Muddiest Point Week 5

I know the third assignment isn't due for a few weeks but I was just curious...Do you have an opinion either way towards using quotes in our assignments? Is it okay to quote directly from sources or should we just use the sources as an information base?

Week 6 Reading Notes

Week 6 Reading Notes

Local Area Network

·      Interconnects computers within a limited area

·      Ethernet and Wi-Fi are most commonly used to build LAN’s

o   Wi-Fi use is popular as it supports easy access for laptops and smartphones

·      LAN’s can maintain connections with other networks as well through the use of leased lines or the internet

Computer Network

·      Collection of interconnected computers or devices that share data, resources, and information through communication channels

o   Example: the internet

·      Network Nodes

o   Devices that originate, route, and terminate data

o   Example: PC’s and phones

·      Support computer applications

·      Facilitates interpersonal communication- effective, almost instantaneous

·      Shared storage devices within network

o   Users can access information that is stored on other devices within the network

o   Shared resources- printers

·      Overlay Network

o   Virtual network built on top of another network

§  Connected through links

·      Types of networks- characterized by physical capacity or organizational purpose

o   Personal Area Network

§  Used to connect devices belonging to one personal or within a household

o   Local Area Network

§  Connects devices within a limited geographical area

o   Home Area Network

§  Residential LAN

o   Storage Area Network

§  Network that provides access to data storage

o   Campus Area Network

o   Backbone Network

§  Provides a path for information exchange between different networks or sub-networks

o   Metropolitan Area Network

o   Wide Area Network

o   Enterprise Private Network

§  Interconnected office locations

o   Virtual Private Network

o   Global Area Network

·      Does the University of Pittsburgh utilize a LAN, CAN, MAN, or WAN?

·      Internetwork

o   Connection of multiple networks through common routing technology

§  The internet for example

§  Routing is the process of selecting paths in a network to carry data traffic

Is there a difference between a network and a server?

Management of RFID in Libraries

As RFID devices begin to be implemented for many differing tasks, such as debit card payments and even passports, libraries are questioning whether it would be a good idea to implement RFID devices in their materials. RFID would in essence replace both the barcode and the security tape in materials and also help towards simplifying inventory processes and checkout procedures. The potential downside to implementing RFID devices in libraries is the fact that they are relatively expensive. However it is possible that by installing these devices, libraries would save money in other areas as a result; such as circulation staff (with these devices patrons can easily check out their own materials) and time previously spent doing inventory and processing. However I am not sure if the price of cutting these tasks would even remotely equal the price of installing RFID devices in all library materials. Also, unlike debit cards library materials are repeatedly used and so the devices would have to be made extra durable. There is also the issue of privacy, with these devices check-in and check-out information is easily accessible. Despite all this, I think that these devices might be beneficial to libraries in the long run. They would more easily be able to track their items and possibly utilizing these devices might make lending with outside institutions an easier process.

Week 5 Reading Notes

Setting the Stage- Metadata

·      Metadata- data about data

o   Used to design and preserve information systems and resources

o   Goals is to provide interoperability

o   Metadata describes information objects

§  3 key features- content, context, structure

·      i.e. Subject, author, format…etc.

·      Web technologies have resulted in metadata no longer being utilized solely by information professionals

o   User-created metadata

§  Inexpensive way to augment existing data

§  Quality control…disadvantage?

·      Metadata management

·      Library metadata develop focuses on providing physical and intellectual access to materials

o   Indexes, abstracts, bibliographic records

o   Shared through OPAC’s

·      Metadata helps preserve context and assists and authenticates an object (in a museum or archival setting)

·      Additional kinds of metadata and data

o   Digital information systems require a wide range of tasks and activities, creating new aspects that need to be recorded

§  i.e. acquisition records, licensing agreements, etc.

