Library and IT essentials (for student Induction)

I've been working with my colleague Julie Moody who is an Information Specialist (Health, Education and Languages) to help create induction materials for students requiring guidance on Library and IT services at their disposal. This is a follow on project similar to the work for the 'Paper: Enhancing student induction to Library and IT services in Higher Education' which I'm happy to report is being used this year to good effect.
I've just finished a banner which will be used on-line to promote this resource during welcome week, shown to the left.

DigiThings video interview

Flea Palmer (Learning Technologist) recently interviewed Dr Emily Beaumont (Lecturer in Entrepreneurship) regarding the new DigiThings online course for academics. Here is the video I helped put together, capturing Dr Beaumont's experiences. It also gives insights into how this course also benefited her students.

This video with an evaluation can also be found on the ASTI website or visiting the DigiThings blog.

Youtube from the comfort of your webcam

Just a quick post on a handy Youtube feature. It allows users to record video (within a webrowser) via their own webcams and publish to the account. Ensure that the webcam is installed and functioning. I have used Google Chrome with good effect. you may be asked to install Shockwave.

How well this works for you is very much limited to the upload speed of your internet connection, please check your Internet Service Provider if using at home or off campus. If you are using on standard broadband it could be around 0.5mb upload. some of the fibre networks are now 1.5mb+ which are more likely to cope. Plymouth University Campus has excellent bandwidth, I found no problems upload this way. You have the option to review the footage before publishing. Remember, when selecting the publish button always change the setting for the new upload to either private or 'only with link' unless you don't mind the default 'live to the world'!

Did you know that as long as your Youtube account is in good standing, adding your mobile phone number to confirm you are 'human' by a verification code allows you to unlock the 15 minute limit on a standard account... it is all explained in the youtube support. Just don't break copyright or you loose all privileges.

Practical uses of using a webcam:

• Video diary
• saves using your hard drive space
• Access to the Youtube video editor to cut out errors
• Add other videos in the editor and inter-cut with transitions
• Video available to anyone on the web (if desired)

Have fun....

Waterproofing mobile technologies for fieldwork

I'm often looking around for technologies that make those rainy fieldwork trips less of a worry, particularly when using using expensive equipment. I was rather impressed with the simplicity of the 'special' coating provided by Liquipel. I've seen similar concept provided by companies called RainX for making car windscreens aqua-phobic, but requires re-application every so often. Perhaps this could be a permanent solution for most electronic devices? Typically students have to take protective covers such as otterbox for the devices we supply, it works but with some loss in usability.

I'm not advocating the product in the video but only highlighting the potential. It is not clear what the longevity of this special coating is, and I note that at the time of writing there are a limited number of devices that are approved (fingers crossed mobile manufacturers use this process themselves - perhaps the phone insurance companies could offer it free or at a discounted rate...). I also wonder if this will extend to other solid state mobile devices like pads, I think it could then really catch on if it does...