Vitale Digital Media Lab

Blog moving!

2012-02-06T11:46:00.003-05:00

Hi guys! I'm excited to announce that we're moving this blog over to Wordpress, where we have become part of the Weigle Information Commons "PennWIC" blog. The Blogger blog will no longer be updated, but you'll be able to find new posts at:

http://pennwic.wordpress.com/category/vitale-digital-media-lab/

RealArts @ Penn Internships

2011-12-23T14:49:00.002-05:00

Via RealArts @ Penn:

"We are sponsoring 10 paid summer internships - for University of Pennsylvania students - at MTV/Viacom Creative, Rolling Stone magazine, Brooklyn Films, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Nickelodeon animation, Shore Fire Media, the Jewish Museum, at Original Film, & with the Stern/Gibbs writing team in LA. http://writing.upenn.edu/realarts/ Penn students - apply now. Current 3rd-year students given preference but all may apply."

Elfed

2011-12-20T10:30:00.004-05:00

Join us today in the lab (and, frankly, probably every day this week) for our annual viewing of the (now classic) Christmas movie, Elf.

This fantasic image comes from Scott Campbell's excellent "Great Showdowns" blog.

Converting film reels to digital video

2011-12-16T11:08:00.004-05:00

The lab has many free resources for the Penn community for converting media. We can convert from : dvd, vhs, c-vhs, mini dv, cassette tape, 35mm film, 35mm slides, and vinyl record. From time to time we do get questions about converting different formats of film reels. We have no equipment to do this in the lab and don't know of any resources available on campus that can convert film reels. In the past we have referred people to Video City Inc. in Center City. Until recently I have never personally used them, but I am happy to say I am very please with the business. I had three reels of 8mm film from an old box at my parent's house and had no idea what was on them. I got them converted to .avi files at Video City Inc. and although a lot of the film was water damaged I was able to rescue some great moments of my older brothers' youth. The footage was a little dark, which was just the way the film was shot. I was able to clean it up quite a bit in Final Cut Pro. You would also be able to do this to some degree in iMovie. Here is a before and after shot of a small section of footage.

There is a long list on Video City's website about what formats they can convert. I would highly recommend dropping off a hard drive for them to put the footage on instead of paying for it to go directly to a dvd. If you convert to a dvd it doubles the cost. Each reel ended up being about $10 to put onto the hard drive which is a real bargain in my book.

Why won't my Windows drive work on my Mac?

2011-12-15T11:15:00.002-05:00

You may have run into problems with plugging a Windows-formatted (NTFS) external hard drive into your Mac; normally Macs can read files on these drives, but not save to them. Fortunately, some very smart people have written some free software that lets Macs use NTFS drives:

To install it, just click the banner, run through the automatic installer, and choose "no caching" when it gives you the choice. Restart your computer and you should be all set!

Smart Phone Buyer's Guide

2011-12-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

It's "that" time of year again. Engadget has published their Holiday 2011 Smart Phone Buyer's Guide. They "examine the variety of options from each carrier, large and small, along with its most solid alternatives. Those insistent upon QWERTY keyboards will find each provider's pick of the litter, and we also select a high quality budget offering with $80 as the absolute ceiling. "

Check out the guide at http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/engadgets-smartphone-buyers-guide-winter-2011-edition/

What is 4K Video?

2011-12-08T09:38:00.004-05:00

TimeScapes 4K from Tom Lowe

I came across this video called TimeScapes yesterday. It is basically a demo video showing off the capabilities of 4K technology. 4K is a term we might see popping up more frequently and simply put "4K" refers to a higher than high def video format; creating videos at 4096 x 2304 pixels. If you don't know... this is madness.

I remember hearing a couple of years ago that higher than hi-def video tended to make people nauseous, but I guess we are taking that leap. One of the biggest proponents of this new technology is Peter Jackson. He is currently filming two new Lord of the Rings movies, (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again) and not only are they shooting in 4K, but they are also shooting in 3D and at 48 frames per second (as opposed to the typical 24 fps). This should make for a very unique viewer experience. Here is one of the Hobbit video blogs that talks a little more about the technology and filming with the Red Epic camera to capture video in 4K.

Interview with Carrier IQ

2011-12-07T16:15:00.004-05:00

You've all been hearing about the "Carrier IQ" fiasco/debacle/brouhaha, with the phone companies using this secretly-installed software to track all sorts of things on your cell phones. So far the Carrier IQ software has been installed on over 141 MILLION devices, but so far the details of exactly what the software does and specifically which devices have it installed are still forthcoming. Senator Franken of Minnesota is even asking the phone companies and hardware makers how they're using the software and what info collecting from their customers.

The Verge got a great interview with Carrier IQ's marketing vice president, which you can read here.

Thanks to Jordan M. for forwarding the article our way.

Hi!

2011-12-06T16:40:00.004-05:00

If you were sitting the library studying today, maybe you were handed a sticker that looks like this "hi" logo. Well check out the article in today's Daily Pennsylvanian about the new "Hi!" app that Penn student (and frequent visitor to the Vitale Digital Media Lab) has created along with another Penn student (Tanvir Ahmed) and an Alum (Lukasz Dziurzynski):

White envisions hi! being used at events like New Student Orientation events and football games where students could meet new people. hi! generates a list of everyone in one location and based on users’ Facebook profiles, “autopopulates a list with the people that you have the most in common with or that it thinks you would get along the best with,” White said. “It’s kind of like an eHarmony match-up but for making friends instead of dating.”

Read the full article online at:

http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2011/12/college_graduate_and_two_sophomores_plan_launch_of_hi_app

Gadget Day This Wednesday

2011-12-05T10:27:00.004-05:00

Join us this Wednesday, December 7, in the Weigle Information Commons for our Fall 2011 Gadget Day!

This time around we're looking at Evernote, iPads, smart phones, Wordpress, Google Hangouts, and more--including a lunchtime "Bring Your Own Gadget" show-and-tell session.

See the details and full schedule at http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicshops/gadget12072011.html

Where Do All the Servers Go?

2011-12-01T16:55:00.004-05:00

Join us for lunch on Friday to hear MES Alumna, (and Penn Library staffer!) Stephanie Alarcon, discuss the environmental consequences, social justice issues, and policy options for the growing E-Waste problem. The talk will be based on the research she did for her MES Capstone. And you don't have to be a hardcore geek nor treehugger to appreciate the content!

Free lunch for the first 15 guests. Please RSVP.

Hayden Hall, Room 358
Friday, December 2, 2011 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (ET)

http://ewaste-capstone-lunch-presentation.eventbrite.com/

Adobe Software just got cheaper

2011-11-23T13:35:00.002-05:00

Adobe is discounting their already-discounted student and teacher prices on their software through december 3. Check out the details here.

Wacom Inkling

2011-11-22T12:57:00.006-05:00

Wacom has produced a new, unique product that we are very excited to try out. It is called the "Inkling" and it has the ability to capture what you draw with a physical ink pen on any plain sheet of paper. You can then transfer your drawing into the computer as vector lines. This is an incredible idea that will be very useful for illustrators, designers, and anyone who likes to doodle. Here is Wacom's promotional video for it.

Here is a comparison of a scan of an original drawing (left) and the vector file (right) that Inkling generated.

You can see it isn't exact, but still pretty impressive. If you click the image above you can see the YouTube review of the Inkling that this still was taken from. The lab will hopefully be adding the Inkling to our checkout inventory soon. Wacom has been releasing it in small batches on Amazon, and we haven't been able to grab ours yet.

Which is the best Music Service?

