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ERIC Number: EJ999863
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Dec
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1041-7915
EISSN: N/A
Making Our Own Futures
Huwe, Terence K.
Computers in Libraries, v32 n10 p23-24 Dec 2012
Given the pace of innovation, not only in the gadget market but in how social media is changing society, the future isn't what it used to be, which is to say, it is not that far off, out of reach, and "gee whiz" tomorrow. The planning horizon has moved closer than ever. And far-off eventualities are here and gone before you know it. In this article, the author describes what is unfolding just outside the library walls but may be coming to a library near you. Peter Halacsy, founder of a Budapest-based firm called Prezi (http://prezi.com), has developed an intriguing new approach to information management and retrieval, as reported by "The Economist" in its June 2012 Technology Quarterly. Zoomable user interfaces (ZUIs; pronounced "zoo-ees") take a unique approach to displaying information. Instead of locking resources into files on directories or cramming data and visualizations onto PowerPoint slides, media of all types are placed on an "infinite canvas" that you can scroll over, much like a Ouija board (although that is surely a simplification). For the information professions, ZUIs may open new territory for online teaching and for linking together disparate sources of knowledge that are still--all too often--marooned behind disciplinary boundaries. A more imminent breakthrough may well be print on demand (PoD). In September 2012, "Publisher's Weekly" reported that an agreement was reached between On Demand Books, makers of the Espresso Book Machine, and Eastman Kodak Co. to make Espresso on-demand technology available via Kodak Picture Kiosks. The same technology fits very nicely in library settings as an added service. It gives consumers the chance to decide whether to own the print copy, read the ebook, or just browse the stacks.
Information Today, Inc. 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750. Tel: 800-300-9868; Tel: 609-654-6266; Fax: 609-654-4309; e-mail: custserv@infotoday.com; Web site: http://infotoday.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A