Differences between LIS and non-LIS undergraduates’ conceptions of smart libraries: a drawing analysis approach

Purpose This study aims to compare similarities and differences in library and information science (LIS) and non-LIS undergraduates’ conceptions and perceptions of smart libraries via drawing analysis. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a total of 156 undergraduate students described their perceptions of smart libraries as drawings and textual descriptions. A modified coding scheme with 8 categories and 51 subcategories was used to analyse the undergraduate students’ drawings. Findings Most of the undergraduate students’ conceptions of smart libraries still involve self-checkout and learning/reading, focusing on information appliances, technical services, activities and objects. The differences are that the LIS undergraduates’ drawings showed smart libraries with robots, interactive book borrowing with technology tools, intelligent services, location-aware services or mobile applications, whereas non-LIS undergraduates presented smart libraries as readers (learners), other activities and no smart technology services. LIS undergraduates focused on providing patron services with technologies. Non-LIS undergraduates were more likely to draw a complex space with immediate access to books or digital resources, quiet reading and the freedom to engage in library activities. Originality/value The results provide a baseline for future research on the topic and provide preliminary evidence of using the methods to discern LIS and non-LIS undergraduates’ conceptions of smart libraries.

The Open Context Model of Learning

Various digital technologies, the internet, the web, information appliances, smart phones, and particularly, Web 2.0 enable us to review and interrogate how technologies, business, social, personal, and learning technologies can help reconfigure the organisational infrastructure of learning to better align with how human beings learn about the world around us and ourselves. Hazel Henderson said, “Technology is the essence of politics,” but perhaps “Technology is the essence of education,” which for 1000 years has been based on a content-scarcity model of resources and focused on a content-delivery model of learning to an elite who will benefit from access to these scarce resources, themselves based on a subject-based taxonomy that took root in the 19th century and has dominated the design of 20th and 21st century educational institutions. The Open Context Model of Learning argues that we need new models of teaching and learning (obuchenie) built around the PAH continuum of pedagogy, andragogy, and heutagogy and an underpinning belief in the co-creation of learning and education between “teachers” and “learners.”

The Future of Media Interfaces

We are living in a post-WIMP world. Indeed, more and more users access information, communicate and operate mobile information appliances foregoing the still common mouse and keyboard of yonder. However, no matter how powerful or elegant the new mobile devices are, it is the user interface that ultimately governs how successful new devices or systems will be. In this lecture I will look at current multimedia systems and their applications to virtual environments and ubiquitous computing. Multimedia user interfaces currently engage people using images, video and sound but virtual environments not only involve interactive 3D graphics, but further need to take more advantage of our senses through spatial audio, haptics and many other novel and exciting communication modalities. This talk will explore key current research issues and future directions up to and before the prophesized singularity.

Present and Future of Mobile Commerce

Mobile Commerce is a term to describe any commercial activity on a mobile device, such as a mobile phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry) or a tablet (iPad, Galaxy Tab, Surface). This includes all steps of the customer journey; reach, attract, choose, convert and retain. Hence mobile commerce is probably best described as shopping that takes advantage of unique properties of mobile devices. It is also called as m-commerce. Pervasive computing aims at availability and invisibility. On the one hand, pervasive computing can be defined as availability of software applications and information anywhere and anytime. On the other hand, pervasive computing also means that computers are hidden in numerous so-called information appliances that we use in our day-to-day lives Characteristics of pervasive computing applications have been identified as interaction transparency, context awareness, and automated capture of experiences.

Present and Future of Mobile Commerce

Mobile Commerce is a term to describe any commercial activity on a mobile device, such as a mobile phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry) or a tablet (iPad, Galaxy Tab, Surface). This includes all steps of the customer journey; reach, attract, choose, convert and retain. Hence mobile commerce is probably best described as shopping that takes advantage of unique properties of mobile devices. It is also called as m-commerce. Pervasive computing aims at availability and invisibility. On the one hand, pervasive computing can be defined as availability of software applications and information anywhere and anytime. On the other hand, pervasive computing also means that computers are hidden in numerous so-called information appliances that we use in our day-to-day lives Characteristics of pervasive computing applications have been identified as interaction transparency, context awareness, and automated capture of experiences.

Research on the ARM-Based Smart Home Remote Monitoring System

As people continue to pursue high-quality life, smart home industry will definitely become the sunrise industry in the future information appliances industries. This paper analyzed the development and application of smart home industry in China and designed a AM-based small home monitoring system with low-cost, high efficiency, scalability after the actual investigation and device selection.