2011-11-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

Life Hacker has a new post up evaluating the 3 major music services: iTunes, Google Music, and Amazon Mp3. In addition to a straightforward evaluation of each service, looking at the pros and cons of each, it goes a little deeper and talks about WHO will get the most out of each service, recognizing that people with different needs, likes, and personalities will prefer one service over another. They also touch very briefly on some of the smaller services and streaming music services that are out there.

As always, be sure to also read the comments section. One reader posted about a site called Beatport, which I was unfamiliar with, for listeners of electronic music, trance, house and (*shudder*) dubstep.

User Storage Down

2011-11-18T17:14:00.003-05:00

Our User Storage drive has crashed, so the files on it are currently unavailable. We are hoping to have it working again next week, but we can't make any guarantees. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Please let us know if you have any specific concerns we can help to address.

Cory Doctorow tonight!

2011-11-17T07:24:00.003-05:00

Author, activist, journalist and blogger (co-editor of BoingBoing.net) Cory Doctorow will be giving a free talk tonight at Huntsman Hall, open to the general public. You should go.

https://undergradmediaentertainment.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/cory-doctorow-best-selling-author-for-the-win-jmhh-245-on-111711-at-5pm/

Free $50 Store Gift Card with iPad 2

2011-11-16T11:00:00.003-05:00

The Computer Connection (that neat computer store at the back of the Penn Bookstore) is having a deal:

"Buy any iPad2 and receive a $50 Computer Connection gift card".

This applies to all models of the iPad2, and is open to all folks purchasing with individual funds. The promotion will run from now through December 2nd.

Lab closing

2011-11-15T13:50:00.000-05:00

Hi all. The lab will be closed this Thursday, November 17, from 4:30pm-6:30pm for a class. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Lab closing

2011-11-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

Hi all. The lab will be closed this Thursday, November 10, from 4:30pm-6:30pm for a class. Sorry for any inconvenience!

November Workshops

2011-11-02T15:22:00.000-05:00

PhotoShop Basics, Wed. Nov. 2, 10 am to Noon
Illustrator, Thurs. Nov. 3, 10 to 11:30 am
iMovie, Thurs. Nov. 3, 6:30 to 8 pm OR Wed. Nov. 9, 10:30 am to Noon OR Thurs. Nov. 10, 10 to 11:30 am
First Year Fridays - Make Your First Movie! Fri. Nov. 4, 2 to 4 pm
Networking with Twitter, Mon. Nov. 7, 5 to 6 pm
Census Data with New American FactFinder, Tues. Nov. 8, 10 to 11:30 am
Top Hat Monocle, Wed. Nov. 9, 2 to 3 pm - Vendor presentation on mobile and web open-ended audience response during classes
From Assignments to References: Zotero, Wed. Nov. 9, 5 to 6 pm
Excel Basics, Sat. Nov. 12, 2 to 3:30 pm
Social Media 101, Mon. Nov. 14, 10 to 11:30 am
Majors Dinner, Mon. Nov. 14, 5 to 6:30 pm
Excel Charts, Wed. Nov. 16, 11 am to 12:30 pm

All workshops are open to Penn students, faculty, and staff unless otherwise noted. Registration and details: http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicshops/

Lab closing

2011-11-01T13:44:00.002-05:00

Hi all. The lab will be closed this Thursday, November 3, and next Thursday, November 10, from 4:30pm-6:30pm for a class. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:39:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween! Be sure to stop by the lab today and get a candy bar.

Lynda temporarily Unavailable

2011-10-18T13:40:00.003-05:00

Hey all. Lynda.com is having some trouble with their system right now, so things are running impossibly slow. We've been in touch with them, though, and they expect things to be back to normal within a few hours. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Everything's Back to Normal now!

Books, like in a library

2011-10-14T15:50:00.006-05:00

We have some new books in the lab!

iMovie '11 & iDVD: The Missing Manual, iPhoto '11: The Missing Manual, and WordPress for Dummies. If you'd like to take a look at these or any of our books, ask the lab consultant on duty. They'll be happy to help.

Copyright... it confuses everyone

2011-10-13T08:24:00.006-05:00

Boingboing linked to this series of copyright dispute examples designed by Susie Cagle. They show some interesting cases like the time Shepard Farrey was sued by the Associated Press for being a tracer.

Introduction to OS X Lion Workshop Today

2011-10-07T10:33:00.002-05:00

In case you missed the last workshop on Apple's newest operating system, "Lion," Will Le, Apple's student rep on Penn's campus, is offering it again this very afternoon (Friday, Oct 7, 2pm-3:30pm in the WIC Seminar Room). It's a great introduction for anyone who's thinking about upgrading, or for people who have already made the switch but weren't quite sure how to take advantage of all the new features.

Get a preview of some of the new features of Lion at http://www.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/#video-lion

We Lost a Friend Yesterday

2011-10-06T08:48:00.003-05:00

The lab owes a great deal to the man who helped bring us all of this incredible technology. We always had a charge after seeing what new things he would unveil at his press conferences. Steve's products were always clean, sleek, and sometimes beautiful, but most importantly, they just worked. His company certainly shaped our daily lives and with his early involvement with Pixar, he helped warm our heart. You will be missed sir.

Facebook Privacy

2011-09-27T14:34:00.003-05:00

Penn's department of Audit, Compliance, & Security has created some guidance for managing your privacy on Facebook. Check out their video below, or visit their page for additional info.

Final Cut Pro X

2011-09-15T15:25:00.002-05:00

The lab now supports both Final Cut Pro 7 and Final Cut Pro X. We are not encouraging people to use Final Cut Pro X because it has several drawbacks, but it is in the application folder in the lab if you would like to try it out and see what you think. If you are just catching up on the FCPX hoop-la here are some of the programs pluses and drawbacks:
+FCPX+
GOOD:
-If you know iMovie, you will be seeing a more familiar layout that the previous version

-Most, if not all, of the rendering will happen in the background while you work. No more coffee breaks while you wait for your video to be ready.

-Auto-align for matching multiple audio tracks of the same source.

BAD:
-No support for any projects of previous versions of FCP.

-Different interface than previous versions

-Doesn't transfer between multiple machines with ease

Connecting to AirPennNet

2011-09-15T13:25:00.000-05:00

Trouble with AirPennNet? SAS Computing is holding a wireless setup fair in WIC TONIGHT (9/15) from 5 - 7pm.

CS 5.5

2011-09-14T12:00:00.002-05:00

It's a new school year and we've got new tools in the media lab. So welcome students and welcome Adobe CS 5.5.

So why the 5.5 upgrade? Why not a full step up to CS6? Well, CS6 is still a ways away. For now Abobe is placing a big focus on broad, multiplatform mobile content development with this release, using with the latest standards. And if you work with video, you’ll notice sweeping performance enhancements in CS 5.5 that enable you to work faster. These upgrades actually don't even effect all of the Creative Suite programs. The CS5 tools not revisioned to CS5.5 are Photoshop (Extended), Illustrator, Fireworks, and Contribute.

Here's an article that describes what's new in each product in great detail. It's a lot of words, but it pretty much tells you everything you need to know. Better yet, come to the lab and see for yourself what's new.

Time Magazine Beyond 9/11 Project

2011-09-09T09:00:00.003-05:00

Time Magazine has put up this incredible site:

http://www.time.com/time/beyond911/#

It uses photos and video shot by Marco Grob to create a substantial mosaic of stories from September 11th and the 10 years that followed. The imagery is almost all in black and white, and the site is beautiful in its design and simplicity. It collects stories from a diverse group of leaders, survivors, rescuers, and fighters into a spanning interactive space. Some of the interviews will really bring you back to that day, and some may bring a tear to your eye. So if you are emotionally prepared, take a look.

