[MCN-L] mcn-l Digest, Vol 48, Issue 14

[Denise Waxman]

> With respect to the issue of image fair use best practices for  
> museums I thought the V&A's notice about uses permitted for hi-res  
> images pretty straightforward and generous.  
> http://www.vam.ac.uk/cis-online/information/information_highresolutionimages

Denise Waxman

[MCN-L] EpiCollect: Linking Smartphones to Web Applications for Epidemiology, Ecology and Community Data Collection

[McKiernan, Gerard [LIB]]

Colleagues/

 

>>>Think About The (Other) Applications / Possibilities <<< 

 

/Gerry 

 

Aanensen DM, Huntley DM, Feil EJ, al-Own F, Spratt BG, 2009 EpiCollect:
Linking Smartphones to Web Applications for Epidemiology, Ecology and
Community Data Collection. PLoS ONE 4(9): e6968.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006968 

 

Abstract

 

Background

 

Epidemiologists and ecologists often collect data in the field and, on
returning to their laboratory, enter their data into a database for
further analysis. The recent introduction of mobile phones that utilise
the open source Android operating system, and which include (among other
features) both GPS and Google Maps, provide new opportunities for
developing mobile phone applications, which in conjunction with web
applications, allow two-way communication between field workers and
their project databases.

 

Data collection frameworks utilising mobile phones with data submission
to and from central databases are widely applicable and can give a field
worker similar display and analysis tools on their mobile phone that
they would have if viewing the data in their laboratory via the web. We
demonstrate their utility for epidemiological data collection and
display, and briefly discuss their application in ecological and
community data collection. Furthermore, such frameworks offer great
potential for recruiting 'citizen scientists' to contribute data easily
to central databases through their mobile phone.

 

Links To Source And Full Text and YouTube Demo  and Parent Site And News
Coverage Available At

 

[ http://tinyurl.com/l5sljh  ]

 

/Gerry 

 

Gerry McKiernan

Associate Professor

Science and Technology Librarian

Iowa State University Library

Ames IA 50011

 

gerrymck at iastate.edu

 

There Are No Answers, Only Solutions / Olde Irish Saying

 

 The Future Is Already Here, It's Just Not Evenly Distributed

Attributed To William Gibson, SciFi Author / Coined 'Cyberspace

[MCN-L] Job Posting: Network Administrator, Ohio Historical Society (Columbus, OH)

[Angela O'Neal]

The Ohio Historical Society seeks a network administrator responsible
for a 250+ node LAN/WAN in a Windows network environment. 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

* Administers and manages the Society's LAN/WAN using SMS,
Veritas, eTrust, Innoculan, Exchange Administration, including
anti-virus and anti-spam software and various other network tools
available.

* Works with Information Technology manager to design, plan and
integrate new solutions for the organization.

* Evaluates, recommends, purchases, installs and maintains all
network components and associated upgrades, including hubs, UPS's, media
converters, routers, servers, backup devices and video hardware.

* Provides technical support in the use of network products to
users.

* Establishes server backup procedures and incorporates and
maintains LAN/WAN security.

* Maintains documentation for network hardware and software
configurations.

* Ability to install and configure CISCO routers and CSU/DSU's.

* Evaluates/advises on connection methods (T-1, DSC).

* Other duties as assigned.

 

Education and/or Experience: 

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience, plus training in
Microsoft LAN/WAN administration and experience in Windows operating
systems.  Experience in history museums, libraries or non-profits
preferred.  Experience with defining user requirements and managing
projects is also preferred.  

 

Language Skills: 

Ability to communicate effectively with a varied constituency.  Requires
excellent verbal and written communication skills.

 

Mathematical Skills:

Requires basic mathematical skills.

 

Technical Skills:

Experience with virtualization and security software. Technical skills
necessary to diagnose and troubleshoot LAN/WAN performance issues in a
DHCP, TCP/IP and CISCO router environment. Ability to install and
configure network devices and accounts using a variety of connection
methods including T1, ATM and TCP/IP. Thorough knowledge of Windows
server software and SMS.

 

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to independently research and solve a wide variety of LAN/WAN
issues.  Excellent troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 
N/A 

Physical Demands: 
Manual dexterity required for use of computer keyboard.  Requires normal
range of vision and hearing. Some lifting of up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment: 
Normal office environment.  Frequent contact with staff.  Work may be
stressful at times.  Weekend and/or evening work required to accommodate
planned and unplanned maintenance activities.  May be required to work
irregular hours.

Salary Requirements

Salary for this position is $43,555.

