Welcome to TechTips. The goal of this site is to inform and educate the students, staff, and faculty of The Ohio State University Libraries System about various emerging technologies that may impact the services that the Libraries provide.
I received an email from a colleague about a month or so ago about a search engine they uncovered, called DeepDyve. DeepDyve was started in 2005 by two scientists who had previously worked on the Human Genome Project. It makes sense that the search engine searches for information spanning the life sciences, medicine, and patents. ( Note: Steve Wozniak as a member of their advisory board.)
The original focus of the company was to build a powerful research search engine. While most search engine queries consist of just few words, DeepDyve queries can be as complex as the searcher desires: a few words, whole sentences, paragraphs, anything up to 25,000 characters. DeepDyve indexes entire phrases of up to 20 words each, compared to most search engines indexes individual keywords.
A funny thing happened. The company changed their focus.
While DeepDyve still makes use of their proprietary search engine technology, they are now marketing themselves as an online research rental service that provides access to over 30 million articles from thousands of authoritative journals for as little as $0.99 per article.
In is important to emphasize that DeepDyve is not selling copies of the articles., they rent them. The rental fee provides 24 hours of unlimited viewing of that article. A silver plan of $10 per month provides up to 20 articles per month for 7 days. The gold plan of $20 per month provides access to an unlimited number of articles for an unlimited amount of time.
The proprietary flash-based viewer does not allow for download, screen capture, or printing of an article. One can only read the articles on screen. The service does provide personalized suggestions, bookmarks, alerts and related articles.
Although DeepDyve has signed up 25 publishers, some prominent ones are missing. For example, Elsevier. The following are some of the publishers available:
DeepDyve presents another challenge for academic librarians. There is a good chance that many of the journals and articles available to researchers from DeepDyve have already been licensed by the library. How many researchers will use this service and pay yet again for the use of a work?
What would be really useful is if DeepDyve could incorporate openurl to redirect users back to a local copy rather then simply renting it from their own collection.
-Eric Schnell
October 29th, 2009
The folks at Google released 100,000 invites today to preview their new model of Web-based communication and collaboration, called Google Wave.
Since it has been in private beta, one has to rely upon others to explain what Wave is. It has been described “as much of a real-time chat room as a platform for editing documents collaboratively. It can also be used as a Wiki, to replace email and IM within an organization, or just to organize a pub crawl.”
A “wave” is equal parts conversation and document, where people can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more. Each Wave consists of a threaded forum combined with a wiki, IM, and email that are then combined into a single interface.
In Google Wave, one can create a Wave and the add others to it. Everyone can insert content or edit in the Wave. Since each Wave is updated in real time, others can see content as it is being created. The service can be used for quick messages and persistent content — it allows for both collaboration and communication.
A playback feature allows one to watch a Wave as it evolved, providing access to edits, who made them, and in what context. A locally hosted Wave server can interact with other Wave servers, but will also have the option of keeping their content private or limited to specific users.
Check out Wave in this 10-min abridged video of this hour presentation:
If you are one of the lucky ones to get an invite early on, please make sure to comment on your experience.
-Eric Schnell
September 30th, 2009
In the movie The Terminator, the viewer is taken frequently to the Terminator’s point-of view.
We know this is Terminator’s POV because there is image digitization and the people he is chasing are more luminous than objects in the foreground and background, which suggests infra-red. In the margins of the view we see columns of characters, including numbers and acronyms. The data changes so rapidly that it leaves no doubt that we are seeing the world as the Terminator sees it.
Science fiction? Well, parts of the Terminator’s POV are no longer scifi.
Augmented reality (AR) is the application of computer-generated imagery embedded into live-video streams as a way to expand information as it relates to the real-world. Through the use of AR technology, information about a user’s surrounding environment, and the objects within it, are stored and then retrieved as an information layer on top of a live real world view.
Since one really need to see it in action to understand it:
As far as using AR technology in libraries, Ken Fujiuchi proposes possible uses:
“When someone finds a book in the library catalog, they can have the option to snap a QR code or unique image of the book, which will first store the information about the book. Then the user can first be directed to a specific section of the library, and once they are in the right section they can use a mobile device to scan the book spines to start being guided towards the book they are looking for.”
Helene Blowers paints this scenario:
“When I shift my thinking about AR apps to the physical library space I see our whole collection opening up before our eyeballs. Imagine the ability to walk down an aisle and see the reviews and popularity of an entire shelf titles just by pointing the camera lens on your phone at the spines (or outfacing covers).”
Here are some other possible uses for AR, with the assumption every information source and service is networked:
- Scan a building to find out if study rooms are available
- Scan a building to identify hours of service, or which librarians are on duty. Touch screen to contact (text, IM, etc.)
- Scan a bank of public terminals to identify which ones are open
- 3-D images of special collection artifacts are viewable from a QR code or bib record.
- Physical exhibits can provide 3-D images of supplemental materials
Do you have any ideas?
