Week 10

Lecture Summary:

Information management is the organisation of information. A major problem people now face is finding out ways how to manage information to make the retrieval of it quick and easy. The technology of computer processing power helps organise in formation, usually in the form of text, documents, images, web pages, bookmarks and presentations. Atom based format is like a hard copy of information eg books, papers ad reports. Bit-based format is electronic data and digital reproductions. the technology advances of today have allowed for most atom based information to convert to bit form. An example of this is internet banking, email and music. There are many ways to manage information. File extensions, folders, directories, meta data and search functions, to list a few. With the continual changing in technology, the use of bit based information is becoming more common. I believe it is the technology of the future and atom formats are going to be slowly phased out.

Tutorial summary:

1. Set up a favourites list that has 3 folders in it, each with at least two websites marked as favourites

Screenshot of my favourites list:-


By danijolly22 at 2008-05-25

2. Read the 'Being Digital' online archive. Do you think Negroponte's ideas are still relevant? Why?

I agree with everything Negroponte has to say. Yes i do think his ideas are relevant because what he said is still true today as it was 14 years ago. Around the world newspapers, directories, textbooks and magazines are continually being massed produced. Most business have realised the worth of bit-based data and are always seen upgrading there technology to provide the fastest service. Even so, there is no denying the world still relies heavily on atom based information. There will be a day where all our information is digitally provided but the complete phasing out of all atom sources would take centuries.

3. What are the pros and cons of using atoms and bits?

Atom-based pros =

• We know where it is
• Easily concealed
• Easy to protect
• Difficult to change
• Difficult to copy

Atom-based cons =

• Bulky
• Costly
• Difficult to edit
• Difficult to distribute
• Inflexible

Bit-based pros =

• Very flexible
• Very cheap
• Easy to edit
• Easy to mass produce
• Easy to broadcast

Bit-based cons =

• Easy to copy and steal
• Easy to fake
• Easy to alter and edit others work
• Unsolicited broadcast (spam)

Reading Summary:

1. Grazing the Net

This can be found at the following website - http://www.fno.org/text/grazing.html

"Grazing the Net' was an article explaining the issues involved with online schools. These are schools where students get most of their information, research and study from the internet. It is cheaper and more easily available than most atom-based learning formats. 'Free range' is often the term used to describe this style of learning because when searching the internet, children have endless possibilities of information that come from all types of viewpoints from all over the world. Lessons must be taught on how to sort through the load of information the internet provides but this in itself provides children with essential skills, that can be used throughout their lives. Online schooling has shown positive benefits; enhancing reading and communication skills, as well as making children more innovative. This modern way of learning will definitely be the way of the future.