Reading Notes: Unit 7

Below are my reading notes for the Week 7 readings:

How the Internet Infrastructure Works:

--Computers that access the Internet are connected by a network.
--Different ways to connect to a network, through an Internet Service Provider or another type of network (LAN, WAN, etc.)
--Routers help computers correspond to with one another.
-- The Internet Protocol (IP) Address is a unique number that for every computer.
-- Computers on the Internet are either servers or clients
-- Numbered ports help to make services available to computers

Dismantling Integrated Library Systems

--Integrated Library Systems (ILS) are systems used by libraries to track and maintain their materials.
--The integrated library system is forced to re-examine it's role as new web technology dominates in the library environment.
--There are challenges between competitors to satisfy library needs with upgrades and features to ILS software.
--Libraries are now serving a greater number of people over the web and require a search system that has ease and efficiency.
--It's a struggle with these new initiatives to relate and borrow from past ILS systems while also creating new ways to assist libraries with technologies.


Inside the Google Machine

--An interactive lecture given by Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
--They show a world map of individuals using Google over the world. Very few points in Australia and Africa.
--One of their goals to help the company grow is more searches and they found that this is based on other factors, security of people in their own lives, etc. and Google is trying to help improve the lives of individuals. This led to the creation of a Google Foundation, a group of charities.
-- Keep innovation running by encouraging smaller creative projects by current employees. Some new initiatives, deskbar search tool, google answers, etc. These are things that the company does to remain progressive.
-- They also have company retreats to establish community.
-- In regards to the advertising available through Google, they aim to make advertising useful and not just annoying.
-- In the final stages of the lecture, they moved to the topic of searching, the ultimate search engine would, itself, be smart. They feel that they have the ability and responsibility to supply people with the proper information.