I attended a Mobile Technologies conference at the U of M last week.
There was a fair amount of interesting discussion, some of it new, some of it too new to be useful. A couple of themes seemed to come up in the discussion, and I tried to jot them down before they flew.
Sustainability: There were several presentations that showed how rapidly mobile devices are being accepted by students (and how much slower by instructors). But this brings into question two aspects of sustainability, and here I draw on concepts of locally relevant technologies. Is a new fancy tractor really what a farmer in a poorly developed country actually needs? Yes you can plough many more acres in much less time with less people but oh the humanity... And with mobile technology, some myths to consider -- the paperless office was predicted a long time ago, and it hasn't happened yet. In fact, many people print off relevant e-mail letters (and no doubt some irrelevant ones as well). And these devices contain highly toxic silicon, gold, and other goodies. I'm reminded of an article I read some time ago, I believe it was in Geographic Magazine, that suggested that not only are these machines toxic to dispose of, but the vast majority of the world's silicon for the chips comes from an area in the Congo (couldn't tell you which one), and has been linked to the already hugely corrupt diamond trade (blood for diamonds etc). O.k. this didn't come up in the conference, I've not heard any further about this, but it crosses my mind every time I see somebody with a cell phone.
Diversity: the proliferation of these devices has the potential to create a hugely diverse community, haves and have nots, and yes, with the book, there have always been those that could read (haves) and those that could not (have nots), but we've made huge strides in the last half century or so, to bridge that gap.
Addressing the Divide: one aspect of the divide has apparently been addressed by the University of Bangladesh, and the Bangladeshi government. They have managed to make cell phones and cell phone use reasonably affordable. Canada has light years to go on this front.
learning styles: these vary hugely, and it is only one learning style that can reap the benefits of mobile learning. Personally the best learning I did was either in a tutorial / seminar setting or discussions with colleagues and instructors
There is some spectacular technology out there, and some highly talented instructors I'm sure. For those of us who are not as talented, I beg of you to explore and exploit your imagination and your critical reasoning skills to know when to 'fold up' your cell phones, and resort to the power of your voice to impart important / worthwhile knowledge.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
CBCA Training video
A short training video for Proquest's Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) Journal Database.
Click to play this short video. A toggle on the bottom right will give you full screen viewing.
courtesy of the ANTS project.
Click to play this short video. A toggle on the bottom right will give you full screen viewing.
courtesy of the ANTS project.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Voice Thread
I've been exploring voice thread, a piece of software that allows you to record comments around an image (or possibly video, using video doodle). I can see this having some benefit to instructors and students. I wonder if anyone else has had any joy with this.
How to search for business materials
click to play this short video. A toggle on the bottom right will give you full screen viewing
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wired Librarian
Attended presentation last night, all a bit fast, but some great ideas and resources for teaching with web 2.0.
Select here for the wired librarian wiki.
Select here for the wired librarian wiki.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Copyright news
I thought the announcement regarding NFB films was of particular interest.
FROM THE OFFICES OF LESLEY ELLEN HARRIS
Copyright, New Media Law & E-Commerce News
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Vol. 13, No. 2, February 16 2009
ISSN 1489-954X
Contents:
1. Studies, Legislation and Conventions
(Nothing to Report)
2. Legal Cases:
Is Illegal Use of Subscription Web Site a Copyright Violation?
Obama: Hope artist asks for Fair Use Ruling
3. Of Interest:
NFB Makes Films Available Online
Copyright in Africa
Digital Music Report 2009
Some YouTube Videos Get Download Option
Authors Guild Claims Kindle’s Text-to-Speech Violates Copyright
4. Seminars and Publications:
Online Copyright Courses
Book: Licensing Digital Content: A Practical Guide for Librarians
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Copyright, New Media & E-Commerce News is distributed for free by the office of Lesley Ellen Harris. Information contained herein should not be relied upon or considered as legal advice. Copyright 2009 Lesley Ellen Harris. This e-letter may be forwarded, downloaded or reproduced in whole in any print or electronic format for non-commercial purposes provided that you cc: lehletter@copyrightlaws.com.
