7/18/01
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This newsletter is available to the public at the following locations:
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http://avel.edu.au/scitech.html
House Report
ftp://ftp.loc.gov/pub/thomas/cp107/hr112.txt
Article from the Chronicle of Higher Education
http://www.chronicle.com/free/2001/07/2001070202t.htm
Article from Nature
http://www.nature.com/nature/debates/e-access/Articles/butler.html
PubScience Database
http://pubsci.osti.gov/
PubScience is the database created by the U.S. Dept. of Energy to complement PubMed. As you
know, PubMed, although primarily covering the medical literature, also indexes the the
journal literature of the entire life sciences. PubScience seeks to do the same for the
physical sciences, covering over 1000 peer-reviewed journal titles. Both services are
provided on the Internet free.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill, accompanied by a report, which suggests that the Energy Dept. dismantle this service. Concern is expressed that it competes unfairly with commercial services.
Science for Society: Cutting-Edge Basic Research in the Service of Public Objectives
http://www.cspo.org/products/reports/scienceforsociety.pdf
Twenty Year Vision Statement
http://www.cspo.org/whoweare/twentyyear.html
A major new effort is underway at CSPO to increase the benefits to society of publicly-funded
scientific research. The project is entitled Basic Research in the Service of Public
Objectives. Formerly known as the Jeffersonian Science Project, the project has been
relocated from Harvard University to CSPO, where it will be co-directed by Harvard Prof.
Lewis Branscomb and CSPO director Daniel Sarewitz. CSPO also will host the project's website,
scienceforsociety.org, which is currently under development.
Project organizers held a conference in November 2000, with participation from many of the nation's leaders in science, technology, and government. A report on the conference was published in May. Entitled “Science for Society: Cutting-Edge Basic Research in the Service of Public Objectives,” the report sets out a blueprint for “an intellectually bold and socially beneficial science policy.”
***The Report can be accessed directly as a .pdf at http://www.cspo.org/products/reports/scienceforsociety.pdf
***To request a hardcopy of the report contact us at cspo@cspo.org.
Also...CSPO's Twenty-Year Vision Statement is now available online. CSPO has produced a 20-year vision statement mapping the development of the organization and its mission to enhance science policy to foster research that addresses society's most critical needs and enable the benefits of scientific discoveries to be distributed more equitably throughout society. The document also provides detail on the organization's current projects, publications, long-term goals, and CSPO staff and affiliated faculty.
***The document can be accessed two ways:
html- http://www.cspo.org/whoweare/twentyyear.html
pdf- http://www.cspo.org/whoweare/twentyyearvision.pdf
***To request a hardcopy of the Twenty Year Vision statement contact us at cspo@cspo.org.
(Thanks to Anne Smith)
The World Health Organization (WHO) and a team of six publishers are planning to publish 1000 medical and scientific publications online and offer them at no cost or low cost to research and medical institutions in the developing world. The publishers include Reed Elsevier, Springer Verlag, John Wiley & Sons, and Blackwell Sciences Ltd. The effort is part of the United Nations initiative lessen the health bridge between the poorer nations and the ones where annual subscriptions can range as high as over $1,000.00. Get the whole story at CNET: http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-6524195.html (From Research Buzz) or from the Washington Post at: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33714-2001Jul8.html
ERIC/AE Abstracts in Progress Database
http://ericae.net/sinprog.htm
“The ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation (ERIC/AE) now offers an experimental
database of abstracts of the most recent articles and papers on assessment, evaluation,
research methods, and learning theory. The database is updated weekly and enables you to search
for recent materials not yet posted to the ERIC database.” (Thanks to Gary Price).
IES Water Database (Middle East Water Database Project)
http://water1.geol.upenn.edu/index.html
In September 2000, the Institute for Environmental Studies of the University of
Pennsylvania assimilated MEWIN, together with its Middle East Water Database Project. IES has
transformed the database into a web-accessible bibliography open to all users anywhere in the
world without charge. The current range of sources in the database encompassing such topics as
hydrology, geography, science and technology, economics, population, politics, law,
management, and strategic affairs will be retained. The database already contains items that
go beyond the Middle East and new bibliographical entries pertaining to other regions will
continue to be added to broaden the scope of the database.
United Nations.
Human development report 2001: making new technologies work for human development.
http://www.undp.org/hdr2001/complete.pdf
Philip S. Antón, Richard Silberglitt, and James Schneider
The Global Technology Revolution: Bio/Nano/Materials Trends and Their Synergies with Information Technology by 2015.
