August 22, 2008

Information Challenge : Google Vs. Academic Databases

Until about a decade back, the academic databases dominated and ruled the information retrieval arena. Upon the advent of the World Wide Web, search engines such as Google have taken over a major chunk of the monopoly represented by the academic databases. However, are the two, really a competition to each other, or are they complimentary? For the benefit of the searchers and the information field;is there a likely point of convergence?

The proponents of the academic databases who are against Google claim that information googled out is similar to junk food and leads to ‘information obesity’. While it may be true that vanity often drives the internet, this argument has been refuted by researchers who have quantitatively demonstrated that Google has a precision which is slightly better than the academic databases and the accessibility is far more superior to the latter(1). The only area where Google seems to suffer is quality of the intellectual content.Only a fraction of all journals exist on web owing to extensive costs of copyrights in an attempt to digitize them.

The greatest strength of the research is that, there is an acceptance of the fact that Google has indeed come so far enough, as to face all the academic databases alone. Documents retrieved form Google have a better relevance of the topic and with the advent of Google Scholar , access to scholarly articles is much more easier as compared to the academic databases.

An attempt needs to be made to understand the psyche of the user, as to why he or she prefers Google to the academic databases, that is if they had any preference. It is perhaps, the user friendly interface of Google that draws users, even though, when they are aware, that higher quality information may be available through the academic databases.

Instead of viewing Google as a threat, an amicable approach can be taken, and a point of convergence can be reached. Some of the Information Stalwarts such as ProQuest, OCLC, and Reed Business Information now have some of their information indexed by Google, although access to full texts still typically requires a license. Nearly 100 percent of the Institute of Physics (IoP) content is indexed by Google as well as 90 percent of Emerald Insight publications. The American Institute of Physics (AIP) took a different route and built a new web site that is web crawler friendly .(2)

Thus convergence has already started taking place. Many prominent databases like Dialog now offer a web version.

There is an invisible web that exists other than the visible world wide web .Further research should be taken up, as to how the information from the invisible web can be ‘googled out’. In other words, to find a solution to make the contents of the invisible web, more accessible, in a user amiable manner.
Another dimension can be added to the research, if the social context of the user is known. Social context can be gathered from the user himself, by allowing personalizing, the academic databases. This personalization, usually draws users to a platform which they feel ‘knows’ them.

Despite academic databases having their own shortcomings, Google is not enough, at least not as of now. The two systems should learn more from each other, and together emerge as an information retrieval system, which is not only of high quality, but also easily accessible and has an ergonomic interface.

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1. Brophy, J. & Bawden, D. (2005). Is Google enough? Comparison of an internet
search engine with academic library resources. Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives, 57(6), 498-512


2. Tenopir, C. (2004).Is Google the competition. Library Journal.129 (6).30-30

August 21, 2008

Balanced Approach to Push and Pull Web Marketing:When it is Good and When it is Not.

Businesses need markets and markets thrive on businesses. However, does either of them dominate the equation? Is too much marketing being pushy or is too little of it suicidal for the product?

A very interesting concept has arrived which is the ambient advertising and which has gone mainstream. Some web marketing strategies are more ‘pull’ driven whereas the others present a ‘push' driven marketing approach. Some are of the opinion that there exists a middle path implying that an equal amount of pull and push are necessary for effective marketing. The ‘push and pull are interdependent opposites that cannot exist alone’ .Too much push carries the risk of alienating the user .Too much pull runs the risk, of consumers not knowing the availability of the product, and hence, having a vague idea about product existence.

The weakness of this model lies in the absence of the SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat) analysis. A perfect instance, would be when certain terms used to push a certain website A (strength for website A), when entered in a search engine, pulls a competitor’s website B (opportunity for website B and threat for website A).

Another weakness of the model is that it does not consider the product lifecycle stages. A product or a website which has been recently launched may actually need more push than pull. A product which is in its maturity may be better off with a pull strategy. Balance may not always be the key to successful marketing, for certain stages of the product lifecycle.