This e-letter, from 1996 to the present, is archived with Library & Archives Canada at: http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/201/300/copyright/.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
1. STUDIES, LEGISLATION AND CONVENTIONS: (nothing to report)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. LEGAL CASES:
IS ILLEGAL USE OF SUBSCRIPTION WEB SITE A COPYRIGHT VIOLATION? – Late 2008, CoStar Realty Information announced that it is suing Dumann Realty for illegally accessing their subscription database using another company’s log-in credentials. CoStar is suing not just for the $5,000 US in fees it would have received had Dumann signed up for the Web site, but also for breach of copyright, claiming $150,000 US for each time that Dumann employees looked at a photo, or searched the database, using the illegal log-in. CoStar has recently filed more than 5 other similar suits.
In another case, the Financial Times is suing Blackstone Equity for copyright violation, claiming that an employee of the firm obtained an individual subscription that the employee then shared with others in the firm. Subscriptions to the FT are either for individuals, or firm-wide licenses based on the estimated number of users at a firm.
OBAMA: HOPE ARTIST ASKS FOR FAIR USE RULING – The Associated Press has contacted Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the iconic Obama: Hope poster, claiming that use of its photograph in the image required a license and credit. Fairey took a 2006 Associated Press photograph of Obama, cropped it, then created a propaganda-style poster which became synonymous with Obama’s campaign. Fairey's attorneys responded by suing in U.S. District Court in New York, asking the court to rule that the artist's work was protected by the fair use doctrine of copyright law.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. OF INTEREST:
NFB MAKES FILMS AVAILABLE FREE ONLINE – Canada’s National Film Board (“NFB”) has created an online screening room as part of a $1.3 CDN million project to digitize its collection of historic films. More than 700 films, chosen by a group of filmmakers and curators, are now online, including Neighbours, I’ll Find a Way, Mon Oncle Antoine and The Cat Came Back.
The online screening room, which also includes playlists around themes such as Black History Month, is at http://www.nfb.ca/.
COPYRIGHT IN AFRICA – Researchers in South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal and Uganda are working together on the African Copyright and Access to Knowledge Project (ACA2K), which is funded by the IDRC (Canada) and the Shuttleworth Foundation (South Africa). This Project is probing the relationship between national copyright environments and access to knowledge in the eight above-mentioned countries. For more information about this research project, see http://www.aca2k.org. To subscribe to Copyright and A2K Issues, a list serv about copyright with a southern Africa slant, visit:
http://lists.wits.ac.za/mailman/listinfo/copyrightanda2kinfo.
DIGITAL MUSIC REPORT 2009 – The International Federation of the Phonographic Industries (“IFPI”) recently released its Digital Music Report 2009. The report claims that the music industry has transformed its business models, offering consumers an increasing range of new services. The report notes that its biggest challenge remains illegal downloads, which the IFPI claims account for 95% of all music downloads. The 32-page PDF report is at: http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2009.pdf The 2-page PDF Key Statistics is at: http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2009-key-statistics.pdf.
SOME YOUTUBE VIDEOS GET DOWNLOAD OPTION – Some U.S. government videos, including Barack Obama’s weekly addresses, will now have a “Click to download” option on YouTube. Users can download select videos as MP4 files. The option is available for a select number of YouTube videos, sometimes for a fee.
AUTHORS GUILD CLAIMS KINDLE’S TEXT-TO-SPEECH VIOLATES COPYRIGHT – The Authors Guild has written to its members, advising them that the text-to-speech feature on Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader breaches copyright. The Authors Guild is concerned that Amazon has text rights rather than audioboook rights to the authors’ work, and that Kindle e-book sales could harm audiobook sales. Amazon responded by saying that companies that upload e-books can contractually prohibit Amazon from adding audio functionality, and that the computer-generated voice of the text-to-speech feature is no threat to audiobook sales.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. SEMINARS AND PUBLICATIONS:
ONLINE COPYRIGHT COURSES– Copyrightlaws.com is offering courses on a variety of copyright topics this winter and spring. The next two courses begin February 23, 2009 and end March 20, 2009:
· Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise. This advanced course includes e-mail lessons with a text lecture and an interactive course blog.
