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February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Cyberspace & Agricultural Technology Transfer in the
21st Century
Dr. R.L. (Bob) NielsenProfessor of Agronomy
Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN USA 47907-1150Internet: [email protected]
WWW
www.agry.purdue.edu/agronomy/ext/corn/talks/ugo97.htm
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Nielsen’s Disclaimer….
The opinions expressed by this simple agronomist are his and his alone.– Don’t blame Purdue, Indiana, or the USA
My comments & observations about the use of Cyberspace in technology transfer apply mainly to public sector research and education efforts.
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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What is Technology?
1. The practical application of knowledge, especially in a particular area,
2. A manner of accomplishing a task esp. using technical processes, methods, or knowledge.Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (10th Ed.)
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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What Information to Transfer?
Fundamental (elementary?) knowledge about crop growth & production
Knowledge of and considerations for adopting new technologies
Comparative data from similar farming operations
Crop diagnostics
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Cyberspace Includes...
Primarily the Internet– World Wide Web, Gophers, Email, News
Groups, List Servers– Focus for today’s discussion
CD-ROM Programs– Purdue’s Corn Growth & Development CD
Satellite delivery– Good for remote areas
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Let’s Agree On This….
Cyberspace should be viewed as simply another tool (albeit a fascinating tool!) in our communication toolbox.
Communication
Methods
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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We Will Continue to Use…
Print and broadcast news media– Will not die soon
Farmer/customer meetings– “Personal touch” will
continue to be important
Conferences & conventions– “Rubbing elbows”
with researchers and fellow farmers will still be valuable
Newsletters & traditional pubs.
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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My Objectives Today…
Advantages of Cyberspace Disadvantages of Cyberspace Show ‘n Tell
– Corn Growth & Development CD– Corn Growers Guidebook– Agronomic Links Across the Globe
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Open 24 hours per day– Good for users– Good for developers
Content can be revised easily– Encourages timely updates– What I see in the field today can be on the
Web tonight, including digital images– Timely information is appealing to users
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Not limited to own information– Links to other folks’ Web sites greatly
broadens scope of information available to clientele from single site
– Theoretically, should foster collaboration among individuals within and among institutions
– Theoretically, should decrease duplication of efforts in neighboring institutions
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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No Room For Turf Protection
The Web does not nurture those who wish to be sole source of information
Hyperlinks allow everyone to win– Source wins– Provider of link wins
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Opportunity for use of multimedia– High resolution, color images easiest to
incorporate into Web documents– Sound, video, and animation somewhat
limited today by… Skills of developer in many situations Low speed modem connections of users’
computers Browser limitations (esp. ‘old’ versions)
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Multimedia enhances ability to tell a more complete story– Diagnostic images of diseases or insects– Planter calibration videos– Crop growth & development images and
video– Expert’s voice leading you through a
tutorial on interpreting site-specific data
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Interactive information flow should enhance distance education programs– Class notes & links to useful sites– Homework assignments– Quizzes, tests & their results– Virtual laboratory exercises
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Email offers opportunity to easily…– Communicate one-on-one between user &
‘expert’– Share timely information to specific lists of
Email users County Extension Educators Farmers Industry contacts
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Advantages of Cyberspace...
Opportunity for public research & education sector to “shine”– Cyberspace should allow us to finally
document the fact that we are often the source of information that our clientele receive from other entities
– Our breadth of disciplines should give us an edge over industry in developing comprehensive information sites
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Disadvantages of Cyberspace...
Clientele’s capabilities– Local Internet Service Provider availability– Speed of modem connections– Quality of local phone lines– “Power” of computer itself
Not as instantaneous as DTN and other satellite delivery systems– Time to dialup & connect is nuisance
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Disadvantages of Cyberspace...
No standards for documenting electronic publications– What’s there today may not be tomorrow
‘Real’ publications exist for eternity in libraries Web documents can ‘evaporate’ at the whim of
the developer or Webmaster
– Non-tenured professors need ‘proof’ of scholarly value of Cyberspace efforts
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Disadvantages of Cyberspace...
Separating junk from fact on the Web is not always easy for layperson– Some advocate need for peer reviews
similar to refereed journals– ‘Snake oil’ products & questionable advice
are already on the Web My responsibility as an Extension Specialist
includes sorting out the junk from the valuable in reviewing Web sites for my clientele
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Disadvantages of Cyberspace...
Most current search engines still force the user to wade through far too many results to identify useful sites– Another responsibility of mine is to ‘surf’
the Web for my clientele and develop more defined lists of sites for specific topics
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Disadvantages of Cyberspace...
Web publishing style can restrict utility of information contained therein– On-screen appeal vs. printing quality
In my opinion: HTML vs. PDF
– Glitz & glamour (slow loading) vs. simple & dull (faster loading)
Animation, huge graphics, frames, Java scripts all increase retrieval time, especially when connected by modem
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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A New Set of Rules
Cyberspace is a revolutionary communication medium that many of us are still figuring out how to use effectively
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Potential for Effectiveness
As an educational instrument, Cyberspace has the potential for greatness or mediocrity
Creativity of the developer/author is an important key
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Successful Technology Transfer
Trust
Respect
Knowledge
Experience
Sincerity
Visibility
Familiarity
(T + R) = (K + E) +2S + 3V + 4F
February 1997 Presentation at University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Now for Show ‘n Tell….