TeenScene @ WPL

Invisibility cloak…now possible?

Posted on February 17th, 2009 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Books, Technology.

Whenever I read articles like Invisible Cloak Closer Than Ever to Reality, I usually think two thoughts: 1) I can’t believe the amazing advances of science, and 2) I can’t believe there are people whose *job* is to try to make something invisible. Where can I apply for that job?! Anyway, for those of you Harry Potter fans who thought Harry’s special cloak was a thing of fantasy, read on:

An invisibility cloak for visible light could be made within six months, say scientists from Duke University, who, in a new paper published today in Science, explain how to hide objects from a dramatically extended range of wave lengths. “I think that within six months it’s certainly viable [a cloak for visible light],” said David Smith, a professor at Duke University and author of the Science paper.

What do you think? Is there anything else in a supposed “fantasy” book or movie that you’ve seen become reality, or that you really hope will become possible?

0 comments.

This post is so book.

Posted on December 4th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Technology, Words & Writing.

If you use predictive text messaging, you’ll get a kick out of this story from The Times Online:

Jeffrey Stark from London writes: “A colleague recently noticed that her teenage son and his friends were using the word ‘book’ as a term of approval, as in ‘that T-shirt is really book’. She wondered why. It transpires that if you text the word ‘cool’, predictive texting turns it into ‘book’. Being lazy teenagers they would rather change the meaning of the word than hit the options button.”

Does your predictive texting change “cool” to “book”? Either way…this is a great development for fans of books and libraries!

2 comments.

You know you want to.

Posted on March 11th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Random Fun, Technology, Web sites to watch.

This one’s just for fun. Click here and wait to see what happens.

7 comments.

I love technology, Part 5

Posted on March 7th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Events, Gaming, Technology.

As Teen Tech Week draws to a close (sniff!), remember that you don’t need a special celebration just to enjoy all the technology goodness that the library has to offer. I am, of course, referring to stuff like…

– Upcoming gaming tournaments (Super Smash Bros, March 22); bookmark our online Events Calendar, because new events are added all the time!

– NEW! The Ohio eBook Project — now you can download audiobooks, ebooks, music and video right from your computer! Plenty of teen titles are available. This is a great option for those who don’t like to read print books — or for when that book your teacher assigned is all checked out and the book report is due tomorrow…

– Finally, when you think you’ve done everything, run down the 25 ways to celebrate Teen Tech Week. Bet you haven’t tried them all yet.

And BTW, this stuff is going to haunt the next person who says “I’m bored!” at the library. You think you want to try saying that to me? Go on. I dare you.

3 comments.

I love technology, Part 4

Posted on March 6th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Books, Events, Technology, Web sites to watch, Words & Writing.

Ever tried the website Goodreads? It’s like MySpace for book lovers. You can post what you’re reading, who recommended it to you, and what you thought of it. Even better, you can see what your friends are reading, too!

The Westerville library has its very own profile — click here to see what we’ve all been reading:

Interested? Create your own profile and friend us!!

1 comment.

I love technology, Part 3

Posted on March 5th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Events, Technology.

Fun with Yahoo! Avatars (must have a Yahoo! ID).

Here I am in the library, with a cat, which is technically not allowed, but that is the beauty of avatars: they are little virtual versions of yourself that can do what you can’t! In my case, bring a cat to the library and have a MUCH bigger clothes selection.

Do you have an avatar/virtual you/buddy icon/etc.? What does it look like, and what does it mean to you?

0 comments.

I love technology, Part 2

Posted on March 4th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Events, Technology, Web sites to watch.

Speaking of being interactive, you can do more with technology and computers than just type “omg” about that thing that happened at school today.

There are also surveys (try this one about Teen Tech Week!), polls (answer the TeenScene poll at the right of the screen!), and of course, voting for your favorite whatever (Survivor and Idol fans, I’m looking at you). For this, I invite you to vote for a librarian! Local Children’s Librarian Jennifer Sechler is up for a great job with Disney…but only with enough votes!

1 comment.

I love technology…

Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Events, Technology.

No, I’m not quoting Kip from Napoleon Dynamite (okay, so maybe I do sing that song sometimes…) — I’m just happy it’s Teen Tech Week! Teen Tech Week is a national yearly celebration of all things technology @ the library.