Resources:
Educause: 7 things you should know about Augmented Reality
How Stuff Works: Augmented Reality
-Eric Schnell
September 21st, 2009
A growing number of university organizations are now managing an online presence on Twitter. In a complex organization like OSU’s library system, there could be accounts for news and events, accounts for any number of special collections, and accounts for projects and initiatives.
The larger the organization the greater the likelihood that several people will be responsible for managing the content stream. Having multiple accounts being managed by multiple individuals can get quite complicated.
One tool that can help with organizational management of multiple Twitter streams is called CoTweet. I have been using it for about a week and it has already saved me a great deal of time managing my three accounts. I just added a co-worker to one of the accounts so they can help manage the stream as they play with Twitter.
Features of CoTweet include:
- Web-based. CoTweet is browser-based. There’s nothing to install.
- Support for Multiple accounts. Twitter clients like TweetDeck and Seesmic Desktop already offer support for multiple accounts. Such support is essential for larger organizations managing several profiles.
- Support for Multiple users. Allows multiple users to Tweet from an account. Also allows individual @replies to be redirected to a team member for followup, who get an email alert that they have an assignment.
- Delayed Publication of Updates. Specific updates can be set to be published at a predetermined time.
- Conversation threads. Tracks conversations between your team and any individual over time. Allows one to see which Tweets have been @replied to in order to prevent repeating or contradict an earlier @reply.
- Cotags. Short signatures (e.g. ^ES) that allow a content manager to identify themselves as being responsible for publishing a message.
- Keyword search. Can create persistent searches for specific keywords.
-Eric Schnell
August 11th, 2009
Hashtags are used by Twitter users to make it easier to search for tweets about specific topics and events. A hashtag consists of a word or code which is preceded by a “#” which helps denote what the tweet is about. Think of it as tweet-metadata. Hashtags allows specific tweets to be searchable and discoverable along with other tweets that contain the same hashtag.
For example:
#ala2009 : American Library Association 2009 Annual Meeting
#ohiostate : No explanation needed
Hashtags have become popular as a tool to track updates in real time especially during conferences or community events. Hashtags have also come into their own during crises and disasters, such as the #iranelection.
One issue with hashtags is that there is no hashtag registration or authority. Tags are ‘claimed’ by a group simply be using it. However, a single tag could also refer to several topic threads, a common occurrence is with conference hashtags. For example, #mla09 was used for annual meetings of the Maryland Library Association and the Medical Library Association which met within days of each other. A startup called Hashtag Directory is an attempt at a registration service.
A service that tracks tags currently in use is #Hashtags.
Some hashtags can be confusing at times because there’s little context for them. For example, how long would it take to figure out #tdf was the hashtag for the Tour de France? One source than can help identify hashtags is called What The Hashtag, a community-built encyclopedia that provides detailed definitions and context of hashtags and any trending topics. The site also provides stats, real-time stream monitoring, and charts.
Finally, hashtags can also be used by spammers and marketers to artificially boost the use of the tag so that is seen as a tending topic, which then drives more traffic. A recent example of this was an Apple Macbook giveaway based on posts which include the hashtag #moonfruit. (see, now you will go there and create even more interest)
While hashtags aren’t a perfect solution they are getting the job done. That is until a librarian gets involved and creates a hashtag authority file, registration system, and standard naming conventions.
-Eric Schnell
July 8th, 2009
There is an advanced option within Google Scholar that makes it easier to access OSU Libraries electronic and print resources. Since OSU Libraries that make their resources available via an OpenURL link resolver, Scholar automatically links to these resources as a part of search results.
Scholar identifies a user’s physical location using their computer’s Internet address. It then automatically populates the Library Links options for on-campus users, which can be viewed by selecting the Scholar Preferences option.
On-campus users will then see additional links in Google Scholar search results which facilitate access to their library’s resources.These links are directed to OSUL and OhioLINK servers which determines which journals OSUL subscribes to electronically and links to articles from those sources.
It is important to note that these options only appear automatically for on-campus users, they do not appear automatically for off-campus or mobile users. Since OSU Libraries have their holdings listed in WorldCat, Google Scholar also links for each result to WorldCat so users can find the book in a local library.
All off-campus Scholar users will see a ‘Library Search’ link for book results. Clicking on this link will direct users to the WorldCat system which will allow them to find a list of nearby libraries that have the desire.
One can also geolocate Scholar using these following steps:
- Click Scholar Preferences
- Type the name of your library in the ‘Library Links’ section
- Click Save Preferences
- Start searching with links to your library’s resources (you may need to authenticate yourself to access these resources
-Eric Schnell
June 25th, 2009
The other week I got a ‘tweet’ from a new colleague. The update seemed harmless enough. It enthusiastically pointed me a web site they thought was humorous. Suspecting nothing, I clicked on it. I thought it a bit odd when my browser opened to my Twitter account requesting that I log in, odd since I didn’t remember logging out. Then nothing appeared to happened.
Moments later, an update appeared from my account which was identical to the one my colleague sent. My stomach sank. I was Twitter scammed. (Yes, it does happens to IT folks from time-to-time!) I immediately logged in on a different machine and changed my password.
