Special Topics: Convergence 2.0

Lunch Minute: Episode One

2008-08-06T21:28:00.001-04:00

Click to Play

Jake interviews Eric about his lunch.

2007-05-23T18:06:00.000-04:00


  

 This text is replaced by the Flash movie.

vir[us]

2007-04-26T19:25:00.000-04:00

vir[us] This will take you to the VIRUS homepage. To login use the following:

1. username: scott | password: pass
2. username: billy | password: pass
3. username: ryan | password: pas

Have fun, test it out.

- Group 1

Powering Up!! or the reason I missed the field trip...

2007-04-25T19:02:00.000-04:00

Hi class, I know it was last Saturday, but I thought I should tell everyone where I was working that afternoon seeing I didn't show up for the field trip. Northeastern held a mini gaming conference to attract new gaming firms to the area. It was slightly entertaining seeing this is the industry I want to get into, however, it was slightly depressing because the whole time people only spoke on the economics of game production and how hard it is to get a job in the industry. Lame.
Some good did happen however. I gave my portfolio to a few developers (Harmonix and Ironlore) although I truly don't expect any responses, I just hope they listen to some of my music. To prove this event really happened, here's a link! --- O Please Click Meee

Vwidder presentation visual aids.

2007-04-25T17:56:00.000-04:00

Vwidder combines live uploadable mobile video and QR code tagging in one convenient package.
Implementation of QR codes creates the opportunity for a layer above any physical space. QR codes reference Vwidder videos posted by anyone anywhere. The QR codes themselves are put right in the hand of the user, enabling a new kind of communication as underground or overt as the user wishes.

QR codes in action:

Mobile printing:

These guys.

zink printing.

Thursday FINAL

2007-04-24T13:28:00.001-04:00

FINAL projects will be presented on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Knock everyone's socks off!

Awesome Strep Throat

2007-04-20T19:57:00.000-04:00

I am just getting over an awesome case of strep throat that somehow managed to hospitalize me for two days against my will and keep me from sleeping for 96 straight hours, so I am fairly certain I will not be participating in the Saturday field trip. I will, however, be in class for the final project presentations.

Saturday class | Thursday FINAL

2007-04-20T16:25:00.000-04:00

We are meeting at 11:30 a.m. at 1369 in Central Square on Mass. Ave (not the 1369 in Inman Square!)

Each group will give an update on their final projects. This is your LAST chance to get any kind of feedback! I've heard very very little from you guys and am hoping that your projects will be a) inspired and b) finished. Remember, the majority of your grade is derived from this!

I also need to hand out evaluation forms. I know that Billy can't make it, but maybe someone can take the forms and give one to Billy?

We'll then head over to Art Interactive for a bit -- we should be finished by 1:30 or so.

Our FINAL will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in our class room. I will try to get some guest critics and shoot me an email if there's someone you want to invite. PLEASE reply to this post so I know you'll be coming on Saturday (it's NOT optional).

Saturday field trip

2007-04-20T14:49:00.000-04:00

One thing of interest that I would not like to miss tomorrow is the Red Sox Yankees game at 3:55 Pm.... other than that I don't really care about much in my life as far as tomorrow is concerned... so if we could just not miss that, I'd be happy with whatever, so if that means going earlier or shifting it to another time, I don't care... or even just watching it at a bar wherever we are... that'd be sweet...

let me know...

Jake

Saturday Field Trip

2007-04-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

Sounds good to me, nothing like a nice warm cup of coffee, a decent buzz, and the cyberarts festival. I've never been to this particular coffee shop, why this and not the good ol' starbucks? Is this coffee really good? Anyways, I am blogging again, I know I have not added anything for around a week, but I've been busy trying to get some substance together for my groups final project. We sort of slipped into a great idea with way to little time to implement. Anyways, this should make the final presentation real interesting!

-Scott

Saturday Field Trip

2007-04-17T22:54:00.000-04:00

As the Cyberarts Festival is kicking off on Friday, I'm thinking we could take a field trip over to Art Interactive to look at their exhibit (thanks New Ryan for your tip!). So I'm proposing we meet on Saturday at noon instead of Thursday.

And that we meet at Art Interactive in Central Square.

We can do our group check-ins at the 1369.

I'll have details on our Finals Presentations this week.

2D codes to save vwidder?

