Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Databases
Databases
As technology continues to redefine the way our world works, databases are becoming an increasingly popular way to store and retrieve information. A database is a structured collection of information that can be stored in a computer for easy retrieval. There are four main types of databases: Flat Model, Hierarchical Model, Relational Model, and Network Model.
In the Flat Model, information is organized into a two dimensional structure. Each unit of information used as an input will have exactly one output. For example, an excel spreadsheet listing the names of each student in our class and their age could be considered a Flat Model database.
The Hierarchal Model follows a tree structure in which information is categorized into various levels in a nested fashion. Each category of information may contain a subset into which more information is organized. An example of a Hierarchal Model is the way in which Microsoft Windows organizes its file folders. Each folder can contain several documents and subsets into which information can be organized.
In the Network Model, data is stored in various categories that can be linked to each other. Different sets of records can be related to one other.
The Relational Model is the most commonly used type of database. Relational Databases can be extremely useful tools to store and quickly retrieve information. In this type of database, information is stored in the form tables. For example, a company that ships goods may have a database used to store information regarding customer orders. This database would consist of several tables in which various pieces of information on different aspects of customer orders could be stored.
These databases have several practical uses.
Sem students use databases every day to do research for their various classes. “It’s a lot easier to find information from credible sources on the school’s subscription databases than it is to find in books or on Google,” says Danielle Chichiletti, class of 2012. She claims to go straight to these databases whenever she has to do a research project because “you know that these databases only use trustworthy sources, so if you have to hand in a bibliography you can avoid citing less credible sources.”
Although these subscription sites are useful for doing extensive research, students claim to only use them when necessary. “It’s so much more quick and easy to just Google something to find out more about that topic,” says Sarah Spillane, class of 2013. “Unless you have to research for a class, it’s just more practical to use Google because it only takes a few seconds to find what you’re looking for.”
As technology continues to redefine the way our world works, databases are becoming an increasingly popular way to store and retrieve information. A database is a structured collection of information that can be stored in a computer for easy retrieval. There are four main types of databases: Flat Model, Hierarchical Model, Relational Model, and Network Model.
In the Flat Model, information is organized into a two dimensional structure. Each unit of information used as an input will have exactly one output. For example, an excel spreadsheet listing the names of each student in our class and their age could be considered a Flat Model database.
The Hierarchal Model follows a tree structure in which information is categorized into various levels in a nested fashion. Each category of information may contain a subset into which more information is organized. An example of a Hierarchal Model is the way in which Microsoft Windows organizes its file folders. Each folder can contain several documents and subsets into which information can be organized.
In the Network Model, data is stored in various categories that can be linked to each other. Different sets of records can be related to one other.
The Relational Model is the most commonly used type of database. Relational Databases can be extremely useful tools to store and quickly retrieve information. In this type of database, information is stored in the form tables. For example, a company that ships goods may have a database used to store information regarding customer orders. This database would consist of several tables in which various pieces of information on different aspects of customer orders could be stored.
These databases have several practical uses.
Sem students use databases every day to do research for their various classes. “It’s a lot easier to find information from credible sources on the school’s subscription databases than it is to find in books or on Google,” says Danielle Chichiletti, class of 2012. She claims to go straight to these databases whenever she has to do a research project because “you know that these databases only use trustworthy sources, so if you have to hand in a bibliography you can avoid citing less credible sources.”
Although these subscription sites are useful for doing extensive research, students claim to only use them when necessary. “It’s so much more quick and easy to just Google something to find out more about that topic,” says Sarah Spillane, class of 2013. “Unless you have to research for a class, it’s just more practical to use Google because it only takes a few seconds to find what you’re looking for.”
Friday, December 10, 2010
Facebook: Social Network or Anti-Social?
Facebook redefined the way in which we interact with those around us. It innovatively combined email, instant messaging, MySpace- like profiles, video messaging, twitter-like status updates and the ability for users to access hundreds of thousands of free apps. Facebook allows us to keep in touch with huge groups of people with the simple click of a button. It redefined the terms of being social by allowing us to build up larger friend circles and giving us several new ways to
keep in touch with them. Facebook has already become a huge part of our lives. Any funny video or interesting news is almost immediately uploaded to Facebook, and hundreds of people can instantly see it.
While I have always been a firm believer in the fact that Facebook gives people the ability to connect to more people and in turn makes them more social, I am beginning to question it. One of my friends pointed out that Facebook is supposed to be a social networking site, yet it drives people to be antisocial. Although I didn’t fully agree at first, the more I consider it, the more it is starting to make sense to me. The problem with Facebook is that it is just an internet site, so no matter
how well you seem to connect with others, it is in a way artificial. Through evolution, humans have been psychologically wired to respond to certain traits like facial expressions and body language. Signals like these trigger the release of certain hormones like oxytocin and allow people to bond to one another. Without these elements present, we are only getting a fraction of the stimuli necessary to truly "bond" to those around us. Although social networking sites like Facebook allow us to contact several people quickly, they can never truly replace real-life interactions.
keep in touch with them. Facebook has already become a huge part of our lives. Any funny video or interesting news is almost immediately uploaded to Facebook, and hundreds of people can instantly see it.
While I have always been a firm believer in the fact that Facebook gives people the ability to connect to more people and in turn makes them more social, I am beginning to question it. One of my friends pointed out that Facebook is supposed to be a social networking site, yet it drives people to be antisocial. Although I didn’t fully agree at first, the more I consider it, the more it is starting to make sense to me. The problem with Facebook is that it is just an internet site, so no matter
how well you seem to connect with others, it is in a way artificial. Through evolution, humans have been psychologically wired to respond to certain traits like facial expressions and body language. Signals like these trigger the release of certain hormones like oxytocin and allow people to bond to one another. Without these elements present, we are only getting a fraction of the stimuli necessary to truly "bond" to those around us. Although social networking sites like Facebook allow us to contact several people quickly, they can never truly replace real-life interactions.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Blogging
Blogging is like recording your thoughts in an online journal that everyone can read. Its like writing in a diary and letting everyone see what's in it. So for obvious reasons, blogging about your personal life may not be the best idea (unless like the lady on House, you WANT everyone to read about your life and make comments). On the other hand, the highly public nature of blogging has its advantages. Blogging connects different people and ideas. When you blog about something (such as my immense love for CNN's Anderson Cooper!) you're bound to find someone else who shares the same view. Blogging is a quick and easy way to spread the word about something and find people similar to yourself. It is an effective way to quickly share ideas with a large amount of people.
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