Obviously, you’re using technology if you’re reading this blog — example #1! But one of the best things about blogs, MySpace, Facebook, etc. is that they’re interactive.

In other words, don’t just sit there, leave a comment!!

I want to know how you use technology in your life and especially at the library. Besides computers, there are the audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, mp3 players, videogames & gaming tournaments…I could go on all day…

1 comment.

OMG! Meijer just txted me!

Posted on February 26th, 2008 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Technology.

So, I noticed a while ago that Meijer (the grocery store) has a program that lets you sign up to get text message alerts, including alerts about rising gas prices.

I know that not everyone reading this drives or buys gas, but what do you think of this? Would you sign up to get texts from a company, or do you prefer texting as a way to talk to friends?

Even more interesting…what if the LIBRARY texted you?! You could find out when that book or movie you reserved comes in…or you could text a librarian with a homework question. It may be possible soon…tell me what you think!!

4 comments.

Boot camp for internet addicts…really!

Posted on November 20th, 2007 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Gaming, Technology.

Lily told me about this article from the New York Times that talks about how some kids in Korea are getting dangerously obsessed with going online. Thanks for the tip, Lily!

…These young people are not battling alcohol or drugs. Rather, they have severe cases of what many in this country believe is a new and potentially deadly addiction: cyberspace.

They come here, to the Jump Up Internet Rescue School, the first camp of its kind in South Korea and possibly the world, to be cured.

Wow! Do you know anyone who you’d say is “addicted” or “obsessed” with going online? Do you think it is dangerous? Is getting outdoors and active a good solution? Tell me what you think!!

1 comment.

12-yr-old gets $6.5M for gaming company

Posted on September 24th, 2007 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Gaming, Technology.

All you money-minded folks out there, check out this post from Slashdot. A company co-founded by a 12-year-old has just raised a LOT of money.

Arjun Mehta, a 6th grader, says on his Web site that he is passionate about software that can make the game experience more “rewarding,” and that he started the company last year in his garage.

This really inspires me to say something cheesy like “follow your dreams and you never know what may happen” — but really, the proof is there, right? If you just made six million bucks, you probably don’t care about cheesy!

Thanks to Victor for the link!

1 comment.

Microsoft Surface

Posted on June 13th, 2007 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Gaming, Movies, Music, Technology.

What do you guys think of this…a computer where you can manipulate all sorts of things through a tabletop surface?

I think it would be great in restaurants and lobbies…but I still like the iPhone ’cause you can carry it around.

4 comments.

iPhone, why are you so expensive?

Posted on June 5th, 2007 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Random Fun, Technology.

Am I the only one who is drooling over these iPhone possibilities?

3 comments.

Inside a video game developer studio

Posted on March 21st, 2007 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Art & Craftiness, Gaming, Technology.

Ever been curious what video game developers REALLY do? Check out this article from the BBC. The reporters meet the team from Climax who developed the game Ghost Rider for PS2, PSP, and Gameboy Advance.

See what the different job descriptions involve, from Lead Environment Artist to Lead Coder! Sounds like a great mix of artsy and geeky to me…

0 comments.

Teen Tech Week is here!

Posted on March 5th, 2007 by Becky.
Categories: All posts, Books, Events, Gaming, Homework Help, Movies, Music, Technology.

Teen Tech Week is March 4-10, so I’d like to present…

10 Techy Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do At the Library

(Or Maybe You Did)

10) Check out the new TeenScene blog (hint: you are reading it right now) & leave comments

9) Use the Library web site to suggest a purchase, write a review, check your account, see what’s going on, & register for programs

Reserve books & have them delivered to your school

7) Try the Tutor.com database during our free trial (March 4-17)

6) Try the Teen Health & Wellness database during our free trial (March 4-31). Username: teentech, password: teentech

5) Email a librarian using Ask a Question or Know It Now

4) Borrow Playaway Books, Audiobooks, CDs, Videos & DVDs

3) Make a movie using iMovie, iDVD or iPhoto

2) Play XBox & GameCube games

1) Come to our gaming tournaments at the Library

0 comments.

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