Blurts

PEW offers graphic description of generational differences in Internet activity.

Cindy has been exploring iPad options – she buys this stuff just to check it out. The latest focus is on faculty concern that they not be able to easily input text. One solution appears to be the Keyfolio from Kensington. It does seem to make text input pretty much what you are accustomed to.

Cindy seems to sell ideas and things just be walking around and working on stuff. People see her using something, they ask what it is and how it works, and then go off to purchase the device. I sometimes fear her normal enthusiasm level is too much for most people. It is not faked. There is a certain joy that stems from being a true believer and not making a cent on every convert she creates. She sold two of these this morning while playing with the device in her office.

My take (actually with comments from Cindy): The keyboard also requires charging (a hassle with bluetooth). The “folio” costs $99, but I guess that it is not that bad because I think the case I bought for my iPad cost $50.

Why not just spend $1000 and own an Air? I guess it is just what individuals like. I think the touch interface is the key to the iPad. Maybe if it was the only device I owned I might want the keyboard, but I do have options and find the screen keypad acceptable.

Giving an iPad for Christmas? What about the 3G vs. mifi options?

Here is a GigaOM comparison of the 3G (ATT&T) vs mifi (Verizon) options.

We attended a holiday gather last night. Often when you attend a party for the professional associates of your spouse, you find yourself in a setting with people with whom you have few common interests. I found myself talking photography and wildlife photography with a couple of guys far out of my league.Very interesting to just listen to the stories.

One fellow, Carl Barrentine, has a YouTube channel made up of short video clips he has accumulateted. Take a look at Critter Clips. Carl is a professional biologist who pursues videography as a hobby. The other individual was Bruce Farnsworth who is now an education graduate student. He is already established as a professional photographer. Both of these sites deserve greater exposure.

The Canadian Supreme Court is considering a case in which an individual was accused of libel because he linked to a site that was libelous (if I have this right). Slashdot has carried a post interpreting this as a question of whether linking is publishing. This second issue seems a throw back to issues that were raised when the Internet first became popular – could I object if someone linked to my content (not offered it from their server). Not sure I get the basis for this secondary concern, but even the first issue is cause for some thought. Are we endorsing the accuracy of any content we point to with a link.

Google has added “reading” level as an advanced search feature. You can search for sites at a given reading level or have Google tag hits with a reading level. At first, how this feature might be useful may not be obvious. Consider that you might be an elementary teacher searching with your students for online information about “dinosaurs”. You likely are not going to be interested in the sites of Paleontological Societies.

I think this is a useful feature. I wish it was a feature I could turn on and then not have to set for each of a series of individual searches. Still, it is nice to know it is there.