About.Me

Hangouts App Updated

Wiziq Virtual Classroom Teachers Guide.

A Post from YouTube

The embedded post below was originally typed from YouTube using the new comments, It now also shows up in Google+

Changes to Comments on YouTube

Tools for Creating Creating Screen Capture Images and Videos

Tools for Creating Creating Screen Capture Images and Videos
 

Another great post from Free Technology for Teachers. Giving you lots of information on screen casting software.

Why is Google so slow?

Share published posts from Blogger automatically to Google+

Follow The Roadshow on Twitter

Tweets about "#aceshow13"

Hangouts On Air (HOA) & IOS

One of the most powerful tools Google have provided it's community is Hangouts On Air (HOA). This tool allows even the most humble user to reach out and communicate with a potentially huge audience.

The idea behind (HOA) is that you can stream live to your audience via your YouTube channel. Also Google will record you Hangout so people who are unable to view it live can watch at a later date.  So it sounds like a wonderful collaborative tool, right? Well there is one big hole in this otherwise powerful tool.

So what is the hole I hear you ask. The important thing to also understand is that mobile technology is becoming an even more important platform. As more and more people are able to get their hands on a smart phone or tablet this is only going to continue. In some cases a mobile device maybe the sole way that a person connects with and collaborates on the Internet. Then lets look at Accessibility there are those with various visual disabilities including yours truly that rely on using devices like an Ipad.   So to get back to my original point Hangouts On Air (HOA) has one big omission which is you can't view the live stream on the IOS Google+ App. If you know the YouTube URL of the channel streaming the Hangout you can try and watch via the YouTube app but in most cases you have no idea what that URL is.

If you think that this is just me being a Curmudgeon then please read on. Recently I was approached at my work place by a person looking to develop a video communication tool option to connect disadvantaged youth living in rural communities with potential employers. the idea being that these employers could help in mentoring. now a free service like Hangouts On Air (HOA) would sound like a great solution but when this person realised the lack of IOS support had to drop the Hangout idea and look for another true cross platform solution.

What rubs salt into the wounds is that when you talk to Google Managers vis Google+ they will tell "you that it is a known limitation" but won't tell when or in fact if this limitation will ever be addressed. They treat this information as if it was some state secret. Living in Australia where the tyranny of distance is a huge problem Hangouts On Air (HOA) could be a great solution but it won't until Google treat those using IOS devices with the same respect as those using it's own Android operating system.

Tips & Tricks - Google+ Notifications

Just a very short how to video on the new Google+ notification update and how to get the most out of it. Apologies for the slight audio popping still getting used to my new microphone. Remember you can always subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

To subscribe.
http://www.youtube.com/user/chatterbox1962

Tips & Tricks - Exiting a Metro app on Windows 8

Are you new to Windows 8? Here is a little tip on how to get out of a Metro App.

Tips & Tricks - Bookmarking posts in Google+

Here is a little video screen-cast that I did on how to save a Google+ post for later reading. I hope you find it useful.

Hangouts On Air Integration with Blogger?

Google Hangouts and Hangouts On Air have been very popular with Google+ users. Google's recent update has started the process of unifying all it's messaging programs under the new Hangout Video Chat (HVP). The brother of (HVP) is Hangouts On Air (HOA) this allows you to have your Hangout run live through your YouTube channel. However it can be difficult for your audience to find you during your live broadcast. Google has yet to create a quick and easy way or a static URL that you can give out in advance to your audience.

I am surprised that here on Blogger Google has not tried out integrating HOA. It would be nice to be able to give your users your Blogger URL as the place you can view the live HOA and you have a static address. In my opinion Google could use Blogger as it's test bed for the further roll out of it's integration of HOA. What do you think?

Big Changes for Google+

This week in San Francisco Google has been running it's developer conference called Google I/O. During this conference Google have made big changes to the user interface of Google+ as well as launching its new "Hangouts" service which will ultimately replace its current disparate collection of chat, video and voice services.

