WEEK FOUR BLOG POST

Dear all

Please post comments by Friday at 7pm this week (29th) for the 1% - posts after that time won't be credited.

Governments currently see cyber crime as one of the major threats for the future.

For example:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24077094


What are your thoughts on large databases that hold various details about our lives? Are there advantages in Facebook holding highly detailed datasets on our daily lives? What are the disadvantages of these online datasets if we proffer the information willingly? If these datasets are demanded (e.g. the Census), can we trust the data holders and if not, what should we do?!

Your thoughts please.

Paul

WEEK THREE BLOG

Sorry about the late posting - please post by Monday (15th) 5pm of next week rather than Friday as I have posted late. 

This week I would like to hear your thoughts on Commercial Products vs Open Source. Read the article at the following URL:

http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240088561/Open-source-is-years-behind-commercial-products-says-Socitm-president

Let me know your thoughts on:

The usability of Open Source packages
Their drawbacks and advantages
The role of Open Source in mobilizing new markets in the future.

Any other thoughts welcome. You can refer to the Open Source packages used in this module if you wish.

Paul

WEEK TWO BLOG POST

Sir Tim Berners-Lee has been in the news again recently. Please read the scanned story at the following URL from the Daily Telegraph on 2nd November 2013:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/49uwok5uln54xqc/DailyTelegraph_021113.jpg

What are your thoughts on the "data web"? What problems and opportunities do you foresee? What will it mean for GIS? 

For more on Sir Berners-Lee you could visit these URLs:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24844427

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAWYSpqVctY

http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_berners_lee_the_year_open_data_went_worldwide.html

Please post your comments by 8pm on Friday of this week (15th) for the 1% mark

Paul McKenzie

WEEK ONE BLOG POST

Dear all,

Welcome to the blog for week one! Posting a comment and responding to one another's comments will give you 1% of the module marks per week. To gain the 1% you must post your comments by the Friday of each week. For week one you will have until Friday 15th to post a comment as the blog is up quite late. 
 
The campus based students will be discussing the same issue with the distance learners. 
This week (for 1%) I simply want you to introduce yourselves. 

Cover the following issues:
1. Distance learner or campus student 
2. Name 
3. GIS Experience (particularly database experience) 
4. Current work / study 
5. Interests 
6. Hopes for after the GIS course.

I will start the ball rolling! 

My name is Paul McKenzie and I have been working/studying GIS for 13 years and teaching for 8 years. I currently teach on the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in GIS. I love running but haven't done much for a while! I also like films, Johnny Cash and church activities (a weird mix I know)! 

I look forward to reading your comments.

Paul

Welcome

Hi,

This blog spot is designed to allow all students (both campus and distance learners) to interact in one place. While BlackBoard is useful it doesn't make it easy for students from different groups to talk together. As such this blog allows campus students to get to know distance learners and vice versa. If any marriages happen as a result of this blog I want to know! I will also be recording the campus lectures so that distance learners know what is going on during class. During these podcasts, I will be naming campus students etc so you will hopefully know each other to some extent.

The blog will formally run like this. Everyday Monday I will post a topic relevant to GIS databases. I then want each student to post their own view on the topic. While posting your own view, I also want you to respond to one another's comments where possible. This will mean that most opinions are shared and discussed as possible. If you comment on the weekly topic by the Friday of each week you will gain 1% of the module. After five weeks that means you have gained an easy 5% of module marks. If you do not post a comment each week you will not gain the 1% for that week.

Please feel free to use this blog post for other informal matters relating to the module. While I am flexible on the blog use, there are two rules:

1. Use the blog respectfully - no unpleasant comments about anyone please.
2. If the matter is important or private it must go through the module area on BlackBoard. The module area in BlackBoard is the main area for the module, this blog is only designed as a small side line.

If you feel that any additional rules should be put in place just let me know.

Paul