panlibus

23 November 2005

What does Attention mean for Library 2.0 ?

Over on Talking with Talis, we've just released our third podcast. This one is a conversation with Ed Batista, Executive Director of the AttentionTrust.

Fundamental to the AttentionTrust are four principles;

1. Property
2. Mobility
3. Economy
4. Transparency

Together, they encapsulate the notion that the record of the things I visit, look at, listen to, buy, or otherwise engage with - the things to which I give my attention - is mine.

Attention has proved something of a hot topic recently, attracting the interest of Robert Scoble, the Gillmor Gang, and many more. As I mentioned at the time, AttentionTrust's proposals struck me as amongst the most important issues explored at the recent Web 2.0 Conference in San Francisco, too.

Theoretically and conceptually, it's all certainly very interesting. It feels right that information about what I do and where I go should belong to me, and that I should decide who else gets to access that flow. Listen to Ed, and hear more about attention and the coming of the Attention Economy.

But what might it mean for Library 2.0, and am I any closer to understanding my feeling that Attention and Identity are just begging to become more closely associated?

Building upon well understood library processes, the most obvious application area is clearly around borrower history, where it is entirely feasible to envisage attention data being used to drive recommendation services around items that a patron might like to borrow. Mechanisms to amalgamate anonymised data from across large numbers of 'similar' libraries should make it possible to counteract the odd results likely to be generated by the relatively small sample size in any single institution. Offering readers the tools to easily combine aspects of their borrowing history with purchase data from online bookstores and borrowings from other libraries to which they might have access creates the potential for truly powerful and tailored recommendation, especially when aligned with the knowledge of library staff.

Whole new markets open up for reading groups and similar activities, bringing discussion of particular authors to the attention of interested library patrons who frequently read their work, whether they are currently a member of a library reading group or not.

Existing services such as whichbook.net, interesting as they are, clearly suffer from a lack of data about a sufficiently large number of books. Might the wisdom of crowds not be deployed to their advantage, enriching their existing reviews and book selection mechanisms with a vast body of empirical evidence about how similar readers actually found 'similar' books to be, and reviews from those very readers?

Stepping back a bit, a fundamental aspect of Library 2.0 is surely that the sector take its place within the broader information landscape. To the degree that Attention is gaining attention within that broader landscape, libraries and their systems should therefore be capable of participating, and permitting their users to consume and contribute their own attention in the library context. What types of uses might the current generation of library patrons be prepared to permit of their data, and what new uses might they actively seek out?

Changing tack slightly, might attention data be used in a university or college - with the agreement of students - to follow the resources that they use during their course of study, to identify the popular books, VLE/CMS units, web pages and more, and to look at the ways in which these mesh together when used by successful students, or fail to when students struggle? Might we learn to guide students better by more closely observing 'successful' behaviours?

Where else might Attention impinge upon Library 2.0?

Technorati Tags: attention, AttentionTrust, Audience, Gillmor Gang, Library 2.0, Podcasting, Web 2.0, web2con

Posted by Paul Miller on 23 November 2005 05:08 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

An ILS Customer Bill-of-Rights

John Blyberg, Network Administrator and Lead Developer at the Ann Arbor District Library (which has previously attracted my approving attention), has published in response to Michael Stephens writings over at ALA Techsource, his ILS CustomerBill-of-Rights (A collection of "must-have's" for doing business in a Web 2.0 world).

In general terms I approve of the thrust of his argument. An ILS market in which vendors are challenged by their current and prospective customers, to deliver what they need to provide a better service to their customers the library users, can only be a healthy one.

Having been deeply involved architecture and development of Library Systems software and associated components for the last 15 years [that makes me feel old!] I believe I am in an ideal position to comment on some of the detail in his bill-of-rights.

