TechnoCommuting

Suzie Business woman text-messages while Joe Executive watches a movie on his laptop. The conductor approaches and punches their tickets.

Step back newspaper! It seems technology is the latest fix for taking the edge off the daily commute. The most techno-savy people I've seen in one space at one time use his/her gadgets in transit from the northern suburbs to Chicago.

Ground breaking news! Just today an article was written that VIA rail canada has taken the first plunge in providing high-speed wireless on board:

LINK



I've contemplated the thought of Metra or other commuter rail systems providing a cyber cafe on board. Would it be popular? Does it sound crazy? Instead of a "bar" car offering simple beer and snacks, would a coffee cyber cafe be popular? How could a table with a smal laptop be integrated into the ever popular seating structure?

Technology has changed the way people use transportation. Look at CTA's new Chicago Card, or this article from Career Journal about the New York subway system's MetroCards: http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/workfamily/20001114-loftus.html

It's amazing what a little researching can find. India had plans in 2003 to integrate cybercafes on the rail system:
http://www.comminit.com/trends/ctrends2003/trends-84.html

Libraries should market more to commuters. One guest speaker in our program suggested plastering the CTA "L"-cars with library-related information and ads, as well as Metra. What a good idea she had. If a library could pair with another non-profit organization to make this happen I can just image the positive response. A partnership may increase visibility. The ads could provide public transit and walking information to the library, since some commuters may not even know where it is. I know some public libraries only want users from the local area, but showing commuters that no matter where they are, literature is available, may not be a bad endevour.

It's technocommuting everyone!

AOL Instant Messenger

Something technologically funny happened.

How many of you use AOL Instant Messenger? I started my sophomore year of college. To think at this moment I have the ability to talk to 10 people in different blinky boxes is ingenious. But I still think talking on the phone is faster and easier. It's also easier to identify who's on the other line. :)

Like blogger, people have screennames. Others have multiple screennames. Last night, someone signed on who hasn't been on in a while. I thought it was my friend Heidi, but just to make sure, I wrote, "Heidi?" The person responded, "Is this Gwyn from LFC?" Of course, I identified myself, but the person on the other end said, "No, it's not Heidi, guess again!haha" I told the person I honestly didn't remember the screen name. Instead of identifying themselves, mystery messenger began giving me clues!

On the phone, I would have been able to identify the person's voice, or interrogated for an answer. Instead, I was wrapped in a 20-questions conversation that ended with the mysterious screen name stating she (or he) is on Facebook, and I could find out there. :)

As a library student, I should be able to identify the mystery messenger, but I can only find a search mechanism on Facebook for names, not for other information on the profiles. Does anyone know if Facebook has a profile search?

On a sidenote, related but not, I relayed the conversation to my friend Susan, who noted that she has had FULL CONVERSATIONS with screen names she doesn't remember! One time she typed a whole hour to realize she was talking to someone other than she had thought!

:)

Oh technology.

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About Me!
Hello! I'm a library student at Dominican University and this is my blog for the spring semester section of LIS 753. Welcome to my blog!