Chase Irwin: Blowing Your Mind

2011-09-07T09:45:00.001-05:00

Hopefully by you've seen the new library publication, "Ten Things About the Penn Libraries That Will Blow Your Mind." If not, we have a few sitting on the table near the door. It features our very own Chase Irwin, as the person whose mind is about to be blown, photographed by yours truly, and designed in large part by Jesse Turnbull. Chase graduated in May, so he won't be with us much longer as a lab consultant, but it's good to see he's going out with a bang.

September Workshops

2011-09-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

Please check out and share our September calendar!

Upcoming are:

Wordpress, Wed. Sept. 7, 1:30 to 3 pm
Excel Charts and Graphs, Thurs. Sept. 8, 1:30 to 3 pm
Excel Basics, Sat. Sept. 10, 2 to 3:30 pm
BlackBoard Basics, Tues. Sept. 13, 1 to 2:30 pm
PhotoShop Basics, Wed. Sept. 14, 10 am to Noon
Social Media 101, Wed. Sept. 14, 2 to 3:30 pm
From Assignments to References: Planning your Semester, Wed. Sept. 14, 5 to 6 pm - Presented by Weingarten Learning Resources Center (VPUL)
Google Sites, Thurs. Sept. 15, 10:30 am to Noon
What's New in Office 2010, Thurs. Sept. 15, 2 to 3:30 pm
PowerPoint Animations, Mon. Sept. 19, 10 to 10:30 am
RefWorks, Tues. Sept. 20, 10 to 11:30 am
iMovie, Wed. Sept. 21, 10:30 am to Noon
Mathematica - Special Vendor Presentation, Thurs. Sept. 22, 9 am to 1:30 pm
Prezi, Thurs. Sept. 22, 10 to 11:30 am
Embed Video in PowerPoint, Fri. Sept. 23, 11 to 11:30 am
Google Productivity Boost, Fri. Sept. 23, 11 am to Noon

All workshops are open to Penn students, faculty, and staff unless otherwise noted. Registration and details: http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicshops/

I am the Robot

2011-09-06T11:00:00.003-05:00

By now you've probably seen the utterly fantastic t-shirt that our very own Jesse Turnbull designed for the library's freshman social. Something you probably didn't know, however, is that *I* am the robot. OK, technically I just posed for the reference photo, so I'm not all that recognizeable in the final image, but as you can see, I was totally the inspiration.

Google Image Search--new and improved

2011-08-31T15:49:00.000-05:00

Remember back in 2008 when we blogged about a new beta service called "Tin Eye" that allowed you to upload an image and find higher-resolution versions of that same image?

Well Tin Eye is still around and long out of Beta, but Google has come along with something better. They've improved their image search engine so that you can drag an image onto the search box and find other images--not just the same exact image, but also similar images. You can drag a photo from your vacation to Machu Picchu into the search box, and Google will find other photos of the same place.

Check it out at http://images.google.com, or watch this short intro video to show you how it works:

Best TV Shows Ever

2011-08-28T10:58:00.001-05:00

It's a tradition for the lab staff to make lists of our favorite things. We've listed our favorite candy, favorite songs, our high scores for various video games, and more. This time the summer lab staff (Jesse, Sarah, Dave, Chase, and Jonah) have listed their favorite TV shows. If it's already been erased by the time you're seeing this, here's a photo of the lists:

Not everyone agrees with our choices (I've already received one complaint that not a single person included "Pee Wee's Playhouse") but we stand by them.

Intro to Lion Workshop

2011-08-26T15:32:00.007-05:00

Thanks to Will Le, Apple's student rep on Penn's campus, for the great workshop he gave today on the newest version of the Mac operating system, Lion. It was a great introduction for anyone who's thinking about upgrading, or for people who have already made the switch but weren't quite sure how to take advantage of all the new features.

If you weren't lucky enough to attend, you can check out the new features of Lion at http://www.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/#video-lion

Future Proof

2011-08-26T10:02:00.002-05:00

What is Future Proof?
Here's what they say: "We write articles, craft interactive experiments, and create tools that help you develop mental and physical resilience in the face of an ever-expanding technology landscape. In other words, we make you futureproof."

FP is yet another fantastic project from the former VDML lab consultant Michael Highland. He and another Penn alum and friend, David Siegel are creating the company Futureproof. We've already written about their app "Awareness"-a tool to help heighten one's awareness of computer use. We should all be so lucky to be as considerate and attuned as we go about our daily tech business.

Take a looksee at the video to investigate further:

InDesign FX

2011-08-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

Lynda.com is releasing a new series of online videos called "InDesign FX," with new installments to be released every other week or so. The concept is that each release will be a self-contained InDesign Effects project designed to be completed in ten minutes or less. Taught by expert Mike Rankin, the series explores every aspect of InDesign's graphic effects capabilities through real-world examples, all without relying on Photoshop or Illustrator.

There have been 4 releases so far:

Blurring Objects with Drop Shadows
Creating Interlocking Objects
Exploring the Effects Panel
Creating Long Text Shadows with Type on a Path

Watch this introduction video (2m 42s) and then drop by the lab if you'd like to watch the other videos.

000 Welcome to InDesign FX

InDesign FX | by Michael Rankin

View this entire course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

Interview with John Vogel

2011-08-19T13:38:00.013-05:00

John Vogel has worked at Penn for 8 years. He was briefly in the Psych deparment and then at Wharton, but for the bulk of that time he's worked as a part-time annotator for the Linguistic Data Consortium. He's also a member of the Philadelphia-based band Grandchildren, and a very frequent user of the Media Lab for his solo work.

Q: What do you work on in the lab?

John Vogel: Almost everything I do comes through the lab at some point. I mostly do solo projects--mostly interviews--under my own name, that are on my Vimeo page, but I'm also working on a separate project under the name 'Eddie Sids'.

Battling Green Eye Shades was the last big video project I did. And then after I finished with that I started up these other 2 projects. One is called douthoux, and the other is White Zinfandel.

Everything on douthoux is electronic. And everything on White Zinfandel is supposed to be more natural. It's all written on piano first and then overdubbed with trumpet. I've been teaching myself flute and clarinet to overdub on that, and then electronic space sounds on top of that. And I'm working on both of those at the same time.

In addition to that, lately I've been cutting up the interviews I've been doing, because they have similar questions throughout them, and I'm making an edited version where they line up in certain places, and I'm writing electronic music for that. Over the last 2 months that's grown from not doing anything with it to having 45 minutes of material so far, and it'll probably be between an hour and 1:20 when it's done.

Q: And this is a personal project?

JV: This is all just for... fun. (laughter)

Q: What software and hardware do you use in the lab?

JV: I use Final Cut for all the video editing. Everything I do I have also taken the audio into Audacity here in the lab and mixed and compressed and amplified--just to brush it up, cut the ends off, and arrange it for tracking. And I use Garage Band for all the douthoux sampling.

Q: Where does the name douthoux come from?

JV: It was a random password that I don't use anymore, but I don't know, it just sounded like a European techno album to me. (laughs) So that was the idea going into it. I recorded my friends saying all the same utterances. Everything is grouped by theme, and I'm taking those themes and they represent the title of the track. And then for me, it's mixing the lines into a format where it sounds more like a conversation instead of excerpted lines, and then also cutting in usually standup comedy or TV or movies into that, and making something that has a narrative flow for each individual track and kind of explores the same theme throughout.

