Competency H: identifying, using, and evaluating current and emerging information and communication technologies

“Core Competency H — demonstrate proficiency in identifying, using, and evaluating current and emerging information and communication technologies.”

Introduction

With the proliferation of digital and electronic information sources and the user friendly technology found in internet and mobile application search engines, it might appear that librarians and other information specialists are in an endangered profession. The ever advancing and emerging technology allows people to access information wherever and whenever they want it. Immediate information gratification is at one’s fingertips. However, librarians and other information specialists who stay current with cutting edge technologies keep our professions relevant. We do so by not only staying current, but by staying ahead of the trends so that we help or patrons learn the technology. Not everyone will have access to all of the technology; libraries can help provide it. For example, the county library system in which I am currently working has just purchased pre-bundled Kindle Paperwhite readers for circulation. The University library system where I earned my undergraduate degree had a laptop loan program.

Managing Current Technology

I have had the opportunity to evaluate some of the current technologies used in Information Science. I wrote a report on augmented reality (see H_Evidence_1) in which the experience, whatever it is, is enhanced or augmented. For example, closed captioning on televisions or active links within a text on a screen leading to related text, like glossary entries for an article which uses technical jargon or even museum displays in which a recorded docent will describe an exhibit at the push of a button.  I have found that much of the current technology that is successful is interactive. The trend seems to be that technology will become ever more interactive rather than passive. People will be actively participating  in the information retrieval process. Virtual world technology puts users into the programs in a role playing setting. I have been working in Second Life, a virtual simulation program, and the experience leaves me inspired with different ways that such technology could be used in information professions (see H_Evidence_2).           

Transitioning from Current to Emerging Technology

One of the sites I visited in Second Life was had infinite potential for technological growth. It was Science Island and the site has the ability to evolve as discoveries are made and it even makes it look possible that discoveries could made right there in virtual science world. There are sections of the land devoted to astronomy, nuclear energy, and genetics. The emphasis seems to be on applied science. There is an observatory to study astronomy and one can use "camera controls" to look into the eyepieces of the telescope, though I never figured out how to do that. There is a simulated nuclear reactor with notecards and interactive things which teach about different types of energy. There is a virtual reality lab which completely immerses one's avatar into an environment chosen by the learner, such as "nature" or the solar system.

Managing Emerging Technology

I recently read and reviewed a couple of articles  (see H_Evidence_3) which discuss the fact that recent studies show not all people engage with  information presented by technology with the same rate of absorption. Essentially, the studies show that reading articles and blogs and blurbs on the internet with highlighted text links decrease attention span and do not allow readers to fully engage in the text. Furthermore, comprehension also suffers from reading on devices as opposed to printed text. Emerging literacy technology will have to evolve to accommodate the way our brains work if we are to support comprehension in  literature.

Conclusion

I think that today's children will learn more effectively through the kind of technology I am discussing here because they have been immersed in it since birth. I also think novelty makes it effective for others not so invested in obtaining the next new gadget because people try it out, at least at first, for the fun factor. I think something like this would be, I believe, of particular value to those who are unable to visit the actual museum or science center. There is also great potential for an interactive archive of sorts for data collected by scientists in a site like this. The notion of using virtual reality as a mode of publication is also a viable use for a site like this. I can see myself using Second Life technology as a librarian for information retrieval. It will require some research and preparation as far as verifying authenticity and reliability of the information presented, but a site like Science Island which is sponsored by the University of Denver or the Archives of Stanford University or the Holocaust Museum sponsored by the actual Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. are pretty well documented.