Dr. Mohammad Al-Ubaydli (mo@mo.md) writes, "Announcing a focus on the Use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) within
the Virtual Learning Space (VLS) http://itlearningspace-scot.ac.uk
Proceedings commence on Wednesday 8 October with Mohammad Al-Ubaydli of the
US National Institute of Health who will be online between 2.00 and 3.00 pm
(GMT) in the Schoolhill room within the VLS community cafe. Author of
"Handheld Computers for Doctors" Mohammad has kindly agreed to host
a
session for VLS members interested in the area.
The VLS Team are currently arranging another chat session to run on the
topic of PDAs and we look forward to the discussions.
We advise participants to enter the chat room 15-20 minutes earlier than the
chat start time, to ensure their computers are correctly configured to be
able to load our chat software. If you have any problems please e-mail the
VLS team at
info@itlearningspace-scot.ac.uk with contact details and we will endeavor to
help you.
Please register for this event by logging into the Virtual Learning Space
and joining the 'Use of PDAs' discussion room, within Community. Discussion
has already commenced within this room and should you require any assistance
please e-mail
info@itlearningspace-scot.ac.uk.
If you would like to join the VLS, or just browse around it, please visit
http://itlearningspace-scot.ac.uk. Becoming a member takes only a few
minutes, and will enable you to participate in this topic and other features
of the VLS.
We look forward to meeting you online in the near future."
Handheld Librarian also welcomes Dr. Al-Ubaydli as one of our new bloggers. He also has a website at http://www.handheldsfordoctors.com/learn/advanced.htm which has information on many articles which might be of interest to librarians.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Monday, September 29, 2003
Welcome to more Handheld Librarians!
Welcome to new Handheld Librarians Tom Peters, who is a consultant with Tap Information Services. Prior to this he was Director of the Center for Library Initiatives at the Committee on Institutional Cooperation located in Champaign, Illinois. Welcome to Peg Burnette, Reference/Systems Librarian at the University of Illinois at Chicago Library of the Health Sciences-Peoria. Peg and Jo Dorsch recently did two PDA workshops in Indiana at MCMLA and in Cleveland, Ohio. Later this year, Tom, Peg, Jo and I will have an article on PDAs in health science libraries published in Library Hi Tech. I will let you know when it is available!
Sunday, September 28, 2003
PDA Potpourri!
Cheryl Litt, Media Specialist at West Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, reports great progress with PDAs at her school, "Yes, we are still using handhelds with our students. In fact we expanded our program to
our seventh grade this year, so in total we have 250 students using
handhelds and we love them. We were just featured in School Library Journal's
September issue. . Handhelds are bigger than ever in
Michigan schools. We have two state-wide conferences coming up this
fall just on handhelds and our state legislature is grappling with the idea
of some kind of computing device for all sixth graders in the state (of
course, we're hoping handhelds will be the choice). " Thanks, Cheryl! Anyone who
would like to email Cheryl can do so to cklitt2000@hotmail.com
Scott Adams (scott.adams@mail.atu.edu) has an excellent blog on
"Handheld Instructional Technology." http://education.atu.edu/people/sadams/blogger2/outlines/scottadams.html
Thanks, Scott!
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, reports great progress with PDAs at her school, "Yes, we are still using handhelds with our students. In fact we expanded our program to
our seventh grade this year, so in total we have 250 students using
handhelds and we love them. We were just featured in School Library Journal's
September issue. . Handhelds are bigger than ever in
Michigan schools. We have two state-wide conferences coming up this
fall just on handhelds and our state legislature is grappling with the idea
of some kind of computing device for all sixth graders in the state (of
course, we're hoping handhelds will be the choice). " Thanks, Cheryl! Anyone who
would like to email Cheryl can do so to cklitt2000@hotmail.com
Scott Adams (scott.adams@mail.atu.edu) has an excellent blog on
"Handheld Instructional Technology." http://education.atu.edu/people/sadams/blogger2/outlines/scottadams.html
Thanks, Scott!
Friday, September 26, 2003
Presentations on Handhelds in the Midwest
Ohio Health Sciences Library Association's October meeting is on PDAs. Here's the link to the site with registration information.