2007-04-16T03:06:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking long and hard about how to take vwidder to the next level of media convergence. Yasmine Abbas lectured at the most recent installment of Upgrade! this past Thursday at AI. She had some great things to say about multiple mobilities, neo-nomadism, and our changing urban landscape which she blogs about on her kaywa blog. What caught my interest most was the work she's doing with Wentworth students to create mobile hyperlinks along the freedom trail using 2D codes like the one pictured above. Project Dimo intends to enable trail goers to snap a cell phone picture of these 2D codes that will then link them content on the web pertaining to that location (examples in the Dimo blog). The 2D codes themselves work much like a barcode and researching them further it turns out they can control a number of functions on your phone including browsing, sms, saving contacts and dialing numbers. Research also proved that these may not be so hard to implement. Connexto and Kaywa both offer free code generation and software that make this possible. Kaywa even offers online services like blog hosting to ensure that content translates to their reader, although other blogs and rss feeds seem to translate as well.

Can this help vwidder become more collaborative? public? friendly? fun? While this is a cool way to advertise your website and mobile feed, is there a way we can link our real time mobile video blog to 2D tags where people might discover this public video space? Can said phones reading these codes view Vwidder videos? These are all questions that make me wonder if 2D codes are a direction worth going in but I submit my query to the mercy of the class. Any input?

Vir[us] folks -- LOOK AT THIS

2007-04-09T10:01:00.000-04:00

You Vir[us] folks should look at this project: http://www.opensourcecinema.org/

Ties into some of what you guys are doing (though I think the strength of your proposal is that it transcends and embraces multiple media and content creation concepts)

Field Trip Next Week!

2007-04-09T09:51:00.000-04:00

So I want us to do a field trip next week (since we won't meet on Patriot's Day). This will also be our last meeting before you guys present your jaw-dropping pieces the next week, so I want to have it serve as a team check-in, as well.

I thought that I could meet with Group 1 45 minutes early for a project check-in and run through. Then we could do our field trip and then Group B can do a project check-in for 45 minutes.

I was thinking of the ICA -- it's free on Thursday evenings, so we could meet there next Thursday (the 19th).

Any other suggestions?

Vwidder gang -- READ THIS!

2007-04-09T09:45:00.001-04:00

Hey Vwidder gang -- this post is right up your alley (from the Yahoo Videoblogging Group)

Update:
You need to look at this guy's Twitter Vlog. How will Vwidder be different? That is the big question for your group!

Hand-held Histories as HyperMonuments

2007-04-09T09:28:00.000-04:00

Check this project out -- inspiration to you Vwidder and Vir[us] folks?

Eisenstein's Monster

2007-04-09T09:02:00.000-04:00

Check out this cool video sculptural piece... maybe you Vwidder folks could envision somesort of browser/mash-up tool like this?

VIR.US Web page direction

2007-04-08T22:43:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, I have the flu. I just wanted to show everyone what our direction is so far. click right here to take a look at the full sized version of our site layout So Billy and Ryan, please try and do your best without me tomorrow. Ryan if your back from Maine, I hope your feeling better.

-Scott

Notes on Vwidder

2007-04-08T20:36:00.000-04:00

Wanted to check in with where we're at. We've branded our project Vwidder (tagline: what are you viewing?) and set up the back end using existing functions of blip and blogger. This is more for convenience in prototyping rather then building our own engines etc. The idea is clearly taken from Twitter but instead of updating a text status you can give visual perspective on what your are doing through your video enabled cell phone. Sending blip posts to blogger is in effort to provide more options for aggregating videos on the page. I've set up and tested the back end and Mike and Jake are handling the blogger layout. Some issues we're thinking about for future prototyping:

How is our page different from looking at just a blip channel.
Is there a way to give identity to each post and poster or simulate a given identity for posters? This was a Ravi concern but I kind of like the idea of leaving it open, people can always title their videos (subject line of the MMS message) as a way of standing out or identifying themselves.
Is there a third function we can build into the site? SMS updates of our RSS feed people can subscribe too so they know when a new video is put up for instance? Perhaps we can also publish the "vwidder stream" as a podcast or find other ways people can access videos via mobile. Still looking for ideas to keep it different and interesting.

Have I missed anything? Mike and Jake feel free to chime in. These are just my notes since I can't make tomorrow's class. Sorry again for that. Feel free to give me a call or email!

-Ryan

No class Monday April 2

2007-03-30T09:12:00.001-04:00

Scott made us get up early

2007-03-30T08:47:00.000-04:00

You all might remember the idea of starting at 8:30 or 9:00 today was floated around but Scott insisted we start at 8:00.

It's now 8:45 and Scott is not here...

We are preparing the effigy for burning.

Assignment for FRIDAY

2007-03-26T08:25:00.000-04:00

Yes, we will have class on Friday -- let's meet normal time (8-ish...) Donut holes would be welcome.

