Stephen Wolfram, developer of Mathematica, has designed a new Web tool called Wolfram│Alpha. Although its interface looks like a search engine, Wolfram│Alpha is actually a computational knowledge engine. Search engines, like Google, search the Web and list links as results. Wolfram│Alpha produces results by making computations from its own knowledge base.
Clicking on the sample topics links will give you ideas of how to use this tool in areas like mathematics, engineering, dates & times, money & finance, and unit & measures. You can enter math problems, ask for conversions, compare stocks, produce a world map with life expectancies, assess the per capita income of Brooking County, etc. Wolfram│Alpha has a blog, a community site, and a quick video overview to help users get started.
The producers of Wolfram│Alpha plan to expand its capacities in the future. Their ambitious “long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to anyone.” They also see opportunities to develop other forms of their product—to provide professional and corporate applications, to work with an organization’s internal data, and to work with mobile platforms.
If you have any questions about research please contact a SDSU librarian. You can contact us in-person at the Information Desk, send an e-mail, a text message, or set up an appointment.
Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian
Posted by bloggingatbriggs
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Posted by bloggingatbriggs
Posted by bloggingatbriggs 

“Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities” – Hearing before the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities – Committee on Education and Labor – U.S. House of Representatives – 110th Congress, 2nd Session – September 11, 2008 – Serial No. 110-109. Y 4.ED 8/1:110-109
Intellectual freedom begins with the freedom of information. The value of free and public information was recognized early in the history of the United States of America. In 1813, Congress authorized and mandated the distribution of Congressional materials to select universities, historical societies, and state libraries. The result, was the creation of the Federal Depository Library Program. The purpose of the Federal Depository Library Program is to provide free, easy, permanent access to federal government information. Title 44, Chapter 19 of the U.S. code established the legal requirements for federal depository libraries, foremost of which is to make government publications available for free use by the general public.