Google Tools

Session Information

The TOTS session on Google Tools will be held on Thursday December 4, 2008 from 1.00-3.00 in the Dodson Room in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

Speakers

• Susan Atkey, Librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences, Koerner Library
• Larry Campbell, Librarian, Information Systems and Technology
• Tara Stephens, Librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences, Koerner Library
• Katherine Miller, Librarian, Woodward Biomedical Library
• Julie Mitchell, Librarian, Chapman Learning Commons, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
• Lindsay Ure, Librarian, David Lam Management Research Library

Tools - Software

Google Chrome

• Google's open source browser which is currently in beta (for Windows only). Final version is due for release early 2009.
• Click here for recent articles about Google Chrome.
• Google Chrome Releases Blog - keep up to date with new releases.
• Chromium - open source project supporting the Chrome browser. Developers can access source code and contribute.

Google Lively

Google's virtual world is short-lived July-December 2008. Google Lively No More; Google Lively is Dead-ly

 

Background information:

 

1) Try Out Google's 'Immersive World' - Introducing Lively\". Blog posting by Dean Giustini on UBC Academic Search - Google Scholar.

2) Tutorial on how to create an avatar, create a room and use objects in Google Lively:

 

Google Lively Libraries.ppt

Google SketchUp

Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything at all. The models can be situated in GoogleEarth using real-world coordinates.

A number of library and archives models have been built using Google SketchUp. You can select a library from the collection here, or try these examples:

 

 

• Carnegie Library and Museums
• New York Public Library
• Seattle Public Library
• Legal Research Building, University of Michigan
• Fisher Fine Arts Library, Penn State
• Biblioteca National, Bogota Columbia
• Connecticut State Library

For the full range of models created using Google SketchUp, explore the Google 3D Warehouse.

 

If you're interested in trying out SketchUp yourself, Google has created a series of video tutorials to get you started. They range from basic to more advanced topics.

 

 

iGoogle

iGoogle is Google's "widgetized" interface, that let's you personalize your Google search page with a selected theme, and any of hundreds of different informational (and playful) "Google Gadgets". You'll need to sign up for a Google account (free).

 

• Here's the start
• Here are some themes (you can build your own)
• Here's a list of some News gadgets (aka widgets)
• There's already a new iGoogle look
• And here's where you can get started making your own gadgets: simple or more advanced.

 

 

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a way to create and share a public calendar. Best of all, it’s easy to imbed on your website.

Picasa Web Albums

Find, edit and share your photos. Easily imbed a rotating gallery on your branch page.

!

Tools - Hardware

Google G1 Phone

 

Evaluation

Top Ten (10) Google Posts - Google Scholar Blog, 2008 - Dean Giustini provides links to key posts on his UBC Academic Search - Google Scholar Blog from the past year on Google tools and developments.