While I’ve written about the impact of culture on technology before, I was amazed by this information graphic from Information is Beautiful which maps various culture’s perception of color. While we often hear of the aesthetic importance of colour in web design, it is good to be reminded of the role of colour’s cultural meaning and how it impacts use.
We all have to create and remember passwords and the temptation is to use the same one repeatedly, even though we know this isn’t a good idea!
An interesting solution is provided by PasswordCard, a free application that allows you to create and remember complex passwords. How does it work? Well…
Enter PasswordCard
A PasswordCard is a credit card-sized card you keep in your wallet, which lets you pick very secure passwords for all your websites, without having to remember them! You just keep them with you, and even if your wallet does get stolen, the thief will still not know your actual passwords.
How does it work?
Your PasswordCard has a unique grid of random letters and digits on it. The rows have different colors, and the columns different symbols. All you do is remember a combination of a symbol and a color, and then read the letters and digits from there. It couldn’t be simpler!
Make sure to read the precautions and frequently asked questions for further details on how to keep your passwords safe.
Worldreader.org, a non-profit whose motto is “Books for all“, recently completed a pilot project bringing Kindle e-readers to students in Ayenyah, Ghana.
Our working hypotheses are that:
1. E-readers will increase access to books due to lower distribution costs and immediate visibility of millions of books available online.
2. This will result in a larger number and greater variety of books read, and increased excitement and exchange of ideas around these books.
3. The result will be a higher value placed on reading within the classroom, family, and community.
4. The results will be specific and measurable, and will, in the long term, increase literacy and opportunity for those involved.
The key objectives of the trials are:
* To identify motivations of children, teaching professionals, and school districts
* To understand the logistics involved, and potential blockers to the successful adoption of the technology
* To help Worldreader.org make informed decisions on strategy, and set realistic goals, expectations, and metrics
* To capture stories and assets to better understand the experience
The University of Wisconsin’s Games, Learning and Society research group have released ARIS (Augmented Reality and Interactive Storytelling), a tool for making location based educational games, stories, and tours.
Features
- Use GPS location and QR Codes to link to virtual characters, items and media
- Create and Place virtual Items that can be picked up by players, exchanged, used and moved around in a persistent AR world.
- Author virtual characters that talk with your players, giving them information, exchanging items and responding to their choices.
- Design Quests for players to find particular information/items, talk with characters and collect media recordings at particular locations.
While it is currently available only on the iPhone, ARIS provides another excellent opportunity for librarians and libraries to get involved with augmented reality, mobile technology and gaming.
