Author archives

Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A., eSolutions Architect and Executive Director of the Virtual Private Library, is an international Internet expert, author, keynote speaker and corporate consultant in the area of information retrieval, knowledge discovery, knowledge harvesting, artificial intelligence and bots/intelligent agents. He has created numerous world wide web sites including 51 Subject Tracer™ Information Portals and Blogs; written a number of internet miniguides, white papers and books; hosted over 160 weekly Internet television shows, writes a weekly and monthly column on Current Awareness on the Internet; writes a monthly newsletter, Awareness Watch, and delivers keynote presentations throughout the international marketplace. He also actively delivers one and two day workshops for key industry sectors displaying how the Internet can be used as a tool to maintain current awareness and professional competencies. Additional links: Marcus P. Zillman's Blog.

Information Quality Resources 2022

Librarians, researchers, journalists, teachers and students are continually confronted with what can be described as a kind of information miasma when using online sites, databases, resources, images and social media. No sector or discipline is immune to misinformation, disinformation, hoaxes, lack of data quality, and biased research. This guide by Marcus Zillman highlights actionable resources to evaluate and identify online malfeasance, as well as sources to verify information and data quality that is critical to our professions. These two efforts often intersect, and require vigilance and continuing education respective to effectively confronting the challenges they present.

Subjects: Big Data, Competitive Intelligence, Education, Information Management, Internet Resources - Web Links, KM, Libraries & Librarians, Reference Resources, Search Strategies, Social Media, Technology Trends, Viruses & Hoaxes

Finding People Resources and Sites 2022

This guide by Marcus Zillman identifies a wide range of free and fee based resources from which to choose to conduct people searches as well as brand and company reputation research, for business or personal reasons. It is important to note that the largest and most prominent data aggregators resell their content to other sites. In addition, data on free and some fee based sites may not be cleansed and can include inaccuracies that range from minor to critical. Also, many sites offer free search but charge a fee to review the results. It is therefore advisable to use multiple sources in your research and compare and contrast results before pursuing the use of these data.

Subjects: Big Data, Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Data Mining, KM, Legal Research, LEXIS, Reference Resources, Search Engines, Search Strategies, Social Media, Westlaw

2021 Guide to Internet Privacy Resources and Tools

Technology has significantly changed our concept of privacy as well as our ability to maintain it. The are a wide spectrum of tools, services and strategies available to assist you in the effort to maintain a sliding scale of privacy in an increasingly porous, insecure online environment. Whether you are browsing the internet, using email or SMS, encrypting data on PCs or mobile phones, trying to choose the best VPN, or working to secure your online services from cybercrime, hacking or surveillance, Marcus Zillman has identified a wide range of sources for you to consider. The foundational issue regarding privacy is that you must be proactive, diligent and persistent in evaluating and using multiple applications for email, search, file transfer, and social media. There is no “one size fits all” solution, and your vigilance and willingness to remain flexible in applying effective solutions are part of an ongoing process.

Subjects: Big Data, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Email Security, Encryption, Internet Trends, Search Engines, Search Strategies, Social Media, Technology Trends

Academic and Scholar Search Engines and Sources 2021

Marcus Zillman’s new guide provides a wealth of information to enhance your efforts in conducting expert research on a wide range of subject matters. The guide is also another reminder that Google should not be your go-to subject search engine by demonstrating how choosing to use reliable topic specific sources can deliver greater scope, breath and depth of information for your analysis and reporting. These sites include metasearch, semantic and Deep Web search, with many sources offering advanced search functionality, unique and comprehensive data sets and repositories, dashboards and tools from around the world, all of which are updated and curated effectively and consistently. These sources represent the work of academic, government, consortium, firms and industry.

Subjects: Competitive Intelligence, Education, KM, Legal Research, Search Engines, Search Strategies

Artificial Intelligence Resources on the Internet 2021

Articles, studies, reports and investigations abound on how AI is impacting all aspects of our lives in areas that include our privacy, our social media usage, healthcare, the economy, the financial system, education, communications, law, the courts and technology. This timely, broad overview of resources, sites and applications by Marcus P. Zillman spans subject matter and disciplines as well as the many permutations of the technologies that drive artificial intelligence.

Subjects: AI, Data Mining, Health, Healthcare, KM, Legal Research, Social Media, Training

Education and Academic Resources 2021

Marcus P. Zillman’s guide comprises an extensive listing of resources and sites for students, researchers, teachers, infopros and parents, on multiple study areas. Sourced from academic, public, private, association and corporate sectors, the subject matters include: distance learning; MOOCs, lecture guides and study notes, study skill resources, online tutoring and homework help, free e-learning videos, scholarship resources and PhD, Dissertation, thesis, and academic writing resources.

Subjects: Distance Learning, Education, KM, Reference Resources, Search Engines, Search Strategies, Training

New Normal Start Up Resources 2021

As we collectively work toward establishing a post-coronavirus future, there is a need to go beyond identifying operational goals, objectives, products and services tied to work in physical locations. For both existing organizations and startups, effectively pivoting to a future that includes routine remote work and online collaboration that drives all facets of management, development, marketing, and communications. This guide by Marcus P. Zillman identifies a wide range of actionable resources that can help empower new companies and established public and private sector organizations as they navigate challenges and leverage new opportunities.

Subjects: Business Research, Communications, Competitive Intelligence, Information Management, KM, Social Media

Online Research Browsers and Data Visualization Tools 2021

This guide by Marcus P. Zillman focuses on free and feed based research browsers and data visualization tools for research and analysis. These resources can be used to support legal research, legal marketing, business and competitive intelligence research, knowledge management and knowledge discovery, and data mining.

Subjects: AI, Big Data, Communications, Competitive Intelligence, Digital Archives, KM, Legal Marketing, Legal Research, Libraries & Librarians, Search Engines, Search Strategies, Technology Trends

Financial Sources on the Internet 2021

Marcus P. Zillman’s new guide comprises a list of actionable financial resources from the U.S. and abroad, organized by four subject areas: Corporate Conference Calls Resources, Financial Sources, Financial Sources Search Engines, and Venture Capital Sources. Content includes: sources for news and updates on business, corporations and marketplaces; sources from the NGO/IGO sectors; data, databases and charts; search applications; resources for investors and money management; and market analysis tools.

Subjects: Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Economy, Financial System, Government Resources, International Legal Research, Legal Research

Statistics Resources and Big Data on the Internet 2020

This expansive listing by Marcus P. Zillman focuses on statistics and big data datasets available free on the internet, covering multiple disciplines, for teaching, learning and reference. These data are published and maintained by sources that include: the U.S. and foreign governments, academic, corporate, NGOs, and open source communities.

Subjects: AI, Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Economy, Education, Financial System, Legal Research, Open Source, Search Engines