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% 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
|
