One of the things you have to do with user-generated content -- participatory media projects is show the work to encourage others to jump in. Lacking any programming skills to speak of, I've been looking at widgets and tools that put an easy interface to flickr that let you display photos. Alan Levine left me a comment suggested Splashr and shared his notes.
Unfortunately, it didn't have an option for "groups" - you can only pull photos based on tags or a user. So, I went to the pool and added a unique tag to the 17 photos. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem want to pull two of the funniest ones(here and here) in the group, both magazine covers created with another flickrtoy. I can't figure it out. I checked for typos. Another one of those mysteries because as I am previewing this, one of the magazine covers is showing up. Maybe I am just too sleep deprived.
A reflection about participation. Seems like it is hard to get someone who might be interested, but it isn't already a flickr user to participate.
All the folks who sent me birthday cards are people who are already my contacts in flickr. Other people who I emailed and don't have a flickr account have not sent a card, even if they know me really well.
Case in point. My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I jokingly said a black lab. I've had three different labs over the past twenty years -- all birthday gifts - and all of them, unfortunately, have passed away. My husband isn't a big black lab fan (long story about labs who like to chew expensive leather shoes and pee on the oriental rug), when I mentioned a possible four-legged present -- it just wasn't going to fly this year. So, I said, "Make me a flickr birthday card instead."
He is familiar with flickr as he watches me obssessively email photos from my treo to my flickr account. But he hasn't ever used it. (And, he's a techie too, so he could certainly figure it out). It just wasn't his thing. ( I'm not sure which is less appealing - flickr or the dog!) And, I got a great analog birthday card!
Hi Beth,
This is where I first read about Splashr on Doug Belsshaw's blog:
http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2006/12/06/using-splashr-in-the-classroom/
Posted by: Joe Dale | January 11, 2007 at 01:47 PM
Thanks for this tip Beth. This could be really useful to me.
This is the first time I've seen your blog.... what a lovely place to land! Thank you.
Posted by: Nick | January 13, 2007 at 02:05 AM