The video I'm working on now is for the 3rd track off of that. I did that as part of a live performance I did recently, and also 2 tracks off of White Zinfandel. I had 2 tvs running of my friends reading into the camera, and I edited all of that here, and my goal was to line them up, and now I'm trying to make them interesting and put them in a useful format. It will go on Vimeo as a stand-alone work, so it's not really intended as an accompaniment for the live performance.

Q: Where did you learn to do all the video/audio editing? Did you take classes? Did you teach yourself?

JV: I mostly taught myself. I also took some digital music classes in college at Penn State. We used a program called Digital Performer, which doesn't really get used anymore. Jesse and Sarah actually helped me a LOT here in the lab with the Final Cut Pro stuff. It would be the type of thing where I was working on a project where I'd sit down and really try to do something myself, and then I'd come to a spot where I didn't know how to do some technical thing, and they would show me, and that would really help me. I could go by myself for a little while, and then hit a spot where I wanted to do this one thing that I knew should be possible, but I didn't know how to do it, and getting help from the lab staff when I'd get stuck.

All of the music on Battling Green Eye Shades I did at the Music Technology Lab here at Penn in the music building my first couple years out of college. At the end of that, I wanted to do a video, and they sent me here to the Vitale Digital Media Lab.

Q: We're glad they did! What's your favorite part about the lab?

JV: The software is great. It's so good to have that resource, because all of the software is ridiculously expensive. If you try to get the kind of machines and software you have here at home, that's just ridiculous amounts of money that I don't have. (laughs) So just the availability of all of that stuff. The equipment lending has also been a big thing. I didn't even get into that until maybe a year after coming here pretty regularly. Just getting the cameras and the Zoom audio recorders has really helped with the interviewing that I've been doing. And the atmosphere and staff is just really helpful and cool. Yeah. It's just a good place to come.

Q: You've interviewed a bunch of bands and authors for Skyscraper Magazine and Beyond Race Magazine. How did that happen? How did you get connected to the bands and to the magazines?

JV: I'm actually the Fiction Books Editor for Skyscraper after just being a contributor for a few years. I was the Books and DVDs editor for Rockpile magazine here in Philly. I got started with them back in 2004 or 5, and I was with them until they crumbled due to financial problems. And about the same time, Skyscraper went from print to full digital online. When they launched their website they were looking for editors. I thought, I hadn't reviewed books and DVDs for a while, and it was something I really wanted to get back into, so they hired me for that.

I started doing the band interviews as personal projects before Skyscraper was up and running, so I was still in this middle ground where I didn't have anyone solid to publish for anymore. I tried to do the freelance thing, and decided I really didn't like the runaround of pitching articles. So I figured I'd do a project on my own collecting interviews. I already do interviews as part of my job at the LDC, interviewing people in microphoned situations daily, talking to people for 15-20 minutes at a time, and just keeping them talking is the only task. So you learn a certain amount of skill with coaxing conversation out of people. I wanted to apply that to something I really liked, and with people I really wanted to talk to. So I started sending out emails with this idea of just picking people's brains about the creative process, and I got a TON of rejections. And then just when I'd gotten to the point where I'd almost decided maybe this wasn't such a good idea, I got a response from Matmos saying they wanted to do it, and that really gave me hope and I just kept doing it. And it's continued right on up until now.

Q: Thanks for talking with me.

JV: No problem.

The live performance John mentioned in the interview consisted of two tracks each from his douthoux and Battling Green Eye Shades projects. They are: Technology, Personal, Glass One, and Glass Two.

Links:
Grandchildren Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grandchildrenmusic
Eddie Sids Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eddie-Sids/103540207435
Battling Green Eye Shades on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/battlinggreen#p/a/u/1/ZYyKlUBmzlQ
Eddie Sids Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/eddiesids

The Future of the Justice System?

2011-08-18T09:40:00.003-05:00

I thought this article from Boingboing was interesting, especially since this is the year of gaming here on Penn's campus. Apparently Notch, the creator of the popular game Minecraft, is working on a new project he's calling "Scrolls". Bethesda Games, creators of "Elder Scrolls" a popular role playing game is taking issue with this and asking him to change the name before it's release. Notch had a different solution in mind...

I challenge Bethesda to a game of Quake 3. Three of our best warriors against three of your best warriors. We select one level, you select the other, we randomize the order. 20 minute matches, highest total frag count per team across both levels wins.

If we win, you drop the lawsuit.

If you win, we will change the name of Scrolls to something you’re fine with.

Regardless of the outcome, we could still have a small text somewhere saying our game is not related to your game series in any way, if you wish.

I am serious, by the way.

So will this be the future of our legal system? Will we live in a digital "Running Man"-esque society? Here's hoping this event actually takes place.

The End of the Summer

2011-08-12T15:04:00.003-05:00

If you're a Penn student who graduated in May, you've been lucky enough to have a whole extra summer to continue working in the lab. The bad news is that the summer break is about to end, the birds will start to head south, and you won't be able to use the lab anymore once September starts. The good news is you still have almost 3 whole weeks before the end of August! So use the time you have left to take advantage of of the hardware, software, and expertise the lab has to offer to finish up your projects before you disappear into the "real world" beyond college.

It's been really nice working with you all, and I hope we see you again over winter break or next summer when classes are out of session, when we allow alumni to use the lab (don't forget to bring your alumni card!)

Password Strength

2011-08-10T09:54:00.005-05:00

Here is an interesting take on how to optimize the strength of your passwords.
XKCD created this web comic based on this paper (PDF) about best practices for creating passwords. It is pretty different than the common accepted approach to creating a secure code, and would be much easier for most people to remember.
Take a look:

This was reblogged from boingboing.net where there is an interesting discussion going on about the legitimacy and difficulties of using this system.

FontStruct

2011-08-04T10:22:00.003-05:00

Have you ever wanted to make your own font, but didn't want to be bothered with learning Illustrator or with buying font creation software? FontStruct is here to help. You can go to http://fontstruct.com/ and use their online app to create your own font, then save that font as a True Type font (.ttf) to your local computer. It has tons of options for creating your font and a very simple interface. Give it a try!
Here are some interesting examples of fonts created on the site:

The great migration

2011-07-30T12:12:00.002-05:00

Are you liking Google +? Perhaps you like the circles and hangs, but are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of rebuilding all of your connections from scratch? Here's a Lifehacker article about migrating alllllllll of that data from Facebook to Google +.

Mac OSX Lion Compatible Apps

2011-07-24T19:28:00.004-05:00

For those of us still waiting to upgrade to Apple's new operating system, OS X 10.7, aka Lion, it's helpful to know whether any of of the killer apps that we depend on regularly are indeed compatible with the new OS, so that we don't shell out our cash, upgrade, and suddenly find out that the program we need the most now crashes our system.

Well now there's RoaringApps, a wiki which tells you whether your favorite apps are Lion-compatible, so that you know whether you should wait before upgrading. Plus, if you have the inside scoop on an app, you can contribute your knowledge by adding the app to the growing list of programs that have been tested on Lion.

The chart lets you limit your view to compatible apps, non-compatible apps, or the full list.

http://roaringapps.com/apps:table

Migrating from Final Cut Pro 7 to Final Cut Pro X

2011-07-20T10:01:00.003-05:00

Last time I spoke with them, the good people at Lynda.com are still working on creating their training courses for the controversial new FCPX. In the meantime, though, they've created a very helpful set of videos on transitioning from the old FCP 7 to the latest version.

This course, taught by award-winning writer/producer/director Abba Shapiro, is intended for people who are already quite familiar with editing in FCP 7--it's not a beginner course. But if you're a FCP 7 user who's ready to start gearing up for working with X, this is the course for you.

