Which console for me?

If I were in charge of buying a gaming system for my library... well, first of that, I doubt that'd ever happen, because I work in a public school library, and we barely have enough time for computers and library instruction, let alone time to play video games. However, if I was to buy a video game system for a library...

First, I'd take into consideration the capabilities and limitations of various systems. I know from personal experience that the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii can wirelessly connect to other global users, and all three systems use wireless controllers. The Xbox and Wii allow up to 4 controllers to be connected at a time, while the PS3 allows up to 7 controllers to be connected via Bluetooth technology.

Armed with this background knowledge and the experience of having played on all three systems, I'd first look for other libraries who have a gaming program, to get their input on the program. Next, I'd look for reviews of the systems, either from CNET or Consumer Reports. I'd also look into expandability (extra controllers, extra memory, the library's own internet connectivity) and cost (the system itself, games, extra controllers, possibly upgrading to wireless internet).

Finally, I'd make my choice. I'd go with the Wii. I've played on all three systems, and the Wii is the most fun. It's "Mii" feature is a fun way for users to identify themselves on the system, and the family-friendly nature of many of the games is appealing to a broad audience. On the negative side, the Wii can be somewhat dangerous (my boyfriend put a hole in his friend's basement ceiling while playing Wii baseball), so I'd definitely utilize a "referee" while the system is in use. Otherwise, the Wii has broad appeal and is easy to use. I'd recommend it.

Boyd reading

If this were a strict question, the lesson that libraries should take away from the boyd reading is that libraries should be cognizant of where they advertise online, because certain networks appeal to certain audiences. If a library is in a lower-class area, it should advertise on MySpace, where it would receive the most attention. If a library is in an upper-class area, it should advertise on Facebook, where its users are likely to be members.

What propels this disparity? How many times has MySpace been on the news as a vehicle for pedophiles and stalkers? Many. How many times has Facebook gotten the same bad rap? None that I can recall. I don't believe that either service is inherently bad or for one class only, but because it's a social networking site, users will gravitate towards the site their friends are using. Because Facebook started out as a ".edu" only site, they naturally have more college-educated users. MySpace is open to all, and doesn't require any kind of credentials, making it accessible for the working class and beyond.

Ning

Overall, Ning seems like it would be great for use in a work environment, if you work with people who are accepting of new technologies and willing to participate. For the comparison, I love pros and cons, so here we go:

Pros:
- can be set to be totally private, including a member log-in and new member approval
- because of privacy settings, would be good for office/school setting
- nice templates, easy to customize
- easy to set up, add/drop features
- allows personalized domain name (for a fee)
- if used in business, allows for younger employees to keep Facebook/MySpace accounts separate from work

Cons:
- hefty price for ad removal, extra storage
- if used in business, must educate users on how to use Ning
- has potential for being a timewaster ala Facebook/MySpace
- may be automatically blocked by some business networks

Facebook screencast

I was totally new to Facebook, so I made myself a little tutorial on how to upload and change your profile picture.

Watch it here: how to change your Facebook picture

MySpace and Facebook stickiness

So when I first looked at this question, I interpreted "sticky" to mean difficult or awkward. I had to dig a little deeper to understand that "sticky" means what keeps people coming back. The obvious draw is the social aspect of it - if all your friends are doing it, you should be too. It's easy to keep tabs on your friends this way. Aside from being a personal, customizable web space, Facebook and MySpace have a kind of built-in Twitter aspect, your "status." Your status is basically like a tweet on Twitter - it's your mood, what you're doing, how you're feeling. Aside from that, there's the popularity contest side - the more "friends" you have, the more popular you are.

I never used Facebook or MySpace before this class (before this Monday, actually). Friends of mine who use Facebook and MySpace on a regular basis say they're a good way to keep in touch with people and to coordinate group activities. I always shunned them, because I wasn't interested in being "found;" I would rather see my friends in real life than virtually. But I can see the advantages - keeping in touch quickly and easily, sharing photos and videos.

If all else fails, both of these sites would make a great interface for stalkers.

How to make a pie graph in Excel

For my screencast, I decided to create something that I could show to the 598 class as well as my students. Students in 3-5th grade use Excel to create graphs, so I thought I'd demonstrate how to create a pie graph using Excel 2007. Enjoy!

Please click here to view - http://screencast.com/t/BVV6jdla

YouTube

I've never been a huge fan of YouTube, save for looking up funny videos of animals. In fact, the whole video week was new to me overall. I was surprised at how professional some of the videos looked (and how amateur mine were in comparison). However, there were many that I enjoyed.

My favorites:

Librarians must have cardigans - I have a deep and abiding love of cardigans

Bah humbug! - my sentiments exactly

How to clean your house in a minute or less - love the use of baskets!

Addicted to the net - cause I am, too.

Thanks to those who enjoyed my videos!