Bridging language divides using a cellphone

Mail & Guardian, 22 Dec 2006 08:51.
Sumayya Ismail Johannesburg, South Africa

...According to Thabo Olivier, the creator of a new multilingual software programme for cellphones...

By using the software to choose a base language (such as English) and another language (in this case Sesotho), the perplexed tourist can scroll through the programme's list of sentences. Choosing "I am lost", for instance, he would find its Sesotho translation, "Ke Lahlehile", with an accompanying voice recording...

Integration of IT Departments and Libraries

FreePint TIPS ARTICLE
"Convergence Counselling:Integration of IT Departments and Libraries" By Allan Foster

IT departments and LIS departments are increasingly becoming the same thing. Integrating the two services have drawbacks and benefits; Allan Foster examines.

WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Several universities also have converged because of the actual or imagined weaknesses in the management of the individual
services.'

Read the full article (free)
http://www.freepint.com/issues/211206.htm

119 Authoritative, Invisible, and Comprehensive Resources

Research Beyond Google: 119 Authoritative, Invisible, and Comprehensive Resources
Source: OEDb, the Online Education Database.
http://oedb.org/library/college-basics/research-beyond-google
Source: OEDb, the Online Education Database.


Topics Covered in this Article:
Deep Web Search Engines; Art; Books Online; Business; Consumer; Economic and Job Data; Finance and Investing; General Research; Government Data; International Law and Politics; Library of Congress; Medical and Health; Science; Transportation

Five Years of Information Architecture

FreePint FEATURE ARTICLE
"2001 to 2006: Five Years of Information Architecture" By Karen Loasby

Karen Loasby looks back at the last five years in information architecture: it still may be an unfamiliar term to some, but it's now
a bustling field.

WHAT'S INSIDE: 'In 2001, most IA literature considered 'search' and 'browse' to be entirely separate concepts and that to 'browse' was inevitably through a hierarchical structure.'

Read the full article (free)
http://www.freepint.com/issues/211206.htm

TechEssence.Info: The essence of technology for library decision-makers

You're busy. You don't have time for a lot of jargon, techie posturing, or attitudes. You've come to the right place. We don't put you down, we don't talk down to you, we just give it to you straight. Come here for accurate, understandable explanations of important information technologies for libraries. Go elsewhere for the hype.

http://techessence.info/

Application Program Interface

If It Doesn't Have an API, It's Not Worth Having
In a soon-to-appear Library Journal column, I discuss strategies for an uncertain future. One of those strategies is the topic of this blog posting, since I wanted to both throw this out there for discussion as well as to discuss it more thoroughly than I can in an 800-word column.


Posted in Digital Libraries Tools Roy Tennant's blog login or register to post comments by Roy Tennant on Wed, 2006-12-13 18:08.

Information Economy Report 2006 [UNCTAD]

Permanent Link: Information Economy Report 2006
Posted on UN Pulse 16th November, 2006
The Information Economy Report 2006 : the Development Perspective, released today by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), concludes that the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing countries still needs government intervention in areas where high costs may deter private providers. The Report focuses on trends in ICT and on national and international policy options for improving its impact in developing countries as well as providing unique data on the adoption of ICT by enterprises in developing countries and for the design and assessment of pro-poor e-strategies.
See the overview or download the full report. Learn more about the UN's work in the area of Trade and Development.

RSS feeds from UN bodies

Permanent Link: RSS feeds from UN bodies
The number of RSS feeds from UN bodies is growing. We have compiled a list of feeds from various bodies.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) news: http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/
FAO Rural Finance Learning Centre:
http://www.ruralfinance.org/
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) news: http://www.iaea.org/iaeaorg.xml
International Labour Organization (ILO) news: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/ilosite/ilonews.RssDescription?p_lang=EN
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN): http://www.irinnews.org/Although there is no RSS/XML button, a feed reader or aggregator should recognize the RSS feeds available, including Regional News from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, or Thematic News about Children; Democracy & Governance; Early warning; Economy; Education; Environment; Food Security; Gender Issues; Health & Nutrition; HIV/AIDS; Human Rights; Natural Disasters; Peace & Security; and Refugees/IDPs.
Relief Web: http://reliefweb.int/rw/hlp.nsf/db900ByKey/Subscribe?OpenDocumentRelief Web offers a multitude of feeds. The main categories include: Headlines, OCHA Situation Reports, Vacanices, Training Updates, Maps, and Updates by Country.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) news: http://www.unhcr.org/
UNICEF news and photo essays: http://www.unicef.org/rss/index.html
UNICEF podcast: http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/video_podcast.html
UN Population Fund (UNFPA): http://www.unfpa.org/rss/index.htm
UNFPA offers two feeds: News and Publications.
UN Radio: http://radio.un.org/rss.aspSpecific feeds are available for the following topics: Main Headlines; Peace and security; Economic development; Humanitarian aid; Environnment; Human rights; General Assembly; UN affairs, SG; Women, children, population; Law, crime; Health; Culture & Education; and Security Council.
World Bank: Private Sector Development: http://psdblog.worldbank.org/psdblog/
World Bank: Poverty and Growth:
http://pgpblog.worldbank.org/
World Bank: Innovations in Emerging Markets: http://ifcblog.ifc.org/
World Food Programme (WFP) news: http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=999
WFP feeds include: News, Press Releases, Photo Galleries, Emergency Reports and Videos.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) news: http://www.wipo.int/news/en/newsfeed.jspWIPO offers several feeds including: Conferences & meetings; News; Press releases; Vacancies; Treaties; and Domain Name Decisions.
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has a new Tourism Emergency Response Network with news feeds: http://www.ternalert.org/news/rss/

ITU Telecom World 2006: 'Living the Digital World'

Permanent Link: ITU Telecom World 2006
Take a look at the interactive map of world telecommunication indicators or learn about the Connect the World initiative.
Bringing together the world's leading ICT companies, decision-makers, organisations and governments, ITU Telecom World 2006: 'Living the Digital World' begins today in Hong Kong and continues to 8 December.
Find out more about the ITU and the UN system's work in information communications technology.
Posted on UN Pulse 4th December 2006

Welciome to Searchengineland!

http://searchengineland.com/
From About Searchengineland
...we cover ways people search for information, primarily through online search engines but also through the growing other methods of seeking knowledge and answers.
That coverage includes the way sites are found on search engines, either through natural search engine optimization methods or through search advertising opportunities. The combination of these two areas is search engine marketing, and it's a key focus for us here.
Key focus, but not the only focus. We don't intend to lose sight of the fact that there's a huge audience that wants to know how to search better. Our coverage remit is to cover the tools and tips that will help you search better, as well as watching over search marketing issues...

Forbes.com Special Report: Books and the future of publishing

LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23038
Source: LII.ORG
This December 2006 special report on "books and the future of publishing" features a series of articles looking at trends in publishing, the effect of the Internet on print books, book burning, plagiarism, film adaptations, top-earning authors, and related topics. Also includes a "To me, books are..." feature with answers from authors such as Margaret Atwood, Amy Sedaris, and Lemony Snicket. From the website for Forbes magazine.