Rand, 2001.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1307/
John C. Baker, Kevin M. O'Connell, and Ray A. Williamson, eds.
Commercial Observation Satellites: At the Leading Edge of Global Transparency.
Rand, 2001.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1229/
The Degree of Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org/index.php
“The goal of the project is to visit each of the latitude and longitude integer degree
intersections in the world, and to take pictures at each location. The pictures, along with
a narrative describing the adventures it took to get there are then posted on this web site.
This creates an organized sampling of the world. . . . I (Alex Jarrett) started the project
in February 1996 because I liked the idea of visiting a location represented by a round
number such as 43°00'00"N 72°00'00"W. What would be there? Would other
people have recognized this as a unique spot? Another reason was that my friend managed to
convince me to buy a GPS and I had to come up with something to do with it. I also hoped to
encourage people to get outside, tromp around in places they normally would never go, and
take pictures of it.” [Thanks to The Finger Searcher Science Seeker]
EarthTrends
http://earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/index.cfm
This website is brought to you by a variety of organizations, including the World Resources
Inst, the World Bank, UNEP, UNDP, the Packard Foundation, the Rasmussen Foundation, and the
Ford Motor Company. With that impressive line-up you are inclined to expect a lot. At this
time, some of the features are a bit sparse, and the navigation a little clumsy, but there
is great promise. You can browse by environmental topic or by resource format. Formats
include databases, maps, country profiles, data tables, and feature articles. Every aspect
of the environment is covered, from economics to marine ecosystems.
Learning with Museums
http://daryl.chin.gc.ca/GateVmc/BrowseForm.cgi?la=e&db=1&search_i=SCIENCES_E&level=3
The Virtual Museum of Canada's 'Learning with Museums' provides links to online science
exhibits in English and French. “Here you will find lesson plans, virtual exhibitions,
pre and post visit resources, event information and hands-on educational activities for
everyone. More than just a Web site, Learning With Museums offers a sophisticated search
engine that seeks out the latest educational materials found on the Web sites of Canadian
museums and other heritage organizations.”
[Thanks to The Finger Searcher Science Seeker]
“Fish vs. farmers presents test case for Bush” -- Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2001/07/11/p2s1.htm
“Both Sides Harden in Oregon Water Dispute” -- Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134315869_klamath09m.html
“Officials Loath to Act as Farmers Divert Water Meant for Endangered”
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/09/national/09KLAM.html?searchpv=day03
Klamath Basin Crisis
http://www.fwaa.org/Klamath.html
Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations
http://www.pond.net/~pcffa/
US Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region
http://www.mp.usbr.gov/kbao/
Water Conservation Policy
http://www.ci.klamath-falls.or.us/PressReleases/waterconservation2001.htm
Species Profile: Lost River Sucker
http://ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/species_profile.html?spcode=E052
Species Profile: Shortnose Sucker
http://ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/species_profile.html?spcode=E055
Southwest Oregon's Klamath River Basin was the site of the nation's first waterfowl refuge,
declared by President Roosevelt in 1908. Now, a move to protect aquatic life in the Klamath
region is the cause of heated dispute among locals and has led the City of Klamath Falls to
sue the US federal government for withholding irrigation water. Earlier this year, US Fish
and Wildlife ruled that this summer's diversion of water from the Klamath River would
threaten the continued existence of the endangered suckerfish and threatened coho salmon.
This ruling, upheld by a federal judge, led the Bureau of Reclamation to withhold irrigation
water from more than 1,400 farms. On July 4, a large group protesting this move cut open an
irrigation headgate on the Klamath River. Also in the fray are people reliant on the fish --
the Klamath Tribes of Oregon and commercial fishers. The following Websites can help readers
examine this multi-faceted debate over water rights and wildlife protection.
To catch up on the details of the crisis, check out the first three news sites. For Klamath water project data, history, and updated news items, go to the Klamath Basin Crisis Website, sponsored by the Far West Agribusiness Association. The Pacific Coast Fisheries Association also features the Klamath Basin water crisis on its Website, where you will find information about threatened salmon of the Klamath River and submitted columns and postings of regulations dealing with fisheries legislation. Other informative sites include that of the Mid-Pacific Region Bureau of Reclamation (which ordered the dam closing), the 2001 Water Conservation Policy posted by the City of Klamath Falls, and pages on the controversial suckers, with illustrations and distribution maps, from the US Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species site. [HCS] (From the Scout Report)
In Their Own Words . . .
http://aidshistory.nih.gov/
Subtitled NIH Researchers Recall the Early Years of Aids, this site begins with the
First Encounters and continues through to the Search for Treatments. Additionally,
there are audio files and Transcripts of National Institute of Health (NIH)
researchers' early recollections. The Timeline begins in 1981 and continues through 1988.