The Illinois Library Association conference in October also may cover handheld computing in some of its programs, like the Top Tech Trends program. For the conference's preliminary program, click here.
The Illinois Library Association conference in October also may cover handheld computing in some of its programs, like the Top Tech Trends program. For the conference's preliminary program, click here.
Eight Reasons to Check Out a Tablet PC
If you had $1000, would you buy a laptop or a tablet pc? This article gives you eight reasons why you might want to consider a tablet pc.
Thursday, September 25, 2003
PDAs and schools
This from Linda Robinson, Coordinator of Library Media Services at Mansfield Public School in Connecticut: "I subscribe to the Handheld Librarian and have been receiving your
emails--do you also have information for K12 schools exploring PDA use.
We
won a grant and have given all 180 of our 7th grade students m130
handhelds
for this school year--If we are funding again next year another grade
will
also receive handhelds until we roll them out to the entire school. We
are
doing some great stuff in the classroom-----but we want to explore
ebooks
for them--titles that are young adult or middle school and that they
can
check out of the school or public library--any ideas or information on
this.
We already own the Palm Studio classics but the ebooks are not very
exciting
for a lot of our students."
Anybody in our group working with PDAs and schools? Cheryl, are you still out there? Thanks, have a great weekend!
emails--do you also have information for K12 schools exploring PDA use.
We
won a grant and have given all 180 of our 7th grade students m130
handhelds
for this school year--If we are funding again next year another grade
will
also receive handhelds until we roll them out to the entire school. We
are
doing some great stuff in the classroom-----but we want to explore
ebooks
for them--titles that are young adult or middle school and that they
can
check out of the school or public library--any ideas or information on
this.
We already own the Palm Studio classics but the ebooks are not very
exciting
for a lot of our students."
Anybody in our group working with PDAs and schools? Cheryl, are you still out there? Thanks, have a great weekend!
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
News about a new accessible handheld reading device!
The BookCourier is an all-new handheld audio reading device which is
perfect for print disabled students, executives, commuters or anyone who
loves to read! As you receive your new BookCourier, it is ready to
hold approximately 100 complete books from Bookshare.org's rapidly growing
collection to listen to with the unit's built in text-to-speech. It
can also hold hours of MP3 audio files or a combination of both. Using a
BookCourier, Bookshare.org can be your portable library.
Current Bookshare subscribers will receive a $40 discount off the
retail price of BookCourier when you purchase your unit from Technologies
for the Visually Impaired in New York. TVI may be contacted by writing
to
tvii@optonline.net
or by phone at (631) 724-4479. You will be asked to provide your User
ID from your current valid Bookshare.org account. When you take
advantage of this discount offer, you will pay just $339.00 for your
BookCourier.
The second offer is for BookCourier owners who have not yet subscribed
to Bookshare.org. When you are a U.S. resident subscribing to
Bookshare.org for the first time, you will receive a waiver of your $25 set up
fee. This brings your first year's cost to access the nearly 15,000
books available from Bookshare.org to just $50. Read to your heart's
content! For details on this Bookshare.org special offer, please see the
details at
Here are some more facts about BookCourier
BookCourier includes built in text-to-speech, a built-in MP3 player; a
built-in voice recorder; fast forward and fast reverse controls;
bookmarks, jumps, and other smart navigation controls; a built-in alarm,
sleep timer, clock, and calendar; plus easy-to-use controls for adjusting
volume, reading speed, and more. And if you have a question about a
feature, BookCourier's built-in talking help and talking user guide are
immediately at your service.
Powered by 2 AA batteries, BookCourier uses CompactFlash® storage for
files (from 8MB to 1 GB). The device also has a plug-and-play USB
connection for transferring files from the PC using the supplied PC software.
Finally, BookCourier is shipped with headphones and a pocket clip.