A number of updates were soon posted that it was a wide spread attack. Within a few hours Twitter had cleaned up all these infected message and reset those peoples’ passwords. The hacked accounts were used to tweet spam pushing diet supplements.
After getting over my embarrassment for falling for it (but hey, even a CNN anchor got his account hacked), I performed some forensics work on my colleague’s update. I used this experience to come up with a few tips on how to avoid getting caught up in a Twitter phishing scam:
- While shortened URLs help keep updates under the 140 character limit, they also make it easy for someone to embed a fraudulent address into an update since there are no clues on the authenticity. I like to use TweetDeck since it expands the shortened URLs in updates so they can be examined. To check where they lead, visit longurl.com or install the LongURLPlease plug-ins that lets you hover over a shortened link and see the full URL before you click.
- If you have gotten caught up in a phishing scam you should change your password immediately. If that password is used for other sites you may wish to change those as well.
- Delete the infected messages from your Twitter feed and from wherever else they were syndicated.
-Eric Schnell
June 11th, 2009
Wolfram Alpha is a ‘computational knowledge engine’ that answers questions, solves equations, and cross-references data types by synthesizing it into different combinations. The goal of WA is to make systematic knowledge immediately computable by drawing on terabytes of curated data.
The service is the brainchild of Stephen Wolfram, who is behind the Mathematica computational software and author of the book A New Kind Of Science. Mathematica includes data is curated by more than 100 Wolfram employees whom over the years have built a large knowledge base.
Now, you can have access to it as well.
People usually approach and compare WA to Google when they first use it. They type in standard queries, such as their own name, and quickly become frustrated when there are no results. However, WA is NOT a search engine. The service is not trying to out-Google Google.
It doesn’t index Web sites, scans keywords in a search query, and return a list documents that may contain an answer like Google does. It isn’t a community-sourced knowledge base, like Wikipedia. It doesn’t parse natural language and then retrieve documents from other data sources, like Powerset.
Instead, WA reads a question in natural language, scans its databases, and provides an answer using facts, figures, models, charts, and illustrations. It actually computes an answer to a question. WA presents all the results in its own interface rather then sending the searcher onto other Web sites.
The service is available for ad hoc, personal, non-commercial use only. For such use anyone is welcome to download results, print copies, and store downloaded content on your computer.
It’s current knowledge base makes WA is a neat niche service/tool/toy for scientists and technologists. At this early point there are going to be questions about how everyday Web users would benefit from using it over other resources. Still, it’s a very interesting concept which needs input and feedback from those playing with it.
Here are a few search examples:
There are all sorts of Easter Eggs as well, such in the response to 88mph and to the question “how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?”
- Eric Schnell
May 19th, 2009
Powerset is a discovery tool that (currently) extracts and organizes information contained in Wikipedia and Freebase. A natural language algorithm allows the searcher to use keywords, phrases, or even simple questions. The results page aggregates information from across multiple articles, in essence creating an enhanced Wikipedia article.For example, here is the search results for Thompson Library.Powerset (purchased by Microsoft in 2008) allows users to highlight passages which persist when the URL is bookmarked or shared the URL. Once the URL is copied and shared, the modified page will automatically scroll to the highlighted section. It’s great for sharing notes on Twitter or posting a specific sentence in context into a blog.For example, let’s say that you wanted to share that information that it has been reported that the size of the Thompson Library is expected to decrease 20% when it re-opens after the current renovation. As opposed to just sending that bit of information, one can send a link that directs others to the highlighted text. Now the the fact can be read in context of the Wikipedia article.The service also creates ‘Factz’ which are representations of information extracted from sentences. They are represented in three parts: the subject, relation and objects. Factz will appear for general topic queries on the search results page. On a topic page, Factz extracted from a given page in the article outline.The following video provides a nice introduction to the service.-Eric Schnell (more…)
May 7th, 2009
Do you have a particular hobby or interest that you have compiled a collection of Webs sites and blogs for? Do you keep extensive bookmark lists for these collections? Are you frustrated that you need to visit each of those sites? Do you finding yourself sifting through pages of results that come with a generic Google search? Are you looking for a way to search only those sites you compiled that focus on your interests?
You can do just that with the Google Custom Search Engine.
Custom Search allows one to harness Google’s indexing to create a search engine that is tuned only to search sites of interest.
For example, say you like to keep up with what is going on at the various Library Labs projects. This requires one to look at a list of experimental labs sites and then visit each one. With Custom Search, one can create a Library Labs Custom search in about five minutes. If one is interested in see what other labs are doing with the online catalog one can simply point to the URL of the search site or generate a search box that can then be embedded into web sites, blogs, whatever.
For developers, Google has released an API that lets other services connect to Custom Search. This allows one to create, update, and delete search engines without going through the Custom Search control panel. To learn more about the new API, read the programmer’s guide.
Keep track with the possibilities of Custom Search through their project team blog.
-Eric Schnell
April 27th, 2009
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