Latest Headlines

1. Dr. Wobbrock’s Edgewrite featured on Disaboom

   Published: 11/25/2008
   
   Edgewrite, the program developed by the Information iSchool’s Dr. Jacob O. Wobbrock has been featured on the website Disaboom. Disaboom is a social networking site for people with disabilities and as well as their family, friends, caregivers, and employers.

   Edgewrite is a piece of software developed by Wobbrock when he was a doctoral student. It allows a computer user to quickly and intuitively enter text and can be used with a variety of equipment. A user enters text by drawing somewhat stylized letters across a square input area. The software is useful because it doesn’t require great precision from the user to understand characters. The article describes Wobbrock’s original application, for users moving a stylus on a small touch-sensitive pad. Such a user need not have fine muscle control or the use of both hands. It goes on to describe subsequent adjustments to the software for use with a joystick, such as on a wheelchair and for eye-movement tracking systems. Wobbrock was enthusiastic to see his earlier work featured by Disaboom, and said he hoped it would encourage more people to download and experiment with the software.

   Another recent Seattle Times article discussing the Vocal Joystick can be found here.

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2. Article by Dr. Desouza in the October issue of JASIS&T

   Published: 11/25/2008
   
   Dr. Kevin Desouza of the Information School has co-authored an article appearing in the October issue of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology (JASIS&T).

   The article, "Influences of IT Substitutes and User Experience on Post-Adoption User Switching: An Empirical Investigation," examines factors that influence technology users who switch between products that are near perfect substitutes. To observe the phenomenon, Desouza and his collaborators collected data from 306 users on their decision to switch from Microsoft Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox. Their results suggest individuals' use and perceptions of the substituting technologies play a critical role in their switching, and long experience with the initial product did little to discourage them from using a product they considered easier. Security loomed large in users’ minds who switched browsers.

   Desouza currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Innovation in Information Management (I3M) and is an affiliate faculty member of the Center for American Politics and Public Policy. He also founded the Institute for National Security Education and Research in 2006. JASIS&T is the journal for the largest professional and academic society for information science. The article was co-authored by Chen Ye, Sridhar Papagari Sangareddy, and Sanjeev Jha of the University of Illinois, Chicago; and Dong Back Seo, professor at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

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3. Two articles feature work of iSchool alumna Consolvo

   Published: 11/25/2008
   
   Two articles from The Oregonian and the Chronicle of Higher Education recently called attention to the work of iSchool alumna Dr. Sunny Consolvo. Consolvo was one of the creators of UbiFit, a cell phone application that automatically monitors the physical exercise of the person wearing it. To encourage regular exercise, the phone’s background displays a garden of flowers whose vitality is based on the completion of exercise goals. UbiFit displays an empty lawn at the beginning of the week, and flowers grow as the user works out during the week. Different kinds of workouts yield different colored flowers.

   The UbiGreen application is based on UbiFit, and gives users a way to track and to engage in ecologically-friendly behavior such as walking, running or biking. The project was presented Nov. 18 at the Behavior, Energy and Climate Change conference in Sacramento, Calif.

   More information about both projects is available on the University of Washington News web site.

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4. Three iSchool students published in American Libraries

   Published: 11/19/2008
   
   This fall, three students from the MLIS program were published in American Libraries, the magazine of the American Libraries Association. In August, the magazine published "A Call for Sense" by Jack Baur, an impassioned defense of Wikipedia’s place on the virtual reference shelf. "Consider the Jaybrarian," Jen Waller’s appeal to the old guard of the library to value the perspectives of librarianship’s newest practitioners, appeared in the September issue. This November, a third essay was published. In "Not Just the Facts," Bo Kinney argues that Library Science must be balanced with a "Library Humanities" perspective to meet the challenges libraries are facing today.

   The papers all grew out of a class offered by Joe Janes and Sarah Evans in fall quarter of 2008. In the class, a group of the iSchool’s aspiring librarians debated the most pressing questions that will face them in their careers. Baur’s article argues that even in academic research, there is a place for Wikipedia — in orientation to a field or topic and especially as a pathfinder to lead researchers to other authoritative sources. In her essay, Waller calls on older librarians to listen to new librarians in those early days on the job before they figure out the ‘right’ way to do things. Kinney makes the argument the tools of the humanities — structured, critical inquiry; debate; and the positioning of facts within historical, philosophical, and human context — are necessary tools to allow us to make sense of facts.

   American Libraries is published 10 times a year by the American Library Association. The magazine is sent to roughly 64,000 individuals or organizations worldwide.

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5. OCLC, Syracuse University and UW to help develop new Web search experience using librarian expertise

   Published: 11/10/2008
   
   DUBLIN, Ohio, USA, 7 November 2008—Researchers and developers from OCLC, the world's largest library cooperative, and the information schools of Syracuse University and the University of Washington today announced their participation in a new international effort to explore the creation of a more credible Web search experience based on input from librarians around the globe. Called the "Reference Extract," the planning phase of this project is funded through a $100,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

   "Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most powerful," said Dr. Mike Eisenberg, Dean Emeritus and Professor at the Information School of the University of Washington and a lead on the project. "The best search engines are great for basic search, but sometimes the Web site results lack credibility in terms of trust, accuracy and reliability. So, who can help? Librarians. If a librarian recommends a Web site, you can be pretty sure that it's credible. RefEx will take hundreds of thousands of librarian recommendations and use them in a full-scale search engine."

   Reference Extract is envisioned as a Web search experience similar to those provided by the world's most popular search engines. However, unlike other search engines, Reference Extract will be built for maximum credibility of search results by relying on the expertise of librarians. Users will enter a search term and receive results weighted toward sites most often used by librarians at institutions such as the Library of Congress, the University of Washington, the State Library of Maryland, and over 2,000 other libraries worldwide.

   As part of the planning process, participants are reaching out to partners in libraries, technology organizations and research institutions. "The only way this will work is by making a project of an entire community," said Dr. R. David Lankes, Director of the Information Institute of Syracuse and Associate Professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies. "Web searchers get to tap into the incredible skill and knowledge of the library community, while librarians will be able to serve users on a whole new scale. This work follows on previous credibility work supported by the MacArthur Foundation, most notably the Credibility Commons ()."

   "We look forward to working with Syracuse University and the University of Washington in developing this credibility focused search capability, which holds the promise of providing powerful new access to information based on professionally delivered library reference services," said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. "We are grateful for support from the MacArthur Foundation in this planning phase, and we are hopeful that this effort will lay the necessary groundwork for implementing a large-scale, general user service."

   The Reference Extract project will hold a series of meetings and consultations over the coming months. The team is eager to build a business plan and technology architecture to benefit users and the library community alike. Those interested in providing input on the project and learning more can visit the project Web site at digref.org.

   The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
   The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society. More information is available at www.macfound.org.

   The School of Information Studies at Syracuse University
   The School of Information Studies is The Original Information School in the nation. It is a leading center for innovative programs in information policy, information behavior, information management, information systems, information technology and information services. The nationally ranked school (U.S. News and World Report) has professional degree programs at the undergraduate and master’s levels and a research degree at the doctoral level. The school offers its master’s programs in campus and distance learning formats. For more information, visit www.ischool.syr.edu/about/.

   About OCLC
   Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

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