It's only 3 hours long, and you can use my favorite Lynda.com feature to watch it at double speed in half the time. If you don't have your own Lynda.com account, just stop by the lab or the WIC desk and we'll log you in in one of our computers.

http://www.lynda.com/Final-Cut-Pro-X-tutorials/Migrating-from-Final-Cut-Pro-7-to/84525-2.html

Google+ iPhone App

2011-07-19T15:46:00.004-05:00

The Google Plus iPhone app became available today. Of course, you need to be a Google Plus user to take advantage of it.

I haven't had a chance to do much with the app yet other than download it and log in, but I'm hoping to try it out tonight. Certainly looks promising. I couldn't find it in the app store (perhaps it hasn't been indexed yet), and ended up having to follow a link from a webpage. Just in case you have the same problem, here's the link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google/id447119634?mt=8

Google +

2011-07-05T12:12:00.003-05:00

Have you checked out Google + yet? It looks pretty comprehensive, and, well, fun. You may have heard that Google + will be "everything"-an e-mail service, a social network, a media sharing tool, a community. From having just briefly looked over the demo, it seems that's pretty true. It's a bit difficult to articulate, so go investigate!

How to Reserve Equipment in 90 seconds or less

2011-06-29T07:46:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Jesse for this 90-second video walk-through of how to reserve the equipment we lend from here in the lab. You can make your reservation at http://checkout.sas.upenn.edu.

The best Final Cut Pro X review so far!

2011-06-28T11:30:00.003-05:00

Final Cut Pro X

2011-06-23T14:55:00.008-05:00

Wow. I have never read such vile reviews of a product in my life. An awful lot of people seem to be singularly unhappy with Apple right now over the new release of Final Cut Pro, which became available as a download in the App Store just yesterday for $299, a heavy discount from the previous version's $999 price tag.

First, you can (and should) check out Apple's FCP site at http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/

Then you can read Walter Biscardi's review at Creative Cow, which does a good job listing the problems that have made so many FCP users upset: http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/final-cut-pro-x-whats-missing-for-some-pros

Then, before you get TOO upset, you should read David Pogue's responses to many of those complaints: http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/professional-video-editors-weigh-in-on-final-cut-pro-x/

He ends his article with these words: "Professional editors should (1) learn to tell what’s really missing from what’s just been moved around, (2) recognize that there’s no obligation to switch from the old program yet, (3) monitor the progress of FCP X and its ecosystem, and especially (4) be willing to consider that a radical new design may be unfamiliar, but may, in the long term, actually be better."

We will be keeping Final Cut Pro 7 in the lab for the coming school year (this was already the plan, even before the release of FCP X, because Apple's release date was too close to the beginning of classes to allow us adequate time to learn and test the new software), but we will have the new version available on at least 1 or 2 workstations for those who wish to start using it or play around with it. We'll re-evaluate the state of FCP in the Summer of 2012.

Updates: It's been several days since the release of FCPX, and there's a growing body of good material on what's going on:

Jeffrey Harrell has an excellent post on why FCPX is wrong for professional editors:
http://jefferyharrell.tumblr.com/post/6830049685/what-went-wrong-with-final-cut-pro-x

Thanks to Ellen for pointing me toward this response to David Pogue from video editing guru Rich Harrington: http://library.creativecow.net/harrington_richard/Pogue_Answers/1

Also, if you have an hour and half to kill, and this topic is of particular interest to you, you may want to check out Rich Harrington and Walter Biscardi--both long term professional video editors and longtime FCP users--discuss their concerns in this "podcast" at CreativeCow.net called "Why We Can't Use Final Cut Pro X at Our Companies": http://library.creativecow.net/harrington_biscardi/FCPX/1

Most significantly perhaps, David Pogue has since downgraded his recommendation on FCPX in his third article on the ongoing debacle: "Final Cut Pro X may indeed be ready for the future. But for professional video editors, it’s not yet ready for the present."

Man, I'm glad I'm not Steve Jobs right now.

Facebook Privacy. Yes, again.

2011-06-21T13:34:00.002-05:00

Lifehacker has created this nice guide on managing your privacy settings in Facebook. The best part is that they've promised to keep it up to date:

http://lifehacker.com/5813990/the-always-up+to+date-guide-to-managing-your-facebook-privacy

Fitting the iPad into a Photography Work Flow

2011-06-19T13:04:00.003-05:00

Terry White had a good post recently on how to fit an iPad into a Photography workflow. Yes, there's a certain aspect of the post that seems like a thinly veiled attempt to get you to purchase certain apps, but it's not unreasonable to expect that you'd need 3rd party apps to full take advantage of the device, just as you'd buy MS Word or Adobe Photoshop to full utilize your computer.

He breaks the post into these general areas:

Preparing for the shoot
Model and property releases
Getting images into the iPad
Controlling the Camera from the iPad
Reviewing the images
Editing the images
Going from Lightroom to the iPad

And talks about how the iPad is useful in each area.

Read Terry's post at http://terrywhite.com/techblog/archives/7606

Lubith

2011-06-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

I learned about Lubith last week and I spent the weekend playing around with it. Boy do I like it. Lubith is a tool that helps you design and download your own Wordpress theme. For free! Check out this five minute (okay seven minute) tutorial on how to use it.

Games & Alternate Reality Games for Learning

2011-06-13T10:16:00.002-05:00

Great session for anyone interested in using games in an educational setting. I'm copying and pasting from the flyer:

Whether you are new to games or want to discover how they can be used for learning you won't want to miss the PANMA session to get the latest information. This session is for anyone in education, corporate or looking for new innovative ways to get your audience to participate and learn.

We're lucky to have Koreen Olbrish from Tandem Learning to share her knowledge and experience with you. Tandem Learning has been at the forefront of immersive learning strategies and applying game dynamics to educational projects. Koreen will share the latest trends in serious game design, including 3D immersive games and alternate reality games (ARGs), and how these design techniques can increase engagement and facilitate learning. For those new to serious games, Koreen will provide an overview of why games are great for learning, when games should be considered, and the basics of different types of serious game design. Case studies of corporate learning implementations of games will also be reviewed.

Q & A Panel

We'll close the evening with a Q&A panel where you can ask your questions.

You'll learn about:

Current trends in applying game dynamics to learning
How serious games can engage learners differently
Alternate reality games and their advantage in immersive learning design

Date: Thursday, June 30, 2011

Time: Doors open: 5:30pm / Event Starts at: 6:00 – 8:00pm

Location: Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut Street, Room G-55, Phila, PA 19104 | Directions: http://bit.ly/7trnIP

Cost: FREE

Register Here: http://panma.eventbrite.com

Pizza & light refreshments will be provided. A special Thank you to our Sponsor Wharton Technology for providing the space and pizza.

Page Speed Online

2011-06-10T13:42:00.003-05:00

I like this. Google Labs is developing Page Speed-a site that rates how quickly any page on the internet loads. I could imagine this being helpful for web designers testing out how quickly their pages are, but I could also see this being helpful for users. For example, if your computer is lagging, this site can tell you whether it's your computer that behaving badly or if the page is particularly slow. Of course, it might take a while for the page to work if your computer is the culprit...
In Google's words: Page Speed Online analyzes the content of a web page, then generates suggestions to make that page faster. Reducing page load times can reduce bounce rates and increase conversion rates.

Facebook Face Recognition and Privacy

2011-06-08T13:19:00.004-05:00

The New York Times is reporting that Facebook is changing your Privacy Settings to allow its facial recognition software to identify you in the photos uploaded by you and others. Once you've been recognized, Facebook suggests to your friends that they tag you.

