Reading Notes 4

Reading Notes for 9/27

Data Compression
I have used various ZIP files and programs before, so have been familiar with the benefits of data compression without giving much consideration to the process. It is interesting that we can use "lossy" methods to compress audio files because of the limits of human hearing. Couldn't we eliminate those frequencies when creating the original files and keep them smaller to begin with? It seems obvious that the more advanced our visual capture equipment (i.e. digital cameras, HD video recorders, 3D video recorders, etc.) the more difficult it will be for any of these compression styles to shrink file size by a significant percentage.

Imagining Pittsburgh
This is a great specific example of the multitude of challenges that arise in multidisciplinary collaborations. Interdisciplinary and interinstitutional projects are the ideal of open science proponents, and the photographic database created by the project is a great resource that would not have been put together otherwise, but it is probably a recurring difficulty with projects of this nature to get everyone on the same page for issues even as intrinsic as subject language. Imagine the difficulties that must arise when collaborators do not even have the same geographic region in common.

YouTube and Libraries
Libraries need to be less conservative and more innovative in their tactics to gain patrons, and the popularity of YouTube combined with its cost ($0) make it a great tool. I know the Volunteer Services department and the Development department at CLP use it occasionally, but could get much more benefit by using some of the ideas in this article, like online tours, services descriptions, and database tutorials.