BP_14 Second Life Scripting Language

As apart of my ARP (Action Research Project) I am looking to dive into the programming world of Java and C to learn Second Life’s scripting language. Understanding how to make things work and act a certain way in the virtual world is a must. I have seen some really cool things in the virtual world of Second Life that I definitely want to try to implement in my project if I can.

BP13_Adobe After Effects CS4 Software

For my next software tool, this ones personal, this is the only adobe software within the production suite that I have not touched. This package would allow me to put my presentations on a whole another level. I am looking to put my lectures, presentations, and interviews on video allowing my “sick” students to be able to access lecture from home in turn allowing them the ability to keep up with scheduled deadlines.

So Adobe After Effects is used to create motion graphics and visual effects. This software allows the user to animate, alter, and composite media in 2D and 3D space with various built-in tools. Aside from the many plug-ins that are offered for this software it stands strong as one of the film and video post-production industries’ NLEs (non-linear editing systems). Once I have learned this tool it will become evident in my work immediately my timeline for this is about two months so that I can begin to incorporate little snippets into my film class projects.

Here’s a cool video I found on You Tube. This guy used the same tutorial training I am setting up to use and this is what he accomplished. Pretty good if I must say so!



© 2009 Simon Dewey. All Rights Reserved.

BP12_Blender 2.5 Software

© Image by Blender Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

One of the tools I am looking to research for immediate use on my Action Research project is Blender. Currently on version 2.5, this is a free open source 2D and 3D content tool used for modeling, texturing, lighting, animation and video post-processing functionality. This software will give me the ability to scale down the intelligence factor of my Revit Architecture models to bring them, somewhat seamlessly, into the world of Second Life.



© Image by Blender Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Though there is somewhat of a software learning curve I will be utilizing my Lynda.com tutorials and a new reference book I should be obtaining next week to begin to conquer the quarks of this software package to ensure it works for me the way I need it to.

I have selected this tool because it allows me to stay on my Mac and not cross platform. I also like the efficient creation workflow, once you get past the quarks and the nuances of any software it must have a very efficient way of working on request from the user efficiently. This software also has a real-time 3D engine that allows the user to create 3D interactive content within this one software package. Did I mention it’s FREE! God Bless The Blender Foundation!

Below are a few render images that are good examples of Blender's rendering capabilities. Though I will be using it for it's low polygonal modeling capabilities this software can produce some great imagery that I will probably need for print graphics for my action research project.



© Image by Bertrand Benoit. All Rights Reserved.



© Image by Radiance. All Rights Reserved.

This is Tooo Funny not to Share! Enjoy

Got this from a buddy at work that can relate to about 99% of this song! PA represent'n!

BP11_SlideSix OMM

BP10_Comments on Moodle

Click the link below to see a incredible Web 2.0 Tool...

Pamela Hickman's Blog

BP9_Comments on Classrunner

Click the link below to see a incredible Web 2.0 Tool...

Robert Mercer's Blog

BP8_SlideSix

This week I would like to address the need to be able to share and collaborate on presentations to create media rich presentations that draw for preexisting content already on the web.

So I have stumbled upon SlideSix! I think I have found a great web 2.0 tool for this week. This tool was created to bring multimedia to presentations and to provide a platform for users to collaborate and share presentations. I guess I found what I was looking for! SlideSix allows you to upload all of your native PowerPoint presentation formats, portable document formats, and OpenOffice formats. It also allows you the flexibility to import Google Doc Powerpoint presentations. With a click of a button and your username and password for your Google docs account SlideSix goes and seeks out all presentations in your Google Docs. SlideSix gives you the ability to add multimedia to your presentations by embedding or importing the video footage. It also allows you to import footage from your computer’s webcam to give your presentations that personal touch.

Below is a brief overview of the application…



Slidesix has an extension called Slidesix Labs; this extension has the “Presenter”, “Collaborate” and “Presentation Analytics” features built into it. The Presenter feature gives the user the ability to present both virtually and live at the same time. With the “Collaborate” feature SlideSix blends the broadcast feature mixed with live video streaming and a real time text based chat platform. Once all users have been invited to the dedicated chat room the users are able to review and discuss each slide. This application also links directly with Twitter for instance online real-time feedback from other viewers. And last but not least the Presentation Analytics tool gives the user the ability to determine the effectiveness of the presentations that you have created by tracking traffic statistics for instance how many times a specific presentation has been viewed, how many unique views, average time a user spends viewing your presentation. All of this numerical data is plotted to a graph that is easy to interpret and read.

Why would need a tool like this? If for no other reason the Presentation Analytics provides the detail data described above for each slide, which helps you to determine the slides that were most effective within the presentation. This in turn helps you to improve your presentations give you the ability to modify and/or refine you content to better address your audiences’ needs.

Below is another video that allows you to see the power of both the media and collaboration tools…

BP7_ScreenToaster OMM

BP6_Comments on Gliffy

Click the link below to see a incredible Web 2.0 Tool...

Bruce Kramer's Blog

BP5_Comments on Odosketch

Click the link below to see a incredible Web 2.0 Tool...

Jolee Rinick's Blog

BP4_ScreenToaster

Problem
So here’s this weeks problem statement…

I would like to communicate a problem I’m having problem with a specific piece of software on my PC and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to explain the issue to individuals trying to lend assistance.

Or…

I need to show my class how to do a rather simple exercise in specific software for their PC. It would be easier to show them then to explain it.

Or…

You’re the avivd twitter and facebook fan and you would like to share things that are interesting that are happening on your PC.