I'm not a big fan of Facebook making privacy decisions on your behalf. They should alert you that the new feature exists, and then let you opt in if you so desire. But of course, as I have said many times to many people Facebook and Privacy are actually polar opposites. FB wouldn't be able to make any money if people were smart enough not to share every bit of information about themselves with everyone else on the internet.

From the article:
You can change the privacy settings relating to the facial recognition feature, but it is a little confusing. If you want to disable the feature, go your account privacy settings and click “customize settings” at the bottom of the page. Once in this area, scroll down to a list of options called “things others share,” and then click on the button that says “suggest photos of me to friends.” You will then be given the option to disable the facial recognition feature.

Read the full article at:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/facebook-changes-privacy-settings-to-enable-facial-recognition/?ref=technology

Hipster City Cycle

2011-06-06T13:05:00.006-05:00

Vitale Media Lab vets Michael Highland (UPenn '08) and Keith McKnight (UPenn '08) have just released there long in gestation iPhone game. Hipster City Cycle is now available on the App store for $1.99. The two, along with their crew of cronies have turned out quite a product. Its a retro-feeling biking game that takes place on the streets of Philadelphia. You might recognize some familiar sites like Pat's and Geno's Steaks, a Septa Bus, and Rittenhouse Square. There are tons of details, and lots and lots of hipsters. Check out more on the game at there official site: http://www.hipstercitycycle.com
or at their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/hipstercity

YouTube + Creative Commons

2011-06-02T12:14:00.005-05:00

Starting today YouTube is introducing the option to upload your videos with a Creative Commons license. This will allow other users to legally sample your work to create their own mashups and musings. This is great news! Check out more details at boingboing.net

The Last Photo I will Ever Take of Rico and Chase

2011-05-28T09:53:00.001-05:00

Not that I've taken all that many to begin with, but now that Rico has moved away, there are unlikely to be any more. I'm glad it turned out so well.

Memorial Day hours

2011-05-27T15:03:00.004-05:00

We will be open this coming Monday, Memorial day, from noon-5pm. Enjoy the weekend!

Educational Technology Librarian

2011-05-25T15:37:00.003-05:00

As reported earlier today over at the PennWIC blog, we've just started a search for an Educational Technology Librarian here in the Information Commons. This librarian will develop and teach workshops, work with faculty, and promote the use of new media technologies. Read the full job posting (and instructions for applying) at http://www.library.upenn.edu/employment/professional/educationaltech.html

Awareness

2011-05-17T13:58:00.003-05:00

A former lab consultant of ours had gone on to make wonderful digital things (don't they all). His name is Michael Highland and his creation is Awareness. His description: Awareness helps you become more aware of time spent on the computer by playing the sound of a singing bowl to mark every hour of continuous computer use. It also displays how long you've been using your computer without a break in the menu bar. $1.99 from the Apple store. Can't beat Awareness. Thanks Mike!

Congraduations!

2011-05-16T15:00:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to our graduating seniors Chase, Rico, Terry, and Thomas! We will miss them immensely when they are gone, and wish them the best of luck. "Fall Forward," guys!

Closing Wednesday

2011-05-16T12:20:00.001-05:00

Hi all. We'll be CLOSING Wednesday, May 18, so that we can do inventory and spruce the place up a bit. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Graduation Ceremony

2011-05-14T07:58:00.000-05:00

Come by the lab Monday morning and watch the graduation ceremony and speeches (President Gutmann, Denzel Washington, and more!) on the big screen in the lab while you work on your media project! Plus, you won't have to get wet out in the rain.

Congrats Anu!

2011-05-13T13:31:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Dr. Anu Vedantham, Director of the Weigle Information Commons, who will graduate tomorrow, earning her doctorate in Higher Education Management from Penn's Graduate School of Education.

Mashup Contest Voting

2011-05-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

The Mashup Contest Entries are in! And they're up for your voting pleasure. Check them out and cast your vote at:

http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicideas/mashup/2011voting.html

The Future of Music?

2011-05-10T15:32:00.000-05:00

Music fans aren't just consumers anymore... they are tastemakers, music distributors and even collaborators with artists. How does this impact artists' careers? Will anyone get paid for making music anymore? How does this up the ante for concerts and festivals? Is touring and playing out 200 times a year the future of music?

Visit WHYY's Philadelphia Studios on Friday, May 20th as Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, hosts of the nationally distributed rock 'n' roll talk show Sound Opinions, discuss the impact of the unprecedented changes in the new music world.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO/TO REGISTER

Prior to the discussion with Jim and Greg, guests to this event will enjoy a cocktail reception sponsored by Maker's Mark. Following the event at WHYY, guests are invited to a post-discussion after-party (also sponsored by Maker's Mark) at Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant.

EVENT INFORMATION*:
Sound Opinions: The Future of Music
Friday, May 20, 2011
WHYY (150 N. Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106)

Pre-Event Reception (Sponsored by Maker's Mark) - 6:00 pm
Discussion - 6:30 pm
Event Conclusion - 8:00 pm
Post-Event After Party (Sponsored by Maker's Mark from 9 pm - 11 pm) - Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant (120 Market St. Philadelphia PA 19106)

WHYY Members - $8
Non-Members - $12

* You must be at least 21-years-old to attend this event.

Mashup entries due

2011-05-09T13:44:00.005-05:00

Don't forget that your Mashup entries are due by 9pm today!
Fill out our online submission form and get your masterpiece in.
In case you've forgotten here are some of our guidelines:

Length: Run time not to exceed 2 minutes

Format: DVD quality video and/or online video (through YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

Eligibility: Currently enrolled Penn undergraduate and graduate students (individuals or teams). Each student can be the lead filmmaker on only one entry.

WIC Chosen for 2011 Senior Parents Project

2011-05-04T10:27:00.003-05:00

Each year, the parents of the graduating senior class select a project for their fund-raising focus. We are very grateful to the Parents Fund for selecting the Weigle Information Commons for the 2011 Senior Parents Project.

The “Parents of the Class of 2011 Fund” will allow WIC to offer advanced programs to undergraduates on a range of topics and enable the Commons to provide students with access to the most up-to- date technologies – poster printers, video cameras, graphic design software – for their projects.

originally posted to the PennWIC Blog.

What the heck is Fring?

2011-05-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm glad you asked. Fring is an app for iPhone and Android that allows you to make phone calls, video calls, and text message. Um ok? I already have Skype, right? What's the deal? There is a new feature with Fring that supports group video chats! So now you and three friends can all video chat at the same time. Check out this Youtube promo video (sorry the song is a little annoying).

The Googlization of Everything - and Why We Should Worry

2011-05-03T14:38:00.004-05:00

Penn Libraries will be hosting a lecture by Siva Vaidhyanathan, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia about his latest book The Googlization of Everything - and Why We Should Worry

It will be held Tuesday, May 10 from 9:30 - 11:30 in the Class of '55 conference room.