Just before I do, let me share with you a little bit of advice I received when I first joined this industry all those years ago. It went something like this "Whereas cars have a rev-counter to give you a clue to how the engine is performing, libraries have a queue at the issue desk to give you a clue to how the LMS (British for ILS) is performing. When that queue gets long enough to reach the telephone in the support office you really know you have a problem! Bearing that in mind us ILS Vendors can often be seen as a cautious lot, and there is some mileage in the argument that what ever you do with your ILS, you are dead in the water if it can't search for and then issue books in quick time without needing more computing power than NASA has. BUT all to often things like that can be used as an excuse for not innovating, and that is plain wrong.

Anyway back to John's Bill-of-Rights:

1) Open, read-only, direct access to the database.

This first one I have difficulty with. An ILS is a complex beast, and because of performance tuning and inevitable data denormalization its database is even more so. Open access to the database, especially if it is the one servicing the live ILS can be dangerous. As a vendor, here at Talis, it is not unknown to be contacted by an unhappy customer complaining about OPAC performance only to discover more than one heavy-weight MIS process being run against their database at 11:00am on a weekday. Duplicate databases can help, but these then introduce synchronization issues, and still leave the problem of understanding what the data in the tables actually means.

I would rephrase this must-have to read Open, read-only access to the data in meaningful form utilizing Web Service techniques (see must-have 2) an ILS should be able to deliver what you would ever want/need whilst utilizing the business logic of the ILS therefore ensuring performance and a 'true' view of the data. Raw SQL access to data very often does not take in to account subtleties of business logic that have evolved [in code] over years of development and return wrong results.

2) A full-blown, W3C standards-based API to all read-write functions.

Absolutely! This has been the driving force behind Talis' Keystone integration product, and our Web service standards work with VIEWS and NISO. If an ILS cannot interact in a standard way [not necessarily library industry standards either] with the systems around it, it will get bypassed.

3) The option to run the ILS on hardware of our choosing, on servers that we administer.

This brings me back to that old chestnut of supportability. Even in this 'standard world' that we operate in in the 21st century, complex software packages do behave differently on different kit, the more variations the bigger the problem. Nevertheless this is a great goal to strive towards. Personally I am hoping that eventually we will be able to run an ILS appliance (a bit like the Google appliance) where you don't know, or care, what OS or database is under the hood.

4) high security standards.

Again absolutely! It was not that long ago when ILS's were seen as a weak point on the network, not necessarily worth hacking in to [one time when the traditional boring image of libraries is useful] but a great platform to launch attacks on other systems from. Talis recognised this several years ago introducing our sever hardening service. Now we often get reports from customers that the Talis system has been discovered to be one of the most secure on their network.

Finally I must comment on John's statement:

If we put pressure on ILS vendors to begin providing new Web 2.0 type services, they most certainly will. They?ll charge for it, you?ll pay it

Well yes, the current generation of ILS systems were not built with Web Services everywhere. To put it bluntly, who will pay the salaries of the developers who are going to develop these services for you to consume? But, and its a big but, once you have those services embedding chunks of library functionality wherever you need/want it should be a an exercise totally under the control of the library. That is where Library 2.0 is different, Web 1.0 meant that any user could use the OPAC from any browser, Library 2.0 will enable any process can consume library services anywhere.

At risk of being a bit repetitive, I will recommend the recently published White Paper Do libraries matter? The rise of Library 2.0, it encapsulates the view from Talis on Library 2.0, very well.

Great posting John, keep up the good works at Ann Arbor.

Posted by Richard Wallis on 23 November 2005 01:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (3)

22 November 2005

Google Book Search - a 'man on the moon' initiative

Google Book Search has suddenly crept in to our lives with the 'Try searching for XXX on Google Book Search' message appearing at the bottom of the first page of results from a normal Google web search.

This looks fun, so follow the link and you end up with a list of books, all with book jacket images. Clicking on a result takes you to a page dominated by a scan of the Contents Page which can be swapped for Copyright Page, Front Cover, Back Cover, and Index. Included are links to purchasing sites, with the usual suspects (Amazon, Barnes & Noble) being supplemented by Froogle and often the publisher's site.