Your assignment: read the chapter from "Twisty Little Passages" (left in Ravi's box Ryder 239 after class).

Schedule moving forward

2007-03-25T21:38:00.000-04:00

Due to the presidential inauguration at Northeastern, classes will cease at 9:15 am tomorrow (Monday), so we will have a short class. I look forward to Group B presenting their ideas for review.

Group 1 can present any updates, as well.

Because of the inauguration, Friday March 30th will have Monday classes observed.

So we WILL meet on Friday morning for our regular class -- we'll look at video games as narrative.

However, due to the fact that WGBH will be moving my office that weekend, I won't be able to come in on Monday, April 2 -- so that will be an "open lab" session. I will look for a project status update on the class blog or project wiki.

I'll see you all in the a.m.!

Group B project proposal and timeline.

2007-03-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

Basic idea: A twitter for video using youtube in the back end. Allows instantanious upload of videos from people's mobile phone's right to the web for all to see.

Front end: A blogger/wordpress/or other website that, instead of blog entries, has a vertical stream of youtube videos submitted by users from their mobile phones.

Back end: Create a youtube account and enable mobile device upload email. Publish that email on the site so that anyone can send a video and have it appear in that youtube account. Rip an rss or xml feed of that youtube user onto the blog and make it look pretty.

Timeline: Week one. Testing and back end.
Week two. Front end, css layout and design.
Week three. Publicize around school/friends. work out kinks.
Week four. Take it to the masses baby!!!

guys?

2007-03-21T03:31:00.000-04:00

Some project ideas to once again catalyze action:

I like the quick cell phone vids. Perhaps a platform for people to upload, mix, and match videos on the fly? This could be done using the Youtube API in a flash front end. People could MMS their movies to a public youtube email which our supposed website would then reference for people to mess with.

Or back to the video games idea and finding a way to expand a classic game into the meggamultiplayer cell phone world. An online game of tetris or asteroids could be controlled by hundreds of people at once via sms. I'm not sure if the technology is as readily available as the youtube api but perhaps we could tap a site like Twitter or even simple aim clients to access sms data.

Two ideas. waduya think?

Coffeebabyyeah

2007-03-19T10:45:00.001-04:00

Click to Play

A resuscitating piece shot and edited by the Creating for Convergence class at Northeastern University on the Nokia N93.

My first N93 video

2007-03-18T23:27:00.000-04:00

Check out the first video I shot and edited with the Nokia N93.

Group 1 project proposal

2007-03-18T14:41:00.000-04:00

Group 1 consists of Billy, Original Ryan and Scott. Follow this link to our prospectus for our final project.

group 1 prospectus and website purpose

So go ahead and follow the link and see what we are attempting to do in the next 6 weeks!

-Scott

Group 1

2007-03-12T20:56:00.000-04:00

Group 1 is Myself, Billy and Ryan. I emailed Billy today and he is thinking something along the lines of adding his music talent to the scope of the project. I want to add some of my web expertise to the project and that leaves Ryan. Ryan you can do whatever you want as part of the project, I know you know flash so we can add that in there somewhere. As for project ideas, we should make a collaborative talents project and we have 6 weeks to do so. I am going to foward this on as an email as well, however, Ryan give me some ideas as to what you would like to do as a final project and I will send you and Bily mine. This is technically due now...but we can work on it tomorrow if you would like.

-Scott
scott@newfrontproductions.com
978-985-0509

project timetable

2007-03-12T10:57:00.001-04:00

March 12 (concept phase / brainstorm -- post ideas today, finalize tomorrow)
March 19 (formal project spec with schedule and sketches/blueprint
March 26 (walk through -- could be paper or powerpoint or html)
April 2 One component developed fully.
April 9th, guest Dennis Crowley.Alpha version (ready to be tested, observed, critiqued, fixed) --
April 16th Beta (everything fixed, should be hunky dory)
April 23-27 Final Delivery!

Field Trip!

2007-03-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

I'd like for us to get OUT of the classroom and check out some stuff around town.

One opportunity could stem from the fact that we will only have a short class on Monday, March 26th (due to the Northeastern President's inauguration). And Northeastern will be on a Monday schedule for Friday, March 30th (apparently).

So I propose that we meet on the afternoon of the 30th (Friday) over at MIT's List Gallery at 4:00 (there's a gallery talk at 6 if people want to stay for that).

