Research and Education
http://giam.typepad.com/the_branding_of_polaroid_/
Do you remember the little black box replete with its trademark color stripes? It was the branding of Polaroid, a rather funny name, that sought to, and did, take on the giant of the film industry known as Kodak. This website, offered by the creative brain behind the campaign himself, Paul Giambarda, gives a great historical look at Polaroid and its fascinating history. The site, which is arranged as uniquely as Polaroid itself, essentially scrolls on and on down the main page, offering subtopics such as: Polaroid Package Design, Polaroid Dealer Ads, Polaroid Sunglasses, and more. Each section allows for visitors to submit comments as well. Of particular note is the correspondence by Ansel Adams to the Polaroid company which is offered at the top of the page. [JPM]
http://moma.org/exhibitions/2004/tallbuildings/index_f.html
The Museum of Modern Art's (MoMA) project, Tall Buildings, addresses issues of technology, urbanism, and program for twenty five buildings designed within the last decade. This interactive website, designed with Macromedia Flash Player, allows users to compare the height, area, geographic locations, and program distribution. Users can learn about many design issues such as aerodynamics, green technologies, and public space. For each building, visitors can find a clear introduction and many images of floor plans and external views. [RME]
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/
"On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, declaring that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.' This decision was pivotal to the struggle for racial desegregation in the United States. This exhibition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of this landmark judicial case." And, at this exceptional site from the Library of Congress, visitors are taken on a tour of the several court cases that led up to the Brown case, the arguments and the public response to the case, and also the effect that the case had on the history of the country. This exceptionally detailed website also leads visitors to other resources for teachers and the general visitor who may want to read more about the topic. [JPM]
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a provisional series based on the compilation of data on specific diseases reported by United States government agencies and on reports about infectious and chronic diseases disasters, occupational diseases and injuries, and other injuries. Users can download current and archived MMWR reports as well as reports on topics of international interest and events of interest to the public health community. Students and educators can learn about MMWR's Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program. Individuals searching for statistics can appreciate a series of morbidity and mortality tables. The website offers links to local public health departments where they can obtain additional public health materials. Users can subscribe to receive the reports electronically. [RME]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/
At NOVA's Origins website, users can "journey back to the beginning of everything: the universe, Earth, and life itself." The web site offers a series of interactive modules where visitors can decide if life exists on other planets in the Milky Way, view where scientists are making large discoveries of life's origins, and much more. Users can find fascinating articles addressing life on Mars, the necessity of water for life, and the role galaxies play in our existence. Educators should soon be able to find a Teacher's Guide for the PBS television program airing in September. [RME]
http://www.engineersedge.com/mechanics_material_menu.shtml
The mission of Engineers Edge is "to be the preferred online destination for designers, engineers and manufacturing professionals" by offering training, seminars, and online technical information and products. This section of their website on Strength and Mechanics of Materials offers an overview of topics in Materials Science, including sections on stress, strain, Hookes Law, malleability, fatigue and vibration. The short explanations are accompanied by related figures and equations. The section also provides a link to their free Technical / Engineering Publications, which cover a variety of topics including: Machine Design, Electronic Design, and Processing Magazine. [VF] This site is also reviewed in the August 13, 2004 NSDL MET Report.
The Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI) Iraq website offers users "a temporal-spatial portal into existing digital resources about history, cultural sites, archaeological excavations and heritage preservation initiatives." Utilizing unique interactive and thematic maps, visitors to the site will find an incredible array of information including topics such as the Akkadian Empire, the Hittites, the Roman Empire, and much more. By clicking on one of the topic areas, users are taken to a page with lists related books, artifacts, maps, and timelines pertaining to that area. The maps are especially helpful in picturing how the world was divided between groups in 700 B.C., for instance. This site will definitely be a great resource for the researchers and students who are interested in the historical cultural trends of this area of the world. [JPM]
