Scribd launch new Document Viewer

Scribd have recently released their new and improved document viewer, iPaper, which they claim provides “the best document viewing experience on the web”. I have to say I’m quite impressed.

iPaper (no relation to Apple as far as I know!!) is a Flash widget which can be embedded in existing web pages. Many formats can be displayed including pdf, word, and powerpoint. There are three viewing modes available – list, book and slide - to suit the type of document you are viewing.

Zooming, scrolling and navigation are all included, as well as a handy search facility. In addition to all this, you can also email or print the document from within iPaper itself.

This is an example of a PowerPoint file showing the current members of the International Edubloggers Directory.

Members of the International Edubloggers Directory

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Technorati Tags: document viewer, flash, international edublogger directory, scribd

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Back up Your Blogs

It is a good idea to get into the habit of backing up your blogs - just as you do with all your other digital work!

There is a built in backup facility in Edublogs and Wordpress. Simply select Manage, Export, Download Export File. On downloading, an XML file is created and can be saved to your computer.

This file contains your posts, comments, custom fields, and categories. Importantly, once you’ve saved this file, you can then use the 'Import' function to bring back the blog - should disaster strike!

Unfortunately, no automatic backup in Blogger but Blogger Backup is a handy utility that enables you to back up all your Blogger posts and comments to your local hard drive.

Of course, Blogger Backup also enables you to restore your posts should it become necessary. Thanks Amit for recommending this software.

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Technorati Tags: backup, blogger, blogger backup, edublogs, wordpress

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View your Flickr Images in 3D Space

TiltViewer is another creation from AIRTIGHT Interactive who also produced SimpleViewer, reviewed in an earlier post.

TiltViewer allows you to "browse Flickr's most interesting images in a 3D space. It's designed to provide a fun, intuitive user experience". By default, the images are taken from Flickr's 'Interestingness' list.

However, TiltViewer now also has the option to display any set of Flickr images based on user id, group id, tags, etc. This is achieved by simply adding a query string on the end of the TiltViewer url .

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Technorati Tags: 3D, flickr, tilt viewer

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Image Editing and Slideshow Creation

flauntR is a one stop shop for online image editing and slideshow creation.

With flauntR you can create custom slideshows choosing from over "20 high end transition effects". Although, as far as I could tell, you can only use one transition per slide show - not different transitions for different slides.

Through stylR you can edit your images by adding effects, frames, filters and overlays. There does not seem to be an easy 'undo button' to use if you apply an effect and don't like it! There is a reset button but this clears all the changes even if you only want to clear the last one.

textR allows you to add text using all sorts of fancy fonts, sizes, colours and alignments. editR lets you re-size, rotate or crop the image as well as adding effects such as sepia.

flauntR allows you to save your images to your online account or to your own computer.

Found this site from Paul Reid's blog. On first impressions, I still prefer Picnik, featured in an earlier post, but I guess I will give flauntR another go!

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Technorati Tags: flauntr, image editing, picnik, slideshow

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Your own Online Operating System

Ever wanted to take your desktop with you? Well, now you can with Online Operating System, which I first found on Jane's blog.

With Online Operating System, you gain a complete operating system in your browser, which allows you to organise your online files and documents from anywhere in the world. You can also share this data with other users. 1Gb of disk space is provided.

As well as the file management feature, Online Operating System, also provides for the management of e-mails, appointments and contacts.

A public homepage also comes as standard with domain name: -http://<username>.oos.cc-

Same idea as Ulteo, mentioned in previous posts, but without the availability of all the installed open source software. However, some smaller applications are provided such as calculator, text editor, image viewer, media player and pdf viewer.

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Technorati Tags: operating system, oos, ulteo

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The Open Clip Art Library

The Open Clip Art Library is a continually growing archive of user contributed clip art that can be freely used. There is over 7000 items of clip art archived. The Open Clip Art objects are available for download in svg and sometimes png format.

Unfortunately, OpenOffice does not support the svg format but there are a couple of solutions available. Use a batch processing utility called svg2office to convert the svg files to odg files in bulk or open the svg file in Inkscape and re-save it in the odg format.

OpenOffice does, however, support the png format.

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Technorati Tags: graphics, inkscape, open clip art, openoffice

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New ePortfolio on the block

You now have a chance to try out a new social ePortfolio platform at Freefolio. Currently running in demo mode, Freefolio is an e-Portfolio and social knowledge management system based on Wordpress.

Freefolio plans to enable users to be able "to construct a personal space in which to: record training and professional development activities; reflect on activities and future plans; control viewing permissions; and record key issues about calls to reflect upon issues for practice".

Freefolio also plans to act as a social networking platform promoting discussion and information exchange. Finally, Freefolio will provide a resource section where useful documents and web resources can be referenced.

Originally found reference to this site on Stephen's blog. Further information can be found from Graham Attwell.

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Technorati Tags: eportfolio, freefolio, social network

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Interactive Ergonomics Resource

Prometheus provide a great interactive elearning tutorial on office ergonomics. This tutorial provides built in assessment tools for the user to try out as well as detailed information on all the pain and strain risks related to ergonomics.

A link to the printable ergonomics assessment checklist is also included within the tutorial. This is a very useful tool for teachers and students alike who are covering the topic of ergonomics.

Found this program via Tom Kuhlmann's blog where he cites office ergonomics as a good example of an active elearning course because it contains decision-based material. "Learners are given information and then have to make decisions".

In fact, you will find many interesting and really useful tips about designing elearning material on Tom's blog including a free 46page ebook on becoming a 'Rapid E-Learning Pro'.

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Technorati Tags: ebook, elearning, ergonomics

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