Final Project Planning

2007-03-12T08:41:00.000-04:00

Get together in your group to utilize your Wikispaces entry on your final project. Components for successfully planning and executing a group project:

A Robust Project Spec (creative concept, technologies to be used, and cited examples)
Production Timetable (work backwards from final delivery date, set intermediate goals)
Individual Tasks (divide the work so that each member knows what they are responsible for).
Regular check-ins (establish a regular means of checking in with each other)

The goal is to have a solid piece to present during our FINALS week (week of April 23rd).

03/12/07 class

2007-03-12T08:15:00.000-04:00

For your final projects, I want to see things that are:

Conceptual
Experiental
Experimental
Bug-free

Push yourselves to think of something that goes beyond sitting at a computer. Remember our goal is to create for the convergence of media.

To that end we will look at some projects that subscribe to that model:

Invisible Ideas
(HOMEWORK: Read through Bill Perry's article on Adobe.com -- look at the overview as a good example of a writing a project spec for your final project.)

New Gaming node exemplar of MITs Project NML

My own Concerto for Voicemail #1

The Beast
(HOMEWORK: Read the PDF abstract, This Is Not A Game: Immersive Aesthetics and Collective Play)

The Lost Experience
(wikipedia entry on the Lost Experience)

and a look back at some convergent ideas from over 25 years ago!

Any other examples that you guys have found? Post comments with links!

Wiki Spaces

2007-03-11T22:08:00.000-04:00

Here is a direct link to my Wikispaces Page So now we can read it in class and talk about what a fine student I am being writing and keeping on top of things like I am!

This site only seems appropriate

2007-03-04T04:17:00.000-05:00

This just may list every possible "web 2.0" site. Click!

Assignment for 03/12

2007-02-26T10:46:00.000-05:00

Create a wikispaces entry for your group project that consists of:

1. Three final project proposals that incorporate elements from what we've covered in class (blogs, audio, video, podcasts, open source, mash-ups), as well as mobile technology (which we haven't covered yet).

2. A production timeline with a start date of March 12 and an end date of April 15.

It's the News! Ep.1

2007-02-26T08:40:00.000-05:00

Thrilling Episode One

Dear Convergence 2.0

2007-02-26T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hey this is Scott. I have a huge mid-term in my video class and need to study more in a hopefully attempt to pass the midterm. I can be reached via the class blog, or via iChat AV. I read the blip about open source and feel fairly confident in my knowledge of open source, I apologize for not being in class - to everyone in class - have fun, and I'll see you all after spring break.

4Guys 8Bits

2007-02-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Download Episode Here!

Jody Explody's Badass Urban Jungle - Episode 0

2007-02-26T07:40:00.001-05:00

Click to Play

Jody comes face-to-face with a rare Siberian Bibblebear.

02/26 class preview

2007-02-25T23:34:00.000-05:00

We'll come back swinging on Monday after our Presidential break to talk Open Source.

Here's some starting points to explore.

Open Source

NOVA's Open Production

Archive.org's Open Source Collection

Creative Commons

Wikipedia and Wikispaces

Mash-ups
Google Maps Mash-up Site

Yahoo Pipes

Open Kapow

George Bush

2007-02-25T16:22:00.000-05:00

Blogs - Blogs - Blogs

2007-02-22T16:07:00.001-05:00

BLOGS _ BLOGS_ BLOGS-
No one reads my blog. It is fine with me, since I am not pretending to be the savvy blogger, however, it saddens me that these little bits and pieces of information are only there for myself and the database. Poor Oracle and Me, what are we to do? I guess we need to jazz things up by adding a cool snippet or something that the whole world can enjoy, so here we go. I am going to add a LINK (a link being a gateway to some garbage site that I am just hoping some lil blogger will click!) Office Space: Starring Google!! No I didn't write this, but you know someone who knows a lot about something did. All in all, Google announces today that they are going to compete with Microsoft's office and create their own office applications that can be stored online and reached from anywhere in the world. Now that has potential don't you think. Please any comments will be very much appreciated!!

- Scott

On being.

2007-02-15T04:25:00.000-05:00

On Being is a special human interest video series put out as part of The Washington Post's interactive efforts. While their awesome flash website affirms my belief that flash video will take over the world, they also offer an iTunes and RSS feed.

I really like this weekly video format of what could be a random person on the street style interview in the paper. I do wish the videos were better edited with cleaner titles (and didn't look like mac commercials) but overall really interesting and well shot.

Found this link via Social Media, a good blog for cultural media observation along with some how to's thrown in there now and again. It's good to see what other standard news sources are offering as supplemental media as my current job is to do sort of the same thing. Thought this also may spark some final project ideas. "On being" a Northeastern Student? We could even tie it into pulse point? Just and idea.

