ReadWriteWeb has a post reviewing some of the advantages or disadvantages of using an iPad as a replacement for a notebook computer.    Read it here.  Are these things to consider when we’re looking at whether students would use these in the library?

Penguin UK is formatting books for the upcoming iPad, from Engadget.

[Thanks Larry!]

Tuesday’s Spark session resulted in an interesting and fruitful discussion of some of the issues and concerns we havc surrounding ebooks, vendors and ebook readers in the Drexel Libraries.

I wanted to post and remind everyone that if you are interested in working on an exploratory group to look at concerns related to ebooks, you should talk with your supervisor.

Thanks to everyone who attended and participated — if you have ideas for future open discussion format Spark sessions, please let us know!

Apple iPad

One-and-a-half pounds and one-half inch thick.   Like a big iPod Touch.

The New Media Consortium’s 2010 Horizon Report features six technologies with a timeline for likely entrance into the mainstream for “teaching, learning or creative inquiry”.  Each technology is accompanied by an overview, potential relevance for teaching, learning or creative inquiry, and examples of these technologies in use.

The web version of the full report is here.

In the next 12 months:

Mobile Computing and Open Content

In the next 2-3 years:

Electronic Books and Simple Augmented Reality

In 4-5 years:

Gesture-Based Computing and Visual Data Analysis

This recent article in The Economist has details on the technology behind e-book reader displays.

There’s also mention of PlasticLogic’s QUE proReader, which is set to launch next week.  Here’s a brief article from engadget.

PlasticLogic's QUE proReader

From the Brisbane Times

Apple is rumored to be coming up with a tablet computer, as early as this fall.  The idea is that it would be similar to the iPod touch, but larger — making it perfect for watching movies, or reading textbooks.

There’s been renewed interest in moving to electronic textbooks at universities around the country, but it seems like Apple’s tablet is thought to be the dealmaker when it comes to ebooks.

Maybe not completely off-topic this time…

• The iPhone has a free whiteboard app, allowing people in close physical proximity to collaboratively create sketches or drawings using their iPhone or iPod Touch.  You can get it from the App Store, or search for “Whiteboard: Collaborative Drawing” from the App Store on your iPhone. [A brief review from ReadWriteWeb]

• Apparently, Feb 9th will be the debut for the Kindle 2. According to the NYTimes Bits Blog, one of the updates might be smaller side buttons to avoid the accidental page turns, which several of you noticed and found annoying.  Here are some leaked photos from BoyGeniusReport. [From Computerworld]

• John Mark Ockerbloom at Penn has posted his ALA MIdwinter notes and slides where he was on a panel discussing the OCLC WorldCat records policy, and a panel on the open ILS at the DLF.

A couple months ago, there was a short thread on the LITA listserv that caught my eye.  A library school student was asking for suggestions on “tech trends” to investigate.   There were several responses, and I’ve distilled some of the feedback below.

There were several practical skills suggested, but others suggested adjusting one’s approach toward newer ideas and skills — “becoming a lifelong learner” and getting familiar with ways to apply trends to the library setting.  I think this is an essential skill for successful librarians, and for successful libraries.

The overview:

• XML
• XSLT
• Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Web Services
• Cloud and super computing
• Relational databases and Indexing
• eInk and eReaders
• Digital preservation
• Copyright management
• Techniques in distance education technologies (i.e., Wimba, CMS, etc.)
• Assimilating new technologies into your work life
• Writing about your experiences
• Become familiar with how you learn technology and skills — becoming a lifelong learner

There were also links to two Library Journal articles by Roy Tennant that get at this point.

Many of you had the chance to take a look at the Kindle. Here’s some of the general feedback I got about it.

• Some really like the e-ink, which allows you to view it from almost any angle,  unlike some electronic screens.
• I got a couple comments about the next/previous page buttons — there’s no way to lock them, and it’s easy to mistakenly go to the next page accidentally, which can be annoying.
• Some don’t think it lives up to the hype, while others thought it was “very very cool.”

Here’s a blog post at the Krafty Librarian about Kindles being used at medical libraries, along with a link to an post about the copyright concerns for libraries. [Thanks Beth]

There’s also a related issue of Library Trends that themed Digital books and the impact on libraries, with several articles discussing the use of electronic books and how libraries are dealing with them.

Finally, I noticed that LJ.com (via the NewsWire from Noelle) had a little bit saying that 40% of survey participants at the Frankfurt Book Fair think Digital books will overtake traditional books by 2018 — 10 years!