Although, the model has some flaws from a strategic marketing perspective, it still has relevance to certain contexts. An already established business like Google, may actually benefit from the balanced approach model. Google does not need to push the search engine as it has already created a pull in the market. However, it continues to push its brand name through innovative technologies like Google checkout. A concept such as Google checkout flourishes only, because it has the Google brand name attached to it. If this concept were to be used by a new merchant, balanced push- pull approach would not be successful.

Another application is for organizations, or websites, which have no literally no competition in the market, or is definitely deemed more reliable than others. .An IRS website offering tax advice is a good example. This website does not need to push itself through marketing, as the user is guaranteed to find the most reliable tax advice here, and is automatically pulled to their site. The IRS website simply needs to push itself through search engines .A balance is achieved here, owing to no competition.

Further research in the design of context aware websites would lend support to the balanced approach model. Context-aware websites have already been selected or pulled by their users for different reasons and been personalized or made context aware through a different system.. Thereafter, they can continue to push new concepts, new products and new ideas. Unlike spam, which alienates the user, this kind of context aware design, is of interest to the user. The information systems, which function in various languages could be extended to include colloquial terminologies.

August 20, 2008

Reducing Spam and Organzing emails

Do you find yourself overwhelmed by too many emails in your inbox and you are not able to find that one particular email? Or have you lately developed a feeling for dumping that old email address and creating a new account, because the old one is filled with more spam and less content? Try the following for minimizing spam and better e-organization.

1. Always open an account with only trusted internet email providers like Yahoo or Google. Many of the lesser known providers may actually sell your address to spam senders.

2. Organize your email into folders. If possible set up filters. At least the load is organized into sections so that you deal with the emails in their priority.

3. When you open your email, mark all the junk as JUNK and report the spam immediately. If you are using a good email provider, the next time the sender of the email sends another spam; it doesn’t bother you by reaching your inbox and the email lands straight in the spam folder.

4. As you as you read an email, get done with it- reply and then file it, or trash it or block the sender, but take some action.

5. From time to time, clear all your folders and especially your SENT folder. Most of the times, you get a copy of what you sent when the recipient replies.

6. If you get a lot of emails, then you may consider switching the format of your email content from HTML to plain text .This will decrease email download time and also save some space.

7. Whenever you pass your email address to someone, make sure you add the person as a contact in your email contacts ,so that the email sent by this new person doesn’t not land up in spam folder.

8. Whenever you send an eCard or an audio/video clip from a website to someone, always uncheck the box which says that you are willing to accept their promotions, offers etc.

9. Never signup for services which promise to give you the gift cards of prominent stores and in, lieu want you to signup for their partner services. Such services generate more spam and provide very less actual service.

Most important thing is to remember that replying or responding to spam generates more spam so never ever do that.

August 19, 2008

Knowledge Management in the Organizational Context

Knowledge management in the Organizational context deals with understanding how information evolves .To understand knowledge management., we need to understand what is knowledge?

What is Knowledge ?
Knowledge is the awareness of what one knows. It is the acquaintance with or understanding a subject. In other words, it is the information acquired through learning.It is the enriched information with insights in context and the dynamic-energy and change inherent in nature. Knowledge is constantly changing through experience and learning .It is a process intertwined with human activity and experience

The characteristic of knowledge is that it is dynamic and intangible. Knowledge comes exclusively from an intellectual activity. It is a sensory experience and physical activity which involves conversations and social exchanges and encompasses the entire consciousness.



What is Knowledge Management?
Knowledge itself cannot be managed.-The artifacts which represent knowledge are managed. Representation must reflect the action of knowledge acquisition. Artifact management involves the management of tacit(implicit) knowledge, explicit knowledge and personal knowledge. Without personal involvement, knowledge management has very little value. A big disadvantage is if the knowledge is incorrect or not used properly

Knowledge Management is Difficult owing to the emotions, which are intertwined with information seeking affect the ways in which we think and know. By separating the mind, body, and spirit in defining knowledge and recognizing only the intellectual dimension ignores essential aspects of human nature, presents a fractured picture of knowledge.
Although technology departments may have made many aspects of knowledge sharing possible, it is a mistake to equate Knowledge Management with a technology tool.

