[WEB4LIB] Top Technology Trends: Your Thoughts?

[kgs at bluehighways.com]

I'm a new "expert" (hah!) who will be presenting at LITA's Top Technology
Trends this coming weekend at ALA Midwinter (Sunday, 8:30-11, Sheraton
Constitution BR). The trends are those that affect or are important to
libraries (that's broad, no?). 

Yesterday I launched an "open source" approach to the Trends concept by
inviting readers of my blog to comment on their ideas. I was pleased to see
responses this morning, and would like to expand this discussion, since
opening the dialog is so very 2005, don't you think? 

I have my own ideas for trends, but what would YOU add? Post here... post
there... post anywhere!

The blog entry, if you'd rather post there (or want to post in both places),
is:

http://freerangelibrarian.com/archives/011005/top_technology_trend.php

Here are a few of my ideas, to get you started. I know I'm supposed to say
something hifalutin like "institutional repositories," and don't let me stop
you from saying so, but in terms of BIG trends, these are what I really see.
The "huh" factor for most of these technologies and trends has significantly
diminished, mainstream magazines and news sources write about them, and my
mom has heard of most of them.

My initial list:

Blogs everywhere, for everything
RSS going mainstream
Flash drives ubiquitous
Storage getting cheaperncheaper
Cell phones with cameras 
Ergo, moblogging
Broadband picks up many more users
Wi-fi commonplace
The rise of the "citizen journalist"

Ideas that readers have shared since yesterday include Google, IM, Open
Source, VoIP (which was featured in this month's Consumer Reports), and
more. I think these are all great additions. One commenter suggested
broadband shouldn't be on this list. Great perspective! 

What would you add? And why? 

Karen G. Schneider
kgs at bluehighways.com




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