Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Connect to the Biomedical Library “Collaboration Pod” and share your screen

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

The Biomedical Library features an open “collaboration pod” for group research, including study groups, and small meetings.  The pod provides two 32” color monitors, accommodates up to six laptop computers. Users can provide their own laptop or checkout a CLICC laptop at the Biomedical Library’s Public Service Desk.  VGA adapters for Mac computers are also available.

Reservations

UCLA students, faculty, and staff, can reserve the collaboration pod in advance via email or by filling out a reservation form that is available at the Public Service Desk.  To reserve via email send your 1) name, 2) BruinCard number, 3) date and timeframe to biomed-access@library.ucla.edu .  The pod is also available on a first-come basis when not reserved.

<submitted by Bob Freel>

Info on the Go: Accessing Library Resources on Your Mobile Device

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

You probably already knew that you can access all of your favorite Library resources from your home computer by setting up off-campus access, but did you know that you can also use your PDA or mobile device to access many of these resources?  Get the info you need wherever you are, from sources like:

  • PubMed
  • UpToDate
  • VisualDX
  • Micromedex
  • and more!

Mobile-enhanced versions of some sites are available, with a cleaner look and feel to make it easier to view content on your device.  Other resources require downloading an app; most are free.  Some sites may require a password, while others must be accessed after setting your device up for the Bruin Online VPN.  Once you’ve completed set up, you’ll be able to get the same full-text access that you get on your computer.

For more information about resources that are available on mobile devices, see the PDA Resources list from the Library’s Medicine Subject Guide.  Have a favorite mobile app or website that you don’t see on the list?  We want to hear about it!  Leave us a comment or email us, and we’ll add it to the list.

<submitted by Lisa Federer>

Johns Hopkins Transforms the Concept of a Medical Library

Monday, March 28th, 2011

The Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins University is leading the first-ever initiative to transform a physical library space into a virtual library, enhancing service to the faculty and others in the medical and scientific communities. In a series of videos, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) interviews members of the library staff to understand how the Welch Medical Library is stepping into the future. “Part 1: The Collection” discusses the shift to a virtual library and how faculty and the library collection will benefit from this change. “Part 2: The Evolution of Library Services” discusses the changing role of librarians and the services they provide to physicians and scientists. View on ASN KidneyTube.

<Originally posted to MLAfocus, 3/10/2011 issue>

MedlinePlus Goes Mobile!

Monday, January 31st, 2011

medlineplus

Consumer health information is now easier to find on mobile devices thanks to MedlinePlus Mobile. This site connects consumers with reliable health information from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The mobile version offers many MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus en espanol pages formatted especially for mobile devices.

MedlinePlus Mobile contains information on over 800 diseases, conditions, and wellness topics, all written with consumers in mind. The extensive drug database provides detailed information about over-the-counter and prescription drugs, such as common side effects and special precautions. Quick information is available through a medical dictionary that includes audio pronunciations. The site also contains links to health news to help consumers stay informed.

Not all of the information available on MedlinePlus is currently available in the mobile version. Since Flash doesn’t work on many mobile devices, interactive tutorials are not accessible, and not all of MedlinePlus’s content has been converted to a mobile-friendly format. However, MedlinePlus Mobile is constantly being updated to provide consumers with convenient mobile access to some of the best health information on the Web.

<submitted by Lisa Federer>

UCLA Goes Mobile!

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

Getting information on the go just got easier with UCLA mobile.  The site can be accessed from any mobile device by visiting http://m.ucla.edu.  Users will find a wide variety of up-to-date information about everything UCLA.  News and Happenings sections keep users informed about what’s going on around campus.  An interactive campus map and BruinBus timetables make navigating the campus easier.  Links to UCLA’s YouTube and iTunes provide access to online lectures, podcasts, and UCLA sports highlights.

UCLA mobile has also made it easier to find information about the Libraries using a mobile device.  The site lists Library hours, contact information, and maps.  Live updates show the number of CLICC laptops currently available for checkout at each Library location.  Access to the Library catalog is available through WorldCat Mobile Web, allowing users to search for materials and find out if they’re available at the Libraries.  There’s even a chat widget for getting help from a reference librarian using UCLA’s Ask a Librarian service.

Many additions to the site are currently under development, so be sure to check UCLA mobile often to see what’s new!

<submitted by Lisa Federer>

VisualDx Mobile for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

VisDXphone

VisualDx is a visual diagnostic decision support tool that allows clinicians to enter a patient’s symptoms and compare visual findings to one of the largest databases of medical digital images in the world. Now users can take VisualDx with them on the go with the VisualDx Mobile App for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. 

With VisualDx Mobile, clinicians can access a wealth of information at the point of care. The app provides differential diagnoses as patients’ symptoms and signs are entered and allows clinicians to validate diagnoses using images of disease presentation in a variety of disease stages and skin types. VisualDx Mobile is especially useful in identifying emerging infectious diseases, bioterrorism and radiation-related illnesses, and medication-induced diseases.

To download VisualDx Mobile, visit the VisualDx homepage from a UCLA computer or a computer with off-campus access and click on the link labeled “Get VisualDx free for your iPhone and iPad.” After entering your contact information, you will receive an email with instructions about how to download the app. Once you have downloaded the app, you may access updates from the iTunes Store for free.

<submitted by Lisa Federer>

What is a QR Code?

Monday, October 25th, 2010

QR Codes are two dimensional barcodes that can be scanned by mobile phones with cameras.  Scanning a QR code can provide you more information about an item or link you to a website.  The Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library is using QR Codes on our electronic bulletin board to link to web pages with information about the items being displayed.

Need an app that can read QR codes?  Here are few that are currently in use:
Android: Barcode Scanner
Apple: QuickMark, Tag Reader

Check with your phone’s store/app provider for more QR code readers.

QR code for Wikipedia entry on QR codes

QR code for Wikipedia entry on QR codes

<submitted by Rikke Ogawa>

See How a Digital Book is Made

Monday, September 20th, 2010

digital book on pc

Millions of books from the UC Libraries have been digitized, but how? Go behind the scenes to learn about the UC Libraries’ digitization process and see several ways you can use these newly digital books. “The Story of the Digital Book” explains how UC’s books make their way from the shelf to the screen, the possibilities they bring to users, and how they’re preserved for the long term.

The video was produced by CDL Mass Digitization Project Specialist Jason Colman and Amy Rogers, a San José State University School of Library Information Science (SLIS)  student, for the CDL Mass Digitization group. Amy interned at CDL this summer and we are very grateful for her help.

The video is also available with captioning for the hearing impaired.

<submitted by Tania Bardyn>

TIME Magazine Announces Its List of Top Blogs for 2010

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

TIME has made its annual selection of the blogs we can’t live without. For those members of the UCLA organization in the health or information sciences, check out Climate Progress, Information Is Beautiful, and Kottke.org among others. Read more at the TIME web site.

<submitted by Tania Bardyn>

TLC SUMMER LAB CLOSURE: June 14-18

Friday, May 14th, 2010

under_construction_sign

The TLC computer lab will be closed for yearly maintenance from Monday, June 14 to Friday, June 18. This includes the 2nd floor lab, the study rooms, the TLC classroom, and the computers in the 3rd floor Graduate Reading Room

You will not be able to access any files you have saved on TLC computers during the closure. Please plan accordingly.

If we complete the maintenance tasks before June 18, the TLC may reopen ahead of schedule, but this cannot be guaranteed. Check the TLC web site for more information.

<submitted by Alan Lebetkin>