Editorial
Interestingly, the major high-tech news capturing much attention is the iPhone released in late June. This new multi-purpose cell phone has been re-engineered by Apple to be the hippest, smartest, most multi-dimensional phone apparatus released today, moving us in to an age of a single communications device that can do so much more than ever imagined. Some technology bloggers and journalists track this sensation as staggering in how public interest has been sustained and continues to build a frenzy.
The irony in all the media blitz was the failure to mention the short and costly battery life of the iPhone. This is quite puzzling to understand as the anticipation for this new phone has been steadily infused and growing over the past six months and the hysteria and marketing has been described by some who track consumer trends as "into the stratosphere." The phone needs the battery to operate but enthusiastic users may have not been aware that it would cost shy of a $100 every time it needs to be replaced. Accusations of insensitivity, deceit, inappropriateness and possibly being illegal have been fueling blogs for days and none of the positive reviews of the instrument that made the major technology and consumer media sources noted this fact, not even incidentally. The lame specifics alluded potential customers who wonder how significant a difference there is between iPod battery failure and iPhone battery failure. One can probably live for a few days without their iPod but without a phone and connectivity to the internet?
So, even with these new realities and the rather pricey tag associated with the iPhone do you think we will see them appearing on campuses this fall with a new entering class? Most interestingly, consumer surveys indicate as reported in the New York Times (27 June 2007) that two-thirds of the population of the USA seem to be aware of the device.
As the summer in this continent as well as around the world continues to experience effects of global warming, what else can we consider? Environmental concerns keep many of us wondering what the long term solutions are – we are immersed in a growing green habitat, work environmental and try to be more astute recyclers of all this high-technology we invest in. Writing about batteries one cannot help but wonder about the landfills containing them and tons of toner cartridges and other computer components but what are institutions doing to reduce long term issues? We would love to hear from you.
As you review this issue, you will find several interesting conference reports – from the Digital Library Federation semi-annual seminar with bonus coverage of the Second Life post-conference; LACUNY Annual Institute at the City University of New York where the theme this year was "Technology with a High Face: High Tech Meets High Touch," which was covered by many different reporters sharing insights and viewpoints. Also, coverage of the Special Library Association Meeting and the International Association of Technological University Libraries (IATUL) conference which was held in Stockholm, Sweden and the Libraries in the Digital Age (LIDA) conference held at two sites in Dubrovnik and on the island of Mljet, Croatia.
Emmanuel Babatunde Ajala shares his research conducted in Nigeria about cybercrimes and entertains issues about whether cybercafes and other environmental factors contribute to the wide range of fraudulent activity that is taking place on a global scale. Of course there is the usual New Books,Information Industry news and the Calendar to help you anticipate what is happening in coming months.
We look forward to having the opportunity to create situations that are more interactive and allow for more dialogue with our users. Help us achieve that with some first-generation, letters to the editors and we will hopefully surprise you with a new spin on social networking and participative roles you can have with this content in the life of LHTN! Stay tuned!
Julia Gelfand(jgelfand@uci.edu)Mitchell Brown(mcbrown@uci.edu)Co-editors, LHTN