All this is supported by the Google Books Partner Program and Book Search's predecessor Google Print.

The test is how useful is this. Call me old fashioned, but I tend to search for books by title and/or author. If you do this with Book search you soon realise all the books you are not searching. There again it is suprising what others arrive in your search results, because Google are indexing the contents of the books as well as the traditional Author & Title information. Is this better, I remain to be convinced. Is it useful, probably yes. What I think I want is what I am used to, supplemented by what is provided here. Next time I cannot find what I'm looking for, it may come in to its own. I'll wait and see.

Despite my reservations, it is certainly impressive. Now what they need to do is to involve the Library community more than with the few library partners they already have. Thats certainly what is behind the announcement of their donation to the World Digital Library Project
with the Library of Congress.

Google's vision for Book Search says:

In May 1961, JFK said that he was going to put a man on the moon. The idea was unthinkable at the time, but within the decade, the goal was achieved.

Google Book Search is our man on the moon initiative. We see a world where all books are online and searchable*. How exactly will this be done? How long exactly will it take? We aren't sure, but we're committed to making it happen.

Imagine this programme's potential impact on education and research. On how our children discover books. On writing and publishing. On how all of us find and use information.

So does this mean that the librarians have a decade until they pick up their final pay check? No way! If Libraries were just physical manifestations of Google's virtual vision, maybe. But in such a case you would be using a Library like a supermarket - wander in - find what you think you want - and leave. Librarians add far more value than the average supermarket check-out operator They guide, suggest, lead, recommend, attest to quality & relevance, and load more besides. That's why our libraries are very different to our supermarkets.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that the influences of what is being called Library 2.0 will have dramatic effects on Libraries and the way we access them, but the skills and ability of the librarian will be no less relevant. Librarians and Libraries matter, and will do for a long long time.

No coincidence that Library 2.0 and Libraries Matter were two of the main themes at the recent Talis Insight Conference. The resources from which are available online. I definitely recommend a read of the Do Libraries Matter? - The rise of Library 2.0, it puts this all in to context.

Posted by Richard Wallis on 22 November 2005 05:57 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (1)

Talking with Talis - Inviting your questions for Jim Michalko of RLG

I am recording a new Talking with Talis programme with James Michalko, President and CEO of RLG, on Tuesday 13 December.

Jim will be talking around a number of areas in which RLG are currently active, doubtless including their RedLightGreen service, and their membership of the new Open Content Alliance.

Quoting from the RLG web site,

“RLG supports researchers and learners worldwide by expanding access to research materials held in libraries, archives, and museums.

RLG works with and for its member organizations enhancing their ability to provide research resources. RLG designs and delivers innovative information discovery services, organizes collaborative programs, and takes an active role in creating and promoting relevant standards and practices.”

If you have any questions that you would like put to Jim, please send them to podcasts [at] talis [dot] com by Friday 9 December.

Technorati Tags: Libraries, Open Content Alliance, Podcasting, RLG

Posted by Paul Miller on 22 November 2005 03:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (1)

21 November 2005

Talis whispers about Library 2.0 possibilities

Along with wider discussion of Library 2.0, such as that captured in our Do Libraries Matter white paper [PDF download], last week's Insight conference included several examples of Library 2.0 concepts surfacing for real in forthcoming products and proof-of-concept demonstrations.

Attendees were able to see the next generation of Talis' Prism OPAC, Prism 3, and to see - and hear - enrichments appearing alongside more traditional entries, as well as realising the ease with which the interface could be switched in order to fulfill different requirements.

An experimental Whisper (experimental, and best in Firefox for now) also attracted interest from attendees, out on the blogosphere, and even on Flickr (it wasn't us!).

Whisper offers a visualisation of some of the ways in which library content might be aggregated with content from elsewhere in the library, from other library domain systems, or from elsewhere entirely in order to deliver rich and meaningful services to users.

