Geekery

I promise this blog post is not just an excuse to quote Styx lyrics….. It is, in fact, an excuse to talk about Legos. Have you explored Legos lately? These are not your mother’s Legos. Check out, for example, the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System. Wow! It’s the kind of toy that has dramatic teaching potential, but might be too expensive for a lot of families. The Plainsboro Public Library in New Jersey has created an innovative and exciting program using Lego NXT Robotics. Local engineers are involved with mentoring the student participants. Imagine the possibilities! Wheels are turning… or should I say gears are moving.

(Thanks to Henry’s dad for the heads up about this cool project!)

Our friend Jenny Levine over at THE SHIFTED LIBRARIAN reports that one teen librarian she knows is using DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION to settle fines and minor squabbles with teen patrons.

http://www.theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2007/01/21/gaming_for_fines.html 

You’ll have to forgive me for the uber geeky nature of this post, but as I know our readers come from a wide range of comfort with technology, this one is for you folks on the geekier end of the spectrum.

Have you ever needed to know how to make Windows XP do something without using the UI (User Interface)? Or to get specific information quickly without clicking a bazillion times through 5 layers of “Advanced Settings?” I know I have… a lot. This guide (by Microsoft) to command line tools will likely become one of your most used favorite links if you’re like me.

Microsoft Windows XP - Command-line reference A-Z

Sorry for the lack of posting… I’ve been busy on a new and fun project! (I won’t abandon you, I promise)

I’ve been saying for months that I’m going to turn the NEKLS Technology website (http://tech.nekls.org) into a Wiki.

Well blast it all I finally got it started and it’s really looking and working great! The Wiki makes an outstanding platform for knowledge base type applications, and so far I’m really happy with it.

We’re using Mediawiki, by the way. (http://www.mediawiki.org)

Any suggestions?

Oi. I think I qualify.

Check it out!

You only need to know 5 things to be a library geek

Interesting development in the world of AudioBooks… Digital audio players that you *DON’T* connect to a computer… but come pre-loaded with an audiobook. Currently only about 40 titles are available, but I can see libraries latching straight on to this.

Props to Jim for finding this development in the KC Star today.

Kansas City Star | 10/13/2005 | Digital audio books come ready to go

It’s always interesting to see what non-librarians are saying about libraries. Here’s an article from Forbes magazine, “Google isn’t everything”.

This is a neat technology that maybe someday will have an application in libraries. The idea is that a person (patron) would, instead of checking out the actual physical media, would use a small card embedded with an RFID tag, that when waved over a special device would retrieve a video or audio presentation over the internet to the users’ home media center for viewing on their television.

I’m sure there will be DRM issues with this, but it looks like a good start to media-less distribution of audio and video for libraries.

potemkin.org - Pid.RFIDVideoPlayer

RSS4Lib is a blog devoted to highlighting innovative ways libraries are using RSS. Imagine the possibilities!