·      Many different interpretations for metadata use

o   Describes an object

o   documents how an object behaves

§  function and use

§  relationship to other information objects

o   management instructions and documentation

o   Theories and practice vary between professions and institutions

·      Types of metadata

o   Administrative

§  Used in managing and administering collections

o   Descriptive

§  Used to identify and describe

o   Preservation

§  Preservation management

o   Technical

§  Related to how a system or metadata behaves and functions

o   Use

§  Level and type of use the collection receives

Metadata is important for documenting information objects in any collection, but I feel it is especially important to have detailed and accurate metadata for digital collections. Digital object are often manipulated and changed as technology and the need of the collection advance. With accurate metadata the essence of the digital work can still be preserved through documentation. Every time that a document is altered or converted into a different file type, updating the metadata ensures that the preservation and authenticity of the original document remains in tact.

An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model

·      DCMI

o   Intended to support and foster consensus across disciplines for discover-oriented descriptions in electronic environments

§  Interoperability

·      Core set of semantics through schema

The use of DCMI seems to allow for greater interoperability between institutions. When metadata has fixed subjects and language use, it allows for easier and more comprehensive searching, especially across databases. Also, utilizing fixed metadata fields allows information professionals to share their records using applications like the OPAC.

Using Mendeley for Research Management

I must admit that I have never actually used Mendeley before. When I first arrived at Pitt, the professors highly recommended it and I did sign up on their website…I just never got around to actually installing it on my computer. After reading this article, I am more inclined to actually follow through with my install .I had no idea that it provided so many add-on features. I thought that it was simply a bibliography builder. I think this could be a great tool for organizing information for papers and even for finding similar research. I can definitely see how article would need good, detailed metadata for applications like Mendeley to work effectively though. Metadata need to be interoperable and accurately depict the correct subject matter in order for the search functions to garner proper results.

Muddiest Point

I was looking for the slides from class and I can't seem to find them...Are they usually posted before or after class? I see them for the week before so I am assuming they get posted after, but I just wanted to double check when they go up exactly.

Week 4 Reading Notes

Database

·      An organized collection of data

o   Inputs, stores, retrieves, and manages large quantities of information

·      Database management systems

o   Applications that interact with other applications and the user to capture and analyze data

·      Database servers

o   Dedicated computers that hold only the database and the DBMS software

§  RAID used for data recovery

·      General vs. Special Purpose DBMS

o   General meets the needs of as many applications as possible which lowers the price because more people are paying for the upkeep

o   In certain situation when only a specific application is warranted it might be unnecessarily expensive to pay for an all-encompassing DBMS when a specified one would work better

·      Navigational DBMS

o   Searched records by navigating relationships

·      Relational DBMS

o   Data would be stored in tables where information could be deleted or changed at will

§  A “key” was created and that is how records were sorted and searchable

·      SQL

o   Split data so that it would not have to all be stored in the same place

o   Data as objects

·      Databases can be classified by:

o   Content

o   Application area

o   Technical aspect

·      Aspects to consider when building a database

o   Structure of the information that the database will hold

o   Relevant data structure schema

o   Performance, scalability, recovery, and security

·      Internal vs. external views

o   What the users have access to view, there can be different views for different users as well

·      Security and access: controlling who can access what

·      I was a little confused on how the Navigational and Relational DBMS’ worked…

Entity-relationship model

·      Model for describing data in a database

·      Data components are linked together through relationships

·      Conceptual data model

o   Seeks to create structural metadata commonality

·      Logical data model

o   Operational and transactional data

·      Physical data model

o   Needs to be detailed enough to build a database off of

·      Entities=nouns, relationships=verbs

o   Verbs link 2 nouns

o   Both have uniquely identifying attributes

·      I understand the basis of this relationship: that data are linked together through relationships, but I am a bit confused on the inner workings (like the models mentioned above).

Database Normalization Process

·      This article was very confusing to me. It was heavily reliant on various charts and diagrams, however with the broken link we did not have access to any of the images and so the text explanations did not make any sense.  I tried to read through but without the images to see what exactly the author is referring to, I was completely lost.