The Digital Economy and Australia's National Broadband Network

The following video shows Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, discussing the National Broadband Network and what it will mean for Australians.



The Australian government states, in the Australia's Digital Economy: Future Directions paper, that the digital economy is ‘the global network of economic and social activities that are enabled by information and communications technologies, such as the internet, mobile and sensor networks.’

The government believes the National Broadband Network will allow Australian to "participate in and enjoy the benefits of the global digital economy". They also state that greater use of digital technology can "bridge distances and improve service delivery for regional and rural Australians. It can improve educational and health outcomes, allow for better management of the country’s growing and ageing population, promote social inclusion and facilitate more environmentally sustainable management of the built and natural environment".

At present Australia is lagging behind the world's leading digital economies. In 2010, the OECD reports that Australia was ranked 18th amongst member states for broadband penetration. The Australian government is committed to the National Broadband Network as it believes that it will "form the platform for Australia’s future engagement in the digital economy".

CC Australian Government: Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
http://www.nbn.gov.au/the-vision/

What is Web 2.0?

Where did the term Web 2.0 originate?
The concept began at a conference brainstorming session between O'Reilly and MediaLive International in 2004. They believed that after the dot-com bubble bursting in 2001, the web was more important than ever.
In their brainstorming session, they wrote the following list that shows the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0


Web 1.0 --> Web 2.0
DoubleClick --> Google AdSense
Ofoto --> Flickr
Akamai --> BitTorrent
mp3.com --> Napster
Britannica Online --> Wikipedia
personal websites --> blogging
evite --> upcoming.org and EVDB
domain name speculation --> search engine optimization
page views --> cost per click
screen scraping --> web services
publishing --> participation
content management systems --> wikis
directories (taxonomy) --> tagging ("folksonomy")
stickiness --> syndication

O'Reilly believes that "You can visualize Web 2.0 as a set of principles and practices that tie together a veritable solar system of sites that demonstrate some or all of those principles, at a varying distance from that core."



This is a "meme map" of Web 2.0 that was developing during a brainstorm session at a O'Reilly media conference. The map shows that there are many ideas that radiate out from the core of Web 2.0

References
http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html

Blog design

Blogs are quite new to libraries. They can be used to tell patrons of new services or resources in the library.

When setting up a blog or website interface design is an important consideration. Usability is crucial if libraries want patrons to be able to easily find what they need and are able to use their blog/website without any problems. It is also important that blogs/websites reach a wide group of patrons and can be used by all members of the community.

Adaptive and assistive technology enables patrons who have disabilities to access the library. It is important to ensure that libraries meet the Australian Disability Discrimination Act (1992).

In designing this blog, I have tried to ensure that it would be able to be used by all members of a library community. This has included using larger, easy to use font for the visually impaired; a translator, for patrons of non-English speaking backgrounds; and an I-speech widget which reads blog posts aloud, to cater for the hearing impaired.



Here is an informative youtube video about Assistive Technology Loan Libraries

Technological skills that I would like to improve

If I had plenty of time at my disposal, I would spend it developing my technological skills. This would not only help me in my personal life but also in my future career as an "Information Manager" / Librarian.
The following skills are the ones I see as most important:

* using a library database better
* spreadsheets
* troubleshooting technology
* presentation software
* database software
* creating online instructional materials/products
* web design
* computer security knowledge
* installing technology equipment
* graphic design
* assistive/adaptive technology
* network management
* computer programming
* wikis
* cataloging software
* creating podcasts
* using SMART boards


Attribution:
flickrCC
Image: 'mac circle halmstad'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87762368@N00/2416051086

My Digital Environment

Sitting at my computer I can see numerous cables, screens and other paraphernalia that I use to connect to the Internet, write documents and interact with students at university. This little world that I have created is My Digital Environment. It includes the following:

HARDWARE
Personal Computer
Central Processing Unit (CPU) = the brain
Random Access Memory (RAM) = the memory
Peripherals
Input Devices = keyboard, mouse
Output Devices = monitor, printer, modem, speakers
Storage Devices = hard disk drive, USB
Servers
CSU computer server, Optus server

SOFTWARE
Systems Software
Graphical User Interface
Windows
Applications Software
Microsoft Word
Google Chrome
Databases
CSU Library Database
State Library of Victoria Database



Attribution:
flickrCC
Image: 'Physical View of the Network'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43394187@N00/125244997

The Digital Divide

The Digital Divide is the separation between people who have access to information technologies and those people who do not have access. This is mainly due to socioeconomic, geographical, censorship and monitoring by governments, and age related issues. The more information technologies these "haves" gain, the more these "have nots" will be disadvantaged.

The following youtube video is about the digital divide. It mainly discusses the impact of the digital divide on people who do not have access to information technologies due to socioeconomic and geographical reasons. The video's main argument is that people not only need access to information technologies but also the ability to effectively use them as well as the ability to empower people to use the technologies for productive gain. There are many organisations that are trying to reduce the digital divide by providing cheap laptops for these "have nots" such as the One Laptop Per Child organisation.

A Brief History of the Internet

Here is a very interesting and informative Youtube video that our lecturer asked us to view as part of a module about the history of the Internet.