For more information about Bookshare.org, please visit us at
http://www.bookshare.org
To learn more about BookCourier, please go to
http://www.bookcourier.com
perfect for print disabled students, executives, commuters or anyone who
loves to read! As you receive your new BookCourier, it is ready to
hold approximately 100 complete books from Bookshare.org's rapidly growing
collection to listen to with the unit's built in text-to-speech. It
can also hold hours of MP3 audio files or a combination of both. Using a
BookCourier, Bookshare.org can be your portable library.
Current Bookshare subscribers will receive a $40 discount off the
retail price of BookCourier when you purchase your unit from Technologies
for the Visually Impaired in New York. TVI may be contacted by writing
to
tvii@optonline.net
or by phone at (631) 724-4479. You will be asked to provide your User
ID from your current valid Bookshare.org account. When you take
advantage of this discount offer, you will pay just $339.00 for your
BookCourier.
The second offer is for BookCourier owners who have not yet subscribed
to Bookshare.org. When you are a U.S. resident subscribing to
Bookshare.org for the first time, you will receive a waiver of your $25 set up
fee. This brings your first year's cost to access the nearly 15,000
books available from Bookshare.org to just $50. Read to your heart's
content! For details on this Bookshare.org special offer, please see the
details at
Here are some more facts about BookCourier
BookCourier includes built in text-to-speech, a built-in MP3 player; a
built-in voice recorder; fast forward and fast reverse controls;
bookmarks, jumps, and other smart navigation controls; a built-in alarm,
sleep timer, clock, and calendar; plus easy-to-use controls for adjusting
volume, reading speed, and more. And if you have a question about a
feature, BookCourier's built-in talking help and talking user guide are
immediately at your service.
Powered by 2 AA batteries, BookCourier uses CompactFlash® storage for
files (from 8MB to 1 GB). The device also has a plug-and-play USB
connection for transferring files from the PC using the supplied PC software.
Finally, BookCourier is shipped with headphones and a pocket clip.
For more information about Bookshare.org, please visit us at
http://www.bookshare.org
To learn more about BookCourier, please go to
http://www.bookcourier.com
Dell to Enter MP3 marketplace?
From Cnet
"The PC maker is preparing to unveil a new consumer-electronics plan under which it will sell two types of devices--a portable music player and a line of LCD TVs--under its brand name for the holidays.
Outside of computers, Dell has put its name on only a limited number of product categories, such as printers, network switches, projectors and USB storage devices. But Dell, which uses its online store to sell a large quantity of consumer-electronics products from other companies, asserts that offering such devices under its own name can help it meet revenue goals.
Round Rock, Texas-based Dell is expected to discuss its latest consumer-electronics plans Thursday during a press conference, where it will also outline an upgrade to its online store and touch on new Axim handhelds.
One of its first new consumer-electronics devices will be a hard drive-based portable MP3 player, sources familiar with Dell's plans said. The player, which is expected to include a 15GB drive, will compete with others in the market, most notably Apple Computer's iPod. Dell sells the iPod via its online store and is expected to continue doing so after the debut of Dell's own player.
The company's LCD TVs are likely to include a 17-inch model and a 30-inch model. Dell is also expected to continue selling LCD TVs from other companies.
Dell's new products are expected to ship in October or early November.
The company is not likely to unveil many other details about the devices--or of any other new products it intends to offer--during the press conference.
However, Dell is expected to reveal that it is working on two new Axim handhelds. Dell's new Axims are likely to include a slimmer model, dubbed the Axim X3, and a new wireless model.
Dell representatives declined to comment on the new products. But senior executives, including CEO Michael Dell and President Kevin Rollins, have indicated the company's interest in music players, wireless handhelds and LCD TVs several times in the past.
Expanding its sales of consumer electronics is one area the company can tap to further its goal of boosting revenue to the $60 billion mark over the next few years.
Although Dell will seek to mine the consumer-electronics market, it's unlikely that the company's efforts will be as broad as competitors such as Gateway, which plans 50 new products this year--most of them consumer-electronics devices.
But analyst say that doesn't necessarily put Dell at a disadvantage. Where Gateway has introduced several new Plasma TVs, LCD TVs and even a music player this fall, Dell is eyeing areas such as TVs as a new profit pool that could augment its already substantial revenue and boost profits with little risk to the rest of its business."