As Lorcan spots, the Whisper interface builds upon the now well-established “MODELS verbs” of Discover, Locate, Request, Deliver, and offers a tabbed interface comprising Discover, Locate, Directory, Borrow and Monitor.

Discover pulls together bibliographic data, enrichments such as book jackets, holdings data from participating libraries, and pricing from Amazon. From a single screen, the user can find a book (assisted by smart suggestions as they type, drawn from the titles of actual items known to the system), discover whether or not it is available to borrow or buy and - for those systems already known to the Directory - link straight through to detailed information from the ILS (Talis or otherwise) of the holding library. By default, the system searches every book and library that it knows about, but this is easily altered to either search only for books that are actually available to borrow, or to search only your own library. It would be straightforward to expand a search of your own library, say, to only search those nearby libraries likely to allow you access to the item.

Locate interprets the word literally, and uses Google Maps to display the locations of library branches, sorted by type. Selecting an individual library causes further details to pop up. For those libraries known to the Directory, a search entered here will be directed straight into the library's own system. There are various ways in which such functionality might usefully deliver value to a range of different users, and it should be feasible to provide the types of segmentation and subsetting that real-world uses would require.

The Directory provides much of the power behind the applications being shown, and also now drives aspects of third party systems outside Talis. The Directory recognises that information about libraries and their systems changes with depressing frequency, and that time-pressed library systems staff rarely manage to inform all those linking through to them of any change. With the Directory, however, it becomes a simple task for changes to be spotted and modified once (by anyone with access, not just Talis or library staff), and for those changes to propagate out to any services requiring the information. The scripts running behind the Google Maps mash-up on the Locate tab, for example, do not require knowledge of the URL for a given library's OPAC in order to offer the search of that catalogue. All that the script needs to know is a way to identify any individual library, allowing it to pass that identification to the Directory and receive back information to allow the formulation of a query. Any other system inside or outside Talis should be able to do the same thing.

Before you try it with your own library, it is worth noting that not all libraries listed via the Locate tab currently link through to the back-end library system. This is not some technical fault or major failing with the system. Rather, it is a reflection of the difficulty that anyone currently faces in building an accurate picture of libraries, their services, systems and capabilities. We are working to populate the directory more fully, and welcome participation from customers and non-customers alike. More comprehensively populated, the Directory is capable of powering a host of applications from Talis and others capable of consuming the underlying services.

Borrow demonstrates the way in which an Inter-Library Loan request might be integrated into the offering, whilst Monitor again utilises the Directory, this time to poll known systems for their status.

Whisper draws together a range of functions that, individually, would actually benefit quite different people. With current models, it is unlikely that the same person would be finding out where their local library was, submitting a full-blown ILL request to a different library, and monitoring the availability of various library systems. Nevertheless, the technologies behind these functions, and the way in which they have been drawn together in this demonstration interface, certainly serve to enable innovative thinking around ways in which different user communities might be given access to a range of tools tailored to their requirements and powered by robust, easily updated and ubiquitously accessible pieces of Platform infrastructure such as the Directory.

Ian Davis also showed a more bare-bones view on the same services, in which the user could consciously and visibly enable and disable individual services. Lacking a recognisable 'library' interface, Ian's demonstration underlined the point that these services might actually be surfaced anywhere, and in any combination, not just in an application that looks like an 'obvious' evolution from the OPAC.

Behind all of this lie web services and other systems constructed in accordance with current thinking around the most appropriate standards and specifications from W3C, NISO, OASIS and others. The technologies behind Whisper are far from closed and proprietary and, where appropriate, Talis is continuing its practice of engaging with the appropriate standards bodies in order to ensure that emerging specifications are shaped in the light of the experiences we are gaining from Whisper and other developments.

Technorati Tags: Amazon, Library 2.0, Platforms, Talis Whisper, Standards, Talis, Web 2.0

Posted by Paul Miller on 21 November 2005 03:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Talis begins to describe vision for Library 2.0

One of the white papers that we released last week for Insight was a first iteration of Do Libraries Matter: the rise of Library 2.0 [PDF download]. This was written by Ken Chad and myself, but incorporates ideas being expressed every day across Talis.

