Saturday, July 31, 2010

Interactive PowerPoint

I stumbled across a free PowerPoint add-on that allows for interaction using multiple mice (wireless and wired).  Think of it as using a personal response system, only the device is a mouse.  While the app is designed for children, there is absolutely no reason that it could not be used for higher education.  The app is called Mouse Mischief and available at http://microsoft.com/multipoint/mouse-mischief 

There are video overviews and many templates that can be downloaded and used in the classroom setting. While I do not have time to create slides for fall semester, I can easily envision using the app with students in the NCLEX prep course.

To experience the app, I connected a wired mouse to my computer which already used a wireless mouse.  I indicated that I was using multiple mice.  It is simply an amazing program!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bookmarking

I read something the other day about bookmarking.  The article asked us, the readers, if we were using web browsers to bookmark favorite sites.  According to the article, if we were, it was "SO 2008!"  Okay, I got it!!  I was guilty of being "so 2008."  The guilt jolted me to make a change.  The first problem was choosing a web 2.0 bookmarking site.  There are so many from which to choose.  I finally decided to use Delicious.

If you use more than one computer to access the Internet, you should consider using a social networking site for bookmarking.  The added value include that you can see what others found to be useful and that you have the bookmarked sites available from any computer.  To access your bookmarked sites, simply log-in to the bookmark web site.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Augmented Reality Update

I just printed the footprint for Sasquatch (see my earlier post).  It was truly unbelievable and just too funny!  Omega, you will have to show Gabby!  The 3D gorilla just pops up!!  You can drag emotions to the timeline and create a movie. Now, if only someone will create something similar for healthcare and the nursing setting. 

Meaningful Use and HITECH

Linda has added two new links to articles on meaningful use and HITECH to the textbook web site at http://dlthede.net/Informatics/Informatics.html

July 27, 2010 Blumenthal, D., & Tavenner, M. (2010). The "Meaningful Use" Regulation for Electronic Health Records. New England Journal of Medicine. Good overview of meaningful use objectives and much other information. (Chapter 21)

July 27, 2010 Blumenthal, D. (2009). Launching HITECH. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(5), 382-385. Good overview of regulations and programs created by the HITECH act part of the ARRA. (Chapter 21)

iPad and Healthcare

Jim forwarded this link regarding the use of iPads and healthcare- "10 Ways Apple's iPad is Changing Healthcare"
http://current.com/1p7s84c 
I am reading more articles everyday about the use of iPads and smartphones in healthcare. 

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Healthcare Delivery Systems Comparison

Linda sent me the article, Universal Health Care Matters, But So Does Quality available at
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/universal-health-care-matters-but-so-does-quality/article1640393/

While the article focuses on the healthcare delivery system in Canada, it clearly depicts the problems with the broken system that is pricey here in the United States.  The only thing that we agree upon is disagreement.

Intel Museum

I had an interesting time taking public transportation to the Intel Museum last Friday.  I learned that Intel is a short name form Integrated Electronics.  The company was started by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore.  Moore is known for Moore's Law (1965).   Moore's Law addresses the number of transistors that can be placed on integrated ciruits.

It took about an hour travel time each way because I had to switch buses.  The museum is small, but really well done.  It is located in the Intel building in Santa Clara.  The visit was timely now that current news indicates a departure from the use of Intel chips by several computer manufacturers.  It is clear that Microsoft and Intel are losing the market share that they have held for so many years.  Google and Apple are changing the playing field. 

Anyway, I was able to send a post card from the museum :) 

Monday, July 26, 2010

Telepsychiatry

Linda shared slides from a presentation, Effectiveness of Telepsychiatry as a Treatment Modality" by Lisa Jenkins.  The slides provide enough detail that they can be used as a stand alone learning resource.  The learning resource includes a definition of telepsychiatry, the results of a research study with 61 telepsychiatry participants, along with an extensive reference list. You can view the slides at http://hercules.gcsu.edu/jsewell/textbook/Telepsychiatry5-6-Jensen.pdf

Knowledge Discovery in Databases

Three new resources have been added to the textbook Informatics and Nursing web site at http://dlthede.net/Informatics/Informatics.html :

July 25, 2010 Fayyad, U., Piatetsky-Shapiro, G., & Smyth, P. (1996). From Data Mining to Knowledge Discovery in Databases. AI Magazine -American Association for Artificial Intelligence, Fall, 37-54. Although old, some very basic information and real world information. It provides a historical perspective given the development of KDD (knowledge discovery in databases) today. (Chapter 10). Retrieved from
http://www.kdnuggets.com/gpspubs/aimag-kdd-overview-1996-Fayyad.pdf

July 25, 2010 Health Data Stewardship: What, Why, Who, How: An NCVHS Primer (2009). Contains an excellent table of resources for more information about the topic.
"Health data stewardship is a responsibility, guided by principles and practices, to ensure the knowledgeable and appropriate use of data derived from individuals’ personal health information. These uses include (but are not limited to) data collection, viewing, storage, exchange, aggregation, and analysis." (p. 1)
(Chapter 10).  Retrieved from http://www.ncvhs.hhs.gov/090930lt.pdf

