The Future of Media #81: Get Out Your Crystal Ball

The Future of Media #81: Get Out Your Crystal Ball

You can't look at a crystal ball without thinking of the past.  I remember the 8-track vs audiocassette debate and Betamax vs VHS.  I remember when the laserdisc first appeared (Think DVD, but LP sized).  I still have LPs, 45s and a record player to play them on.   I am an early adopter in some regards.  You may have read in an earlier post that I have owned a widescreen HDTV CRT for about 8 years.

Technology moves on.  I remember when the internet was just starting.  Now you can have streaming video on your PC, Laptop, or hand-held device. Despite all this, I think we will always want a format you can hold in your hand AND the convenience of computer access. 

But not everyone has internet access. And in homes that do, there may be only one computer.  Just because you hear about all the tech, dosn't mean it is in wide use.  I watched the HD DVD vs Blu-ray race and still get regular DVDs.  I don't see my DVD player dying anytime soon.  Same with my VCR, tho if I want to record with it I would need a converter box (maybe.  I need to look at the back of the electronics again. Good thing the system is on wheels.)

The new 3D movies are fun, but I don't see myself adopting that tech at home yet, unless it just means a pair of 3D glasses.  Maybe the new 3D developments will help advance virtual reality technology.  Holo-deck anyone?  I think that is the influence for the future.

But I will still go to the movies.  Besides, the last movie I attended included 3 adults and 6 teens and I don't think they all would have fit in my living room even if it was clean.

The Future of Media #80: Movies

The Future of Media #80: Movies

I have used Hulu to watch a free full-length film on my laptop, but I prefer the larger screen of my TV.  That is why we have DVDs and cables for connecting the laptop to the larger TV 'monitor'.


I looked for a trailer for the upcoming movie "The Last Airbender".  Hulu did not have it in their trailer list, but gave me a search option to find it on other sites.   IMDB, or Internet Movie Database, is usually my default site for finding info on movies.  They had the trailers with a quick search.  I like the additional info IMDB provides.  This movie is based on an anime titled "Avatar, the Last Airbender".   I guess they changed the movie title after that other Avatar movie came out.

I  don't think I would use any of the fee-based services to get the movies I want at home.  Between the public Library, Hulu, and other free sites, I can usually find what I want.

The Future of Media #79: Television

The Future of Media #79: Television

Television.  First of all, let me state a couple of things.  I have owned a widescreen HD CRT TV for over 8 years and get my programming over the air.  I was ahead of the curve with HD programming and had no problems with the changeover.  I used to watch a few programs on a regular basis.  After the TV writer's strike, I became disaffected by TV.  I now rarely watch TV, except for the occasional DVD or something like the Olympics.

I visit Hulu occasionally, just to see if there are any new programs I might be interested in viewing.  The site does provide decent coverage.  Some shows may be a short series and in that case may have a limited time for viewing.  Viewers should be aware of such limitations so they are not caught in the middle of a series when it is rotated out.   I actually found one program I liked enough to buy the DVDs.

Have I ever watched a TV show on my cell phone? Well, no, because I don't have a cell phone.  Even if I did,  I don't think I would want to do so.  There really isn't anything out there that I am interested in watching on so small of a screen.
I do check on one YouTube  user "channel" regularly, because the poster is a relative.  I do not  post videos to a site on a regular basis.

Searching #78: Video

Searching #78: Video

I've looked around  HCPL’s YouTube channel.  How could our own branch video add to the mix of searchable video content on the Internet?  I think that would depend on how the video is titled, described, and tagged.  Most of the search result seem to depend on these three things.  I like how the book reviews include the book title and the event videos are location and event specific.


I searched for a particular video using both Truveo and Blinkx.  I decided to look for the "Printing at Freeman" set from the above channel to see what would happen. 

Truveo listed 3 of the 4 "Printing at Freeman" videos and one other video titled "TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas Print Shop Ribbon Cutting" under the all of their tabs.

Blinkx had a 2 page list, but none of the "Printing at Freeman" videos were in the list.  I guess that it due to the search method they use.  I don't like the auto preview they start up.  I would rather choose what to view on my own.

I also search for "Amish Paradise" on both sites.  Truveo had 1828 hits and Blinkx had 1430.  Again Blinkx had the annoying preview that automatically played.  Both had a preview of the hits- pictures with Truveo and either pics or repeating clips at Blinkx. 

Truveo lists the channels, or sources, of its hits.  The site also has Top Ranked, Most Recent, Most, Popular, and Highest Rated categories. You can also choose to list the hits three across with the title and source or a listing that includes channels, descriptions, tags, and age of post.

Blinkx has a list with title, description, source, and date.  They also have a video wall feature.  It creates a 5x5 video wall of the pics & clips found.  If you mouse over the wall, each 'tile' will expand a bit with info.  They give you instructions on how to add the wall to your site or blog, but I think I will pass.

Of these two, I find Truveo to be less annoying.

Searching #77: Images

Searching #77: Images

Exercise 1 asks "Using All Free Clip Art , how many clicks did it take to get to a color Santa that doesn’t look like a troll?"  My answer: 2

I used the search function by typing "santa" in the box and clicked on search. (click 1)  I looked at the search results and decided to stick with All Free Clip Art.  I selected the 5th link in the list:  http://www.allfree-clipart.com/clipart/Holidays/Christmas/christmas-clipart13.html (click 2)  Voila, three color Santas!  One may look like a bit like a troll and another was kind of skinny, but I have at least one that meets specs.

I read  “10 Places to Find Free Images Online” .   I did not try the site that a commenter warned about on the exercise blog.  I did try several others.  A couple had bad links.   Here are 2 I like:

FreePhotosBank does have advertising for other sites around the free photos, but if you pay attention, you can search and get free photos.  I like the details given about each photo and the options for jpeg or zip downloads.  Their Terms of Use are very clear that only the photos listing "freephotobank" as photographer are free to use so long as the site is credited.  Other photographers should be contacted for permission to use their photos.  The photo above is from FreePhotosBank.

I have used Flickr before.  I really like their use of the Creative Commons licensing.  Like the site above, the terms are very clear on what is needed for each level of licensing.  Again, free use of photos, just properly accredit if needed.

I have logged into the clip art program HCPL uses before.  Here is an illustration that could be used for a program at my branch.         Image copyright Jupiterimages

Searching #76: Sound Effects

Searching #76: Sound Effects

I the first Exercise, I used FindSounds to search for and post links to at least three animal sound effects in my blog. Here they are:
Rattler          Toad            Moo

lettersnstuff is the site I eventually found via FindSounds.  The site states that it provides free content.  You can take a look to judge yourself.  I did see several sites that did give me contact info if I wished to use recordings ( Here is an example), but many more with nothing at all on copyright.  If it wasn't obvious, I wasn't going to dig too far.

The second exercise recommends using the Simply the Best Sounds website.  I like this one better because it states right off the difference between public use and not. 
The following sounds were clearly marked Public Domain:     Boing2       Typing     Cow

I highly recommend the Simply the Best Sounds website. I will remember it for future use.