NorthStarNerd.Org

The Nobel Science (not Science Ig Noble )

Earlier this week I posted about Science Ig Noble, now it's on to the real McCoy, the Nobel Prizes. You should visit the official Nobel Prize web site. The Nobel Lectures from recent year's winners are available via webcast: (click upon any year ... then select the individual ... and finally the lecture link in the right hand column

• Chemistry
• Physics

For a real wealth of Nobel lectures around a particular theme, you finally need to visit the Gustavus Adolphus College web site. This Swedish Lutheran college (how appropriate!) in southwestern Minnesota has the only annual conference in the world of former Nobel laureates ... and you can attend / watch any of the lectures dating back to the year 2000 via a free webcast.

• Gustavus Adolphus College Nobel Laureate Conference Webcasts

Each year the conference has a different theme. The past two years themes were:

• Medicine, Prescription for Tomorrow
• The Legacy of Einstein

Rich Hoeg's Screencasts

This web page contains links to screencasts tutorials created by Rich Hoeg (this blog's host) and the original postings that gave background information. As I create new screencasts, I will always add a link on this page. Thus if you like what you see ... please bookmark this web page! If you like my tutorials, make certain you check out Northstar Nerd TV (NNTV).

This page was last updated on January 03, 2011

Newest Tutorial: Practical Android for the Business User

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Google Tools Tutorials

• Google Alert
  (create custom RSS feeds using Google Alert)
  .
• Google Blog Search
  (create custom RSS feeds using Google Blog Search)
  .
• Google Book Search (create custom eBooks using Google Book Search)
  • Original - technical examples and links
  • Updated - reviews "my library option"
    .
• Google Co-op Search Engines
  (create your own search engines with Google Co-op)
  .
• Google Docs
  (use Google's office software suite)
  .
• Google Fast Flip
  (read newspapers and journals online)
  .
• Google Index Metadata Tutorials (silent ppt version | narrated hi-res version)
  (better understand how Google indexes the content you create)
  .
• Google Maps Mash-Ups
  (create maps which link to other web content you select)
  .
• Google Search
  (finding the hidden gems of the web)
  .
• Google Search Wiki
  (annotate your results ... for yourself or the community)
  .
• Google Video - Your Training Video Search Engine
  (use this Web 2.0 tool to find high quality training resources)
  .
• Google Wonder Wheel
  (optimize your searches)

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Nokia Handheld Tutorials

• Northstar Nerd's Nokia N800 Demo
  (a Geek's toy which anyone can love)
  .
• Spot Takes a Walk - N810 GPS
  (a man, his dog, and GPS!)
  .
• RSS on the Nokia
  (after all ... it's an internet tablet)
  .
• To Grandma's House
  (via the Nokia N810 GPS)

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Other Tutorials (work optimization, and selected others)

• 12 Sprints Tutorial
  (collaboration tool from SAP)
  .
  
• CamStudio Tutorial
  (create your own web demos using CamStudio, a free software tool)
  .
• Data Visualization
  (study the concept of data visualization using IBM's ManyEyes)
  .
• Drivetime Podcasts
  (listen to podcasts in your car w/o a MP3 player or iPod)
  .
• Great News RSS Feed Reader
  (learn how to install, configure and use the RSS feed reader, Great News)
  .
• Hodge Podge World (The World is Flat ... Not!)
  (learn about world resource trends while listening to Renaissance)
  .
• Jump Drive Learning ... or Wiki on a Stick!
  (create and run learning / knowledge domains off a jump drive)
  .
• Intelligent Computing - Microsoft Virtual PC Tutorial: Adobe PDF | Powerpoint
  (file sizes: 4 mb and 5 mb respectively)
  .
• Northstar Nerd's Podcasting Tutorial
  (learn how to create professional podcasts ... with a smile!)
  .
• Practical Android for the Business User
  (learn Android for your smart phone)
  . 
• Process Mapping / Mind Mapping Tutorial
  (very useful for any project work ... software is free)
  .
• Screencast-O-Matic / Jamaican Style!
  (learn to use the web service by the same name)
  .
• Second Life Overview / Tutorial
  (learn about SL from a business perspective)
  .
• SportTracks Garmin Software
  (optimize the measurement of your workouts)
  .
  
• Test Drive Office 2007
  (run a full, free form, simulation test of any Office 2007 product)
  .
• Using Your iPod as a Training Device
  (presentation created by Mark Henry, but hosted on this blog)

Like these screencasts? ... then check our my Google Co-op eLearning Search Engines

Please also visit my engineering learning wiki!

Wouldn't It Be Neat ... Innovation!

Companies try to put a process around innovation. Use your favorite cookbook and recipe ... put in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees ... out pops innovation. Wouldn't that be neat? However, it's not that easy.

Innovation happens when the environment encourages free thought, and the ability to fail. Here are some neat resources to challenge your imagination:

• What is your work environment like? What if you had a tool like ConnectBeam (8 minute demo from the Scoble Show). You will see how social networking / web 2.0 software can be used effectively in a private corporate environment.
• Ah yes ... the Scoble Show ... author of Naked Conversations. This book and its writing was an innovation process in itself. The authors, Robert Scoble and Shel Israel had the blogging community help them write their book (all chapters were made available online). Listen to this IT Conversations podcast interview with the authors about the book and its development process. You've obviously heard of Open Source Software, but Open Source Authoring???

In a bit more of the traditional approach to managing innovation, here is an eight part innovation podcast series from Information Week. (via the Innovation Insider). It's good too!

Science Ig Noble

I found myself laughing like crazy as I drove in to work this morning ... and no, I am NOT crazy, but the podcast from Science Friday and the annual Science Ig Noble Awards that took place at Harvard made this morning's commute to work real fun! In fact, tonight I intend to watch the awards video via my computer hookup to my TV. I think we will make it a family event ... after all, it's not every day that you can:

• Watch "Win a Date with a Nobel Laureate"
  (or)
• Listen to eminent scientists debate the virtues of "Yes" versus "No"

Nature magazine describes the awards in this manner: "Last, but not least, there are the Ig Nobel awards. These come with little cash, but much cachet, and reward those research projects that 'first make people laugh, and then make them think"

Finally, here is how I listen to podcasts in my car: Drivetime Podcasts

Thanksgiving Free Web Access

Hello from Duluth, Minnesota ... and the home of free wireless ... sort of!

I am visiting my elderly relatives ... who don't even have a computer, let alone access via modem. No problem, turn on my laptop ... walk around the house a bit ... and thanks to some neighbors, I'm high speed linked. Tighten up your security, folks!

Anyhow, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, here is a hodge podge of valuable, and fun stuff. On the eLearning side, try this screencast tutorial which introduces Del.icio.us, a web service which allows you to tag and create public bookmarks ... and benefit from other netizens similar actions:

• From Learning by Screencast - Del.icio.us

or maybe you are in the design more ... a short introduction to Adobe Acrobat 8:

• c|Net Adobe Acrobat Tutorial

However, maybe you are into reading and would like to check out some of Microsoft's latest technology. Here is a free eBook from Microsoft:

• Sharepoint 2007 eBook

Finally, it is Thanksgiving weekend .... thus have some fun:

• Line Rider (create a hill and watch your sledder fly!)(learn more: Gadgetopia)
• Guess the Google (you see the Google Image results ... guess the query)

I learned of Guess the Google via "What I Learning Today"