Item posted from mobile device

2007-02-12T11:14:00.001-05:00

Click to Play

02-12-07_1023.wmv

NU Job Profile

2007-02-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

Episode one of a video podcast about job prospects at Northeastern University, created in class.

(QuickTime, 01:11, 6.7 MB)

Scott's Holiday Weekend Plans

2007-02-12T10:54:00.001-05:00

Click to Play

Scott details his plans for the upcoming three day weekend.

Ryder Hall wordgames podcast

2007-02-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

Check em out in my wordpress page. woot!

-Ryan

Pulse Point

2007-02-12T08:23:00.000-05:00

Go there NOW!

Go See Pan's Labyrinth

2007-02-11T14:03:00.000-05:00

Seriously, If you haven't gone yet because you have not heard about the movie, then go while it is still in theaters. I saw this movie on Friday and must say that I haven't seen a movie this good in a long time. There is gore, and fantasy, fiction and non-fiction all rolled into one really amazing film. The one set back is the fact that it is in Spanish ... but it does have subtitles and I would have to say that after a while the subtitles sort of disappear and you feel like you can speak Spanish. Well maybe not everyone is going to get that feeling, and you can wait for this film to come out on DVD in a few months with the English track. Anyways, for anyone who liked lord of the rings, and for anyone who likes slasher movies, and for anyone who likes really dark stories, than you'll love this movie. See you all on Monday.

-Scott

Rejected Cartoons.... just watch

2007-02-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

Donut Hole Monday Mornings: Episode One

2007-02-05T10:46:00.000-05:00

Download the debut episode of in-class created podcast.

"stuff we have" The Camera Connection

2007-02-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

canon GL-1

manfroto tripod (the tripod shoe STAYS WITH THE TRIPOD)

lighting:

Two lowel Tota lights + 2 stands + 2 umbrellas + 2 power cables = full lighting kit

Shotgun mic (no battery)

10 footer xlr

lav mic

50 munchkins and Ravi stole the empty tape case (we saw you).

noteing: XLR to mini cable and shotgun mic mount currently M.I.A.

Sign out gear from Ken. Ken is on the 3rd floor in the printer room (or in one of the labs cursing at computers). Or see the lab people (Jake).

Blogged with Flock

Let's talk about sex in space

2007-02-04T23:22:00.000-05:00

I’ve made some superficial changes to my blog’s CSS, but nothing fancy yet. The initial shock of being violently thrust into the world of blogs and blogging has worn off and I’m feeling considerably less hostile towards my new cyber prison (though no less cynical, it seems). During a routine scouring of useless information, I stumbled across this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14002908/ I believe you will all find this extremely irrelevant.

I’ve spent some time getting cozy with LinkedIn, a social networking site geared towards ambitious professionals. Users can simultaneously search for business connections, long-lost classmates, and ask questions of specialists in any given field. I was surprised at the quality of search results in the job listings. Unlike more popular job search tools like Monster.com, LinkedIn seemed to display nothing but quality, specialized jobs that perfectly matched my skill sets. There was no need for me to weed through the results to find the jobs that suited me.

I was somewhat amused at LinkedIn’s incorporation of GoogleAds in the right nav menu. Evidentally, the fact that I listed my current occupation as a bike messenger prompted Google to spit out ads for courier services and dispatch software developers. Even though they blatently missed the mark with this, ya can’t blame them for trying!

To Title or not to Title

2007-02-04T17:18:00.000-05:00

So during my week of changing my blog and getting acquainted with the new blogger I ran into the problem of not being able to add a title to my blog entries. I thought that I would be able to find the settings to change this but I gave up after getting frustrated and decided that it didn't even matter anyways. No one reads my blog. I hardly read my blog. view my blog Someone. Anyone. Read my blog. I'm not asking nicely I am making a formal command. Well the formality of a command rests in the person or persons being commanded so if you feel that I have gotten to you then come on and read my blog. In other news, I agree with Jake that mac likes to tease you into having all these great gadgets however not being able to use them. Like quicktime for instance. If you want to upgrade I think it cost me $75 bucks or something, maybe $35 I don't remember but that was just so I could make iPod videos, until I found that you could do it right through iTunes. These are the little things they don't tell you, so you feel like you have to upgrade. Also they give you awesome trial software that expires within 30 days of using it, like for instance iWork that comes with the amazing keynote and pages software. I love keynote and making presentations with it is easy, but once your 30 days is up, its pay up or go through the steps to find the serial online which can result in Spam Adult site pop-ups and trojan viruses. So I digress, read my blog which isn't really that cool - don't support Windows because Mac is superior and for god sake bring me coffee tomorrow morning!!