Like any big changes particularly to user interface there have been those praising it while others of howled their disapproval. It will take a few days of usage before anybody can really give a constructive review. In these changes you can see how Google is slowly integrating their services under the Google+ banner. I would expect this to continue. I am really looking forward to using the new Hangouts and I hope that more people take up Hangouts as a way to communicate.

Once the dust has settled on the changes I will put together a more detailed post but my suggestion is go and play with these tools especially Hangouts and tell me what you think. 

  

Dealing with technology letting you down.

One of the hard lessons you learn the more you dip your toes into the technological waters is that no matter what you do at some stage the technology will let you down, so what do you do to limit it?

If you are going to be running some blended learning classes and part of them will be run on-line then it is important that your students have their devices correctly set up to use those on-line tools. First you need to know what type of device your students will be using, for example a desktop computer or a notebook or even a tablet. Then the operating system. If its using web tools also the web browser and version and if you need plugin like Flash.

How ever the most important part is before you run an on-line class is to have some orientation sessions with your students. Make these sessions fun and while you are running them you are actually making sure your students can access your on-line tools and are feeling comfortable. If you are able you could have a session at your local education centre where the students could bring along their computers particularly if they have notebooks or tablets and you or your IT person could make sure everything was set up correctly for them, and could run some test. This could also be a fun orientation session.

What ever you are doing you are never going to be able to fully stop technological failures. For example if your primary tool is BB or Wiziq and for what ever reason you cant use them have a backup already in place such as Skype. If you and your students have a backup plan then you can still continue with a fun and productive class even if your primary technological tool lets you down.

Finally this reminds me of "The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy" and its most famous quote, "Don't Panic"  

When a Tablet is enough

Since the development of the Ipad right through to Android and Windows powered devices I have slowly come to the realisation that for some people a tablet is all you need. 

I have some friends who a number of years ago purchased a desktop computer because they felt they needed to keep up to date. Unfortunately they found the Operating System (Windows) daunting. They really only wanted the computer to send and receive emails, do a bit or surfing the web and watching some video. At the time the Ipad was not available. Sometimes I think a computer is overkill and actually is a road block to engaging and enjoying the web. 

As tablets have improved they have become a great information consumption device. So when you get that question from friends and or family about what computer or device to purchase take some time to find out what they really want that device to do. In the end you might find that a tablet is enough.

What do you think?

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

It was sad to hear a few months ago that Google Reader was going to be retired. It got me thinking about how much we rely on technology and more importantly how much we put into one basket. Over the years I have had a number of technologies that I used pulled out from under me and I have learned the hard lesson that you can't rely on them always being around. If you are looking at your options for e-learning then it is important to make sure that you also have in place some alternative technologies just in case your find your primary options is going away.

In particular if you use free services then you need to have a plan not just for an alternative but also how you will get your data out of the service that is going to be shuttered. Not all services have options for getting your data out but it should be an important consideration when you are choosing technologies.

Google for example have Google Takeout which allows you to export your data. They also have a group of engineers called "The Data Liberation Front" which looks at how easy it is to get your data out of Google products. So just remember even your favourite technology can disappear so it's important to have your plans well and truly ready. 

To babble or not to Babble

If you have been hanging around the internet and particularly Google+ you would by now have seen the rumours flying around about a unified Google messenger slash voice tool. Google currently has several tools from Messenger to Gtalk and for those in the US Google Voice. Also Google has Hangouts and Hangouts on air. The proposed name for this new unified experience is depending who you talk to Babble or Babel.

For a long time I have been hoping that Google would create a true open standards compliant platform independent communication tool. However I am starting to think that Google may have left its run to late. Facebook has just created Facebook Home and is looking to be the central hub for messaging. With its huge user base many of whom are happy to stay in its walled garden this unfortunately may become the defacto standard. Add to that Microsoft integrating Skype into its OS and soon to push it out to the Xbox and Google’s fractured messaging offering looks second rate. I think this has been a wasted opportunity for Google to not only lead the pack in messaging and voice but to also use it as another compelling reason to join Google+.

One can only hope that Google’s Babbel or Babel is not still born.

( cross posted from www.darylhunt.net )