Hi Ellen,

I think this is a great idea. If you could collect temperature readings with a date/timestamp, you could even create graphs of indoor weather over time. Maybe this could be done with a PHP/MySQL script, or even have the temperature "tweeted" using the Twitter API?

I actually had the idea of scraping temperature readings from weather.com and running Javascript on our blog to represent the weather. Things like snow or changing the brightness of the page if there's overcast. 

Best,

Junior Tidal
Assistant Professor
Web Services and Multimedia Librarian
New York City College of Technology, CUNY 
300 Jay Street, Rm A434
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.260.5481
 
http://library.citytech.cuny.edu


>>> "Ellen K. Wilson" <[log in to unmask]> 5/1/2012 3:39 PM >>>
This is really more of a thought experiment than an actual project, but 
I thought some people might get a kick out of it - maybe someone has 
even done it.

We are in the process of redesigning our library homepage. During the 
fall semester we had a team of freshmen CIS students do a basic 
usability and design service learning project and we are now 
incorporating as much of their feedback as possible. We'd like to be as 
student-centric as possible.

This got me thinking about the top two suggestions in the library's 
feedback box - 1) we want a coffee shop and 2) it's too cold/hot in the 
library. I figure I covered number one by throwing in some Javascript on 
the page (*groan*) but I see an opportunity with the second one. We do 
have microclimates within the library, so while it may be hot on 3N, 
chances are good it's freezing on 4S. Given that actually fixing this is 
beyond the library's control, what if we put wireless temperature 
sensors throughout the building and displayed their readings on the 
library homepage?

So, if one were to attempt this:
-How would you go about it? (hardware- or software-wise)
-Could it be done for cheap?
-Would it be OCLC-approved?

Best regards,
Ellen

DISCLAIMER: The a/c is out in the library (again) and I think the high 
temperatures in my office may be frying my brain.

-- 
Ellen Knowlton Wilson
Instructional Services Librarian
Room 250, University Library
University of South Alabama
5901 USA Drive North
Mobile, AL 36688
(251) 460-6045
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