There are also document and image archives and related Links.
- dl (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Bumble Bees
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/bombus/index.html
“Fits this most interesting group of insects into the world in terms of geography
and taxons as wall as giving some history of the various names. And it is not to be
faulted for lack of credits and footnotes.”
[From The Finger Searcher Science Seeker]
123Genomics
http://123genomics.com/
The providers of this searchable metasite have, over the years, accumulated hundreds of
genomics-related bookmarks which they now share freely. The eighteen major categories at
123 genomics each contain dozens of links to bioinformatics- and genomics-related science
news, research labs, databases, scientific societies, protocol guides, etc. Examples of
the category headings include Microarrays, Molecular Pathways, Sequence Databases,
Journals and Publications, and Diseases and Disorders. This simply designed site provides
enough good resources to keep most graduate students and researchers of bioinformatics
happy and well informed. [HCS] (From the Scout Report)
RoboCup 2001
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Erobocup2001/
“RoboCup 2001, A Major International Event Featuring Autonomous Soccer-Playing and
Rescue Robots, Makes U.S. Debut in Seattle, Aug. 2-10. RoboCup-2001 will feature teams of
robots ranging in size from some so small they'll compete on a ping-pong table-sized field
to others the size of adult humans. They've been developed by some of the brightest minds
at academic institutions around the world doing research in multi-agent and multi-robot
systems.
The robots will meet on the convention floor in four different competitions, including the Simulation League, Small-size Robot League, Middle-size Robot League and the Sony Legged Robot League. There will also be demonstrations of humanoid robots and a competition using robots to simulate a rescue mission in a real disaster scenario, like an earthquake or mudslide.” It's fun just reading about this event! There is plenty of information at this site, although navigation isn't straightforward.
Engineer Girl!
http://www.engineergirl.org/nae/cwe/egmain.nsf/
This searchable Web site provides biographical sketches, project highlights, and links
for visitors interested in space, medicine, the environment, or communications
engineering. One feature offers engineers' e-mail answers to user questions. A section
titled Why Be an Engineer enthusiastically answers the question by providing career
possibilities, educational preparation, and salary information. Other sections are Fun
Facts, Great Achievements, Cool Links, Gallery of Women Engineers, Cool Readings, Class
Projects, Mentoring, and Homework Help. The best way to get around the site is through
the Site Map. - rv (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
American Solar Challenge
http://www.formulasun.org/asc/
“From July15 to 25th, 2001, 2300 miles of solar raycing will challenge teams from
around the world. High tech and high efficiency solar cars will cross the Great Plains,
climb the Rocky Mountains, and dash over the Great American Desert to the finish line
in Southern California.” This event is sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
This site provides a “Tour of a Solar Car”, route maps, rules of the
contest, team profiles, and more.
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention & Innovation
http://www.si.edu/lemelson/
The Lemelson Center is a place to explore the exciting world of invention. Whether
you're a student, teacher, inventor, or history buff, you'll find things you can use
here. See what's just been added to the website at “What's New.” Check
out upcoming programs at “Events.” Click on “CenterPieces”
for virtual exhibits and in-depth explorations of invention topics. Start
“Digging Deeper” to access resources on the history of invention. Find
out more about the Center's founder, Jerome Lemelson, and the work we do in
“About the Center.” What a fun website!
Volcano Live
http://www.volcanolive.com/
Volcanologist John Seach's site features several jaw-dropping photographs of your host
casually ogling massive plumes of spouting lava. It's also bursting with constantly
updated information on all things volcanic. Check out live volcano cams, breaking
volcano eruption news, the latest satellite images of active volcanoes, and suggested
travel spots for die-hard volcano fans. And don't miss the photographs of huge,
perfectly formed smoke rings puffed out by Mount Etna. (From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
Wind Chill Factor
http://observe.ivv.nasa.gov/nasa/earth/wind_chill/chill_home.html
All about sensible or equivalent temperature and how the wind affects how cold you
feel. This site from the NASA Observatorium explains hypothermia, has a wind chill
chart, temperature conversion calculator, information on cold weather dangers and how
to dress to protect from them, as well as links to other sites about wind chill.
