Lightning Rounds have been common at tech-type conferences for several years now though I'd never actually been to one at a conference until NEKLS Tech Day. We do mini-lightning rounds at our library all staff meetings every now and then and they are a great way to get a brief overview of new technologies (or older ones) that are being used. I've always found them very intriguing!
Here are some highlights the NEKLS event:
A question from the audience: How do you time to find cool links?
Through posts on other blogs, twitter, facebook, connections are
created, including professional ones - you're not isolated - find what
works for you!
Logmein - there is a free version; log in remotely to any computer anywhere; NEKLS staff use it to log into their remote Koha systems to help troubleshoot; the remote computer must have a software download in order to allow access.
sourceforge.net - has been around forever - great source to look for look for different software applications.
slashdot.org - geeky, nerdy news
webconverger - an open source web kiosk - a flavor of linux called webconverger - whole purpose is to be a web browser
UNetBoot - I'm not sure I got this one right but apparently
it's a program you can download to your thumb drive and then use it to
boot your computer for whatever 'flavor' of Linux you like to run.
Drop Box - download a client to any computer or just log in to download/upload stuff - creates a special box (drop box) and can be downloaded on multiple machines - provides you access to your files anywhere - updates and syncs your files from home pc to anywhere - there is also a public folder that can be shared with others via a URL to anyone with an email address - the free version does have a file size limit. A great alternative to GoogleDocs?
ResearchBuzz - recommended blog and twitter feed to keep track of hot stuff
Jing - great for video making - simple application - record mouse movements and voice over (need headset & mic) - capture video or screen cap - record stuff for training use - you can create a 5 min video for free - videos can be downloaded to the desktop or to a website with a URL that can be shared; requires adobe shockwave format that you might have to download to use/view
Livehacker - great source that, as it says on their site: tips & downloads for getting things done - one of the features on the site is calls HighFive, where you can see what folks are recommending.
I see that the NEKLS blog has added these and many more of the sites mentioned during the session, so check them out!
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