Cool Tools for Library Webmasters @ IL2008

Presenters Darlene Fichter and Frank Cervone

Vischeck
– “Allows the user to see the world as color blind people see it. Checks by images and urls”. It works more quickly if you download the app. It allows us to see the different kinds of color blindness (sadly, I didn’t know there was more than one kind).

Thumbalizr
–    Takes an image and creates a thumbnail for you. Can process webpages and see what they would look like as thumbnails.

ImageFlow
–    Looks like cover flow on apple. Can embed on web page. Can do the same thing with images on your web page. It’s good for time sequence of images. It can zoom in and move out too

Widgenie
–    Charts and graphs and more visual types of images. “Take your data and transform it into visual information that can be shared with anyone, anywhere” Can connect to google docs, you generate, it gives you code and you can throw it in without uploading.

FreeSoundProject

–    free sounds site.  “The Freesound Project is a collaborative database of CreativeCommons licensed sounds. Freesound focuses only on sound, not songs.”

 

Advanced Screencasting at IL08

At first glance one might wonder how a non hands-on session about screencasting could be worthwhile. The key is to already know the software. My goal at this session was to get tips, tricks and pitfalls that the presenter, Greg Notess, and my fellow attendees had to offer. My next big project is to create library orientation screencasts and I’d rather be reminded what practices have (and have not) proven useful before I reinvent the stumble. Here are some basics from the 3 hour session:

To Script Or Not To Script? This seems to be a personal question. If you read a full script you may sound awkward as you drone on word for word. However, if you get nervous with the extemporaneous or are just bad at the oratorial riff that may be the technique you should stick with. We found that many in the room were partial to writing an outline and getting into their teaching groove as they did a live screen capture of their mouse movements. Why even use an outline? This is to keep you on track. The tutorial needs to be no more than 5 minutes long and many of us, when given the opportunity, will get into more detail than might be necessary. During that 5 minutes only 2-3 topics should be covered. If you want to go over more make more tutorials and link them with a table of contents so the viewer can choose what they want to watch.

ADA compliance– This was generally thought to be difficult. Screencasting programs like Camtasia and Captivate are giving the viewer the opportunity to choose if the closed captioning is seen or not but to see it one needs to write it out and put it in the screencast. For some this is the longest part of post production due to the after-scripting and setting the captioning into place. However, it can be done and will allow you to be ADA compliant. There was also some question regarding screen readers which are used for those who are visually impaired. No one in the room truly knew the answer due to screencasting being a visual media we did not know if it was possible to be compliant in that regard.

 

…and it begins

It’s time to start the blogging in earnest. I have waited and pondered long enough and in honor of the upcoming Internet Librarian Conference and my new Asus EeePC with Linux OS that has arrived at home while I’ve been at work I dub this a good time to jump in the water of blogging wonderousness.

My goal here is to share my take on some of the things I am most passionate about, mainly technology and librarianship. I am certain there will be amblings along the way and perhaps it will provide more insight.

Here we go…