You may have heard the term Web 2.0 and wondered what on Earth it is. Well Web 2.0 is all about the shift from being a read only consumer driven web to one where we can contribute and publish as well as consume. Web 2.0 is not just one thing. Its not something you install on your computer, nor will it actually make the Internet work quicker. What Web 2.0 is though is a series of websites which allow you to easily publish to the Internet everything from text to images to sounds and even video. We can now be creators of content and share our work with people around the world. These technologies can often be quite social, enabling us not only to publish work but to get feedback from other people who have experienced our work.Well where are these technologies and how do I use them and importantly how much are they going to cost me? To start at the last part of the question, most of these are free. Where there is a cost it is usually quite cheap for the amateur.
OK lets get started.
posted by Steve at 3:45 pm
According to the Unofficial Apple Weblog, Apple have just released BootCamp 1.1 beta. Obviously, it is still a beta version, but it is claimed to have significant improvements, especially support for iSight cameras, built in microphones, right-click functionality and improved keyboard support!
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posted by Simon at 8:02 am
I have been working on a brand new layout for the web-site, based on an updated information architecture. This is for several reasons, but mainly for when we completely change over to the new hosting platform. Also, it is something good to be able to say to people in September - ‘have you seen our new web-site?’
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posted by Simon at 12:19 pm
Run Windows applications natively on OS X, without having to install another OS! CrossOver Mac is currently in (closed) beta, but is expected to be released any time now, and I can’t wait as it sounds like the answer to my prayers.
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posted by Simon at 9:04 am
MissionMaker is a new software package that is still very much in development. The CLC is one of 45 institutions around the country that are fortunate enough to be involved in the development of this new and exciting tool.
The playing of games as an educational activity has long been questioned by academics, but Immersive Education have been working with the CSCYM, as part of London KnowledgeLab together with designers from the games industry, are working on a 3D game authoring tool.
The editor, as shown above, feels a lot like Immersive’s existing products Kar2ouche and MediaStage. It is very easy to use and has lots of elements borrowed from their other packages. Elements such as props, characters and special effects are straightforward to add and each element has properties that can be edited and actions that can be associated. The process of adding events to the game is slightly contradictory, especially as far as setting up conversations are concerned.
The developers remain hard at work and if you check out the MissionMaker blog, several of the beta centres have posted issues with the program and suggestions for the future. Where the tool stands out is the detail of the graphics, the simplicity of world creation and the speed of rendering.
Tomorrow it is the turn of Thinking Worlds, the game authoring tool from Caspian Education, to wow us, so hopefully there’ll be more then.
posted by Simon at 3:02 am
