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Internet vs book reading | Google 40-language web browser
Internet browsing vs book reading
Lahore, Sep 04, 2008: The tradition of going to library and borrowing books from there
has been declining, as people, especially the youth, now prefer surfacing
material of their choice through internet on computer instead of visiting this
house of knowledge.
Various educationists and
officials attached with libraries said that the number of people, who used
library services, was not so encouraging in the country as compared to other
parts of the world, especially the developed countries, adding, however, this
meagre number of library visitors was also decreasing because of modern computer
technology and many other constraints.
They were of the view that unlike
public libraries, the situation was comparatively better regarding library usage
at academic institutions like universities and institutions of higher learning.
They believed that the least response in connection with library usage was
witnessed at school level especially which were operating in the public sector,
saying not only there was lack of libraries but students were also not
encouraged nor the teachers took interest in this connection.
Commenting
over the issue, a number of students said since the latest computer technology
had provided them opportunities to surf the entire universe through internet
service, they were least interested in going to library on regular basis to
explore the world of books.
"For me, my computer is library", said
student Shahid Salman, adding with the help of internet, it was easier to search
a book than searching it manually in the library.
He was of the view
that the latest computer technology had, in fact, changed the very concept of a
library, saying today internet facility in the libraries was one of the
priorities and basic needs. Another student, Ahsan, said students of government
schools seldom developed habit of going to library, provided, the schools had
played their role in highlighting the importance of book reading and library
visit, the situation would have been altogether different. He said it was
unfortunate that most of the teachers never made realize their students the
importance of book reading and regular library usage during the school life and
even afterwards owing to which students did not take it enthusiastically. He was
of the view that in order to develop reading-culture among the youth, proper
guidance from their teachers, a conducive and comfortable environment and
interesting books were the most importance things.
Commenting on the
issue, Systems Librarian of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
Ashraf Sharif said there was dire need of introducing importance of library and
book reading in the curriculum to develop the habit of library usage and book
reading among the school students.
He was of the view that the situation
of academic libraries was better than those of public libraries, adding
provision of comfortable environment and collection of books added to the
quality and standard of a library which played a role in attracting maximum
number of readers. He said one of the ways to make familiar students to the
library culture was to force them to use library in seeking references for
preparation of different assignments at colleges.
Director General (DG)
Public Libraries Punjab Imran Ghani said dish-culture and internet badly damaged
the library culture, adding these innovations confined us to information only
"while the book provides you knowledge". He said it was also unfortunate that
the book reading trend was not being developed among the school and college
students. The News
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40-language web browser launched by Google
Washington: Google on Tuesday launched its own internet browser,
opening up a new challenge in cyberspace to Microsoft and its dominant Internet
Explorer.
The California-based Web search leader said the new browser
called Google Chrome would "add value for users and, at the same time, help
drive innovation on the web."
"We realised ... we needed to completely
rethink the browser," Google's Sundar Pichai said in a blog post.
The
test or 'beta' version can be downloaded for free in more than 100 countries and
its code will be open- source so no rights will have to be paid by anyone using
or adapting the software.
Chrome is Google's latest weapon in its bid to
become the leader in all internet areas. The last major browser war was won by
Microsoft when it won the battle for dominance in the 1990s against Netscape
Navigator.
Google scheduled a briefing on the new broswer, which will be
available in more than 40 languages.
The move comes amid growth in
browser market share by Firefox, a project of the non-profit Mozilla Foundation,
which ironically gets a large portion of its funding from
Google.
According to estimates by the research firm Net Applications,
Internet Explorer is used by 74 per cent of computer users worldwide compared
with 18 per cent for Firefox.
According to Google, the new browser will
have several advantages including being "multi-threaded" to help avoid
freeze-ups.
The announcement comes as Microsoft released a beta version
of IE8, the eighth major version of its Explorer.
"This (Chrome) is a
straight shot over the bow of Microsoft, which has tightly integrated its Live
Search offering into its dominant Internet Explorer browser (and which,
surprise, is in turn tightly integrated into Windows)," said Mark Hendrickson in
a posting on the technology website TechCrunch.
"It also makes for an
awkward relationship with Mozilla, whose Firefox browser Google basically
funds."
Henry Blodget of Silicon Valley Insider said: "Microsoft has seen
this movie before. This time, it won't like the ending." Blodget said Google is
attempting to drive more people to Google search and other applications and away
from Microsoft.
"If you're thinking about Chrome as just another Web
browser, you're missing the larger point," he said.
"In a couple of
years, you won't be downloading Google's 'browser.' You'll be downloading
Google's software -- or, rather, you'll be clicking on a series of Google icons
that come pre-installed. Specifically, you'll be working within a Google
software environment that works sort of like Windows." AFP
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| Education News | | Updated: 26 May, 2012 |
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