The paper is a work in progress, as we engage with the widest possible community in order to capture a range of expectations and requirements for the ways in which Library 2.0 can challenge current models for delivering library services.

It has been picked up on various blogs, including Michael Stephens' comprehensive post at ALA TechSource, Chris Keene's post at nostuff.org, Michael Casey's post to LibraryCrunch, Jenny Levine's Shifted Librarian post, and related discussion around Whisper (see my next post) from Tim Hodson, Lorcan Dempsey, and others.

On the whole, feedback has been positive and constructive, and we are moving discussions forward around the issues that are being raised in order to improve our explanation of the Library 2.0 space, the potential that it offers, and the current models that it inevitably challenges.

However, a number of comments raise the oft-repeated concern that 'vendors' are not to be trusted, that we should not be involved in the community of thought leaders exploring this area, and that we are somehow trying to capture and control the Library 2.0 concept to our own nefarious ends.

To be as clear as I can, and more polite than my first pass at this sentence, this is simply not true.

As mentioned in my rather oddly formatted comments to Michael Stephens' post, I am a recent arrival at Talis. I have been here two months, having previously worked exclusively in the public sector with organisations such as the Common Information Environment, UKOLN, the ADS, and a few universities.

I joined Talis, not to fleece poor unsuspecting libraries, but because I was persuaded (and still believe) that I stood more chance of delivering on some of the principles I've been arguing in favour of for over a decade from within Talis than in my previous role as Director at the CIE. Everything I have seen from my enthusiastic, knowledgeable and committed new colleagues assures me that I made the right choice.

Of course, as Chris Keene suggests in his post, there is a lot to do in carrying new ideas and new functionality through to existing products. As a Talis customer, he should ask someone to show him the demo of Prism 3, where some of these features have a prominent place. We are also looking, as the white paper argues, at ways to ensure that the library is everywhere. Prism, and other OPACs, represent a point in time in the development of library systems. They have a role to play, but library content and services should equally be available in a whole range of other interfaces from your course management system or portal to your television, your mobile phone, your search engine, and your favourite electronic book store or auction site. In many of these contexts, the library needs to be delivered in a wholly new way, far removed from an explicit “look for interesting books about this” option. How do we deliver better library services to those who already use them in other ways? How do we make library services welcoming and relevant to the many who either don't use them at all, or who have a rather narrow perspective on the types of help that a library might provide?

There is a great deal of work to be done in maintaining current services whilst Talis and those such as the bloggers already commenting on our paper prepare the wider library sector for the disruptive changes that new user expectations require and new technology makes feasible. Much of the community's work in this area is not yet sufficiently robust or full-featured to wholly replace existing mission-critical library systems. But it will be, and it will get even better. Talis believes that there is a role for a company such as ours in maintaining current types of system until people are persuaded of the value in radical change, in assisting the realisation of that change, and in delivering services that our current and future customers will value and therefore pay for. We do not force people to buy our systems. We will not force people to pay for any chargeable new services that we might wish to offer in future. Rather, we seek to participate fully in building an open platform along with customers, competitors, and others. We will then argue and demonstrate the additional value that any chargeable components deliver above and beyond the participative platform, and persuade you of the cost-effectiveness of our added value components as opposed to those built by competitors, or those that you might very well seek to build for yourselves. Just because software can be downloaded off the web for free, doesn't necessarily mean that anyone can construct, run and maintain a zero-cost service on top of it.

An open, interoperable, Platform shifts the goalposts, and dramatically reduces the costs of participation. It fundamentally alters the model in which libraries obtain access to and gain benefit from software and services provided by third parties.

Read the paper [PDF download]. Read the comments from those who already have. Think about how it fits with where you want library services to go. Believe that Talis genuinely wants to work with you, and join us in the debate. Submit your comments here, blog them yourself and trackback to here, or send them straight to me.