- cl (From Librarain's Index to the Internet)
Utah Geology
http://www.ugs.state.ut.us/geoinfo.htm
Created by the Utah Geological Survey, this website provides links to many different
geological topics including, Earthquakes & Hazards, Dinosaurs & Fossils and the
Great Salt Lake. Extensive links and maps make this site worth “digging” into.
[Thanks to InfoMine]
Hurricane! 2001
http://hurricane.accuweather.com/adchurr/index.asp
This site provides a wealth of information on past and present hurricanes and tropical
storms in six geographical regions. Weather forecasts and updates, satellite photos,
hurricane “fact files,” storm preparation tips, and a list of
“retired” storm names are all included.
- bpr (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Simple, Common, and Interesting Molecules
http://www.recipnet.indiana.edu/common/common.html
“Molecules are the smallest collection of atoms of a compound which retains the
properties of that material.” This site explores the structures of a variety of
common molecules. They are divided into various categories including Minerals; Elements;
Vitamins; Medicines, Drugs and Stimulants; Environmental; Plants and Stuff; Amino Acids;
Poisons; and more. Each molecule includes a brief description and a model. From the
Molecular Structure Center at the University of Indiana.
- dl (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Molecular Universe
http://www.molecularuniverse.com/
“This fantastic resource for college-level students of chemistry provides abundant
images and explanatory text on molecules and molecular systems. The site's main provider
is Richard Catlow, Director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory at the Royal
Institution of Great Britain. Molecular Universe presents a collection of lessons,
arranged into categories such as Building in Three Dimensions, Boundaries and Barriers,
and The Molecules of Life. The sleek color illustrations demonstrate everything from
diamond structure to a DNA molecule. Highlights of the site include a detailed look at
protein folding, how molecules taste, and molecules and computers. Both students and
professors should journey to the Molecular Universe.” [From the Scout Report]
Working Chemists with Disabilities
http://membership.acs.org/C/CWD/workchem/start.htm
Brought to you by the American Chemical Society, this website has biographies and photos
of chemists with disabilities working at academic institutions, government, and private
industry.
21st Century
http://www.21stcentury.co.uk/
Find out where we're at. The site offers a wide selection of scientific concepts
concerning the formation of the universe and includes summaries of Newtonian mechanics,
quantum theory, The Big Bang, black holes, relativity, singularities and other related
material. Potted summaries of nanotechnology, natural selection, SETI and much more are
all here, attractively illustrated, and make for a nice site to potter around for a
little less than a century but for a few moments more than the average. There's a nice
basic 'definition' of consciousness and where our understanding and philosophy have led
us. But, consciousness, like many other phenomena are like jazz, as Louis Armstrong
said: 'Man, if you gotta ask what it is, you're never gonna know.'
DB (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Quia Mathematics
http://www.quia.com/dir/math/
Don't be deceived by the somewhat bland appearance of this site; while it may lack
flashy bells and whistles, it makes up the difference with content. At first glance,
the site appears to be a compilation of math activities in the form of simple games,
such as matching squares. A student can get quite a bit of practice with
multiplication, simple alebra equations, counting change and such. But there is
another activity in which games can be created, in thirteen different modes.
Registration is required, but it's free, and, if you so choose, you can put your
game up for reviews and ratings. AD (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Time Travel
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/time/
If you have ever struggled to get to grips with relativity, time travel and all those
flashlights on speeding trains, then this site might help you get a new frame of
reference, or rather, let you see why there is no absolute frame of reference and
that everything is relative. A Q&A section leads you through a hypothetical
version of Einstein's thought experiments to get you to that point in the shortest
spacetime possible. Talking of getting from A to B, the site carries an interesting
interview with Carl Sagan, which you can read, or better still, listen to in Real
Audio, to hear has sadly missed tones. A neat and concise glossary will provide you
with the defining points with which to dazzle your dinner party guests.
DB (From New Scientist Planet Science)
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org/ida/index.html
“IDA's goals are to be effective in stopping the adverse environmental impact
on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of the
solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of quality
nighttime lighting.” This site provides detailed information and news stories
as well as a newsletter and related links.
Archimedes Palimpsest
http://www.thewalters.org/archimedes/frame.html
“The Archimedes Palimpsest now in the care of the Walters Art Gallery is a
manuscript . . . a rather small and unprepossessing manuscript. It has been
damaged by mold, fire, and abuse.