- Another meaningful rant by Me, Scott Haines

Apple & Podcasting

2007-02-04T12:09:00.000-05:00

As an Apple lover, in most cases I will go out of my way to buy their products to support their cause (with the exception of my monitor at home, Dell was far too much of a deal to pass up), but when researching podcasts I came upon this link Creating Audio Podcasts and the very first step requires you to buy their Quicktime 7 Pro product if you don't already have it. This brings up the one issue that many people have with Apple and that is the fact that they come loaded with little to no software that is not already completely upgraded. I cringe when I say this, but Windows as far as I know releases Windows Media Player with everything. I mean Quicktime, unless you have the Pro version, doesn't even allow you to go full screen which is enough to piss a lot of people off. Oh well... I guess that's why people invented hacked serial numbers hahaha

Superbowl Saturday

2007-02-03T17:09:00.000-05:00

Since it's the Saturday before Superbowl Sunday, it's a good time to post to see what everyone else's thoughts of the Superbowl is before it is played... Personally I hope the Bears win, but only because I have a severe disinterest in Peyton Manning... I hope the game is close, but I honestly think the Colts may blow the Bears outta the water... Is anyone doing anything special for the game?

Wordpress and CSS capability.

2007-02-01T04:42:00.001-05:00

So Wordpress will let you edit your CSS layout all day, but if you actually want to SAVE any of the changes you've made it'll cost you the 15 dollar upgrade. Smart thinking. I suppose they give away enough API keys that people will write enough themes that do exactly what people want. Creates a weird divide between the casual and advanced user though. Depending on the theme there's a different amount of customization available right in the WP control panel. With the template I've chosen, changing the header was about as much as I could do. Other templates allow you to change background colors, fonts, images, etc all from little tabs built into the theme that show up in your presentation controls (or what they call Template in blogger). As a bi-blogging blogger user as well I've messed with templates all I care too. I had a more CSS and design savvy friend of mine hook up my current blogger so it looks all pretty. Backgrounds and colors in CSS I could learn, design sense I don't have much of.

The good news is that Firebug works nicely in Flock. I'm currently installing the wordpress platform on my webspace for my own and a friend's websites so I'm getting to learn the basics of mysql etc. There I can edit my CSS fully and even download and install themes galore! Firebug will hopefully come in handy as I take on CSS tasks there. Again, they'll probably be minimal as I'm bringing in design help from the big guns.

So the CSS scoop on wordpress seems to be host it with them, find a theme you like, host it yourself, and get ready to rumble. Many sites using the wordpress platform aren't even doing so just for blogging. You can add limitless pages and tabs and customize as much as you like. The platform just takes care of the databasing dirty work in a convenient free package.

For audio podcast I subscribed to the Stones Throw podcast. There's an XML feed that will show up in your RSS reader, but you'll have to actually go the website and click the download link to get them through your browser. They also offer a feed through the iTunes Music Store so that every time a new cast comes out it shows up in your podcasts playlist where you can click "Get" as apposed to "Buy." While I don't believe in most of what the iTunes music store does on principle, free content this easily accessible cannot be denied. As a forward thinking record label (with a clearly vintage influence) it's awesome that Stones Throw gives away so much music in this format. While not all their podcasts feature Stones Throw music exclusively, if I hear a song from an album Stones Throw carries in the podcast, I'm more likely to buy it. I'm also a vinyl collector and they offer everything in wax which makes it even better to float digital playlists making me want the hard copy even more.

Wow that's a lot. Alright other then that did everyone catch this bomb scare craziness yesterday? Huge adult swim fan but that aside, why does Boston have to be the city to freak out about this? Granted, probably a bad idea throwing these up under bridges where there wasn't other graffiti or signs or something. Reminds me of Graffiti Research Lab stuff, only they seem to mix their stuff in so it's a bit less conspicuous.

Oh and in other other new, Flickr is making everyone get a Yahoo ID now if they want to sign in. They're doing away with the old email log in system. To many e-identities strikes again!!!

one love. I'm out.

Blogged with Flock

Editing CSS for your blog...

2007-01-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

So since we've been talking about customizing our personal blogs by changing the css for the page, Firefox has a very sweet, wicked awesome (yes, I'm from NH and wicked is a word) plug-in that you can download at their site called FireBug... what makes it cool is that it allows you to view all the source of the page you are currently viewing and you can change it and it will update the look of the site on the fly which saves you a lot of copy and pasting as well as time.

Enjoy,
- Jake

Assignments for 02/05/07

2007-01-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

• Modify blog template
• Post, post, post!
• Subscribe to an audio podcast for next class

Robots battle!

