Apture

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About
Apture is a browser add-on that enables users to highlight any text and "get more information from sources like Wikipedia, YouTube, Images, Twitter, and a lot more without leaving the page" (Apture, 2011a). It was created by Tristan Harris, a Stanford drop out, who was one of Inc. Magazines 2009 top entrepreneurs under 30 (Inc., 2009). Apture works with Google Chrome, Safari, FireFox, and Internet Explorer. It can also be embedded into a website so that browsers can use the add-on's functions regardless of whether they have installed the browser extension. The website version also has a feature called Hotspots. Hotspots are created when multiple users have highlighted a phrase from your site and then go to Google to query the phrase. The Hotspot is an automatic hyperlink for that phrase linking to more information without the user needed to ever leave your page (Tristan, 2011).

Apture and Information Centers
Apture describes itself as "a glossary for the web" (Apture, 2011a), but in library terms it is an amazing ready reference tool. For those general curiosities and quick questions, Apture nurtures those moments with instant information only a highlight away. Your information center can enable greater access to information by installing the add-on to computer labs and by educating users who come to you for reference assistance about the program.

Potential Limitations
Because Apture links mainly to open-source information such as Wikipedia and Fotopedia having a discussion with your users about authority may be appropriate. Apture should be used as a tool to access information for quick queries and should not be used in leui of vetted sources for academic work.

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 * To see more about how Apture works and it's capabilities watch this video:**


 * To download the browser add-on go to @http://www.apture.com/**