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diff --git a/source/record.markdown b/source/record.markdown new file mode 100644 index 0000000..358b3fd --- /dev/null +++ b/source/record.markdown @@ -0,0 +1,218 @@ +% Record +% +% + +About +===== + +The Record Activity is used for recording audio and video and for taking +pictures. You will need to have a built in camera and microphone to use +these features. If your computer only has a microphone and no camera +then you can only use the Record Activity to record audio. + +Record can be used for : + +- Taking pictures +- Recording video +- Recording audio +- Stop-motion photography +- Time-lapse photography +- Creating 360° panoramas +- Viewing slide shows +- Storing extra information about audio, video, and pictures + +Record stores images and audio in the Journal, from which they can be +used by other activities, such as Draw, Write, Etoys, and Browse, as +well as Memorize and some other games. Also, images can be transferred +to a USB storage device from the Journal by "drag and drop". + +Taking Photos +============= + +You can use the Record Activity to take photographs of the world around +you. The screenshot below highlights some of the key controls available +in the main Photo Tab. + +Let's look at some specific details about the items highlighted above: + +1. This item shows the Photo Tab has been highlighted. This means that + the Record Activity is in photo capture mode and all of the controls + you see now reflect this. +2. Record allows users to set a timer before recording happens. In this + case, the timer is a pulldown menu that allows you to chose among + three options: "Immediate", "5 Seconds", and "10 Seconds". Delaying + the timer might be useful if you want to give yourself some time to + get to the right pose before the Record Activity takes a snapshot. +3. You often see a double arrow at the top right corner of your picture + window. This arrow puts record into full screen mode, where + everything is hidden except the picture window and the record button + (item 4 below). In full screen mode, you can navigate the pointer to + the top right corner and a similar icon pops up to allow you to + return to normal mode. +4. This is the button that tells the Record Activity to start + recording. In Photo mode, Record takes a snapshot of whatever is in + front of the camera. +5. The area between the left and right arrows is called the tray. It is + where previously recorded items are placed so that you can look at + them later on. + +Once Record successfully takes a photo, it shows up as an icon on the +tray. You can click the icon to view the photo and to update information +about that picture. + +In the Photo View screenshot above, item 1 shows how the tray displays a +history of your previously taken photos. When you click on a photo, you +are taken to the interface you see in the screenshot, which includes a +text field where you can name your photo (item 2). You also see the +image taken by your camera (in this case, the skyline of Chicago). Item +3 is a small output window of what your camera sees (in this case, a +very happy student!). If you click on this small window, you are +returned to the main photo screen from which you can take more pictures. + +Item 4 on the bottom right of your image is a little tab that allows you +to find out even more about the photo that was taken. The screenshot +below shows the new window that appears. Here, you can read and enter +new 'tags' for your image, and find out about when the picture was taken +and by whom. A tag is a single word that helps categorise or describe +the photo. + +As with the photo view window, you have the output of your camera on the +bottom left. You can click this to go back to taking photos. + +Video +===== + +When you click the Video Tab, the Record Activity goes into video +recording mode. Much of this process is very similar to recording +photos: recorded videos show up in the tray at the bottom, you can name +and tag your videos just as you name and tag photos, and you have many +of the same controls for going in to fullscreen mode and navigating +between video recording and viewing modes. + +The screen capture below helps us to highlight a couple of items that +are different or noteworthy in video mode. + +Notice that there are two control menus. Item 1 is a delay timer just +like the one used on photo mode: it lets you delay the start of +recording several seconds so you can get ready in front of the camera. +The duration menu (item 2) allows you to specify a maximum length for +your video. In the current implementation, you can record videos of 2, 4 +or 6 minutes. + +Once you are ready to record, click the button in item 3. When you +finish recording, you should see your video show up in area 4. You can +then click on the video to view it, name it, and update/view the tags +assigned to the video. + +Audio +===== + +The Record Activity also allows you to record Audio. To do so, you +simply go to the Audio Tab in the Activity. + +If you have a camera, an image appears in the picture window and looks +like live video. + +Don't worry... this is only saved as a snapshot to help identify your +audio recording. + +The controls for audio recording are virtually identical to that of +video recording. You have "Timer" and "Duration" controls that allow you +to specify when and for how long your voice is recorded. You also have a +tray at the bottom of the Activity that allows you to browse and view +details of previously recorded audio. + +To start recording press the button at the bottom: + +Your recording starts: + +You can either leave the audio recording to run until it is complete or +you can stop it by pressing on the same icon you pressed to start it. As +with the photo and video modes, you see an icon for your recording show +up once you are done. You can click this icon to edit the name and tags +assigned to your new audio recording. + +To replay the audio click the icon of the recording at the bottom of the +page. + +Sharing Media +============= + +You can share photos, video and audio recordings (these can just be +refered to as 'media') with your friends. To share media you must first +have some media in the bottom tray. In our example we have the image of +a Bison (see below) in the tray. Now select the Activity Tab on the left +and the Record Activity looks something like this: + +You then see on the right the text "Share with:". To the right of this +is a drop-down menu. Change the selection here to "My Neighborhood" as +shown: + +Others looking at the Neighborhood View see your icon with an 'eye' (the +Record Activity icon) next to it: + +Others can now join your Activity and you can share your media with +them. + +Joining the Record Activity +--------------------------- + +Once you have shared your Record Activity others need to do the +following to join. From the Neighborhood View, they need to click the +'eye' icon next to your icon: + +They must then choose 'Join' and their Record Activity opens with your +images in their tray. In the Record Activity, thumbnails of photographs +are shared. The photograph's frame is in the same colors as the XO icon +of the person who took the photo. + +On your Frame, you can see the icons of all of the people with whom you +are collaborating. You can also see their shared media. + + +You can exit a shared Activity at any time. + +Things to Try with Record +========================= + +You can easily take pictures and make videos by using a built-in camera +for still photography and video recording. You can also use the camera +for video conferencing, which involves talking to others on a video +screen knowing that the others can also view your video. + +You can express yourself with sound, images, and video using the cameras +and microphones. You are learning about light, observations, angle, and +perspective. By recording the sights and sounds around you, others can +learn about you, your culture, and environment. You can communicate with +your voice and pictures. You can tell factual or emotional stories with +film or pictures to help change perceptions or take action. + +You could also try some of the following : + +- Use the Record Activity to record your voice with a built-in + microphone. +- Take a photo of where you live by aiming the camera lens at your + home, and then clicking the circle icon. +- Record sounds of your city or town. +- Record and leave messages for your family. +- Teachers - record a message for parents. +- Interview your friends and record it to audio or video. +- Make a video diary. +- Open your photos in the Paint Activity and draw on them. +- Add your pictures to a story using Write. +- Upload a picture to Flickr or Wikimedia Commons. +- Attach a picture to an e-mail you send to a friend or family member. +- Take a picture of a flower or plant from the same place every day to + show how it changes. +- Take a picture of a baby animal every week to show how it grows. + +author +: + +> © Faisal Anwar 2008 +> +> adam hyde 2008 +> +> Caryl Bigenho 2008 +> +> Tom Boyle 2008 |