Week 5: Reading Notes

1) Local Area Network: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Area_Network

-Local Area Network = LAN
-Connects computers in a limited area, such as a home, school, or office
-Early LANs used coaxial cables, later models used wi-fi, as less cabling was needed and it was more essential for mobile laptops and phones
-LANs might also be classified as a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN) depending on distance involved and how connections are established

2) Computer network: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network

-Computer network: refers to hardware components and communication channels which share information
-Communication protocols: define rules and data formats for exchanging information

Computer network properties:
-faciliate communications
-permit sharing of files, data, and other types of information
-share network and computing resources
-may be insecure
-may interfere with other technologies
-may be difficult to set up

-wired technologies v. wireless technologies v. exotic technologies

Communications protocols:
-Ethernet
-Internet Protocol Suite (or, TCP/IP)
-SONET/SDH
-Asynchronous Transfer Mode
-Network programming

Scale examples:
-Personal Area Network
-Local Area Network
-Storage Area Network
-Campus network

Network topology: layout of the network

Network performance: service quality

3) Coyle, K. (2005). Management of RFID in libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 31(5), 486-489.

"Briefly, the RF in RFID stands for “radio frequency”; the “ID” means “identifier.” The tag itself consists of a computer chip and an antenna, often printed on paper or some other flexible medium. The shortest metaphor is that RFID is like a barcode but is read with an electromagnetic field rather than by a laser beam. The similarity ends there. RFID is an advanced technology compared to barcodes" (486)

-hundreds of different RFID tags on the market today, not a singular technology
*card swipes
*farm animal trackers

Should libraries used RFID?
-Privacy is a large concern
-Technology isn't highly secure
-Best to debate pros and cons and develop policies should RFID becomes a technological standard in the future