More and more handheld MP3 players are coming out with large hard drives which could store hundreds of audiobooks. The Otis player has 64 MB, which will store 1-2 books, depending on the length of the book. Some talking book readers would like large hard drives where they could store a number of books at one time. The Ipod, which is Audible.com ready was the first MP3 player to come with a large hard drive. More and more are being introduced in the market which is a plus for audiobook and music listeners. When will this technology come to the PDA?
"The PC maker is preparing to unveil a new consumer-electronics plan under which it will sell two types of devices--a portable music player and a line of LCD TVs--under its brand name for the holidays.
Outside of computers, Dell has put its name on only a limited number of product categories, such as printers, network switches, projectors and USB storage devices. But Dell, which uses its online store to sell a large quantity of consumer-electronics products from other companies, asserts that offering such devices under its own name can help it meet revenue goals.
Round Rock, Texas-based Dell is expected to discuss its latest consumer-electronics plans Thursday during a press conference, where it will also outline an upgrade to its online store and touch on new Axim handhelds.
One of its first new consumer-electronics devices will be a hard drive-based portable MP3 player, sources familiar with Dell's plans said. The player, which is expected to include a 15GB drive, will compete with others in the market, most notably Apple Computer's iPod. Dell sells the iPod via its online store and is expected to continue doing so after the debut of Dell's own player.
The company's LCD TVs are likely to include a 17-inch model and a 30-inch model. Dell is also expected to continue selling LCD TVs from other companies.
Dell's new products are expected to ship in October or early November.
The company is not likely to unveil many other details about the devices--or of any other new products it intends to offer--during the press conference.
However, Dell is expected to reveal that it is working on two new Axim handhelds. Dell's new Axims are likely to include a slimmer model, dubbed the Axim X3, and a new wireless model.
Dell representatives declined to comment on the new products. But senior executives, including CEO Michael Dell and President Kevin Rollins, have indicated the company's interest in music players, wireless handhelds and LCD TVs several times in the past.
Expanding its sales of consumer electronics is one area the company can tap to further its goal of boosting revenue to the $60 billion mark over the next few years.
Although Dell will seek to mine the consumer-electronics market, it's unlikely that the company's efforts will be as broad as competitors such as Gateway, which plans 50 new products this year--most of them consumer-electronics devices.
But analyst say that doesn't necessarily put Dell at a disadvantage. Where Gateway has introduced several new Plasma TVs, LCD TVs and even a music player this fall, Dell is eyeing areas such as TVs as a new profit pool that could augment its already substantial revenue and boost profits with little risk to the rest of its business."
More and more handheld MP3 players are coming out with large hard drives which could store hundreds of audiobooks. The Otis player has 64 MB, which will store 1-2 books, depending on the length of the book. Some talking book readers would like large hard drives where they could store a number of books at one time. The Ipod, which is Audible.com ready was the first MP3 player to come with a large hard drive. More and more are being introduced in the market which is a plus for audiobook and music listeners. When will this technology come to the PDA?
Online interactive audio book discussion
The Illinois Network of libraries serving the blind is offering a web-based, online audio and text-chat book discussion group--Meting of the Minds--on Audio Avenue (http://www.mitbc.org/audioave/web/. The discussion leader is Tom Peters, Consultant with TAP Information Services. The series of discussions will kick off on September 25 at 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time with a discussion of the book Seabiscuit: An American Legend (RC 51698) by Laura Hillenbrand.
To participate, please contact Lori Bell at the Talking Book Center at 1-800-426-0709 or by email: lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com. To participate, attendees need a PC with Internet access, a sound card, and speakers. A microphone will allow the participant to interact via audio. If no microphone is available, the participant can use text chat.
Although participation is limited to ten, others may listen to the book discussion as a broadcast session on the web. Sessions also will be recorded and available for later listening on the website.
To participate, please contact Lori Bell at the Talking Book Center at 1-800-426-0709 or by email: lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com. To participate, attendees need a PC with Internet access, a sound card, and speakers. A microphone will allow the participant to interact via audio. If no microphone is available, the participant can use text chat.
