This week in IR...

This week in IR, we learn about the vast and deep abyss of the invisible web. We were introduced to several invisible web sources such as MEDLINE, EBSCO and SJ Library.

Some examples of databases that are stored are:

• Public Company Filings
• Telephone numbers
• Customised maps and driving directions
• Clinical Trials
• Patents
• Out of Print Books
• Library Catalogs
• Authoritative Dictionaries
• Environmental Information
• Historical Stock Quotes
• Historical Documents and Images
• Company Directories

During class, we were given the freedom to try out the different invisible web sources and compare each one. We also compared the databases using the web sources of invisible web. Based on what I can see from the results, web databases basically provides more offline articles and scholarly materials. We are also reminded that these databases could be used in our respective diplomas for our projects or research.

I find the databases quite helpful especially in my course, Biomedical Informatics and Engineering, as we will be doing various reports and research that require scientific and scholarly articles to help with our research. The databases will provide a wide range of useful and relevant articles and sources. With the knowledge I gain from learning about researching databases, I can implement them when I am doing projects or research :)

This week we were also introduced to using wiki. Mdm Farida explained to us about the usage and the purpose of using wiki. She also asked us to summarise, reflect and post the things we learn in this module on our blog. She urges us to find joy in writing and reading up on various topics. I find her encouragement inspiring as I think teens and youths today need to read up more on serious issues and reflect upon it and realise what impact are we making in the world today. We cannot just live by everyday not thinking or worrying about tomorrow. Reflections also help us learn better not just about this module, but ourselves and our interest.

Ms Faridah pointed out that we were to do a discussion on our tutorial class' wiki space. Our topic of discussion would be on e-counseling. The distribution of workload is done by two of our class mates Ridwan and Meng Hock. I volunteered myself to be in charge of finding and researching on visual aids that contributes to the discussion of our topic.


That's it for this week :)

This week in I R

This week's CDS, we were exposed to the usage of different search engines, mainly Google and Google Scholar and to compare the both. Google is used by many of the internet users to search for anything and everything from education, research, news, entertainment, etc.

I also learn about the different keywords and Boolean operators I could use in order to narrow down my search results. Boolean operators are such as AND, OR and AND NOT. Some search engines uses the "+" and "-" signs. Keywords especially help a lot in narrowing down my searches. Using suitable boolean operators, I managed to select and choose the best search query for my research topic.

This is the search query that I had come up with:

(impact OR effect*) AND (child* OR kid*) AND (violence OR aggression) AND mass N/2 media

Online Shopping (but unfortunately it's virtual)

This week, my lecturer said the she's giving each one of us $500 to go online shopping! Now how exciting is that?! Imagine all the things I could buy with that amount of money! *swoons*

Well, there is a catch to all this free money. Online shopping is a virtual activity, no matter how real you want it to be. But, normally, after you've confirmed your purchase and transacted the money, your item gets delivered to you. The catch for this week's activity is that our virtual shopping stays virtual. Meaning our "item" that we "bought" online stays virtual and non-real. FOREVER (at least until we've earned enough money to really buy the item ourselves).

The first item that came to mind when I knew I was going to shop online was "GRAHPIC TEES!". It costs around $18 to $25 a piece and is avaible in different sizes for men and ladies. At threadless.com, they offer not only tees for men and ladies, but also hoodies and sizes for kids, onesies and infant tees.

Notice how the designer cleverly inserted I :love: you into a simple design


Geeky :)

I found that bustedtees.com offer a wide variety of very creative graphic tees...my eyes went all gaga because there were so many pieces that are so special and eye-catching. Here are some of my favourites.

I wouldn't want to get that note in my fortune cookie.

It reads: Facebook, where everyone knows your name. Even my high school teachers are my "friend" on facebook. Hm.

Which direction to the wilderness? Point to a zoo.

If people think you're hot, it's probably because Mother Earth is hot too.

After some fast calculations, I am left with $380 and 6 cool tees. I decided to shop more and the next thing that came to mind was to buy an acoustic guitar. I owned a classical guitar but I've wanted an acoustic guitar for some time now (but unfortunately it's still NOT going to materialise after this online shopping). I searched Amazon for a glitter acoustic that I've seen Taylor Swift used during some of her performances and yes! It has been found!

Amazon allows me to type in my search words easily and I can select whether to search in all departments or narrow it down to a group such as musical instruments. On the result page, they offer more results with links to related searches such as electric acoustic guitars and electric guitars. On the top of the result page, they also offer links to different categories related to my search. So I can easily narrow down my search to strictly on acoustic guitars or beginner's kits or bags and cases or even just strings.


On the page of the product selected, the product prices, stock details, delivery details and product description are displayed. Once I've decided on this item, I can add it into my shopping cart and go on shopping. On that same page, there are links to customer reviews, other related products and more guitar accessories. Basically, I can find infos on the item I want and so much more.

Now that my shopping activity is done, I'm very happy with my purchases and experience doing this experimental online shopping. Amazon is certainly a very good website to do easy searches on common products and to find more specific products from specific companies, I prefer to go online shopping directly on their page, but only for items such as the graphic tees.

I'm a happy shopper. Only thing not fun, I will never own those items I "bought". YET.

2nd week...

Entering second week of EIR. I'm getting a little more clearer about the things I'm about to learn in this CDS. We spent some time learning about the purposes of internet resources such as source of information, for entertainment, for marketing or for personal usage. I have better understanding now of how each website differs from the next in terms of its purpose. We also learn about the strategy involved in researching the internet. I will try out the methods stated so that my research is more effective.

Ms Farida asked us to select a research topic and after looking through the suggested topics, I decided to research on trends in the music industry for teens. Since I love music and I am a teen, the topic sounds simpler to me. I do follow the latest trends in music but I need to take into consideration the masses of teens' music trends in order to be more accurate in my research. I also need to take into consideration the regions when researching the music trends as teens in each part of the world has slightly different tastes in music, no matter how universal music is. Besides that, radio air play, internet and peer influence also has some degree of effect on trends in music affecting the teens.

After analysing these few points that needs to be taken into, I am a little more excited about my research topic and what the out come will be. I hope with Ms Farida's guidance, I am able to not only complete my research, but also do a thorough and comprehensive research on such an interesting topic.

Quote of the day:
There are more love songs than anything else. If songs could make you do something we'd all love one another.
Frank Zappa (1940-1993) American composer and rock musician.