Apple Sued for Planned Obsolescence?

There's nothing inherently wrong with consumerism - but planned obsolescence is gross. Austin and I often talk about how easy it is for companies to create products that can stand the test of time - the way they used to - except they won't. My number one issue with American capitalism isn't the nature of capitalism itself, since I genuinely believe that American capitalism really can be the stuff dreams are made of. My issue lies in the way that corporations and manufacturers seem to take great pride in the fact that, if they can just make us their [expletive deleted], they can make more money. Manufacture a product that is not MEANT to stand the test of time, and we'll run out and buy more of it to replace what we just purchased that has gone out of style, been updated, or just plain broke for no reason (and there are no parts available to purchase and fix it.) There's no reason for it. I enjoy Apple products, and again - there's nothing inherently wrong with using them. I think I just wish people would hang on to what they have for a few years before upgrading. No one needs every single version of the iPhone. What we need is to take some of that money that we're spending on every new version of the product and invest it back into our communities. I think if we could learn to quit over-consuming, we could easily find a way for everyone to "have their cake and eat it too" - not only can you have that iPad, but perhaps instead of spending $600 on the newest version when the old version works just fine, we could all pitch in that $600 to update the technology in a school in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood.

Just a thought.

"According to Brazil’s Jornal do Comerciao, IBDI believes that Apple could have implemented the technological updates of the iPad 4 into the iPad 3. By not doing so, they believe that Apple took part in unfair business practices. Were Apple to lose in court, iPad 3 users in Brazil could receive some compensation.

'Consumers thought [they were] buying high-end equipment not knowing [it] was already an obsolete version,' says IBDI attorney Sergio Palomares."

http://mashable.com/2013/02/21/apple-sued-ipad-3-brazil/

Did You Know, 6.0

Facts like this are what made me interested in library media in the first place. I am in an amazing internship at a wonderful school right now, but like every school I have ever been in, technology could always be invested in. My dream is to walk into a school where the screens are large and the resolutions wide and sharp, where art computers are all equipped with newest Adobe products and web development products, and where Internet connections are fast and browsers reliable. Updating the Flash players shouldn't be an issue, either.

Why?

Because shift happens.

Go Blog About It! Creative Ideas for Supporting Literacy Through Blogging

This was my final project for my School Media course at IUPUI. The assignment was to create a staff development project, and I decided to create an introductory workshop in classroom blogging for the staff of fictional Spring High School. Feel free to download and adapt these materials for your own school. (Customizable PSD is available for the poster - just comment to let me know you'd like one!)

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The components:

• A PowerPoint presentation ending with an activity/assessment
• A written proposal to "Principal Taylor" (AKA, my professor!)
• An excel spreadsheet detailing the negligible cost of the workshop
• A handout that accompanies the PowerPoint
• A poster to advertise the workshop

Please note: It's fine to view the presentation here, but GoogleDocs' rendering makes everything pretty wonky. Your best bet is to download the .pptx file and view it right on PowerPoint. Thanks!   Download the full, customizable .pptx file here! -- goblog.pptx      Download the PDF proposal here! -- goblogproposal.pdf

Download the poster here! (11x14, 300dpi) -- goblogposter.jpg Download the customizable .psd file -- goblogposter.psd   Download the accompanying PDF handout here! -- gobloghandout.pdf Download the budget spreadsheet here! -- goblogbudge.xlsx

QR Codes in Libraries and Schools

It's not exactly as ubiquitous as your every day bar code yet, but it's on the rise and many would say it's far more versatile.

Many libraries now recognize it as a novel way to keep patrons and students engaged. In schools, students have fun using QR codes on their smart phones and teachers enjoy looking for new, creative ways to use them.

4 IDEAS FOR QR CODES IN LIBRARIES:
I: QR codes are excellent for creating more accessible exhibits. No matter the topic of the exhibit, it's possible to create podcasts describing items and then attach QR codes to the item linking to the podcast. Visually impaired patrons who have difficulty reading the textual description beside an item could then (perhaps with the help of library staff or a friend) scan the the QR code and listen to a short podcast naming and describing the item. The code could also be placed at the start of a tour so the patron could download a tour-cast that leads them through the exhibit.

II: With a little know-how, it's possible to create QR codes for voting purposes. Schools could benefit from this in so many different ways, from placing QR codes on posters or fliers next to candidates' names during class elections, to using QR codes to vote on favorite pieces of art during art class showcases.

III: We can encourage students to use QR codes on their class displays (think science fair projects) to link to multimedia. Similarly, we can use QR codes in different classrooms to link to multimedia such as in history classes (link to YouTube videos detailing historical events - a little more interesting to watch than to simply read!) or in English classes (link to videos with performances of Shakespeare.)

IV: Check out how Florida State's law library is using QR codes! I love that they're letting patrons get to know their librarians by posting photos of the librarians along with QR codes linking to information about them. They're also posting QR codes near reference materials so that patrons can directly link to the online version of those materials. While it's also find to stick a piece of paper up there with a link, patrons with tablets like iPads will be able to access the site more quickly by simply scanning the code.

MY QR CODE PROJECT: Quick Spooks!
The QR code project I've created would make a fun Halloween library display that would not only intrigue older middle school students and high school students, but make their English teachers happy!

I created a printable pdf flier that can be posted around the school and in the library, as well as its equivalent in a 16x20 poster (printable at 300 dpi) with a list of six classic horror stories. Next to the description of each horror story is a QR code that, when scanned, takes the user directly to a website with the full text of the story.

I can imagine curious students scanning the QR code to the story they're interested in, and spending time lounging in the library to read it or even pulling the link up at home again. English teachers who may assign the stories during this time could also feel free to use the .pdf flier in their classrooms as a handout to students (perhaps something they could keep in case they lost their hard copy of the story) and librarians could display the poster in the media center along with other Halloween decorations.

The printable flier and poster are free to use, and downloadable via my MediaFire account!

 Download the .pdf flier here: http://goo.gl/SdtKt

 

Download the 16x20 300dpi poster here: http://goo.gl/RQtFK

This post is for assignment: "Fiesta 8, SLIS 603."