Posted 8:53 PM by George Siemens
Conversation Types
This is a cool post...lists 7 conversation types and uses.

Posted 8:40 PM by George Siemens
A Taxonomy Primer
Quote: "Taxonomies…thesauri…classification systems…synonym rings. We’ve heard all of these terms in the context of the Web. As Web sites expand, the task of organizing them has become increasingly problematic and complex.
All of the terms mentioned above are controlled vocabularies. That means that they are organized lists of words and phrases, or notation systems, that are used to initially tag content, and then to find it through navigation or search.
Unfortunately, a great deal of disagreement exists as to the individual definitions of each of the terms I mentioned; we spend too much of our valuable time misunderstanding each other. The terminology is in flux; hopefully, at some point, specific definitions will be standardized."
Comment: Great overview of taxonomies...and some excellent links at the end of the article.

Posted 8:32 PM by George Siemens
Microsoft debuts Bluetooth-based wireless computing for holidays
Quote: "Software giant Microsoft Corp. , hoping to attract holiday season shoppers, Tuesday will debut a wireless keyboard and mouse combination, including a device that could link computers to multiple electronic devices without using cables."
Comment: Bluetooth is a short-range wireless standard...that should help to clean up that mess of computer wires behind your desktop...oh joy. For more Bluetooth fun...check out: Toshiba Bets on Bluetooth to Boost PDA Storage

Posted 10:22 AM by George Siemens
Understanding Knowledge Management and Information Management via Distance-Educator
Quote: "Is Knowledge Management (KM) an emerging discipline or just a new label for Information Management (IM)? To provide some answers to this question, the article summarizes empirical evidence of how KM is practiced in several types of organizations demonstrating the variety of organizational approaches that are used and the processes that are involved. Based on an exploratory study of KM practices, the article presents a typology of methodologies that are employed in various organizations to illustrate what may be considered as the particular nature of KM to show potential differences with IM."

Posted 10:15 AM by George Siemens
Missed Connections
Quote: "Columbia Southern University is attracting growing numbers of students with its respected distance-education programs, especially in business and management. But those students often get a rude surprise if they try to transfer to a traditional college: Its course credits don't count toward anything at many traditional institutions."
Comments: Some could argue that it is a quality focus on the part of traditional colleges/universities. Personally, I think it is more like the last gasping breath attempt to resist change and refusing to acknowledge learning outside of traditional facililties. The drivers of change are too pronounced...higher education is at an adapt or die stage - resistance won't work.

Posted 10:06 AM by George Siemens
Wearable Computing
Quote: "SAY you're so hooked to your mouse, keyboard and computer monitor you can hardly tear yourself away from your terminal.You don't have to. You can wear your computer.
Thad Starner, a computer science professor at Georgia Tech, has been walking around with his for nearly a decade. 'Most people who stand in line at the airport are just waiting there, bored. I'm writing the next chapter of my book or reading e-mail,' he said at the International Symposium on Wearable Computers at the University of Washington."
Comment: As usual, it's touted as the next big thing...

Posted 9:10 AM by George Siemens
Google Interview
Quote: "Google.com has been a leader in online experience for some time. I recently conducted a phone interview with Marissa Mayer, Google product manager, to learn how Google creates and improves its customer experience"
Comment: Very few (none?) sites on the Internet are as clean and simple as Google. A new user isn't bombarded with graphics, extensive options, distractors. The goal of Google is front and center - search the Internet. Google's user focus is an important consideration for any elearning developer.