A One-Graphic Thermometer for the Economic Slowdown
When money is treated as materials rather than a rate of activity, GDP can quickly freeze, as this graphic shows.
The e-Book Revolution — If At First You Don’t Succeed . . .
E-books are changing the world of publishing, but rather than creating something new, too much emphasis is being put on re-hashing failures of the past. The changing market doesn’t have to be a zero sum game, and the rise of new forms may not spell the death of the book as we know it.
No Journal Access? Email the Author, Colleague
Peer-to-peer sharing of scientific articles is common for Indian scientists, a new study reports.
More Viewers Watching More Ads — The Lessons of the DVR Paradox
DVRs increase viewership and engagement with advertising. Will we be able to recognize the equivalents in our industry when they arrive? Are some here already?
How Meaningful Are User Ratings? (This Article = 4.5 Stars!)
Are user rating systems a good way of measuring the quality of an author’s research? More and more websites are abandoning 5-star rating systems as the results they give are deeply flawed. PLoS’ approach will probably suffer the same problems.
Publishing in the Google Ecosystem
Complaints against Google miss the point — it’s the Google Era, and publishers who work well with this major upstart have plenty to look forward to.
iPhone + Book = PhoneBook
A mixture of traditional and new that is effective, simple, and rather astounding.
Breaking the Chain of Inquiry — When Journals and Journalists Fall Short
When an author conceals information, and a blog branded with a respectable newspaper plays along, it doesn’t engender confidence in the new information space.
European University Presses Fold, Consolidate in Economic Downturn
Economic turmoils continue to rock academia. University presses are feeling the pinch. How are European presses adapting?
Thriving in the Age of the Informavore
The accelerated, real-time Web has some people worried about its cultural effects. Given the alternatives, I’ll take it.
Open Access Memberships: Are Libraries Paying Too Much?
Columbia University drops BioMed Central membership after it discovers it was paying way too much.
Why a Politician’s Dollar Is Worth More than a Dollar
How can $1 be worth more than $1? Let a lobbyist teach you.
Participation Value and Shelf-Life for Journal Articles
Discussion forums built around academic journal articles haven’t seen much usage from readers. Lessons learned from the behavior of sports fans may provide some insight into the reasons why.
Google Maps a Disruptive Path with a “Less Than Free” Pricing Model
In a set of disruptive moves that may be unmatched, Google is positioning itself to simultaneously compete effectively in smartphones, GPS, geo-ads, and operating systems, all based on a “less than free” pricing model.
Scientists Are Using Social Media Tools (and May Be Using Social Networks, Too)
Two new analyses — one in Cell, and one of a bit of source material from another post — suggest scientists are pretty likely to use social networks and social media.