Forecast: Cloudy
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| Evolution of memory storage. Source unknown. |
Dear Tabitha,
You asked about cloud computing...
In Broad Strokes:
Cloud computing is all about location:
where you go to access your files and programs. “The Cloud” is internet-based, whereas more traditional computing methods are more localized on your own computer, home server, or local area network. Most simplistically, you are using
the cloud anytime you use the internet to store or access files and programs.
Cloud Computing & Me:
Email (G-mail), storing and sharing pictures (Instagram), organizing and
participating in events (Facebook Events), and communication (Messenger,
What’s App, etc.) are just some of the ways I regularly use cloud computing.
Cloud Computing & Libraries:
In a library setting, it's clear to me that online catalogue-browsing and access to your personal account (to place holds, pay fines, update lists and so on) are all possible because of cloud computing. I do these things regularly with WPL and have started to do so with the RRC’s library website—I really like the automated citation software that I’ve seen built-into many of the RRC’s library databases. I wonder if that was around when I was in high school?! I certainly could have used it then.
New ideas:
One thing that I’ve heard of, but not used, in the library world are discovery systems. On our Intro to Libraries class visit to École Sage Creek School, Meagan the teacher-librarian talked about the Destiny Quest being especially popular with her Gr. 4-6 students (where patrons could actively shape the library’s online presence by rating books and creating public lists of recommended titles).
Another cloud tool that caught my attention was StackMap. As I understand it, StackMap allows libraries to create an online map of their collection which shows patrons their search item’s physical location on a library floor-plan. Pretty cool if your stacks don’t re-shuffle to much! Also would be great for accessibility—call-numbers can be difficult to navigate! I understand that the UM’s Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library uses a similar tool but I am unsure if it's StackMap (it was mentioned briefly during another tour with Can's Introduction to Libraries class).
Cloud computing & Privacy: Some Thoughts
It was good to get thrown into the world of privacy. I enjoyed some of the thought-experiments the readings
brought up. I understand laws like The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), guide actions and policy creation when it comes to privacy in libraries, but laws can't answer everything. I am not very familiar with library situations where PIPEDA and library services seem to be in conflict or open to interpretation, but I'm sure they exist.
This week I read Scythe by Neal Shusterman. In the YA novel, there is a fictional entity which was described as the ultimate evolution of cloud-computing: an advanced, self-sufficient, computer system called the Thunderhead that controls all of society (except death).
I have yet to read the rest of the Arc of the Scythe trilogy, so I don’t know exactly how Thunderhead handles privacy in this work of fiction, but it was interesting to me to read, yet again, another science-fiction work that represents technology that appears utopian but, with further investigation,
is based on questionable ethics.
Email (G-mail), storing and sharing pictures (Instagram), organizing and
participating in events (Facebook Events), and communication (Messenger,
What’s App, etc.) are just some of the ways I regularly use cloud computing.
Cloud Computing & Libraries:
In a library setting, it's clear to me that online catalogue-browsing and access to your personal account (to place holds, pay fines, update lists and so on) are all possible because of cloud computing. I do these things regularly with WPL and have started to do so with the RRC’s library website—I really like the automated citation software that I’ve seen built-into many of the RRC’s library databases. I wonder if that was around when I was in high school?! I certainly could have used it then.
New ideas:
One thing that I’ve heard of, but not used, in the library world are discovery systems. On our Intro to Libraries class visit to École Sage Creek School, Meagan the teacher-librarian talked about the Destiny Quest being especially popular with her Gr. 4-6 students (where patrons could actively shape the library’s online presence by rating books and creating public lists of recommended titles).
Another cloud tool that caught my attention was StackMap. As I understand it, StackMap allows libraries to create an online map of their collection which shows patrons their search item’s physical location on a library floor-plan. Pretty cool if your stacks don’t re-shuffle to much! Also would be great for accessibility—call-numbers can be difficult to navigate! I understand that the UM’s Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library uses a similar tool but I am unsure if it's StackMap (it was mentioned briefly during another tour with Can's Introduction to Libraries class).
Cloud computing & Privacy: Some Thoughts
It was good to get thrown into the world of privacy. I enjoyed some of the thought-experiments the readings brought up. I understand laws like The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), guide actions and policy creation when it comes to privacy in libraries, but laws can't answer everything. I am not very familiar with library situations where PIPEDA and library services seem to be in conflict or open to interpretation, but I'm sure they exist.
This week I read Scythe by Neal Shusterman. In the YA novel, there is a fictional entity which was described as the ultimate evolution of cloud-computing: an advanced, self-sufficient, computer system called the Thunderhead that controls all of society (except death).
I have yet to read the rest of the Arc of the Scythe trilogy, so I don’t know exactly how Thunderhead handles privacy in this work of fiction, but it was interesting to me to read, yet again, another science-fiction work that represents technology that appears utopian but, with further investigation,
is based on questionable ethics.
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