this is why accessibility is such a big issue for me. My day is difficult enough with no roadblocks.

[deborah]

I'd forgotten how much I completely hate doing systems administration-type things by voice. Basically I'm spelling in the alpha-bravo alphabet at extremely high speeds, and anytime I want to say anything lengthy it's easiest to do it in a dictation box or DragonPad window because correction hasn't worked in xterm for several versions of NaturallySpeaking. And, as I remember from the last time I went through this, it's my hands which know how to do programming and system administration, and all of those pathways are burned from brain directly to fingers. My mouth doesn't know how to do these things. Is this what it feels like, at a certain level, to be split brain? Honestly, put a keyboard in front of me and a heavy dose of painkillers and I can program adequately and administer systems with the best of them, but make my voice be the interface and suddenly I'm stupid, I've forgotten everything. And my brain is just incredibly, strangely tired, like I've just run a marathon and my brain did all the work.

In any case, I finally have a default installation of DSpace up and running, so that's something that will be fun to play with. What should I put in it? Just copies of the same files and metadata we currently have in our existing repository (which is Ex Libris Digitool)? Arguably that would be the best first test (not only of DSpace, but of Digitool's ability to export in standard formats).

<violin class="world's smallest">

You know, I don't regret being a librarian. Hell, I love being a librarian, and I know I would've never come to this if I hadn't hurt my hands. But it's really so frustrating to know that there was something I was once very good at and now I just can neither do it well nor enjoy the process of relearning.

</violin>

Comments

[cavlec.livejournal.com]

Your brain will get there. Truly it will.

DSpace doesn't care what you put in it. Have a blast. :) And yell if there's any code from MARS that you're interested in.

[deborah]

Thanks. *g*

And I will totally call on you if I need any of your digital library guru code, no fear.

[lapak.livejournal.com]

I know it must be frustrating, but you'll re-connect to the old pathways if you need to keep at it. I imagine once your brain starts translating vocal symbols into their equivalent typing ones, things will get easier. Like that point in learning a foreign language where you realize you're thinking in it instead of translating everything to English in your head.

And feeling mentally exhausted is par for the course when you're working hard at anything, let alone something you feel like you should be able to breeze through. :/

The good news is, you have something to play with! And it sounds like you've got a very good idea for what to put in first. Have fun with it. :)

[deborah]

Thanks for the reassurance, it helps. And yay for new library toys!