Siva Vaidhyanathan is a cultural historian and media scholar, and is currently a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia. Vaidhyanathan is a frequent contributor on media and cultural issues in various periodicals including The Chronicle of Higher Education, New York Times Magazine, The Nation, and Salon.com. He is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio and to MSNBC.COM and has appeared in a segment of "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. In March 2002, Library Journal cited Vaidhyanathan among its “Movers & Shakers” in the library field. In November 2004 the Chronicle of Higher Education called Vaidhyanathan “one of academe’s best-known scholars of intellectual property and its role in contemporary culture.” He has testified as an expert before the U.S. Copyright Office on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. He is noted for opposing the Google Books scanning project on copyright grounds. He has published the opinion, that the project poses a danger for the doctrine of fair use, because the fair use claims are arguably so excessive that it may cause judicial limitation of that right. (more info at http://www.law.virginia.edu/lawweb/faculty.nsf/prfhpbw/sv2r)

There will also be three respondents from the University of Pennsylvania:

Joseph Turrow, Robert Lewis Shayon Professor of Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication
Shyam Balganesh, Assistant Professor at the School of Law
Roch Guerin, Alfred Fitler Moore Professor of Telecommunication Networks at the School of Engineering

This invitation is extended to the entire Penn community

Mac Defender

2011-05-03T13:06:00.002-05:00

From Penn Information Systems and Computing:

Information is trickling in from both on and off campus about the distribution of fake security software targeted directly at the Macintosh desktop OS. The program, MAC Defender, is similar to existing "rogueware" which has existed on the MS Windows platform for a while.
The app claims that the Mac is heavily infected with malware. An unsolicited install dialog box appears prompting the user to type in an administrator password.

Once installed, software alerts users with pervasive pop-ups indicating that their system is infected and that only the "full" program will remove the threats. The full program, of course, is easily downloaded once the user types in a valid credit card number.

Symantec's response, including Antivirus Protection Dates (pending):

http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2011-050313-0713-99

Additional information from Intego:

http://blog.intego.com/2011/05/02/intego-security-memo-macdefender-fake-antivirus/

Please let us know if you are seeing the above behavior. We'll share any additional information that we receive about this threat.

Now Lending Macbook Chargers

2011-05-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

We're now lending Mac laptop chargers for you forgetful (or lazy) Mac owners who left yours at home. You can check one out for up to 4 hours at a time. Now that we're lending these in an official capacity, we are allowing borrowers to take them out of the lab as well.

JENGA!

2011-04-29T11:28:00.000-05:00

The WIC Seminar Room will be open from Friday, April 28 to Tuesday, May 10 whenever the building is open. Come and explore our games and puzzles when you are ready for a break!

You can post ideas and suggestions to this tumblr blog.

Harry Potter Legos

2011-04-28T15:17:00.004-05:00

Please check out the amazing Harry Potter greenhouse created by Penn Professor Louise Krasniewicz and her son. They are semi-finalists in the LEGO Harry Potter Building Challenge!

See the a slide show of this incredibly detailed structure at http://www.flickr.com/photos/52237454@N05/sets/72157626503416188/show/

And perhaps more importantly, be sure to vote for it (Greenhouse 3) in the contest at http://harrypotter.lego.com/en-us/contest/default.aspx (you'll need to register for a free LEGO account).

Done with Posters for Today

2011-04-28T13:44:00.003-05:00

Hey all. All of the poster printing slots are filled for the day. As I write this, there are still 4 slots available for tomorrow (Friday). Head over to http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicfacilities/lending.html if you'd like to reserve one.

Farewell Photo

2011-04-28T08:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the waitress at Tap House for taking this photo of the end-of-year dinner photo of the lab consultants. L-to-R: Rico, Thomas, Chase, Janice, Terry, and Kaitlyn.

Tis the Season for Resumes

2011-04-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

QR CODE - Content-rich Resume from Victor petit on Vimeo.

Here is a video via Make:Blog showcasing a clever use of QR codes in your resume. Giving a resume some type of interactivity is a great way to set yourself apart from the pack.

No Food in the Lab

2011-04-25T14:50:00.002-05:00

Although we (generously, IMHO) allow beverages in the lab (with a lid, please), we ask that you not eat in the lab. But you should feel free to step outside occasionally to take a bite.

Thanks.

Visual Studies Senior Thesis Show tonight!

2011-04-22T10:52:00.004-05:00

What are you doing tonight from 5-7pm?
You should head over to the Fox Gallery in Claudia Cohen Hall. There's going to be a great show-it's the senior thesis show for the Visual Studies students. Many of these students have been hard at work here at the lab. Now is the time to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Go!

Dropbox Advice

2011-04-22T09:32:00.000-05:00

A word to the wise about Dropbox.
Dropbox is a great service. Lots of cloud space + very few/no dollars=peace of mind.
But, Dropbox is not designed for use on public computers.

I've been seeing a lot of Dropbox folders pop up here at the lab. This makes me nervous for you users. If you establish an account with Dropbox from a public place, Dropbox will ask you to download its application. Doing this sets up a permanent folder at your computer. If you do this, the application grants access to your files to anyone who sits down at said computer. Even after you leave it. Not good.

You can still sign up for DB at a public computer, just don't download the application. Save that for your personal computer. You cannot upload the same amount via the web interface as you can with the application, but you still have far more space than you would if you were trying to e-mail something to yourself.

From Tupac to 'Gangster Arabi': Hip-Hop in the Middle East

2011-04-19T09:42:00.004-05:00

Yuval Orr is dear to our hearts at the media lab. Not only was he a Selzter Grant awardee, but we've witnessed him work hard over the past years on an array of projects.

Check out a conversation he'll be presenting tomorrow called:
"From Tupac to 'Gangster Arabi': Hip-Hop in the Middle East"
Yuval Orr, C’11
...B.A. Candidate
Modern Middle Eastern Studies
College of Arts & Sciences

As change sweeps across the Middle East, the voices of the region's youth are beginning to be heard. Among the growing youth movements in the region is the hip-hop community, spanning from Morocco to Iran. These artists have adopted this musical form, and the cultural movement behind it, as a medium through which to construct and express their identity to their own communities and the rest of the world. The growing hip-hop scenes and movements in Morocco, Israel, and Palestine in particular represent a significant crossroad between an American art form and local traditions. Through hip-hop, artists across the region grapple with the weight of cultural convergences, from the foundational influences of Tupac Shakur to the contemporary image of the Gangster Arabi.

See the Facebook Event.

3D Images on the iPhone

2011-04-18T15:18:00.006-05:00

We discovered (actually it was featured on Make:Blog and CNN) a really fun and groundbreaking app today for the iPhone. It is called Trimensional and it allows you to make a low quality 3d image using just the camera on your iPhone or iPad. This file can then be emailed as an actual 3d model file (which you could then print on a 3d printer) or as an animated gif. These are examples of images we took in the lab.

Here is a link to the app in the iTunes store and a video from the creator if you'd like some more details about the app. Feel free to try out the app on our iPad2 in the lab.

Philly Tech Week

2011-04-16T10:25:00.005-05:00

Philly tech week begins April 25th! What's this, you ask?

Philly Tech Week a week-long celebration of technology and innovation in Philadelphia. The annual week of events is intended to grow the impact of this innovative region through programming focused on technology, collaboration and improving Philadelphia. The inaugural week takes place April 25th to April 30th and will feature events from partners like The Franklin Institute, Independents Hall and First Round Capital.

There are all sorts of really interesting events, I for one will be attending the Girl Geek dinner.

Philly Tech Week is being organized by Technically Philly, a news site that covers the people who use technology in Philadelphia.

New Projectors Added!

2011-04-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

The lab has added two new Infocus IN-104 Projectors to its inventory. You can go to our equipment page here to make a reservation.

Richard Stallman Coming to Penn

2011-04-14T15:56:00.002-05:00

Richard Stallman will be coming to Penn next Wednesday to give a talk.

Richard Stallman (rms) is the father of the GNU operating system and the Free Software Foundation and a key member of the hacker culture. He is one of the most infamous figures in the computer science world and one of the premier thinkers on digital ethics. Come hear him speak about Digital Inclusion at 4:30PM on Wednesday (the 20th) in Wu & Chen Auditorium.

He has received the ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award, the EFF Pioneer award, a MacArthur Fellowship genius grant, as well as numerous honorary doctorates. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman for more information about him personally.

