Knovel Gets Personal
Recently, our own Craig the Rocket Scientist mentioned NASA’s need to “capture the attention of a new generation.” NASA certainly aren’t the only ones who have to keep this in mind. My mission is to capture the interest of Knovel users of all ages by answering their appeals for a better Knovel, so what is our next step? Your Own Personal Knovel.
Knovel is introducing a whole new set of features enabling users to configure and personalize their Knovel desktops. What I hear from engineers all the time is: “Could you make a bookshelf where I can store my favorite titles?” Or “I’d like to have a project folder where I can store complex searches I can re-execute with a single click.” Or, “I’d really like to email a Knovel search result to my colleague down the hall. Can I do that?” With our newest release into Knovel Lab, it’s all there for the taking. But you have to have a Knovel user account to create your personal space.
We’ve been busy contacting our Knovel “champions” (aka administrators) and working with them to upgrade to our new user registration system. In my humble opinion, implementing this new user authentication system is akin to taking a cruise in a hurricane (I’m an old sailor). To say that Information Resource admins are protective of their roles and of their end users is an understatement. They have good reason though, they’re trusted with the responsibility of ensuring that their users know how to access information products reliably at any time and from anywhere; and that users are protected from intrusive use of their identities; all while defending their organization’s investment in the product. We respect and honor these needs.
We’re close. Really close. The proof is in Knovel Lab for anyone willing to take a look. We’re also holding a conntest to name the personal bucket, currently dubbed My Notebook. You have another week to check out the new personalized Knovel and submit your naming entry in the Exit Survey. I have to say that we have some seriously imaginative users out there! I’m enjoying the submissions so far and I’ll share the winner and runners up at the end of the contest, next Friday, (just in time for Halloween). On that note, a search for Halloween in Knovel results in 13 hits (perfect!) and reveals some interesting results including an ANTEC conference paper about new metal-oxide phosphorescence used in – what else? – Halloween costumes. Trick or treat everyone!
October 25th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
That seems decent although i’m still not so sure that I favor it. In any event will look further into it and decide for myself!