2007-01-29T09:07:00.000-05:00

IMG_2162.JPG
Originally uploaded by ravijain.

It was a true childhood dream come true to see... Robots Battle!

2007-01-28T23:52:00.000-05:00

Reluctantly and with much bitterness, I’ve surrendered my blogging virginity. My presence has now been earmarked in some lonely, dark corner of the web for all the world to ignore. All cynicism aside, I would like to explore the dynamics of this blogging phenomenon by poking at the bee’s nest, so to speak. I’ve created my mighty anti-blog as a tool for wreaking havoc on the blogosphere, which I will attempt to dominate with an iron fist of disparagement, until I realize that nobody cares, at which point I will crawl back to my typewriter and spend the rest of my days pecking out copy for a no-budget local news broadcast on public access cable in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

I think I've died a little inside.

Mobile Web 2.0 Hitlist

2007-01-28T16:59:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone out there in our little blog-o-sphere! I ran into some really cool sites that showcase web 2.0 and even some gossip into web 3.0. I ran into these sites:

Web 2.0 Audio Feeds These feeds are related to AJAX technology which is quickly becoming a standard in web 2.0 applications. The next site speaks for itself: Web 2.0 Workgroup This site is a virtual link to everything that is web 2.0 and more. I found this to be a real awesome site for useful "non-crap" information on what type of technology is popping up around our sweet little earth.

Last but not least comes the link to the ever popular google mobile. Everything you want to know about Google and More! - As the link says, and so I say, this link will tell you everything that is going on around mobile web and Google's new applications that help you get there.

Well I am out for now. See everyone bright and early.

-Scott

Link to a great blurb about Bloging and Social Networking

2007-01-25T17:36:00.000-05:00

Social Media Too Sweet For Websites This is a real great article about why everything media related ends up in Digg or Reddit. I just wanted to share this with everyone. Thought it might be some good food for thought. Plus, if anyone wants this is a great blog in general for web updates on everything from apple to "web rumors" to live video blogs from conferences. Well that is all for now. I am trying to find more substantial blogs to get excited about.

-Scott

I've arrived

2007-01-24T06:23:00.000-05:00

Hey yall. I bit the bullet and resigned up with for an Old Blogger account. After a little googling it seems if you're already a new blogger member you can't join an old blogger blog. At least I can blog with Flock, which doesn't have new blogger support yet, so that will make it less confusing then switching between two blogger names.

Something else I found out while poking at blogger was that they offer a mobile blog service. I'm not sure how this would be different then simply emailing in posts via SMS but I imagine it has built in support for image tags MMS'd right from your mobile phone. I already do this with flickr, and it's cool here too, but why does it have to create a separate blog for all that? I'd most likely just write a script into my current page that automatically blogs my flickr stream via RSS feed. but anywayyyyy...

My Blogger status culminates in the Mofo Radio page. I use this to provide supplemental info to my weekly radio show on wzbc (since I don't talk on air a lot). Some mp3's, videos, extra research on old crusty records and the like.

I'm also keeping a personal wordpress page for my "experiential" co-op. There I'm required to keep track of my co-op goings on, this class included, so I think I'll use that for future homework references etc. I'm hiding the link because I do not want this google searchable! I vent my frustrations about clients and projects I'm working on and wouldn't want the wrong people to stumble upon it. Not that I say anything nasty but If they found it I might have some splaining to do so keep that one under wraps.

Glad everyone likes flock. I'm going to start sharing my favorites with my completely underused delicious account. Perhaps then if you are on flock on another computer you can set it to retrieve them? You can always just go to your delicious in any case.

Interesting law suite on the Second Life hatred. True anything that addicting can be evil, but recognize the positives. Where else can I visit a 3D model of the ancient pyramids or attend a lecture in Belgium from home? Not saying I do any of that yet, but I will, someday.

On my todo list: share favorites in flock. syndicate Mofo with Digg etc. customize wordpress. buy domain for secret project.

I've switched!

2007-01-24T00:50:00.000-05:00

Hey class. I've made my blog about my musical moniker Katomusic seeing that my website will never get done. I'm gonna give updates about releases, my life, and my thoughts (seeing that's what blogs are for). Also by accident I have switched to the new blogger. Gotta be honest, I really can't tell what the difference is. All I know is my spellcheck stopped working in the new version, hmm. Anywaysss here's the link to my blog: KATOMUSIC!!

Also using my google customized desktop today I realized they released some really cool upgrades. Each link for each RSS feed can now be expanded showing a blurb from the article as well as pictures. It's nice for Digg and Reddit stories (or any article for that matter) with bland names and is just nice that I no longer need to steer away from the homepage if I don't need to.