Solution
Well the Web 2.0 tool I have found this week solves the problem…ScreenToaster! This tool, originally built for PC, allows you to capture video of on-screen action after which it allows you to share your video stream via the World Wide Web. ScreenToaster has five major exportation options for screencasting, .flv, .mp4, .wmv, .avi, and .swf. From the interface this application allows you to embed screencasts into a web site. You can also upload to YouTube and Vimeo. Similar to that of a Telestream Screenflow application, there is an editing platform within this application that allows you to add text and sound. During my research I found a saying we have probably all heard before, “…a picture is worth a thousand words” well the guys over at ScreenToaster say that a screen cast is worth a million words.

Capture your screen in seconds

Click on the "Capture Your Screen in Seconds" link to access the ScreenToaster Home Page!

ScreenToaster in Action
Here is a really cool application for the iPhone for that I found during my research. The creator really had a good handle on the program and so I choose to show this as an example of what ScreenToaster can do….Enjoy!

Capture your screen in seconds

Classroom Integration
As for how I would utilize this tool in the classroom, wow where do I start?
1. I can quickly show students how to perform a simple task and record it so that they can watch it over and over until they get it right.
2. I can record an entire lab lecture so that in an event that I cannot be in class the student can still obtain the lecture need to keep moving forward on their lab assignments. This hold true for theory as well with the use of a webcam and selecting that feature inside the ScreenToaster options.
3. My students could utilize this tool to share “how-to” screencasts with one another to be in keeping with the rule of the class “each one - teach one”.

There are few ways that I would utilize this web application in my classroom to capture the full effect of it as a Web 2.0 tool.

Holographic Technology and Communication

Hey there followers,

For those of you that have found the new site. I have chosen to use my blog to actually begin to share my research references that will help me begin to shape my AR Project. So for today I want to share a technology that is slowly catching fire. I promise you will all have to ban iPhone usage from your classroom after one look at this app.

HoloText - Holographic Text Messaging



How's that for crazy? Let me know your thoughts...

The Big Oski

BP3_Wiggio

Problem

For of all let's understand the problem...

I have up to 30 students at one time that are separated into groups that they do not get to chose so therefore they have to learn how to collaborate with each other from a distance and work with each others schedules to be able to provide feedback relative to their project tasks while they are outside of the classroom setting.

Solution

I have chosen a Web 2.0 tool called "Wiggio". This tool allows the user to communicate via a group email, voice message or voice message. This actually allows web meetings and chat theaters similar to Microsoft's Net Meeting program. It also allows the user to setup a shared calendar with his or her teammates that allows them to see what each other is doing on a day to day basis within the scope of the project. This tool allows the user to share and edit related project files in one common folder similar to that of a Google Docs. And like with all collaboration tools a task list tracker is essential to a good collaboration tool. This software allows the user to keep track of not only the groups tasks but also their resources related to the project. I love the communication features that have been provided within this tool. In allows a person to be in more than one place at once. With Wiggio you can actually communicate with group members via Facebook as well.



Implementation

I am currently implementing this Web 2.0 tool in my classroom and at first glaze it is reinforcing accountability and teamwork. I recommend this tool to anyone that is looking to start a group that has members that are very active in other things. This tools' Facebook and texting features are incredible. I have three groups that are beginning to use this tool to collaborate on a 1,000 sq. ft. live/work space. The task list feature allows them to divide the tasks amongst themselves and give deadlines for completion. This tool, along with class instruction, allows them a glimpse at the reality of what it takes to complete a project. It reinforces the fact that an architect does not work alone there is a team of individuals that come together to make projects great.

Below is another video of Wiggio in action...

BP2_iGoogle Screenshots

iGoogle Home Page



iGoogle FSO Page



iGoogle AR/CBL Page




iGoogle ETC Page

BP1_Google Reader

Adobe.com

http://rss.adobe.com/en/news_releases.rss

My reasoning for viewing this site is two fold, I use different Adobe products to create compelling architectural presentation graphics and I also view this site often because I teach in a technology-based institution. Viewing the Adobe site on a daily basis allows me to provide knowledge to my students to help them continue to be more graphically efficient with their projects while increasing my current skill-set.

Apple.com

http://images.apple.com/main/rss/hotnews/hotnews.rss

I follow Apple because from a company standpoint they are on the forefront of revolutionizing everything that I do as a professional. Ever since Steve Job's got back in the top seat for Apple they have embraced technological change. They have made it a point at every level to understand the consumer (end-user). This company stands strong as one of the pioneers of the technology world. If the technology is out there they make it a point to find out how the technology can benefit the average consumer while continuing to revolutionize the world.

Autodesk.com (Architecture, Engineering, Construction Concentration)

http://rss-aec.autodesk.com/rss?f=b7df3f10-01df-11df-2106-0030486070c6

This one is simple! I was a technician in the architecture world first before I was an architect and so I make it a point to always stay up on my craft. Autodesk has been a driving force behind the software I use daily to make buildings come alive. I have been around Autodesk products since 1994 and since then I have watched this company take over almost every professional industry that utilizes technical graphics. This company, to an extent, is the reason my family continues to eat everyday and without the understanding of this company's every move the many facets of my technical skill-set does not exist.

Architectural Record

http://archrecord.construction.com/rss/ar.xml

I follow architectural record because it is the premiere magazine for architecture worldwide. Everything that is being done good or bad is usually showcased and discussed in this magazine. Unlike others I don't look at this website to be inspired I like to stay up on the different technological advancements within my field from a design and a construction standpoint.

Arcscpace

http://www.arcspace.com/arcspace_rss.xml

This is my inspiration site! Hands down this site brings out all of the worlds top architects and showcases their work. I actually found this site while doing a competition for them back in my college days. So I have been a loyal follower of ArcSpace for some years now. Just like RSS feeds it is my RSS feed to all my favorite architects without having to necessarily go to their website to see what they are doing around the world.