Chen , Stephanie. Where 'Undo Send' and other Gmail ideas are born. CNN. March 25, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/25/gmail.labs.email/index.html?eref=rss_tech

Gmail the email program developed by Google has a special function called Gmail labs. In Gmail labs special features such a undo send feature and a feature that prevents drunken emails from being sent are available to willing users. Google uses Gmail labs like a test market to see what features Gmail users would be most likely to use with the intent that the features that received a good response would become a part of Gmail. To encourage innovations Gmail lab engineers are allowed to devote twenty percent of their work week to their own projects. With the undo email feature once a email is sent a window will pop up and remain for 5 seconds so a users can check to make sure that the rely to all button was not pressed. To prevent drunken emails, one feature requires users to do a series of math problems before being allowed to send emails between certain hours specified by the user. Another feature prevents a user from checking their email too often. Google maps came out of Google labs so just maybe the next standard part of the program will be out of Google labs.
I find it interesting that Google has programs such as Google labs but one should expect such innovations from a company that was born on new ideas. It is a good and cost effective way to promote new ways of thinking and test would the Google using public wants. I do not use Gmail but I may start just to see the 36 features available from Gmail labs.

Foster, Andrea L.. "Information Navigation 101". Chronicle of Higher Education (3/9/2007): http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i27/27a03801.htm

In Foster article on information literacy in college students she shows the reader that today’s generation of college students may be more accustom to the use of technology but when it comes to research they are lacking. Foster says that the “explosion of information” has made it harder for many to make decisions because of the massive increase in the amount of information readily available to many. The newly availability of information has caused a need for college libraries to offer courses and short seminars to teach students how to conduct research in the information age. Over time the definition of the information literacy as expanded but has come into its own in the information age. Due to the need to be information literate some colleges have required students to meet some sort of competency requirements such as a test or a class with a set grade minimum.
Many of the readings that have been assigned for this class have stated that many complain that students take advantage of search engines such as Google too much for research. In my major most professors will not let you use a website as a source; I believe that this problem is often over stated because in many fields the most current information is available on Google. I agree that some sort of information literacy requirement should be required but it should be in the field that is selected by the student. For example some one who is majoring in guitar performance should not be tested on how to get the financial statements of Barclays bank and a business major does not need to know how to play a chord in E flat.

Bell, Steven J. The Infodiet: How Libraries Can Offer an AppetizingAlternative to Google. By: Bell, Steven J., Chronicle of Higher Education, 00095982, 2/20/2004, Vol. 50, Issue 24

In the article “The Infodiet” the author Steven J. Bell states that the search engine Google has become a major competitor in the fight for what young scholars use for research. In the past the preferred source of information was academic libraries now because it is easy to use and it can be done quickly many use Google not in addition to libraries but in many cases in place of. The author compares the mentality of “super size it” that many have used for fast food restaurants, also for the search for information. Like fast food and other junk food, information from Google can be considered “not good for you” because it provides you with lots of information that may not be correct and it is hard to digest, leading to “infobesity.” It is pointed out that search engines with similar search features are available in most libraries but these databases contain higher quality data but still the quality of student research is still declining. The author calls for help from librarians to help students and professors to stop students from relying on Google.
In the research for my history classes it is next to impossible to use Google except for Google scholar but I still have to use something else to read what I used Google to find. Most of my professors will not let me use an internet sources in any shape or form. Except if it is a copy of something that exists in print as well. I can not speak for other departments but I believe that very few in students pursuing a history major are suffering from “infobesity.”