July 25, 2010 NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS (2007). Enhanced Protections for Uses of Health Data: A Stewardship Framework for “Secondary Uses” of Electronically Collected and Transmitted Health Data.
The recommendations that are made in this report were guided by the goal of enabling improvements in health and health care, while balancing other needs including the need to: maintain or strengthen individual’s health information privacy while enabling improvements in health and health care, facilitate uses of electronic health information, increase the clarity and uniform understanding of laws and regulations pertaining to privacy and security of health information, build upon existing legislation and regulations whenever possible, and not result in undue administrative burden. (Chapter 10). Available from
http://www.ncvhs.hhs.gov/071221lt.pdf

Augmented Reality

One of the many intersting sessions that I attended at the Sloan-C, MERLOT, Moodle conference last week was on augmented reality.  Augmented reality is defined as a blend of real life with digital images.

The concept has fascinating implications for the teaching/learning process. Imagine holding a piece of paper with a block like stamp (similar in function to a bar code) on it in front of a computer camera and watching images come to life, allowing you to interact with the images. You probably have encounted the concept, perhaps, not realizing it. If you watch television, you probably have viewed some commercial ads with augmented reality.
One of my favorite web sites is How Stuff Works.  You can learn more about augmented reality at http://www.howstuffworks.com/augmented-reality.htm   There are augmented reality apps for the iPhone (and probably iPad) at http://mashable.com/2009/12/05/augmented-reality-iphone/

Esquire magazine printed an augmented reality issue.  You can view more information from the YouTube site at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp2z36kKn0s&feature=related

A recent advertisement for Audi cars is a iPhone app calendar.  To view the video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhPl9NLO4bk

Visit http://livingsasquatch.com/ to print an augmented reality stamp and personalize it.  I plan to experiment with the site this week.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

iPad update

One last update for the iPad. Robbie told me about the iPad news daily. It has tips and links to iPad resources. I was amazed that I could work with only my iPhone and iPad for 10 days! I did run through the 30 day cellular data plan in only 8 days, but it was much less expensive than paying for a wireless connection every night at the hotel. I should not need cellular service very much now that I am home with wifi coverage.

Linda sent me several emails with updates for the textbook. I have several from the Emerging Technologies conference, myself.

Friday, July 23, 2010

iPad apps

This is my last post from Silicon Valley. The guide book for San Jose includes references to Yelp, an iPad app for locating restaurants, etc. I downloaded it yesterday and will experiment with it today.

I also downloaded camera and watched as Robbie demonstrated its use. You need to download camera to both the iPhone and iPad. If you have the apps open on both devices, you can take a photo with the iPhone and it will automatically show up on the iPad and be filed in the photo folder on the iPad.

Will visit the Intel museum this afternoon, hopefully. The Computer History museum is closed for renovation, but fortunately, the web site has great information.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

iPad Learning

Robbie from UT BOR taught me a couple of useful tricks for the iPad today. One was how to take a screenshot and the other was how to create a shortcut. Both work on the iPhone and the iPad.

To take a screenshot, hold the on/off button at the same time as the start button momentarily, just until you hear a click. The screenshot will be in your photos folder.

To create a shortcut, navigate to the web site. Click on the plus sign. Click "add to my homepage."

IPad Review - the good and needs improvement

Have been traveling with the iPad for the last 5 days and the experience has been interesting. I attempted to turn on the cellular service at the Atlanta airport several times unsuccessfully. It worked like a charm in San Francisco.

2nd bump in the road... Attempted to use Google maps for GPS guide but it drained the battery quickly and did not work as well as the iPhone.

3rd bump in the road... Just like the iPhone, the iPad decided that it did not like the exchange server email. Evereything was working okay until I turned it off and on again. The iPad kept turning itself back to the screen saver. I finally had to delete the account and add it back.

Now for the pluses!! I went to the Apple store in SF and it was fun just watching the people. I did not see Steve Jobs there :). I decided on purchasing leather cover. It is a bit heavy....feels more like a book now, but provides excellent protection to this glass book. It will still fit inside my purse and I believe it will save having to remove it when going through security at the airport. The cover folds in different positions (similar to the Apple cover) for viewing and typing.

The cellular service is fantastic!!! It saves having to pay $10-12 per day hotel fees. It worked perfectly on the Caltrain from SF to San Jose.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Mendeley - Another Free (Bibliographic) Reference Manager

Mendeley was suggested as a good alternative to Zotoro by one of this blog's readers.  Read more about it at http://www.mendeley.com/

It is not open source, but it is free.  I cannot wait to explore the app!!

The reader pointed out that the Princeton web site that compared RefWorks with EndNote and Zotero is out of date.

