First off thanks to Sharon, Rebecca, and Susan for putting this together for us.
This was a good way to learn about new things and confirming things that I had already known about. RSS, Pod/video casting, and Flickr were probably the things I was most interested in. I think I'd like to spend more time especially on setting up RSS feeds so that I can hopefully use them at work.
Learning 2.0 was a good way of being introduced to things that i might have heard about previously, but really hadn't spent the time looking into. It's got me thinking that the healthcare sector might have problems accepting the new and emerging technologies. I wonder how issues like using online software might be addressed. Personally, I see that there may be a generational gap for semi-old timers like me versus those younger staff. I notice in talking to students that they tend be more into IM, text messaging, Twittering, and maybe blogging over phone and e-mail. Can I adapt? Heck I don't even text message. I still don't have a smart phone!
This was an enjoyable way to learn, though being the procrastinator that I am, perhaps a more structured time schedule might be good. The one thing I'd like to suggest is to avoid running class time in late November/December. The holidays are stressful and busy enough as it is.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Library/web 2.0
The concept of Library/Web 2.0 is great in perhaps the academic or public setting, but in the business of healthcare there are some issues that prevent make using of the its features.
The big issue of course is privacy. From a HIPPA and business standpoint there are things that the powers that be will not easily allow. Public collaborations via wikis are currently not allowed. Things that aren't easily monitored such as IM, Twittering, etc.pose confidentially issues for Info management people.
Access to sound is surprising frowned upon at where I work. There is limited access to usable CD-ROM drives, streaming of audio/video, and having speakers attached to PCs. There the those whose jobs allow them access to these capabilities, but for the vast majority of staff, "on-demand" is not an option. These things have to be arranged in advance, not allowing staff to access these tools when there is sudden down time.
I'd like to expose our staff to Library/Web 2.0, but it's going to be a long drawn out road.
RSS feeds is perhaps one of the most useful things in keeping people up to date. Hospital staff are often busy, but RSS seems like a great tool for keeping them up to date. Again however, not everyone has access to PC's, so the management staff are the ones who stand to benefit from RSS feeds.
Tagging seems like a good way to provide more access to say the library's catalog, though I don't know if our software allows tagging without screwing up our MARC cataloging and MESH subject access. Something to look into.
Time is an issue also that prevents people in Hospital settings from really taking advantage of Library/Web 2.0. The line staff have a hard time making time even for 15 minute required inservices. Making time for learning new web technologies might be impossible in the normal work time. I suspect that education days such as in conferences are the only way to introduce it to them. Clinical and Management staff perhaps have more of an interest, but only as far as getting them started and then only if it doesn't take a lot of time. It's amazing how often I get calls on one specific issue and people don't want to take the time to learn things in depth. Sometimes it's an occasional thing like a webcast, so they want someone else to set it up for them.
The big issue of course is privacy. From a HIPPA and business standpoint there are things that the powers that be will not easily allow. Public collaborations via wikis are currently not allowed. Things that aren't easily monitored such as IM, Twittering, etc.pose confidentially issues for Info management people.
Access to sound is surprising frowned upon at where I work. There is limited access to usable CD-ROM drives, streaming of audio/video, and having speakers attached to PCs. There the those whose jobs allow them access to these capabilities, but for the vast majority of staff, "on-demand" is not an option. These things have to be arranged in advance, not allowing staff to access these tools when there is sudden down time.
I'd like to expose our staff to Library/Web 2.0, but it's going to be a long drawn out road.
RSS feeds is perhaps one of the most useful things in keeping people up to date. Hospital staff are often busy, but RSS seems like a great tool for keeping them up to date. Again however, not everyone has access to PC's, so the management staff are the ones who stand to benefit from RSS feeds.
Tagging seems like a good way to provide more access to say the library's catalog, though I don't know if our software allows tagging without screwing up our MARC cataloging and MESH subject access. Something to look into.
Time is an issue also that prevents people in Hospital settings from really taking advantage of Library/Web 2.0. The line staff have a hard time making time even for 15 minute required inservices. Making time for learning new web technologies might be impossible in the normal work time. I suspect that education days such as in conferences are the only way to introduce it to them. Clinical and Management staff perhaps have more of an interest, but only as far as getting them started and then only if it doesn't take a lot of time. It's amazing how often I get calls on one specific issue and people don't want to take the time to learn things in depth. Sometimes it's an occasional thing like a webcast, so they want someone else to set it up for them.
Wikis
At work we supposedly have access to Sharepoint for creating wikis for our intranet site. Haven't had a chance to use it. Though it seems to be easier to use than the NVU software I've been using to create our Intranet pages.
Wetpaint is what the Hawaii Pacific Chapter of the MLA is using for it's MLA 09 wiki. After using it for that and for the class exercise, it seems easy enough to use. The problem for me is that our IM dept. at work considers Wetpaint a social networking site and blocks access to it. I guess HIPPA raises its head again.
My wiki page is at.
http://freemedicaljournals.wetpaint.com/
I know big libraries in the past have put something like this together. I guess the problem would be maintaining it.
