740 Week 6-Text
Posted 11-04-2009 at 09:39 PM by mrserinanderson
While I enjoyed answering the text questions, I was somewhat disappointed with the response time on the question I posted.
However, I'll begin by talking about texting answers. There was something freeing in having to supply an answer in just 400 characters (if you count both possible texts). I knew that limitation really would force me to get to the heart of the matter quickly and matter-of-factly. There would be no discussion of how I found the material, where the patron could find more information, or how to properly recognize authoritative sources. No, in the texting world I was simply required to provide an answer.
As to the response time on the text I sent in. I asked where I could get an H1N1 vaccine in Los Angeles. I already knew the answer to this question and I figured it would be pretty easy to supply via text message. The person did a great job of providing the information and a website where I could look up more info. Unfortunately, it took over 24 hours to get that information. I feel that the beauty of text reference is supposed to be its rapid response. My experience did not support that rapid response ideology, nor did it do anything to deter me from using pay services such as ChaCha, which was advertised on Ellen through Ellen DeGeneres' own use.
If I was an actual patron looking to text a reference question I would probably go with ChaCha next time rather than waiting 24 hours for an answer.
However, I'll begin by talking about texting answers. There was something freeing in having to supply an answer in just 400 characters (if you count both possible texts). I knew that limitation really would force me to get to the heart of the matter quickly and matter-of-factly. There would be no discussion of how I found the material, where the patron could find more information, or how to properly recognize authoritative sources. No, in the texting world I was simply required to provide an answer.
As to the response time on the text I sent in. I asked where I could get an H1N1 vaccine in Los Angeles. I already knew the answer to this question and I figured it would be pretty easy to supply via text message. The person did a great job of providing the information and a website where I could look up more info. Unfortunately, it took over 24 hours to get that information. I feel that the beauty of text reference is supposed to be its rapid response. My experience did not support that rapid response ideology, nor did it do anything to deter me from using pay services such as ChaCha, which was advertised on Ellen through Ellen DeGeneres' own use.
If I was an actual patron looking to text a reference question I would probably go with ChaCha next time rather than waiting 24 hours for an answer.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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I'm always amazed that people are willing to use pay services to get answers to their questions. KGB has certainly been advertising a lot lately! I guess maybe I'm just too cheap to use these types of things.
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Posted 11-05-2009 at 04:30 PM by ktornello
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Recent Blog Entries by mrserinanderson
- Info 740 Week 7/8 (11-19-2009)
- 740 Week 6-Text (11-04-2009)
- Info 740 Week 4--Question Point (10-20-2009)
- 740-week 3 (10-14-2009)
- 740-Week 2 (10-07-2009)