Screen Capture - Firefox Add-on

I learned about this nice free screen capture app from a genealogy listserv!  It is called Screen Capture Elite.  It is an add-on for the Firefox web browser.  From Firefox go to Tools > Add-On > Search for Screen Capture Elite. Install it!  When it is installed (you probably need to restart your web browser) it will appear as a camera icon in the lower right corner of the Firefox web browser.  For more information go to http://www.grizzlyape.com/addons/screen-capture-elite/
Enjoy!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Personal Bibliographic Manager Software: RefWorks? Endnote? Zotero? or Both

Okay - final blog for the day - still behind on the many links that Tracy has shared.
This web site has information comparing RefWorks, EndNote, and Zotero.  If you are a student, faculty, write for publication, or do any kind of writing that requires citation, you SHOULD be using a personal reference manager.  RefWorks, Endnote, and Zotero are all great reference managers.  The site below is worth exploring to visualize the differences. That said, as one reader commented - it was dated in regards to Zotero sharing capability.

http://libguides.princeton.edu/citations

Data Exchange Software

Tracy is better than an RSS feed because she analyzed resources that she knows interest me.  She sent this site - MONAHRQ http://monahrq.ahrq.gov/ .  MONARQ is free downloadable software that provides the ability for data exhange.  Interesting!  The prerequisites for use are .NET 2.0 and Microsoft SQL.  The download site provides links to both and they are free apps. I am really looking forward to learning more.

Quote from the web site:
"MONAHRQ analyzes, summarizes, and presents information in a format ready for use by consumers and other decision-makers on:
  • quality of care at the hospital level,
  • health care utilization at the hospital level,
  • preventable hospitalizations at the county level, and
  • rates of conditions and procedures at the county level."

 

Mobile Computing & Digital Libraries

Tracy contibuted the following blog site and a particular blog.  Great additions to supplement the mobile computing and digital library chapters! Thanks Tracy!!

More iPad apps

I have experimented with additional iPad apps over the past few days.  Martha continues to send me new ideas.  I now have the New York Times, USA Today, Pandora Internet Radio, Google, Flickr, Walgreens (pharmacy), and Zosh.

The newspapers work perfect on the iPad!  They are very easy to read and navigate.  On Pandora radio, you simply enter an artist, song, or composer.  Pandora works on the iPhone and the iPad.

Google is a Google search app that works with voice recognition software to conduct voice searches (iPhone and iPad).

Flickr is photo sharing, same as on the PC.

Walgreens allows you do all of the online pharmacy functions.  You can auto-renew prescriptions and receive email alerts when they are ready.

Zosh (http://zosh.com/) allows you to print, sign, and fax forms using an iPhone or iPad.

I look forward to hearing your experiences. 

Saturday, July 10, 2010

SCORM Tools

SCORM resources.  Martha sent this link - Tools for creating SCORM content several weeks ago.  It is a great resource!  We will be presenting a session on SCORM tools at one of the Faculty Development Workshops this fall.

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Tools_for_creating_SCORM_content#See_also

iPad apps

Martha has been sending me iPad apps this week.  A couple of recent ones include eClicker.  Students can download the eClicker free and use their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as a clicker device.  The presenter pays $9.99 for the server eclicker.  This app would be perfect for Drexel nursing students who are required to have an iPod Touch.

Just this morning, she sent Phrase Board which allows a person to communicate in present time with their iPad by clicking on phrases, such as "I want pain medicine."

Friday, July 9, 2010

Search Engine TIps

I read an article about search engine tips for Google this morning and learned a couple of new techniques.  The article is at http://www.cio.com/article/598643/Secret_Google_Tricks_How_to_Search_Smarter#readerFeedback

Enjoy!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

iPad and iWorks

At the onset, I thought that the iPad was a "piece of cake."  I found that I have a lot to learn (and that is a GOOD thing).  I decided to download QuickOffice and Keynote for the iPad.  QuickOffice works with Dropbox, where I have over 2 GB cloud storage space and I am using less than 13%.  Dropbox is an app on all of my devices - desktops, iPhone, iPad, and laptops. QuickOffice does the essentials of creating/editing of word processing and spreadsheet software. 

Keynote gives me two choices for saving files - a folder on my iPad and iWorks.  I was not familiar with iWorks (still in beta).  iWorks provides 1 GB of storage space - free.  I can choose to share a file with a user's email address, but I do not see a way to share a folder, like I do with Dropbox.

Microsoft Office Live vs SkyDrive

I had an ah-haa moment today while showing a student Microsoft Cloud Computing resource(s).  I realized that Office Live and Office Skydrive are two different cloud computing resources! Office Live provides 2 GB storage space, but no Cloud Computing apps.  When I upgraded to SkyDrive my Office live files were copied to the new space, but they actually currently exist in both spaces.

SkyDrive is the new resource recently released.  If you have a licensed copy of Microsoft Office, you can use the SkyDrive (http://www.live.com/) workspace that includes 25 GB storage and the Cloud Computing Word Apps - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. SkyDrive is more than a backup storage space with web apps.  Explore the site to learn more.