and a great tool for learning programming, learning about Linux, prototyping interesting things, and more. Thanks Elmer and Slaw!

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Subjects: Features

Business Intelligence Online Resources: An Internet Annotated Link Dataset Compilation

Marcus P. Zillman’s new, comprehensive guide comprises the most current and accurate business intelligence source available via the web, free and fee based. Zillman includes resources and sites mined from both the visible and invisible web. His carefully selected business intelligence resources and sites are described along with their current URL address, providing researchers with mission critical tools and techniques relevant to immediate and ongoing projects.

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Subjects: Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Features, Internet Resources - Web Links, Legal Research, Legal Technology

Costco stores as role models for Internet-era public libraries (caveats ahead)

David Rothman cautions that the rage is to compare everything in creation to a business. But he urges us to be careful when doing so with America’s public libraries. They are civic and service institutions, not profit-making corporations. A major caveat! Public libraries need to serve everyone, especially the poor, a distinct and resonate differentiation with the market paradigm. Still, in in a library context, Rothman was intrigued when President Obama once again singled out Costco for its success. There are lessons to be learned here.

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Subjects: Features, Libraries & Librarians, Library Marketing

Does a Blended Learning, Flipped Classroom Pedagogy Help Information Literacy Students in the Long Term Adoption of Research Skills?

Rich McCue discusses and documents how Research of Information Literacy and Blended Learning (BL) is in an early stage with the current body of knowledge consisting of case studies and small action based research projects. BL offers the promise of higher scores on summative assessments and lower requirements for physical space and instructor time if implemented using best practices. Some BL best practices include a significant investment of time and effort in course redesign, and close collaboration between library and faculty instructors during the redesign.

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Subjects: Features, Technology Trends

$38 Datawind UbiSlate 7Ci tablet as an e-reader: Avoid this adware trap despite its many positives!

David Rothman is spearheading chronicling the progress of expanding low cost access to e-readers as libraries engage in mission critical outreach efforts to reach underserved communities. In this article, Rothman asks: Suppose you could buy an iPad for $38, read OverDrive library books, even hear text to speech from them, and enjoy Kindle books, too. And how about social media, photos, basic video chat, and production of low-res videos? What if you could even use voice recognition to dictate e-mail or other documents for work or school? Programs to loan out low-cost e-readers are on the horizon, but David cautions there are indeed impediments, including operating system security and lack of now ubiquitous high-end audio/video performance.

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Subjects: E-Books, Features, Gadgets, Library Software & Technology, Product Reviews, Software
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