Although participation is limited to ten, others may listen to the book discussion as a broadcast session on the web. Sessions also will be recorded and available for later listening on the website.
Some exciting new developments
AskColorado offers 24/7 Spanish language reference service!
NEW YORK – September 22, 2003 – AskColorado, a virtual reference service coordinated by the Colorado State Library, launched a Spanish language version of the service today. Tutor.com’s Librarians by Request will provide complete coverage for the service. AskColorado allows Colorado residents to connect to a reference librarian over the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, using Tutor.com’s Virtual Reference ToolKit. The AskColorado service, launched on September 2, 2003, currently has 43 participating libraries including public, academic, school and special libraries. Staff from these libraries provide service cooperatively for all residents across the state. The first year of AskColorado is funded through a grant provided by the Colorado State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), in conjunction with funds and staffing from the participating libraries.
Colorado libraries provide virtual reference services through Virtual Reference ToolKit from Tutor.com to expand the availability and reach of library professionals 24/7. The service helps libraries work together to provide authoritative answers to reference questions. At least two librarians will be on duty at AskColorado during primary service hours, with experts at special libraries available to answer detailed, subject specific questions. Librarians and professionals from Tutor.com’s Librarians by Request will answer questions when Colorado libraries are unable to staff the service during late night hours. Librarians by Request reference staff will provide the AskColorado Spanish language service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A statewide committee, which was created to explore the issues related to providing digital reference, conducted a needs assessment in Fall 2002, and found that many people are going directly to the Web for information. Current library users as well as potential users are searching Internet resources and are becoming accustomed to information on demand at their fingertips whenever they want it. Librarians in the state decided that it was critical to establish a new service now to meet users on the Internet -- at all times of the day and night -- to provide assistance with their information needs, despite dramatic budget cuts in libraries at both the state and local level.
The AskColorado service is available at http://www.askcolorado.org. For more information on the service, contact Sharon Morris, AskColorado Coordinator, at askcolorado@cde.state.co.us.
NEW YORK – September 22, 2003 – AskColorado, a virtual reference service coordinated by the Colorado State Library, launched a Spanish language version of the service today. Tutor.com’s Librarians by Request will provide complete coverage for the service. AskColorado allows Colorado residents to connect to a reference librarian over the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, using Tutor.com’s Virtual Reference ToolKit. The AskColorado service, launched on September 2, 2003, currently has 43 participating libraries including public, academic, school and special libraries. Staff from these libraries provide service cooperatively for all residents across the state. The first year of AskColorado is funded through a grant provided by the Colorado State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), in conjunction with funds and staffing from the participating libraries.
Colorado libraries provide virtual reference services through Virtual Reference ToolKit from Tutor.com to expand the availability and reach of library professionals 24/7. The service helps libraries work together to provide authoritative answers to reference questions. At least two librarians will be on duty at AskColorado during primary service hours, with experts at special libraries available to answer detailed, subject specific questions. Librarians and professionals from Tutor.com’s Librarians by Request will answer questions when Colorado libraries are unable to staff the service during late night hours. Librarians by Request reference staff will provide the AskColorado Spanish language service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A statewide committee, which was created to explore the issues related to providing digital reference, conducted a needs assessment in Fall 2002, and found that many people are going directly to the Web for information. Current library users as well as potential users are searching Internet resources and are becoming accustomed to information on demand at their fingertips whenever they want it. Librarians in the state decided that it was critical to establish a new service now to meet users on the Internet -- at all times of the day and night -- to provide assistance with their information needs, despite dramatic budget cuts in libraries at both the state and local level.
The AskColorado service is available at http://www.askcolorado.org. For more information on the service, contact Sharon Morris, AskColorado Coordinator, at askcolorado@cde.state.co.us.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
What kind of info do you want to see on the blog?
Hello again! What kind of information is most helpful on this blog? Hopefully, we will have a great team representing different types of libraries. Tom Dennis has lined up Mary Peterson, who works in a medical library in Australia; Teri Embrey Ross; and we are lining up others. It would help me get back in the swing, if you have any ideas of types of info that you find most helpful, please send to me at lbell927@yahoo.com or post to the group list. I will post a summary here. Thanks!