Wetpaint is what the Hawaii Pacific Chapter of the MLA is using for it's MLA 09 wiki. After using it for that and for the class exercise, it seems easy enough to use. The problem for me is that our IM dept. at work considers Wetpaint a social networking site and blocks access to it. I guess HIPPA raises its head again.
My wiki page is at.
http://freemedicaljournals.wetpaint.com/
I know big libraries in the past have put something like this together. I guess the problem would be maintaining it.
Podcasts
itunes directory of library related podcasts is a mixed bag, with not much for a hospital library. Only the 2 NLM/NIH podcasts seemed to be of much interest. It's also odd that fictional items rated "explict" also appear in the section. I also couldn't find the RSS feed link in itunes.
Podcast alley was much better as far as library related content. It was also easier to find the RSS link.
Trying to "separate the wheat from chaff" seems to be an issue with the podcast aggregators.
Podcast alley was much better as far as library related content. It was also easier to find the RSS link.
Trying to "separate the wheat from chaff" seems to be an issue with the podcast aggregators.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Youse Tube
I've been looking at You Tube videos for a while now. While I mostly view music videos, some of the Creative Commons vids are also on You Tube. I don't know if there is need in healthcare to post videos apart from maybe commercials. I'd think Healthcare institutions would post their own or PR videos on their own sites.
Someone posted a link to this on a mailing list I'm on.
One of my favorite You Tube Videos is this parody of TV music offers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACCAF04wSs&eurl=http://www.facebook.co
I like You Tube to find related videos as well. I often look at "Related Videos" to find new music or other music by favorite artists.
While looking at this Who video I came a cross a fantastic a capella version by Petra Haden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjK3-t4iLSU
Petra Haden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNFoNBz9Dbs
(no embedded version)
Someone posted a link to this on a mailing list I'm on.
One of my favorite You Tube Videos is this parody of TV music offers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACCAF04wSs&eurl=http://www.facebook.co
I like You Tube to find related videos as well. I often look at "Related Videos" to find new music or other music by favorite artists.
While looking at this Who video I came a cross a fantastic a capella version by Petra Haden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjK3-t4iLSU
Petra Haden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNFoNBz9Dbs
(no embedded version)
On-line productivity tools
Security is a big issue for those of us in Hospitals. I need to try it at work, but I suspect that Google Docs might be a blocked site. Having sensitive documents out in the Cloud is a big no-no for those of us in Healthcare. I wonder how the reliability is in saving documents. I recently read a Twitter of someone complaining that a script that they had written was lost on Google Docs.
The 30 Boxes calendar hosting is a good resource but again we can't even sync a PDA device at work so it's no go there. If I could get it to sync to my home Outlook it might be useful for my personal items, but a good smartphone will do the job.
Web-based tools seem like a good idea if you need to type something on the go from a Smartphone or Netbook. At least you don't have to worry about getting the editable version of Smartphone MS office apps.
The 30 Boxes calendar hosting is a good resource but again we can't even sync a PDA device at work so it's no go there. If I could get it to sync to my home Outlook it might be useful for my personal items, but a good smartphone will do the job.
Web-based tools seem like a good idea if you need to type something on the go from a Smartphone or Netbook. At least you don't have to worry about getting the editable version of Smartphone MS office apps.
Wikis
As someone who uses wikipedia as quick and dirty reference source for non-critical reference work, it is cool to have a place to look up things and to have people contribute their knowledge. That said the big problem with public wikis are of course who is doing the contribution and what is their authority on the subject.
Looking over a couple of Wikis, I was surprised that the EBM Librarian wiki's creators don't have their professional profile listed. Do we take their word that they are who they say they are?
The Hawaii Pacific Chapter of MLA is using a Wiki to provide pre MLA09 information for possible attendees. http://mla09.wetpaint.com/?t=anon
Using the wiki has made it possible for the chapter members to all contribute to the site.
Public Wikis are a problem for hospitals. (HIPPA again) Supposedly, our IM department has a Wiki feature for our Intranet software that allows collaborations. I for one will be happy when it comes up as hopefully will allow updating of materials to be quicker than to have to use the tracking feature on MS Word. At least this way those people who are the responsible type can make their updates in a timely manner and others will have no excuse except "too busy" to get work done :)
Looking over a couple of Wikis, I was surprised that the EBM Librarian wiki's creators don't have their professional profile listed. Do we take their word that they are who they say they are?
The Hawaii Pacific Chapter of MLA is using a Wiki to provide pre MLA09 information for possible attendees. http://mla09.wetpaint.com/?t=anon
Using the wiki has made it possible for the chapter members to all contribute to the site.
Public Wikis are a problem for hospitals. (HIPPA again) Supposedly, our IM department has a Wiki feature for our Intranet software that allows collaborations. I for one will be happy when it comes up as hopefully will allow updating of materials to be quicker than to have to use the tracking feature on MS Word. At least this way those people who are the responsible type can make their updates in a timely manner and others will have no excuse except "too busy" to get work done :)
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