The organizational Context

Knowledge artifacts in Organizational Context can involve the following
• Designs
• Meeting minutes
• Records of conversations
• Handbooks/manuals/reports
• Audio/visual content
• Personal lessons learned


Knowledge Management in an organization is based on an understanding of knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. It needs to be understood that
A knowledge artifact (thing) is managed - not knowledge itself. Additionally,
knowledge stored must be current and up-to-date and knowledge managers must rely on human intelligence and energy and not just technology.

Dynamic knowledge creation occurs during socialization when internal (implict/tacit) knowledge is made external (explicit).Organizational knowledge-processes are in place to transform tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge, allowing others in the organization to use it for decision making. Tacit knowledge(internal)is implicit unspoken and hidden(personal), explicit knowledge(external)-explained,recorded, or documented.

Strategies to effectively implement knowledge management

Sharing of knowledge representation artifacts and this sharing must be mutual between employee and employer. Mutual trust needs to exist between employee and employer. Organizations can effectively manage knowledge by creating opportunities for knowledge representation. The knowledge stores should have a certain quality.Technology can be helpful to maintain this quality.

If information professionals and others truly see the value in active knowledge sharing and have the desire for knowledge exchange to be a lasting and meaningful way to work, then the management of knowledge will need to be as dynamic and process-oriented as knowledge itself.

If you need help with knowledge management in your business or organization, contact me at infocounselor@gmail.com

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Implicit /Tacit
Subconscious
 Perceived
 Unaware
 Difficult to articulate/unspoken
 Experience based
 Transferred through Conversation
 Embedded in stories/narratives
 Escapes Observation
 Held within self
 Personal
 Insights and understandings
 Judgments
 Assumptions

Explicit

 Formally articulated
 Elucidated
 Aware
 Fixed
 Codified
 Documented (written,taped,recorded, digitized etc)
 Stored in repositories (databases, files etc)
 Can be viewed or heard
 Shared with others
 Organizational
 Pushed or pulled
 Reports, lessons learnt

August 7, 2008

Building Your Personal Library

If you are a book lover, you know how difficult it is to resist the temptation of buying new books. Even more difficult is to get rid of the books when you are done reading them. If you are like me, you want to preserve all books in an orderly fashion so that you have easy access to them whenever you (or anybody else) needs to access them. Today’s tips cover the topic on how to make a book library of your own with a call number which is like any other library.

First rule: Your collection should be reasonable and not be as big as a university library. Second rule: Your collection should be wide and not specialized. So what this means that if you’re an IT pro and there are only IT books in your bookshelf, then probably this is not best classification system for you.


Assuming that both the above mentioned rules are followed,we begin with building our library.

What you need is
1. Pair of scissors
2. Adhesive tape
3. White paper


The above materials are needed to create the spine labels which you often find on the spinal column of the books in library. You are welcome to buy ready made spine labels from stationary shops.

Creating the label: Cut out thin strips of rectangular pieces of paper( 1cm width and 4 cm length)

Now write the numbers (see tables below) and write them on the labels and paste them on the spine of the book. Arrange all your books by increasing order of number.

Classification : Now the main classification system, since the books are yours, it is assumed that you have read them and know the subject content. Classify them according to the following table

000 Computers, information & general works
100 Philosophy & psychology
200 Religion & philosophy of religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Arts & recreation
800 Literature
900 History & geography

Within the main classes there will be further smaller divisions which could be looked up clicking on the individual classes. For example a book on World history could be given a number like 909 and a book on costume and personal appearance will find its number in 390. Of course your collection may be a little more specialized and you may have to go further in the numbers. If you need help with that please send me a personal email at infocounselor@gmail.com

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Class 000 is the most general class, and is used for works not limited to any one specific discipline, e.g., encyclopedias, newspapers, general periodicals. This class is also used for certain specialized disciplines that deal with knowledge and information, e.g., computer science, library and information science, journalism. Each of the other main classes (100–900) comprises a major discipline or group of related disciplines.