 

About the Ohio Historical Society

The Ohio Historical Society (OHS) conducts an expanded range of
activities related to interpreting, collecting and preserving the
state's heritage. In the last century, the society has collected more
than 1.5 million items pertaining to Ohio's history, archaeology, and
natural history. One of the largest state historical organizations in
the country, OHS now has membership of over 9,000. A private,
not-for-profit organization, the society serves as the state's agent in
historical matters in return for financial subsidy support that
constitutes two-thirds of the OHS operating budget.

 

How to Apply

Application and complete position description at
www.ohiohistory.org/about/jobs  .
Forward resume/application to: Human Resources Office, The Ohio
Historical Society, 1982 Velma Ave, Columbus, OH 43211 or email to
applicant at ohiohistory.org. We offer an excellent benefit package and
OPERS retirement coverage. The Ohio Historical Society is proud to be a
drug-free workplace! EOE.

 

 

Angela O'Neal
Manager, Information Technology

Ohio Historical Society

1982 Velma Ave.

Columbus, OH 43211
(614) 297-2576 

www.ohiohistory.org   

 

OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY   Connect with the past. Create a better future.

 

[MCN-L] V&A launches one million objects on line

[Green, Nahoko]

Richard,

<< The import / export isn't completely automatic ... yet.>>

But you are almost there! Good luck!
Thanks for your reply.
Nahoko

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of
Richard Morgan
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 2:56 AM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] V&A launches one million objects on line

Hi Nahoko,

Thank you very much!

Both our collection information system and DAM are Index+ supplied by
System Simulation Limited. I'm sure Heather would be happy to give you
more information on versions etc. if you would like.

The data is exported from these systems as XML by Heather and her team
and then we import it into our Django / MySQL web application using a
process that we custom built. That import process also downloads the
images from the DAM at the appropriate resolution.

The import / export isn't completely automatic ... yet. Although
decoupling the Collections Management System + DAM from the Web
Application is a little clunky it solved far more problems than it
caused by removing runtime dependencies across systems which would have
stopped us delivering the project as quickly (or, perhaps, at all).

When the Collections Management System is upgraded the plan is to update
through a standard harvesting technique such as OAI so that the import /
export process is fully automated and sustainable.

best wishes,

Richard

>>> "Green, Nahoko"  17/09/2009 16:48 >>>
<<<...the project draws text from our collections information system and
images from the digital asset management system...>>>

Hi, Gail and Richard,
Very impressive site!
What collection information system and DAM system do you have?
How do you draw text and images to your website after it went through
Heather's review?  Is import/export automatically done?

Thanks,

Nahoko Green
Collections Automation Manager
Chicago History Museum

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of
Richard Morgan
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 1:37 PM
To: mcn-l at mcn.edu 
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] V&A launches one million objects on line

Thanks, David, for your positive reaction!

We are using Sphinx (http://www.sphinxsearch.com) to manage the
searching and clustering, closely coupled to a Django / MySQL backend.

The Django application provides an API which returns JSON and uses
Sphinx to deal with the searching.

Then the frontend application is PHP Symfony and it makes API calls to
the Django application. The nice thing is that we can then open up
access to the Django app to provide the same API for everyone.

best wishes,

Richard Morgan

>>> David Brewer  15/09/09 3:42 PM >>>
That seems like a good way to deal with the issue to me.  I didn't
realize that there were different types of entry points to the search
engine.

Thanks and have a good day,

David Brewer
Lead Systems Developer
Second Story

On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 1:46 AM, Gail Durbin  wrote:
> Dear David,
> Thank you for your kind words. I am glad you like our new site.
>
> I was interested in your comments about the default setting and it has
been a matter of some debate here. My original preference would have
been "best quality records" but we have actually ended up with something
more subtle than that - but perhaps too subtle if no one realises it!
The default is determined by the way you choose to enter the site. If
you go in via the browse you get "best quality records", if you go in
via a heavy duty search you get "all records" and if you go in via a
more lightweight search the you get "only records with images". I
realise in making this decision we have made all sorts of assumptions
about our visitors but they do have the power to change the options for
themselves.
>
> We have tried to think about the range of our visitors from very
serious academic researcher through to naive user and we also have in
mind visitors who have no specialist museum vocabulary and people who
want to use our collections for their own creative work where
serendipitous connections  may be appropriate. So the browse may supply
some of these needs.
>
> I am sure Richard Morgan, who is behind the technical development,
will answer the second half of your email.
>
> With best wishes
> Gail
>
> Gail Durbin
> Head of V&A Online
>
 David Brewer  14 September 2009 >>>
> Congratulations on a very impressive collection search!  It's quite
> snappy, too, considering the amount of data being indexed.  I
> especially like the feature that lets you expand a search result row
> in-line to get a larger image and description of the record.
>
> My only feedback is that depending on your primary audience for the
> search engine, you might consider defaulting to "only records with
> images" or even
> "best quality records".  A casual user of the site probably won't be
> interested in records without images, and an expert user can be
> expected to change this option if they really 

[MCN-L] V&A launches one million objects on line

[Richard Morgan]

Hi Nahoko,

Thank you very much!