Also Flock is F'ing nice. Great for blogging and great for RSS. I can't say the news section is going to replace my google desktop, but it is tempting... I would like them to update the engine to the Firefox 2.0 one, but 1.5.0.9 still works flawlessly. It's just me being osd about having the most recent version.

In other news, my web 2.0 company has began lawsuits against www.getafirstlife.com. Apparentlly they don't want there users switching over or competing with the other lives they lead.

That is all!

Homework Assignment

2007-01-22T11:20:00.000-05:00

This is the homework assignment for next week's class on January 29, 2007.

Make a personal blog
Post on personal blog and on the class blog about your new blog
Subscribe to three different blogs (consider bloglines or Flock or in-browser options)
Make sure one blog has audio, so you can start thinking about audio
Dig around in the template CSS to customize your own blog; blog about that!

01/22/07 -- live notes

2007-01-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

thoughts on Steven Johnson:

Scott:
"...pure crap"
strategies: social bookmarking, Digg
Hard to filter:
Pros and Cons: What if your stuff is deemed "not good enough"

Ryan:
in old days there was filtering -- knowledge required to post

Scott:
All about links.

Jake:
Facebook.

Scott:
WebPro News.

Mike:
Job posting.

Scott:
Random path. Going through connections of blogs -- leaving comments. Yahoo -- in the beginning, "dead ends."

Jake:
outside.in -- "bland", more pictures

Ryan:
Subscribe to feed.

Smart Phones
Ryan: Download 3gp videos.

[break]

Ryan: Shiftspace
Jake: GroupHug
Ryan: Flock

Jake is FLICKR

2007-01-22T08:26:00.000-05:00

I chose flickr... so no one else touch it

Billy's Choice: Second Life

2007-01-22T00:10:00.000-05:00

I will be exploring the vast Second Life. I'm going to load this up on my iBook and see how addicting it really is.

mike's researching last.fm

2007-01-18T12:29:00.000-05:00

I'm going to explore last.fm for Monday.

-Mike

Scott Haines Makes Claim

2007-01-16T10:04:00.000-05:00

Good Morning everyone,
I guess no one has gone ahead and made any sort of claim to the topics yet, so I will choose first...haha! I am going to take a stab at Technorati. I have never even heard of this so I find that it might be exciting to see what it is all about. See you guys in a week.

-Scott

First Post

2007-01-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

This is the blog for the Special Topics: Creating for Convergence 2.0 class at Northeastern University.

Special Topics: Convergence 2.0

Lunch Minute: Episode One

vir[us]

Powering Up!! or the reason I missed the field trip...

Vwidder presentation visual aids.

Thursday FINAL

Awesome Strep Throat

Saturday class | Thursday FINAL

Saturday field trip

Saturday Field Trip

Saturday Field Trip

2D codes to save vwidder?

Vir[us] folks -- LOOK AT THIS

Field Trip Next Week!

Vwidder gang -- READ THIS!

Hand-held Histories as HyperMonuments

Eisenstein's Monster

VIR.US Web page direction

Notes on Vwidder

No class Monday April 2

Scott made us get up early

Assignment for FRIDAY

Schedule moving forward

Group B project proposal and timeline.

guys?

Coffeebabyyeah

My first N93 video

Group 1 project proposal

Group 1

project timetable

Field Trip!

Final Project Planning

03/12/07 class

Wiki Spaces

This site only seems appropriate

Assignment for 03/12

It's the News! Ep.1

Dear Convergence 2.0

4Guys 8Bits

Jody Explody's Badass Urban Jungle - Episode 0

02/26 class preview

George Bush

Blogs - Blogs - Blogs

On being.

Item posted from mobile device

NU Job Profile

Scott's Holiday Weekend Plans

Ryder Hall wordgames podcast

Pulse Point

Go See Pan's Labyrinth

Rejected Cartoons.... just watch

Donut Hole Monday Mornings: Episode One

"stuff we have" The Camera Connection

Let's talk about sex in space

To Title or not to Title

Apple & Podcasting

Superbowl Saturday

Wordpress and CSS capability.

Editing CSS for your blog...

Assignments for 02/05/07

Robots battle!

Mobile Web 2.0 Hitlist

Link to a great blurb about Bloging and Social Networking

I've arrived

I've switched!

Homework Assignment

01/22/07 -- *live* notes

Jake is FLICKR

Billy's Choice: Second Life

mike's researching last.fm

Scott Haines Makes Claim

First Post

01/22/07 -- live notes