· Developing a Copyright Policy (February 23 - March 20, 2009) is an assignment course that includes e-mail lessons with a text lecture, further resources, a blog discussion, and assignments in each lesson. Those who complete the assignments in this course will have a draft copyright policy for their organization.
For further information, see: http://copyrightlawscom.blogspot.com/. Registration is at: www.acteva.com/go/copyright.
Copyrightlaws.com jointly with the Special Library Association/Click University is offering a course on Digital Copyright Issues, from March 9 – March 27, 2009. This is an online course with three Webex/real time discussion sessions. The course covers a broad range of copyright issues relating to librarians using digital content. Non-SLA members may enroll in this course. See: www.clickuniversity.org.
BOOK: LICENSING DIGITAL CONTENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR LIBRARIANS - Written by Lesley Ellen Harris, the 2nd edition of this book published by ALA Editions is currently being edited and will be available summer 2009. The book’s blog is now a discussion forum for digital licensing issues. See: www.licensingdigitalcontent.blogspot.com.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
This newsletter is prepared by Copyright Lawyer Lesley Ellen Harris. Lesley is the author of the books Canadian Copyright Law (McGraw-Hill), Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century (McGraw-Hill), and Licensing Digital Content (ALA Editions). Lesley edits the print newsletter, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter. Lesley may be reached at: http://copyrightlaws.com.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
This LEH-Letter issue was prepared with the help of Beth Davies.
If you are looking for further topical and practical information about copyright law, obtain a sample copy of the print newsletter, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter, from http://copyrightlaws.com.
FROM THE OFFICES OF LESLEY ELLEN HARRIS
Copyright, New Media Law & E-Commerce News
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Vol. 13, No. 2, February 16 2009
ISSN 1489-954X
Contents:
1. Studies, Legislation and Conventions
(Nothing to Report)
2. Legal Cases:
Is Illegal Use of Subscription Web Site a Copyright Violation?
Obama: Hope artist asks for Fair Use Ruling
3. Of Interest:
NFB Makes Films Available Online
Copyright in Africa
Digital Music Report 2009
Some YouTube Videos Get Download Option
Authors Guild Claims Kindle’s Text-to-Speech Violates Copyright
4. Seminars and Publications:
Online Copyright Courses
Book: Licensing Digital Content: A Practical Guide for Librarians
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Copyright, New Media & E-Commerce News is distributed for free by the office of Lesley Ellen Harris. Information contained herein should not be relied upon or considered as legal advice. Copyright 2009 Lesley Ellen Harris. This e-letter may be forwarded, downloaded or reproduced in whole in any print or electronic format for non-commercial purposes provided that you cc: lehletter@copyrightlaws.com.
This e-letter, from 1996 to the present, is archived with Library & Archives Canada at: http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/201/300/copyright/.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
1. STUDIES, LEGISLATION AND CONVENTIONS: (nothing to report)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. LEGAL CASES:
IS ILLEGAL USE OF SUBSCRIPTION WEB SITE A COPYRIGHT VIOLATION? – Late 2008, CoStar Realty Information announced that it is suing Dumann Realty for illegally accessing their subscription database using another company’s log-in credentials. CoStar is suing not just for the $5,000 US in fees it would have received had Dumann signed up for the Web site, but also for breach of copyright, claiming $150,000 US for each time that Dumann employees looked at a photo, or searched the database, using the illegal log-in. CoStar has recently filed more than 5 other similar suits.
In another case, the Financial Times is suing Blackstone Equity for copyright violation, claiming that an employee of the firm obtained an individual subscription that the employee then shared with others in the firm. Subscriptions to the FT are either for individuals, or firm-wide licenses based on the estimated number of users at a firm.
OBAMA: HOPE ARTIST ASKS FOR FAIR USE RULING – The Associated Press has contacted Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the iconic Obama: Hope poster, claiming that use of its photograph in the image required a license and credit. Fairey took a 2006 Associated Press photograph of Obama, cropped it, then created a propaganda-style poster which became synonymous with Obama’s campaign. Fairey's attorneys responded by suing in U.S. District Court in New York, asking the court to rule that the artist's work was protected by the fair use doctrine of copyright law.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. OF INTEREST:
NFB MAKES FILMS AVAILABLE FREE ONLINE – Canada’s National Film Board (“NFB”) has created an online screening room as part of a $1.3 CDN million project to digitize its collection of historic films. More than 700 films, chosen by a group of filmmakers and curators, are now online, including Neighbours, I’ll Find a Way, Mon Oncle Antoine and The Cat Came Back.
