Social tagging

The catalog is dead.  Long live social tagging.

For those of us who thought our jobs were secure as catalogers,  think again.  We now have social tagging.  Anyone can tag.  All those lovely rules for when to use what subject heading? GONE.  Today we have what is important to me.

Why does the world need catalogers?  Everyone has their own point of view.  How many times have you seen that people just want to express and view the world from their personal point of view?    And that doesn't include a uniform title for things like the Bible.

In a world we never invented, we are now asked to justify all that we do, how we do it, and why it's important.  Why is an infrastructure such as cataloging or taxonomy important?  

Visualization and me

Today I found a site on technology, entertainment, and design   -- TED.  It really made me rethink presentations and what skill level I need.  I really like the presentation by Hans Rosling. 

Here is what TED says about this video:

"You've never seen data presented like this. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, statistics guru Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called "developing world."

And for all the Anime and cartoon lovers out there, you must check this one out by Scott McCloud.

"In this unmissable look at the magic of comics, Scott McCloud bends the presentation format into a cartoon-like experience, where colorful diversions whiz through childhood fascinations and imagined futures that our eyes can hear and touch."

Flickr and Flat Stanley

My niece has sent me her Flat Stanley.  I admit I knew nothing about the Flat Stanley project before Katie sent me hers.  I quickly looked it up.  

Who knew that Flat Stanley knew so many people and so many celebrities?  My favorite is Spiderman.

As part of my Flickr assignment I looked up Flat Stanley.  Here is a slideshow of the Flat Stanley group.  Warning it is a long slideshow.