Space is limited, so please go to http://git.to/rms to RSVP (or to find out more details) if you would like to come.

Preserving Your Family Photographs

2011-04-13T15:26:00.003-05:00

We all have photographs that document our family stories. Join us to learn how to preserve these photographic materials – from 19th century daguerreotypes to contemporary digital images. Barbara Lemmen, Senior Photograph Conservator at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) in Philadelphia, will present an illustrated lecture which will cover how to handle, store, and display photographs. There will be time to view samples of various photographic processes as well as to inspect currently available long-term
storage systems.

Tuesday, April 26 5:30pm
Class of '55 Conference Room
Van Pelt Library

This lecture is free, but due to space limitations RSVP to Abby Eron at 215-545-0613 or aeron@ccaha.org by April 25, 2011

Planning your Documentary

2011-04-04T09:58:00.005-05:00

We're very lucky to have Ellen Reynolds presenting this workshop on how to organize a long-term documentary video project. Ellen is the lab supervisor at the School of Design, and has taught film and video at both the University of the Arts and UPenn. She is also a filmmaker herself, specializing in documentary film.

She will discuss the optimal field package for your project, equipment purchases, editing options, planning for travel/shooting in challenging environments, and learning to shoot for the edit. She will provide examples of organizational aids, release forms, and timelines. Designed for undergraduates considering multimedia as part of a research project.

When: Wednesday, Apr 6, 03:30 -5:00pm
Where: ~~Class of '55 Conference Room, Van Pelt Library, 2nd floor West~~. Moved to WIC Seminar Room, Van Pelt Library, 1st floor West.

Sign up on our website.

New, Dynamic Blog views for Blogger

2011-04-04T09:14:00.000-05:00

Blogger now offers five dynamic views for its public blogs. These views are only accessible if allowed for by the blog author, although they seem to be permitted by default.

Flipcard: available at [blogURL]/view/flipcard
Mosaic: available at [blogURL]/view/mosaic
Sidebar: available at [blogURL]/view/sidebar
Snapshot: available at [blogURL]/view/snapshot
Timeslide: available at [blogURL]/view/timeslide

As an example, the URL for accessing the Mosaic view for our own blog would be http://vitaledigitalmedialab.blogspot.com/view/mosaic.

Full details at http://goo.gl/DuVOK.

Epub file creation

2011-04-01T10:00:00.006-05:00

I recently created my first .epub file. This is a type of e-book file that can be read on Android devices, the Nook, Sony Reader, and portable Apple devices among others. The files are a little odd in the way they need to be formatted. Here are a few resources I found helpful when creating my first document.

http://calibre-ebook.com/
Calibre is a free and open source e-book library management application developed by users of e-books for users of e-books. This program allows you to convert between several different formats.

http://code.google.com/p/sigil/
Sigil is Google's free multi-platform WYSIWYG ebook editor.

Adobe TV ebook creation using InDesign
This is a link to a series of three videos on Adobe TV about ebook creation using InDesign. These are what I primarily used to get started, and they helped a lot, although you need a little bit of an InDesign background to get started. You also need to be using InDesign CS4 or CS5 to export the .epub file.

Stabilize with YouTube

2011-03-30T12:15:00.001-05:00

Did you know that Youtube has a "stabilize" feature in it's video editing mode? I didn't. This is how it works.

It's pretty simple. I could imagine this being really helpful for videos shot with a phone that you don't want to have to import, edit, then export through an additional editing program.

iPad 2

2011-03-28T16:17:00.005-05:00

Come try our brand new iPad 2! We already had an original iPad, so feel free to try them side-by-side to compare them. (The white one with the fancy lime green magnetic cover is the new one, and the black one is the original model.) We've already added the new GarageBand and iMovie, which are very cool to use. Let us know if there are specific apps you'd like to see and we'll do our best to install them for you to try. Enjoy!

showmypc.com

2011-03-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

Do your parents ever call you up with mundane computer questions? Do you ever have a hard time walking them through something because they don't know what the "Desktop" is. Well your prayers for a simple solution have been answered. There have been many ways to remotely connect to a computer in the past, but showmypc.com is about the easiest one out there. This is a free service that allows you to connect to a pc, a mac, even devices running Android. Showmypc.com not only allows you to view other people's screen, but it allow you to control their computer remotely. It does have a slight delay, but it is completely functional for most needs.

Firefox 4 Released Today!

2011-03-22T15:42:00.003-05:00

Mozilla Firefox 4 was released today. Check out the details and new features at http://www.tomsguide.com/us/mozilla-firefox-firefox-4,news-10563.html

Mozilla likely will start prompting Firefox 3.x users to update following the first major update, currently scheduled for some time in April.

Playstation Kinect Hacking

2011-03-18T14:00:00.001-05:00

There has been a lot of enthusiasm in Techie/Hacker communities lately about Sony's Kinect device. The Kinect used a series of cameras to track figures in a room, turning people's bodies into video game controllers. So instead of pressing a button on a controller to kick a soccer ball in a game, you simply kick your foot and the game responds. Sony has had mixed feelings about people ripping open their hardware and using it for their own uses, but recently they have been more open to the idea. Most of the modified uses of the hardware use custom software, and are not reliant on the Playstation 3, as was the initial intent. Here is one of the more entertaining examples of this technology being put to use.

Check out http://kinecthacks.net/ for some more examples.

Vitale Digital Media Lab

Blog moving!

RealArts @ Penn Internships

Elfed

Converting film reels to digital video

Why won't my Windows drive work on my Mac?

Smart Phone Buyer's Guide

What is 4K Video?

Interview with Carrier IQ

Hi!

Gadget Day This Wednesday

Where Do All the Servers Go?

Adobe Software just got cheaper

Wacom Inkling

Which is the best Music Service?

User Storage Down

Cory Doctorow tonight!

Free $50 Store Gift Card with iPad 2

Lab closing

Lab closing

November Workshops

Lab closing

Happy Halloween!

Lynda temporarily Unavailable

Books, like in a library

Copyright... it confuses everyone

Introduction to OS X Lion Workshop Today

We Lost a Friend Yesterday

Facebook Privacy

Final Cut Pro X

Connecting to AirPennNet

CS 5.5

Time Magazine Beyond 9/11 Project

Chase Irwin: Blowing Your Mind

September Workshops

I am the Robot

Google Image Search--new and improved

Best TV Shows Ever

Intro to Lion Workshop

Future Proof

InDesign FX

Interview with John Vogel

The Future of the Justice System?

The End of the Summer

Password Strength

FontStruct

The great migration

Mac OSX Lion Compatible Apps

Migrating from Final Cut Pro 7 to Final Cut Pro X

Google+ iPhone App

Google +

How to Reserve Equipment in 90 seconds or less

The best Final Cut Pro X review so far!

Final Cut Pro X

Facebook Privacy. Yes, again.

Fitting the iPad into a Photography Work Flow

Lubith

Games & Alternate Reality Games for Learning

Page Speed Online

Facebook Face Recognition and Privacy

Hipster City Cycle

YouTube + Creative Commons

The Last Photo I will Ever Take of Rico and Chase

Memorial Day hours

Educational Technology Librarian

Awareness

Congraduations!

Closing Wednesday

Graduation Ceremony

Congrats Anu!

Mashup Contest Voting

The Future of Music?

Mashup entries due

WIC Chosen for 2011 Senior Parents Project

What the heck is Fring?

The Googlization of Everything - and Why We Should Worry

Mac Defender

Now Lending Macbook Chargers

More Flip Videocameras!

JENGA!