Both our collection information system and DAM are Index+ supplied by System 
Simulation Limited. I'm sure Heather would be happy to give you more 
information on versions etc. if you would like.

The data is exported from these systems as XML by Heather and her team and then 
we import it into our Django / MySQL web application using a process that we 
custom built. That import process also downloads the images from the DAM at the 
appropriate resolution.

The import / export isn't completely automatic ... yet. Although decoupling the 
Collections Management System + DAM from the Web Application is a little clunky 
it solved far more problems than it caused by removing runtime dependencies 
across systems which would have stopped us delivering the project as quickly 
(or, perhaps, at all).

When the Collections Management System is upgraded the plan is to update 
through a standard harvesting technique such as OAI so that the import / export 
process is fully automated and sustainable.

best wishes,

Richard

>>> "Green, Nahoko"  17/09/2009 16:48 >>>
<<<...the project draws text from our collections information system and
images from the digital asset management system...>>>

Hi, Gail and Richard,
Very impressive site!
What collection information system and DAM system do you have?
How do you draw text and images to your website after it went through
Heather's review?  Is import/export automatically done?

Thanks,

Nahoko Green
Collections Automation Manager
Chicago History Museum

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of
Richard Morgan
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 1:37 PM
To: mcn-l at mcn.edu 
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] V&A launches one million objects on line

Thanks, David, for your positive reaction!

We are using Sphinx (http://www.sphinxsearch.com) to manage the
searching and clustering, closely coupled to a Django / MySQL backend.

The Django application provides an API which returns JSON and uses
Sphinx to deal with the searching.

Then the frontend application is PHP Symfony and it makes API calls to
the Django application. The nice thing is that we can then open up
access to the Django app to provide the same API for everyone.

best wishes,

Richard Morgan

>>> David Brewer  15/09/09 3:42 PM >>>
That seems like a good way to deal with the issue to me.  I didn't
realize that there were different types of entry points to the search
engine.

Thanks and have a good day,

David Brewer
Lead Systems Developer
Second Story

On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 1:46 AM, Gail Durbin  wrote:
> Dear David,
> Thank you for your kind words. I am glad you like our new site.
>
> I was interested in your comments about the default setting and it has
been a matter of some debate here. My original preference would have
been "best quality records" but we have actually ended up with something
more subtle than that - but perhaps too subtle if no one realises it!
The default is determined by the way you choose to enter the site. If
you go in via the browse you get "best quality records", if you go in
via a heavy duty search you get "all records" and if you go in via a
more lightweight search the you get "only records with images". I
realise in making this decision we have made all sorts of assumptions
about our visitors but they do have the power to change the options for
themselves.
>
> We have tried to think about the range of our visitors from very
serious academic researcher through to naive user and we also have in
mind visitors who have no specialist museum vocabulary and people who
want to use our collections for their own creative work where
serendipitous connections  may be appropriate. So the browse may supply
some of these needs.
>
> I am sure Richard Morgan, who is behind the technical development,
will answer the second half of your email.
>
> With best wishes
> Gail
>
> Gail Durbin
> Head of V&A Online
>
 David Brewer  14 September 2009 >>>
> Congratulations on a very impressive collection search!  It's quite
> snappy, too, considering the amount of data being indexed.  I
> especially like the feature that lets you expand a search result row
> in-line to get a larger image and description of the record.
>
> My only feedback is that depending on your primary audience for the
> search engine, you might consider defaulting to "only records with
> images" or even
> "best quality records".  A casual user of the site probably won't be
> interested in records without images, and an expert user can be
> expected to change this option if they really do need to search
> everything.
>
> I would be very interested to find out what you are using for your
> search backend.  Is this a home-grown solution, or is it based on top
> of an open source search backend such as Lucene or Xapian, or is it
> built on top of a commercial search backend?
>
> Once again, great work.  Your collection is inspiring.
>
> David Brewer
> Lead Systems Devel