D-TalkVille: A Multimedia/Interactive Journey to America

This month we are still going to step outside the webpage, come out of our comfort zone, and take a look at some of the latest and exciting developments that are taking place that impact information resources found on and off the web.

Do you sometimes feel
like this? or this when you really want to feel like this?
Are you like me, fed up being told that if you don't have a facebook page you are irrelevant? I have news for you boubale...You may have a facebook page and still be irrelevant. Newsflash! It's not the facebook that makes you relevant or irrelevant its the something you have to say that does it... I love pizza yummy!!Great where did you buy it? None of your business.See what I mean?

Let's get serious and put the hype aside. Let's look at some hardware and software available for those of us that are not wasting too much prescious time on Facebook, twitters or whathaveyou and trying to catch the fast information train before it leaves the station without you. This is a guide to the perplexed, by one who is also admittedly partially perplexed himself. We are going to try and see what we might need to know to keep up to date with this fast changing world - in a jargon free environment.

So climb on board on the slow but sure track...Destination Information bound.

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QR CODES
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I want to find out what is this thing called QR Codes (2-D barcodes). Is it a gimmick? or can it be used for information resources? Can I use it? Well, yes and no>

I don't use a smart phone, so does that mean I am out of this "game"? Fortunately the answer is no. There is a program that makes and reads QR Codes for a PC too. It's called Quickmark for PC. (http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/downloadPC.asp) The problem is what is the point of this technology, if it is only to photograph a barcode that at the end of the day links to an URL?

Well you can print QR Codes on T-shirts and be a walking ad for a particular site, or maybe you can build an adventure story or even treasure hunt using QR Codes... For me, I am afraid...the jury is still out on this one. :-(

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GPS HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
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I want to find out what makes a GPS tick? Can I build one myself? Can I design something completely different than would be useful to deepen and widen the information resource revolution without being a PHD in engineering? American company Parallax, Inc. sells GPS circuits. The challenge: Let's see if we can build something using GPS technology...

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ROBOTICS?
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What about building a robot? Can't be that difficult? American Company Parallax, Inc. does just that. Lets see how far we can push this technology. Keeping in mind that I am looking for something that can be informational at the same time. What about robotic sensors to, say, measure the weather or even humidity inside/outside my home. How about measuring carbon emissions. Can I do that? And see the results on a webpage and share the results with others doing the same? The challenge: Build a robot with a database brain..Biting off more than I can chew? Well, maybe...

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DATABASES
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
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What about artificial intelligence?

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SMART CARDS
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What about smart cards? Do I just have to accept what I am given? Or can I make use of this technology, again, just with minimal knowledge of the consumer.

Come along with me for the ride, and let this month's digital journey begin.