Monday, September 22, 2003
Back in the Blog!
Greetings! Approximately one year ago, I turned over "The Handheld Librarian" to Tom Dennis of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. I worked at OSF until August 2002 when I left to become Director of the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center. What do you know - I am still working with handheld devices and digital content - in a different way - but I decided, why not jump back in? Thanks to the generousity of Tom Dennis, I am back with The Handheld Librarian - this will be a collaborative blog with several contributors as it was when I left a year ago. Jenny Levine, The Shifted Librarian has been after me to get a blog, so here we go!
The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center is a sub-regional library serving residents of central Illinois who have a visual, physical or learning disability which prevents them from comfortably reading regular print. From January-June, we did a small pilot project with Audible.com to see how our readers liked digital audiobooks on a handheld MP3 player. With donation funds, we bought eight Otis players (an Otis is an Audible mp3 player) - The Otises are about $100 and come free to users who buy a year-long Audible listener plan. They are small - about the size of the palm of your hand. They play regular MP3 files and also the special Audible files, which play on a variety of handhelds, but not everything. We had about 70 people try the Otis. You can read the final report. The final report was written by Tom Peters, project evaluator.
The eAudio project lead to a 5-state collaborative digital talking book project with Audible and using the Otises, called the Lobe Library. Illinois, Mississippi, Hawaii, Montana, and New Jersey are participating in a shared digital library. We are about 3 months into the project, and it has gone surprisingly well. I think that the leadership from the Illinois Regional Library by Sharon Ruda is big reason why the collaborative project has gone so well.
We own the Otises we are lending out to people. We would like to be able to allow people to use their own devices, but this has not happened yet. Digital audiobooks are new to many of our patrons and although they want to try the service, some of them are not ready for a device of their own. Some who have tried our service have gone on to buy their own devices and get their own listening plan. One of the problems of eAudio and Lobe Library is we have many more people who want to try the service than we have Otises.
How low do you think prices on PDAs can go? The lower the price, the more people that will be able to use them. Take a look at this article which credits Dell with pricing on PDAs coming down.
This article talks about PDAs in the classroom and how more and more schools are allowing students to use PDAs!
Well, I am back, happy to be back and blogging. Thanks to Tom Dennis for allowing me to return to blogging, and I look forward to working with others who will be working on this blog!
The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center is a sub-regional library serving residents of central Illinois who have a visual, physical or learning disability which prevents them from comfortably reading regular print. From January-June, we did a small pilot project with Audible.com to see how our readers liked digital audiobooks on a handheld MP3 player. With donation funds, we bought eight Otis players (an Otis is an Audible mp3 player) - The Otises are about $100 and come free to users who buy a year-long Audible listener plan. They are small - about the size of the palm of your hand. They play regular MP3 files and also the special Audible files, which play on a variety of handhelds, but not everything. We had about 70 people try the Otis. You can read the final report. The final report was written by Tom Peters, project evaluator.
The eAudio project lead to a 5-state collaborative digital talking book project with Audible and using the Otises, called the Lobe Library. Illinois, Mississippi, Hawaii, Montana, and New Jersey are participating in a shared digital library. We are about 3 months into the project, and it has gone surprisingly well. I think that the leadership from the Illinois Regional Library by Sharon Ruda is big reason why the collaborative project has gone so well.
We own the Otises we are lending out to people. We would like to be able to allow people to use their own devices, but this has not happened yet. Digital audiobooks are new to many of our patrons and although they want to try the service, some of them are not ready for a device of their own. Some who have tried our service have gone on to buy their own devices and get their own listening plan. One of the problems of eAudio and Lobe Library is we have many more people who want to try the service than we have Otises.
How low do you think prices on PDAs can go? The lower the price, the more people that will be able to use them. Take a look at this article which credits Dell with pricing on PDAs coming down.
This article talks about PDAs in the classroom and how more and more schools are allowing students to use PDAs!
Well, I am back, happy to be back and blogging. Thanks to Tom Dennis for allowing me to return to blogging, and I look forward to working with others who will be working on this blog!
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