Author: Michael Sauers

On the Next Tech Talk: Alexa, what’s an Amazon Echo?

In this month’s Tech Talk (March 23rd) I will be performing a live demonstration of the Amazon Echo, a voice-controlled personal assistant, radio, and information device. I’ll also use the Echo as a jumping off point for a discussion of other current and future voice-controlled technology.

In this monthly feature of NCompass Live, the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Michael Sauers, will discuss the tech news of the month and share new and exciting tech for your library. There will also be plenty of time in each episode for you to ask your tech questions. So, bring your questions with you, or send them in ahead of time, and Michael will have your answers.

Register for free @ http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgID=13886

Tuesday Tech Tip: There’s a Game Hidden inside Google Chrome

Google Chrome users are probably familiar with the T-Rex dinosaur that shows up when your computer is not connected to the Internet. The T-rex had short arms and therefore lot of things were out of its reach. Chrome, like that dinosaur, too is having trouble reaching the Internet.

What’s even more interesting is that the offline dinosaur in Chrome is also a game. Press the space bar to activate and your Chrome tab will quickly turn into a moderately addictive game. The T-Rex will run and your mission is to prevent it from bumping into the saguaros.

Read the full article @ Digital Inspiration.

University of Illinois GLIS honors Orland Park Library for Intellectual Freedom

The Orland Park Public Library’s Board of Trustees and staff were recently honored with the 2014 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science’s (GSLIS) faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Libraries Unlimited. This national award recognizes exceptional contributions in defending intellectual freedom.

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The library was acknowledged for its commitment to defending intellectual freedom and the First Amendment by supporting an Internet policy that allows adults unfiltered access to the Internet. After a challenge by two non-residents, the Board voted in 2014 to continue unfiltered access for adults as part of “…the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment” as stated in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

Read the full story @ The Chicago Tribune.

Google reverses recent “no porn” Blogger decision

Hello everyone,

This week, we announced a change to Blogger’s porn policy. We’ve had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities. So rather than implement this change, we’ve decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn.

Blog owners should continue to mark any blogs containing sexually explicit content as “adult” so that they can be placed behind an “adult content” warning page.

Bloggers whose content is consistent with this and other policies do not need to make any changes to their blogs.

Thank you for your continued feedback.

The Blogger Team

Source: productforums.google.com