The online screening room, which also includes playlists around themes such as Black History Month, is at http://www.nfb.ca/.
COPYRIGHT IN AFRICA – Researchers in South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal and Uganda are working together on the African Copyright and Access to Knowledge Project (ACA2K), which is funded by the IDRC (Canada) and the Shuttleworth Foundation (South Africa). This Project is probing the relationship between national copyright environments and access to knowledge in the eight above-mentioned countries. For more information about this research project, see http://www.aca2k.org. To subscribe to Copyright and A2K Issues, a list serv about copyright with a southern Africa slant, visit:
http://lists.wits.ac.za/mailman/listinfo/copyrightanda2kinfo.
DIGITAL MUSIC REPORT 2009 – The International Federation of the Phonographic Industries (“IFPI”) recently released its Digital Music Report 2009. The report claims that the music industry has transformed its business models, offering consumers an increasing range of new services. The report notes that its biggest challenge remains illegal downloads, which the IFPI claims account for 95% of all music downloads. The 32-page PDF report is at: http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2009.pdf The 2-page PDF Key Statistics is at: http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2009-key-statistics.pdf.
SOME YOUTUBE VIDEOS GET DOWNLOAD OPTION – Some U.S. government videos, including Barack Obama’s weekly addresses, will now have a “Click to download” option on YouTube. Users can download select videos as MP4 files. The option is available for a select number of YouTube videos, sometimes for a fee.
AUTHORS GUILD CLAIMS KINDLE’S TEXT-TO-SPEECH VIOLATES COPYRIGHT – The Authors Guild has written to its members, advising them that the text-to-speech feature on Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader breaches copyright. The Authors Guild is concerned that Amazon has text rights rather than audioboook rights to the authors’ work, and that Kindle e-book sales could harm audiobook sales. Amazon responded by saying that companies that upload e-books can contractually prohibit Amazon from adding audio functionality, and that the computer-generated voice of the text-to-speech feature is no threat to audiobook sales.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. SEMINARS AND PUBLICATIONS:
ONLINE COPYRIGHT COURSES– Copyrightlaws.com is offering courses on a variety of copyright topics this winter and spring. The next two courses begin February 23, 2009 and end March 20, 2009:
· Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise. This advanced course includes e-mail lessons with a text lecture and an interactive course blog.
· Developing a Copyright Policy (February 23 - March 20, 2009) is an assignment course that includes e-mail lessons with a text lecture, further resources, a blog discussion, and assignments in each lesson. Those who complete the assignments in this course will have a draft copyright policy for their organization.
For further information, see: http://copyrightlawscom.blogspot.com/. Registration is at: www.acteva.com/go/copyright.
Copyrightlaws.com jointly with the Special Library Association/Click University is offering a course on Digital Copyright Issues, from March 9 – March 27, 2009. This is an online course with three Webex/real time discussion sessions. The course covers a broad range of copyright issues relating to librarians using digital content. Non-SLA members may enroll in this course. See: www.clickuniversity.org.
BOOK: LICENSING DIGITAL CONTENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR LIBRARIANS - Written by Lesley Ellen Harris, the 2nd edition of this book published by ALA Editions is currently being edited and will be available summer 2009. The book’s blog is now a discussion forum for digital licensing issues. See: www.licensingdigitalcontent.blogspot.com.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
This newsletter is prepared by Copyright Lawyer Lesley Ellen Harris. Lesley is the author of the books Canadian Copyright Law (McGraw-Hill), Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century (McGraw-Hill), and Licensing Digital Content (ALA Editions). Lesley edits the print newsletter, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter. Lesley may be reached at: http://copyrightlaws.com.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
This LEH-Letter issue was prepared with the help of Beth Davies.
If you are looking for further topical and practical information about copyright law, obtain a sample copy of the print newsletter, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter, from http://copyrightlaws.com.
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