Technorati Tags: Library 2.0, Talis

Posted by Paul Miller on 21 November 2005 11:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (1)

18 November 2005

White papers from Talis

To coincide with Talis' Insight Conference in Birmingham earlier this week, we have released a number of white papers.

These are available online, and cover a wide range of topics including advances in current Talis products and a snapshot of our rapidly evolving thinking around such key topics as Library 2.0 and the importance of the emerging Platform.

As we move forward, traditional models of the monolithic system and the single entrenched system supplier look increasingly unnecessary. These papers are part of Talis' contribution to the ongoing debate around ways in which the whole sector can, should, or must evolve to reflect and lead the world around us.

Have a read, and engage with us in person, via our fora, our blogs, and at our events over the coming year.

There's a lot happening, and we want to work with the community in order to ensure that these new developments meet your requirements as well as our own.

Technorati Tags: Library 2.0, Talis

Posted by Paul Miller on 18 November 2005 01:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

9 November 2005

Talking with Talis - inviting your questions of Roy Tennant

I am recording a new Talking with Talis programme with Roy Tennant of the California Digital Library on Tuesday 15 November.

Quoting from Roy's site,

“At the California Digital Library I have been instrumental in the development and deployment of the eScholarship Repository and the eScholarship Editions publishing services. I presently manage the Metasearch Infrastructure Project and participate in the Harvesting Infrastructure Project, as well as a number of other CDL projects. The fruits of some of these efforts can be seen in prototype form on my prototyping server.”

“Prior to joining the CDL, I created and managed the Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE for the UC Berkeley Library, a digital library and support service for digital library developers.”

Recently, Roy has been vocal in challenging some of the current ways in which we build and deliver library services. In an environment supported by principles from Web 2.0, is there not a more collaborative way in which we can build better and more timely solutions that truly meet the needs of our users?

If you have any questions that you would like put to Roy, please send them to podcasts [at] talis [dot] com by Monday, 14 November.

Technorati Tags: California Digital Library, Library 2.0, OPAC, Podcasting, CDL, Talis, Web 2.0

Posted by Paul Miller on 9 November 2005 12:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Talking with Talis - a conversation with Clifford Lynch

Our second Talking with Talis podcast went up on the site this morning.

In this conversation, I talk with Clifford Lynch, Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information in Washington, DC.

Cliff, a well-known commentator in the digital library space, discusses a range of issues from digitisation of library holdings to the changing face of scholarly communication.

Have a listen, and send us your feedback via podcasts [at] talis [dot] com.

Technorati Tags: Podcasting, Talis

Posted by Paul Miller on 9 November 2005 11:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Panlibus shortlisted for blogging award

Panlibus has been shortlisted for the 'Best implementation of a Business Blog' award in this year's International Information Industry Awards.

The winner will be announced in London on 30 November, at an awards ceremony hosted by Online Information and Information World Review.

The full shortlist for this award, from an Information World Review announcement, is:

• Ask Jack/The Guardian
• English Cut
• Panlibus
• Perfect Path
• UK FOIA blog

Take a look, and draw your own conclusions as to the 'best'. I have, and certainly don't envy the judges. Although all are blogs, and all address 'business', their scope, style, and purpose are quite different.

Whether we win or not, to have been shortlisted in what I understand to have been a strong field is testament to the value Talis have consistently placed in our suite of blogs. As well as panlibus, we also have a number of staff blogging on their own and, of course, our new venture into podcasting has an associated blog.

To us, blogging - and podcasting - are a vital part of our efforts to reach out and engage, both with our customers, but also with a growing number of communities from whom we can benefit, and to whom we feel we have something to offer. Our blogs push us into the heart of emerging communities such as that around Web 2.0. Our blogs reach the attention of Microsoft. Our blogs keep us visibly at the forefront. Our blogs reach out to our own customers in ways different to and more immediate than the quarterly print magazine [PDF download].