Christie's Images, Ltd., 1998
It is nonetheless priceless, because it contains a compendium of mathematical treatises by Archimedes of Syracuse. Most importantly, it includes the only copy of the treatise Method of Mechanical Theorems, in which Archimedes explained how he drew upon mechanical means to elucidate his mathematical theorems.” A lovely site, with the history of the book and an Archimedes timeline.
Antarctic Connection
http://www.antarcticconnection.com/
Specializes in “all things antarctic.” Offers photo galleries,
headlines, weather and history sections. Numerous links and a innumerable penguin
products.
Polar Bears Alive
http://www.polarbearsalive.org/index.html
“Polar Bears Alive is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the worldwide
conservation of the polar bear.” Lots of basic information on Polar Bears,
a great photo gallery to jazz up your desktop, along with arctic news and maps.
Glacier Image Database
http://tvl1.geo.uc.edu/ice/Image/imageref.html
A collection of photographs illustrating glaciation and its effects upon the earth's
surface. The images are organized by topics such as erosion, the ice margin, and
glacial lakes, each of which is further divided into images showing a glacier's
process, the deposits created, and the landforms left behind. From the University of
Cincinnati's Geology Department. - dfs (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
The Cryosat Mission
http://www.estec.esa.nl/explorer/cryosat/
“CryoSat is the first satellite to be realized in the framework of the
Earth Explorer Opportunity Missions of ESA's Living Planet Programme. The mission
concept has been selected in 1999 with an anticipated launch in 2003. It is a
radar altimetry mission dedicated to observations of the polar regions. The goal
is to study possible climate variability and trends by determine variations in
thickness of the Earth's continental ice sheets and marine sea ice cover.”
Written in Stone - Inscriptions from the National Museum of Saudi Arabia
http://www.mnh.si.edu/epigraphy/
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rich in ancient inscriptions. They form a priceless
resource for the study of the region's cultural and linguistic heritage. Throughout
the country, inscriptions were etched, engraved, pecked, or even sometimes carved
in bas-relief on stones or on the rock-faces of cliffs and hills.
“Income and Racial Disparities in the Undercount in the 2000 Presidential Election”
http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdf/electionsnationalstudy.pdf
Press Release
This week, the House Committee on Government Reform released the first national study
correlating income, race, and vote-counting in the last presidential election. While
the report is short, the findings are significant. Examining 40 districts in 20 states,
the committee found that voters in high-minority, low-income districts were, on average,
three times more likely to have their votes discarded than voters in high-income,
low-minority districts. Improved voting technology reduced uncounted votes in
high-minority, low-income districts by as much as 85%. [TK] (From the Scout Report)
Indigenous Australia [RealPlayer]
http://www.dreamtime.net.au/
The Indigenous Australia Website, presented in affiliation with the Australian Museum
and the Australia's Cultural Network, combines two Websites -- Dreaming Online and
Stories of the Dreaming (see the July 16, 1999 _Scout Report_) -- into one comprehensive
resource. An engaging introduction to the 60,000-year-old cultural heritage of
Australia's Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, the site is divided into four
main sections: Background Info, Stories of the Dreaming, For Kids, and For Teachers. The
Background section provides users with a nice overview, accompanied by images, of art
and dress, spiritual and family life, the relationship of indigenous peoples to the
land, and their interactions with British colonists, as well as a fairly detailed
timeline. Stories of the Dreaming offers short movies of people reciting the tales from
their ancestors about the land, sea, and animals. These were filmed in the rugged
backdrop of Australia and are available as low or high quality videos (RealPlayer) or as
audio or text only. The Teachers and Kids pages supply additional resources including
links, a glossary, a FAQ, and advice on teaching lessons in indigenous studies.
[HCS] (From the Scout Report)
Quipus
http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/~lipi/quipu/quipu.html
Developed by the Incas, the quipu, or knot record, was a reliable way to keep track of
things if you did not have a written language. This site from Leiden University gives
a brief introduction to the quipu and its history, and also instructions on making a
quipu of your own. (Thanks to Netsurfer Science).
African Writing Systems
http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/Writing_Systems/Amharic.html
This site from Cornell University is a very, very brief introduction to a variety of
writing systems developed by various African cultures. Samples of the scripts are
displayed. (Thanks to Netsurfer Science.)
