Digital – Page 52

Traditional Media Still Hanging On

By Melody Smith | September 14, 2011

Despite the predictions of many, the death of traditional media may not have arrived, just yet. The latest Ipsos Mendelsohn survey of affluent Americans reveals less than 20% of “rich” Americans have embraced newer technologies.

Font Awareness

By Melody Smith | September 5, 2011 |

Shelf Awareness is a Web-based resource for readers and those in the book trade. It was brought my attention by Marilyn Dahl, Shelf Awareness’s book review editor. (Full disclosure, Marilyn is my cousin.) I bring this wonderful resource to your attention for a variety of reasons not the least of which is their free email newsletter service for readers and one for professionals in the book trade. Twice a week I get an email containing reviews of a wide variety of new, recent, and sometimes classic, fiction and nonfiction works.

The Information Age-less

By Melody Smith | August 29, 2011

In a blog post last week, I discussed Robert Darnton’s recently published article in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “The Chronicle Review”, where Mr. Darnton identified and debunked, “5 Myths About the Information Age.” The first myth he debunked was the notion that the book is dead. Not only is the book not dead, it is thriving. I commented on the relationship between the printed page and how it can be supported by digital content and vice versa. One can drive greater usage of the other, if the digital content is effectively designed.

From Paper To Digital

By Melody Smith | August 22, 2011 |

Reading anything on digital devices has many physical, behavioral, and psychological limitations as well as advantages. At the very least, eye fatigue sets in even before the battery warning light starts scolding you. A digital summer read at the beach becomes fraught with hazards as sand starts creeping into your iPad and the glare has given you a crushing headache. Will your pursuit of a great vacation read drive you indoors? Under the porch? Into the deep woods? Will you become a pasty white, reclusive figure forever lurking in the darker recesses of society in search of shadowy environs so you can catch, glare free, that illusive, perfectly crafted phrase? Digital readers are getting better at handling varied lighting conditions, but there are still challenges.

Archiving Digital Requires Standards

By Melody Smith | July 29, 2011

Every business is dealing with data storage issues, but in the world of media and entertainment, the demise of the videotape and the prevalence of digital creates a perfect storm of data volume. Without the tangible backup tape, archiving digital data carries more weight than ever before. The urgent need for more secure archives than a mix of external hard drives, cloud storage and proprietary data tapes is here.

Renting e-Books Could Save a Few Trees

By Melody Smith | July 27, 2011

With Amazon’s announcement about the Kindle Textbook Rental program, it makes one wonder how many basement hackers are gearing up to swipe content and begin a new career. It isn’t that I don’t think it is a good idea, I think it is a great idea. Besides the whole saving a tree benefit, textbook costs are a big black hole of which you never get a return. Even reselling books is pennies on the dollar and usually you are stuck with them. Almost everyone has a box of textbooks tucked away in their storage area because you just can’t stand the thought of tossing thousands of dollars worth of books. Instead, you move them from location to location, thinking someday you will find someone who can use them.

Goldfire 6.6 Released

By Melody Smith | July 27, 2011

Invention Machine is making available Invention Machine Goldfire 6.6, the Company’s innovation intelligence platform. The latest release features enhancements that help companies build and foster a collaborative culture for accelerating innovative products and services to market.

Chicago Conference Focuses on Resource Sharing

By Melody Smith | July 22, 2011

“Resource Sharing in the Digital Age” is the theme for the upcoming Interlending & Document Supply Conference, sponsored by IFLA and ALA. The event will take place September 19-21, 2011 in Chicago.

Arizona Courthouse Goes Digital

By Melody Smith | July 22, 2011

Arizona court system chooses BMI Imaging’s Digital ReeL as its microfilm and microfiche conversion solution. This new process will be a far cry from the cumbersome and expensive archiving steps required in the past. With their unique indexing requirements, the solution that best made digitizing court records efficient for them was Digital ReeL.

Digitizing History

By Melody Smith | July 20, 2011

It seems simple, even obvious. But in Southern Illinois, it had not been done yet. Shurtleff College, one of the predecessors to SIUE, has leapt into the digital age with nearly four decades’ worth of yearbooks now are online.