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Mobile Mania: Developing information services for portable devices

Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 8:30am - 4:00pm

Kotzen Center, Simmons College, Boston, MA

This event is co-sponsored by NEASIST and the Simmons College Student Chapter of ASIS&T

Campus Map / Public Transit / Driving Directions + Parking

While devices like PDAs, portable phones, and digital music players have been on the scene for almost a decade, mobile devices have now reached an unprecedented level of popularity. Devices like the iPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry, and Kindle, are no longer simply tools for communication--they are now a primary channel through which everyday people interact with news, music, blogs, wikis, television, video, books, academic content, the world wide web, and more. Platforms like Windows Mobile, iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian and the new Google Android will continue to challenge information service organizations to deliver content in new ways, and embed services within these virtual environments.

This day-long NEASIST event will provide a context and vision for delivering information through mobile devices. The program will begin with an overview of the current state of mobile platforms and devices, and then describe the use of mobile devices within academic libraries, hospitals and medical schools. The program will highlight innovative mash-up applications for mobile devices to connect people to Wikipedia information about geographical locations in real-time using mobile-readable barcodes, geo-tagging, Flickr.com and GoogleMaps (Semapedia.org). The speakers and lively panel discussion will explore the development of mobile technologies and how they can help us connect the physical and virtual realms. We will address the successes and challenges of developing mobile applications for information environments like libraries, academic institutions, medical environments, and more.

SPEAKERS:

  • Andrew Yu is the Mobile Devices Program Manager for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • Ellyssa Kroski is an Information Consultant, Reference Librarian, writer and speaker in the field. She blogs at iLibrarian and InfoTangle. Ellyssa is the author of On the Move with the Mobile Web: Libraries and Mobile Technologies (Library Technology Reports).
  • Michelle Kraft a Senior Medical Librarian at the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library, and author of "The Krafty Librarian," a blog for medical librarians discussing medical library technologies and applications.
  • Alexis Robin Rondeau and Stan Wiechers are the founders of Semapedia.org, a non-profit, community-driven project that connects the physical and virtual worlds. Semapedia-Tags which are cellphone-readable physical hyperlinks to the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia (or any of Wikipedia's sister projects such as Wikibooks and Wikinews).

SCHEDULE:

8:30-9:00 ---- Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00-9:15 ---- Welcome & Introduction
9:15-10:15 ----Andrew Yu
10:15-10:45 -- Networking break
10:45-11:45 -- Ellyssa Kroski
11:45-1:15 --- Lunch (included with registration)
1:15-2:15 ---- Michelle Kraft
2:15-3:00-----Alexis Robin Rondeau and Stan Wiechers
3:00-4:00 ---- Panel

LOCATION: Kotzen Center, Simmons College

The Kotzen Center is located on the first floor of Lefavour Hall/Beatley Library. The easiest entrance to use is the one closest to the corner of the Fenway and Avenue Louis Pasteur. See also: Campus Map / Public Transit / Driving Directions + Parking

REGISTRATION INFO: Registration is now closed.


Detailed program info:

8:30 - 9:00 Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15 Welcome & Introduction
9:15 - 10:15 Andrew Yu, Mobile Devices Program Manager for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology"Introduction to mobile devices and platforms"Abstract: Andrew will explore trends in mobile devices and applications, and describe efforts to integrate mobile devices into education and university life at MIT.
10:15 - 10:45 Networking Break
10:45 - 11:45 Ellyssa Kroski , Information Consultant, Reference Librarian, writer and speaker"Libraries and the Mobile Web"Abstract: We are entering a time of ubiquitous computing, one in which the Web is becoming increasingly mobile. People are able to access information from home, work, and everywhere in between thanks to an explosion of new personal mobile devices. This session will explore how libraries are utilizing these mobile technologies to offer patrons cutting-edge services as well as ways to create a mobile experience, and how to get started with the mobile Web.
11:45 - 1:15 Lunch (at Simmons College)
1:15 - 2:15 Michelle Kraft , Senior Medical Librarian at the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library"What's in Your Pocket? Mobile Medical Applications"Abstract: Michelle will discuss the trends and latest medical/health programs on mobile platforms.
2:15 - 3:00 Alexis Robin Rondeau and Stan Wiechers, founders of Semapedia.org"Connecting the virtual and physical world with Semapedia Tags"Abstract: Alexis and Stan will discuss their work with Semapedia.org, and describe other related projects and future trends.
3:00 - 4:00 Panel with all speakers

Questions? Email: Christine Quirion, cquirion[at]mit.edu

LOCATION: Kotzen Center, Simmons College

The Kotzen Center is located on the first floor of Lefavour Hall/Beatley Library. The easiest entrance to use is the one closest to the corner of the Fenway and Avenue Louis Pasteur.

About our Speakers:

Andrew Yu is the Mobile Devices Program Manager for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this capacity, Andrew led the team responsible for developing MIT's integrated mobile web site, m.mit.edu, to assist with basic services on campus. Andrew has spoken at NERCOMP, meetings of MIT's IT Partners and other events. Andrew was recently interviewed in MIT's IS&T newsletter where he describes his vision for mobile computing at MIT.

Ellyssa Kroski is an Information Consultant, Reference Librarian, writer and speaker in the field.  She is an adjunct faculty member at Long Island University’s Palmer School of Library Science, as well as Pratt Institute, and San Jose State University where she teaches LIS students about emerging technologies. Ellyssa is a published author and has written about Web technologies and their applications in libraries for major library publications including Choice, School Library Journal, and other publications. Ellyssa is the author of On the Move with the Mobile Web: Libraries and Mobile Technologies (ALA's Library Technology Reports). Her book Web 2.0 for Librarians and Information Professionals was published in February 2008. She blogs at iLibrarian and InfoTangle.

Michelle Kraft is a Senior Medical Librarian at the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library. She is the author of "The Krafty Librarian," a blog for medical librarians discussing medical library technologies and applications. Michelle is a published author and has written about medical and Web technologies and applications in libraries. Recently she co-presented "Top Technology Trends II: Bridge Today, Gone Tomorrow" at the Medical Library Association's Annual Meeting. Michelle is a member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals, Medical Library Association, and the Medical Library Association of Northeastern Ohio.

Alexis Robin Rondeau and Stan Wiechers are the founders of Semapedia.org, a non-profit, community-driven project that connects the physical and virtual worlds. Semapedia-Tags which are cellphone-readable physical hyperlinks to the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia (or any of Wikipedia's sister projects such as Wikibooks or Wikinews). Alexis Robin Rondeau studied computer science and economics at the University of Vienna, and has worked in both Europe and the United States. Alexis and Stan can also be found at tigtags.com. Stan is a New York based Technology Writer, Software Architect and recognized ubiquitous technology expert. Alexis and Stan have spoken at various Wikimania conferences, MobileCamp NYC and SF, and other events.