The following items are from Edupage. To subscribe to Edupage: send mail to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: subscribe edupage Anonymous (if your name is Anonymous; otherwise, substitute your own name). To unsubscribe send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: unsubscribe edupage. (If you have subscription problems, send mail to: manager@educom.unc.edu.)
SCIENTISTS RAISE FIBER-OPTIC LIMITS
Fiber-optic lines can handle up to 100 terabits of data per second, enough to transmit
2 billion phone calls or 20 billion one-page e-mails, reported scientists at Lucent
Technologies' Bell Laboratories. That speed is far faster than the current rate of
fiber optic transmission and 10 times faster than the top speed previously achieved in
laboratory experiments. Previous attempts to identify the maximum speed possible on
fiber-optic systems have been stymied by the number of variables in the technology,
which depends on the behavior of light and the physical properties of glass. However,
the Bell Laboratories scientists built a model of a fiber-optic system by using
quantum physics and information theory. The scientists say their conclusions prove
that fiber optics will be more than able to handle high-bandwidth technologies.
“The fact that you know networks can be scaled in this way means optical fiber
is a good way to grow your system,” said physicist Partha Mitra, who led the
Bell Laboratories research team.
(InformationWeek.com, 28 June 2001 via Edupage)
SNEAKERNET, ETHERNET, FLUORONET?
Steven Leeb, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science at MIT, has developed a way to transmit analog and digital data
through fluorescent lights. Each fluorescent light fixture has magnetic ballasts to
create the electrical pulses that trigger the lights. In a normal fluorescent light,
the pulses occur at regular intervals; in lights that use Leeb's technology, the
pulses occur in intervals that transmit such data as text, graphics, or audio. PCs
or handheld devices equipped with special optical transceivers receive and then
display this data. Leeb envisions the technology initially being used to send data
such as simple directions to users, especially those with disabilities, in public
places.
(InformationWeek.com, 2 July 2001 via Edupage)
A NEED TO KNOW
The Library of Congress is launching a system to link reference libraries across
geographical areas in order to let the libraries refer questions outside their
purview to libraries that specialize in those areas. Although still under
development, the reference system -- known as the Collaborative Digital Reference
Service (CDRS) -- is already being used in some libraries. CDRS creator Diane
Kresh, director for public service collections at the Library of Congress, said
the system was hatched to allow reference librarians to remain relevant in an age
when the Internet provides instant access to a smorgasbord of information.
Although Web reference sites and search engines use keyword recognition to pull
up Web site reference points, CDRS can, for example, send baseball-focused
questions to librarians at baseball-focused libraries or military questions to
military librarians. CDRS asks libraries to complete a Web-based profile before
joining the system. So far, 100 institutions have joined, including libraries in
America, Canada, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
(Federal Computer Week Online, 2 July 2001 via Edupage)
PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST IN MOBILE TECH
Researchers at Stanford University are developing what they call Mobile People
Architecture (MPA), a technology to ensure that human beings are not lost among
the many devices now at their disposal. “The main goal of the [MPA] is to
put the person, rather than the devices that the person uses, at the endpoints
of a communications session,” the researchers said. Stanford assistant
professor of computer science and electrical engineering Mary Baker is working
on a “personal-level router.” The device would allow individuals to
assign themselves a communications handle common to multiple devices -- e-mail,
cell phone, wired phone -- and would route incoming communications to whichever
device was nearest the individual. The MPA also includes privacy measures,
including filters and giving emergency messages priority over spam messages.
Researchers said the MPA is compatible across all types of networks and, rather
than requiring users to employ a smart card or some other kind of access device,
can be incorporated in an existing network with only 200 lines or less of Java code.
(M-CommerceTimes, 9 July 2001 via Edupage).
An Animated History of Books
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/bookcase/historyofbooks/
A fun, quick tour through the history of books from cave paintings to the future. Brought
to you by the BBC.
Physics Quotation Page
http://www.escape.ca/~dcc/phys/quotes.html
This page is still in development and testing. You can't search for a particular quotation,
but you can be peppered with interesting quotations by various physicists -- and many of
them are delightful. For instance, “Basic research is what I am doing when I don't
know what I am doing.” -- Werner von Braun. A fun site to visit!
Museum of Hoaxes
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/
This interesting website has the scoop on some of the famous hoaxes in history. You can
browse by date or by subject category, included several of the sciences. The site also
includes a gullibility test, the origin of the word hoax, the top ten April Fool's
hoaxes of all time, and hoax websites. Enjoy!
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