000 Generalities
001 Knowledge
002 The book
003 Systems
004 Data processing Computer science
005 Computer programming, programs, data
006 Special computer methods
010 – 019 Bibliography
020 – 029 Library & information sciences
030 - 039 General encyclopedic works by language or nationality
040 -- 049 Not assigned or no longer used
050 – 059 General serials & their indexes by language or nationality
060 – 069 General organization & Museology by nationality
070 - 079 News media, journalism, publishing by nationality
080 - 089 General collections
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Class 100 Philosophy & psychology
100 – 109 Philosophy & psychology
110 – 119 Metaphysics, Ontology, Cosmology (Philosophy of nature)
120 – 129 Epistemology, causation, humankind
130 – 139 Paranormal phenomena, Occult, Parapsychology
140 – 149 Specific philosophical schools
150 – 159 Psychology
160 – 169 Logic, Induction, Deduction
170 – 179 Ethics (Moral philosophy)
180 – 189 Ancient, medieval, Oriental philosophy
190 - 199 Modern Western philosophy
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Class 200 Religion and philosophy of religion
Both deal with the ultimate nature of existence and relationships, but religion treats these topics within the context of revelation, deity, and worship.
200 Religion
201 - 209 Christianity
210 - 219 Natural theology, Concepts of God, Creation
220 – 229 Bible
221 Old Testament
230 – 239 Christian theology, God
240 - 249 Christian moral & devotional theology
250 – 259 Christian orders & local church
260 – 269 Christian social theology
270 – 279 Christian church history
280 – 289 Christian denominations & sects
290 Other & comparative religions
291 Comparative religion
292 Classical (Greek & Roman) religion
293 Germanic religion
294 Religions of Indic origin
295 Zoroastrianism (Mazdaism, Parseeism)
296 Judaism
297 Islam & religions originating in it
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Class 300 Social sciences

Includes sociology, anthropology, statistics, political science, economics, law, public administration, social problems and services, education, commerce, communications, transportation, and customs.

300 Social sciences, Sociology & anthropology 310 – 319 General statistics
320 – 329 Political science
330 – 339 Economics
340 – 349 Law
350 – 359 Public administration
360 – 369 Social services; association
370 – 379 Education
380 – 389 Commerce, communications, transport
390 Customs, etiquette, folklore, Costume & personal appearance
392 Customs of life cycle & domestic life
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Class 400 Language, linguistics, and specific languages
Literature, which is arranged by language, is found in 800.

400 – 409 Language, Dictionaries & encyclopedias
410 – 419 Linguistics, Writing systems, Etymology
420 English & Old English
421- 429 English writing system & phonology
430 – 439 Germanic languages German
440 – 449 Romance languages French
450 - 459 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romantic
460 – 469 Spanish & Portugese languages
470 – 479 Italic Latin
480 – 489 Hellenic languages Classical Greek
490 Other languages, Celtic languages, Afro-Asiatic languages Semitic,
Ural-Altaic, Paleosiberian, Dravidian
499 Miscellaneous languages
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Class 500 Natural sciences and mathematics

The natural sciences describe and attempt to explain the world in which we live.

