This document summarizes new hardware and software trends relevant for public libraries. It discusses how lifestyle trends have led to a demand for portable, smaller devices with user-generated content. This has driven hardware to use flash memory, allowing for smaller portable devices. It also discusses how software is increasingly web-based. Web-based software like Google Docs provide document editing and storage online without downloads. Libraries should promote access to new technologies to add value to their services by providing access to information, software and entertainment anytime from any device.

1. Relevant to the Public Library New Hampshire State Library January 2007 New Hardware & Software Trends

2. Scope of the Presentation To explore current hardware and software trends relevant to public libraries. Put down your pen and paper! Find this presentation at: www.slideshare.net/bibliotecaria

3. Lifestyle Trends Before looking into technology trends, let’s examine our lifestyle trends. We’re a nation on-the-go! We expect our information and entertainment to be ready when we are.

4. New Technologies Prevailing trends in technology: Portable Smaller More user control of content Lots of user-generated content Web-based entertainment Web-based tools and software

5. Smaller and Smaller…

6. Why Devices are Shrinking In many cases, devices are smaller because of how they store data. Devices using flash memory can hold a lot of information in a small package.

7. Flash Effects on Hardware Devices that use flash memory are: Smaller Portable Stable Your audio doesn’t skip when jarred. Durable There are stories of flash drives surviving a wash cycle! Faster!

8. Flash Hard Drives Pssst… Flash hard drives are coming to your laptops!

9. Size Even the smallest of the flash devices hold 1 GB of files. That will hold nearly 400 high-quality photos or 240 songs or LOTS 3 ½” floppy disks

10. Shrinking Computers Small palm-sized computes can fully run desktop applications like Word and Excel.

11. Software Trends Now that we understand the lifestyle and hardware trends, let’s move on to the software trends. That’s where the real action is!

12. Software Trends Software is moving from your computer’s hard drive to the Web, thanks to: High-speed Internet Innovative Web design

13. Public Libraries Why should libraries take notice? These trends provide patrons with more access to software, entertainment, information, and their own data than ever before. By promoting access to these technologies, we are truly adding to the library’s services.

14. Webware Web-based software are computer programs that require no downloading onto a desktop computer. All functions are done completely online.

15. Benefits of Web-based Software The software and, therefore, your data is accessible from any Internet-connected computer. Your documents are stored for you. The software is usually free or inexpensive for the casual user. The selection of Web-based software is growing and improving at an impressive rate.

16. Variety of Webware Webware can be used for typical office tasks: Email Word processing Spreadsheets Presentations And in unusual and fun ways: Genealogy Photo editing Keeping track of things (books, music, wine preferences, etc.)

17. Webware: The Highlights Google Docs & Spreadsheets Upload existing Word documents and Excel spreadsheets. Edit and create the documents, completely online, without the use of a traditional desktop word processor. Allow selected individuals access to the document to read or make changes. (This is the “social” aspect of Webware.) Backup important files in your online account.

18. Google Spreadsheet

19. Presentations Zoho, an online office suite, provides a Web-based presentation application. You can also upload existing presentation to the Web using Slideshare.net Both of these companies allow you to easily import your Web-based presentation into a Website or blog.

20. Inserting a Presentation into a Blog

21. Web-based Office Suite ThinkFree is a Web-based office suite that includes a text editor, spreadsheet, PDF creation, and slideshow. All of the files created in ThinkFree, as with most Web-based software, are compatible with MS Office.

22. Online Storage: Your Files Where You Need Them To Be

23. Online Data Storage Web-based companies provide free online storage of your files, music, data, photos, etc. There are many sites that allow users to create free accounts and save 30 MB to 5 GB of files online. (Remember – the floppy disk only holds 1.44 MB!) Higher storage amounts usually require a reasonable yearly fee.

24. Blogging Software There are simple blogging tools for beginners to learn. As they are Web-based software, the blogs can be updated from any Internet-connected computer. Blogger WordPress

25. Blogging Software

26. Bookmarking Bookmarking software can be particularly useful to librarians! Keep a Web-based record of your favorite Websites. Give the site a description. Assign keywords, or tags, to the site to allow for easy retrieval.

27. Web-based Bookmarking My notes. My controlled vocabulary

28. Web-based Bookmarking

29. Locating Your Bookmarks Click on one of your tags (subject headings), and see all related bookmarked sites.

30. Finding a Favorite

31. Uses for Bookmarking Handy for reference librarians who must use more than one computer. Find your favorite sites from any computer. Easily create Web bibliographies for upcoming homework projects or current events.

32. Unexpected Webware The Web offers some unexpected software like: Photo editing Video editing Online personal libraries Genealogy & Family Pages

33. Staying Current with Tech Trends How to stay current? Read technology blogs: LibraryCrunch.com TechCrunch.com WebWare.com Encourage your staff to read blogs and try out new software. Be adventurous!

34. Staying Current Web-based software and mobile computing is not a trend. Libraries are terrific places to promote these new technologies!

35. Find this presentation at: www.slideshare.net/bibliotecaria