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Talis

Posted by Paul Miller on 9 November 2005 09:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

31 October 2005

Blogging library people in the UK and Ireland ?

Phil Bradley posted a query to his blog at the end of last week, searching for information on library and information professionals in the UK who are actively blogging. I, of course, promptly checked that he knew about Talis' collection, many of which are listed here.

I'm sure he would be happy to hear from those of you in the Republic of Ireland who are blogging, too, but Ireland's most famous blogger is presumably disqualified by his current place of residence.

Given recent figures on the percentage of the UK population engaged in participative online activities such as blogging, I expect Phil to be inundated with thousands of responses.

If you think you might fit the bill, please let Phil know...

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Libraries, Library 2.0

Posted by Paul Miller on 31 October 2005 09:27 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

28 October 2005

Talking with Talis - inviting your questions on OCLC's Environmental Scan and more

I am recording a new Talking with Talis programme with George Needham, OCLC's Vice President for Member Services, on Wednesday 23 November.

George will be talking about OCLC's extremely successful Environmental Scan and a new report called Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources: A Report to the OCLC Membership, due to be released online shortly before we speak.

If you have any questions that you would like put to George, please send them to podcasts [at] talis [dot] com by Friday 18 November.

Technorati Tags: Podcasting, OCLC, Talis

Posted by Paul Miller on 28 October 2005 01:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Talking with Talis - inviting your questions on the AttentionTrust

I am recording a new Talking with Talis programme with Ed Batista, Executive Director of AttentionTrust, on Monday 7 November.

AttentionTrust first came to my notice in a Gillmor Gang show over the summer, and I discussed their session at the recent Web 2.0 Conference a few times on my own blog.

If you have any questions that you would like put to Ed, please send them to podcasts [at] talis [dot] com by next Thursday, 3 November.

Technorati Tags: attention, Podcasting, AttentionTrust, Talis, web2con

Posted by Paul Miller on 28 October 2005 12:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

27 October 2005

Listen to our first Talking with Talis conversation now

After all the planning and preparation, Talis is delighted to announce the availability of the first conversation in our Talking with Talis series.

In the series, we aim to conduct conversations with thought leaders from across our industry, and beyond. They grapple with issues that affect all of us, now and in the future, and point to solutions towards which we can work in partnership.

Our first conversation is with Dick Hardt, who talks about issues around personal identity in the online environment.

Talking with Talis is not a sales pitch. It's a mechanism by which we can share the thoughts of conference keynote-calibre speakers with a far wider audience than those who might attend any given conference. We are raising awareness of issues, and advancing the debate. Feel free to get involved.

I hope that you find our first conversation valuable, and that you will subscribe to the web feed or come back to the site each fortnight to hear those that follow.

These conversations are of a type (currently) popularly known as 'podcasts'. Although you can listen on your iPod, you don't have to. You can listen online with your computer, download to your iPod or equivalent digital music player, or download and copy onto anything that can play one of these mp3 files; your car's CD player, perhaps, or even your mobile phone!

If you have any comments, or if you wish to suggest (or volunteer!) future speakers, contact podcasts [at] talis [dot] com.

Technorati Tags: Identity 2.0, Podcasting, Talis

Posted by Paul Miller on 27 October 2005 03:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

26 October 2005

Final programme for Talis' Insight conference now available

Talis' annual Insight conference is this year being held 15-16 November at the Hilton Metropole, close to the UK's Birmingham International Airport and good rail connections to the rest of the country.

The final programme is now available online, and will include speakers from the British Library, BT, Microsoft, MLA, and more, as well as Talis staff presenting new products and the inclusive, participative, and 'Web 2.0' platform that we are building to move forward.

The UK's Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, will be speaking at dinner on the 15th.

Register to attend and find out more.

Technorati Tags: Audience, Internet, Libraries, Platforms, Talis, Web 2.0

Posted by Paul Miller on 26 October 2005 10:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)