500 Natural sciences & mathematics
501- 509 Philosophy & theory of science
510 Mathematics
520 – 529 Astronomy & allied sciences
530 – 539 Physics, Light, heat, electricity
540 – 549 Chemistry & allied sciences
550 – 559 Earth sciences
560 – 569 Paleontology Paleozoology
570 – 579 Life sciences, anthropology, biology, genetics
580 – 589 Botanical sciences, Botany, Spermatophyta (Seed-bearing plants)
590 – 599 Zoological sciences
591 Zoology
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Class 600 Technology
Technology consists of utilizing the sciences to harness the natural world and its resources for the benefit of humankind.
600 Technology (Applied sciences)
601- 619 Medical sciences Medicine
620 – 629 Engineering & allied operations
630 – 639 Agriculture
640 – 649 Home economics & family living, Food & drink, Child rearing & home care of sick
650 – 659 Management & auxiliary services
660 – 669 Chemical engineering, Explosives, fuels technology, food technology, cleaning technology
670 Manufacturing
671 Metalworking & metal products
672 Iron, steel, other iron alloys
673 Nonferrous metals
674 Lumber processing, wood products, cork
675 Leather & fur processing
676 Pulp & paper technology
677 Textiles
678 Elastomers & elastomer products
679 Other products of specific materials
680 Manufacture for specific uses
681 Precision instruments & other devices
682 Small forge work (Blacksmithing)
683 Hardware & household appliances
684 Furnishings & home workshops
685 Leather, fur, related products
686 Printing & related activities
687 Clothing
690 Buildings
691 Building materials
692 Auxiliary construction practices
693 Specific materials & purposes
694 Wood construction Carpentry
695 Roof covering
696 Utilities
697 Heating, ventilating, air-conditioning
698 Detail finishing
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Class 700 The arts and recreation

701 Philosophy & theory
702 Miscellany
703 Dictionaries & encyclopedias
704 Special topics
705 Serial publications
706 Organizations & management
707 Education, research, related topics
708 Galleries, museums, private collections
709 Historical, areas, persons treatment
710 Civic & landscape art
711 Area planning (Civic art)
712 Landscape architecture
713 Landscape architecture of trafficways
714 Water features
715 Woody plants
716 Herbaceous plants
717 Structures
718 Landscape design of cemeteries
719 Natural landscapes
720-9 Architecture
730-9 Plastic arts Sculpture

739 Art metalwork
740 Drawing & decorative arts
741 Drawing & drawings
742 Perspective
743 Drawing & drawings by subject
745 Decorative arts
746 Textile arts
747 Interior decoration
748 Glass
749 Furniture & accessories
750-9 Painting & paintings
751 Techniques, equipment
760 Graphic arts Printmaking & prints
761 Relief processes (Block printing)
763 Lithographic (Planographic) processes
764 Chromolithography & serigraphy
765 Metal engraving
766 Mezzotinting & related processes
767 Etching & drypoint
768 Not assigned or no longer used
769 Prints
770 Photography & photographs
771 Techniques, equipment, materials
772 Metallic salt processes
773 Pigment processes of printing
774 Holography
778 Fields & kinds of photography
779 Photographs
780 Music
781 General principles & musical forms
782 Vocal music
783 Music for single voices The voice
784 Instruments & Instrumental ensembles
785 Chamber music
786 Keyboard & other instruments
787 Stringed instruments (Chordophones)
788 Wind instruments (Aerophones)
790 Recreational & performing arts
791 Public performances
792 Stage presentations
793 Indoor games & amusements
794 Indoor games of skill
795 Games of chance
796 Athletic & outdoor sports & games
797 Aquatic & air sports
798 Equestrian sports & animal racing
799 Fishing, hunting, shooting
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Class 800 Literature, and Rhetoric
Includes prose, poetry, drama, etc.
Folk literature is classed with customs in 300.
801- 809 Philosophy & theory
810 – 819 American literature in English
820 – 829 English & Old English literatures
830 – 839 Literatures of Germanic languages
840 - 349 Literatures of Romance languages
850 – 859 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic
860 – 869 Spanish & Portuguese literatures
870 – 879 Italic literatures Latin
880 – 889 Hellenic literatures Classical Greek
890 – 899 Literatures of other languages
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Class 900 Geography & History
When a work is a story of events that have transpired or an account of existing conditions in a particular place or region, it is classed in 900. A history of a specific subject is classed with the subject.

901 - 908 Philosophy & theory
909 World history
910 -919 Geography & travel, Historical geography
920 – 929 Biography, genealogy, insignia
930 – 939 History of ancient world
940 - 949 General history of Europe
950 – 950 General history of Asia Far East
960 – 969 General history of Africa
970 – 979 General history of North America
990 - 998 General history of other areas
999 Extraterrestrial worlds
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