Techlife

What makes TagCow a bit more unique is the method of tagging, it is automated. Other services such as Picasa or Flickr rely on your efforts to tag photos, while Google is using a pseudo-game to help improve its tagging search results. This is what sets TagCow apart.

Tagcow’s “how” tagging is accomplished is a bit hidden on the website, but in speaking with Michael Droz, CEO and co-founder, he revealed it is part automated and part human-based. I would even venture to suggest different humans were assigned to my photos, as the results were slightly different for each image I uploaded. There was even a typo! Due to this tagging says it will take 24-48 hours, mine took about 55 hours.

TagCow has some really unique features such as people tagging. You can tell the service who a specific person is with a base photo and then all future photos will be tagged with the same person. Same goes for descriptive tagging of other source objects, locations, etc. This makes the process for the user very easy. It is certainly a very smart way to approach photo tagging.

My beta of the service really put it to the test. I used a lower resolution camera from my Sidekick 3 taking photos from a visit to the traveling Star Wars museum exhbit.

Pros:

• Tagging and then searching is very useful for managing your digital photo collection.
• Automating the process even with small mistakes is a huge time saver.
• TagCow hit a homerun with the depth of the knowledge of their human taggers, with accurate labels of different ships from the Star Wars saga, including a Trade Federation Tank, a Podracer, a Landspeeder, an X-Wing Fighter, the Millennium Falcon and an Imperial Destroyer. It’s only mistakes were calling an AT-AT a “fighter” and a mistype of “X-wing” as “X-wind” in one tag.
• TagCow’s tags are portable and actually use standard technology to tie them to the photo.

Cons:

• Inability to edit, add, or remove tags on the TagCow site is a big negative.
• The bulk uploader is great, but there should be a bulk download feature as well.
• These two are easily fixable, the last con is pricing. Coming out of beta they decided this service was worth something, and likely their human taggers agree. Their price is per photo, starting at $9.95 for 250 up to 2500 photos for $89.95. They do offer a free 100 photos to get you started, but this pricing model is a big problem, as it starts to make the average consumer question how important are automated tags.
• Lack of an ad supported model, this would help offset costs, but as popularity increases having humans involved will always make scaling the business more challenging.
• Accuracy is still questionable. One photo of Yoda was tagged “alien, star trek” while the next photo was accurately tagged “yoda, star wars, toy”. Improving this will improve the service. Another photo had a boy with a Stormtroper and was labeled “boy, storm trooper” the next photo labeled, “young boy, star wars character”. If the same human did both photos they would have both been tagged more closely.

Overall: I would have liked to see TagCow stay in beta and add a few more bells and whistles before going live. Should they implement user tag correction, my suggestion would be to track changes or corrections per tag, tag deletions and tag additions to give users and themselves an accuracy report card. By quick glance of my photos they approached the 90%+ accuracy rate, yet as humans we focus on the 10%. Finally, photo tagging by automation and humans is a great leap forward for the industry, but I question if the pricing model can support the growth needed. Does it scale?

One of the bigger drawbacks of Google Docs is now a thing of the past. Techlife Illustrated has put together this easy to follow guide to getting Google Docs offline. (This is our first Illustrated How To, leave a comment with your thoughts.)

Step 1

While in Google Docs, in the upper right hand corner is a link to “Offline.” Which gets Google Gears on your computer.

Step 2

After clicking “Install Google Gears”, you are brought to the Google Gears (beta) install screen. As you can see I was on a Windows machine, but Gears is available with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, Mac and Linux today.

Step 3

After downloading the file and saving it, you will need to close all your open browser windows and install the application.

Step 4

Once Google Gears installation is complete, the software success screen pops up.

Step 5

Google Gears recognizes its sister site Google Docs when you visit. It of course confirms you want to trust this site, always a nice step.

Step 6

In what could be termed a sneaky play, Google Docs asks if it can place a shortcut on your desktop. This is why many people see this piece as a direct Microsoft Office competitor. I see it as helpful. If you use Google Docs a lot, having it handy is nice.

Step 7

Chant it with me now, SYNC! SYNC! SYNC! SYNC! Google Docs begins the sync process with a nice progress bar and a cute little green circle to let you know what is going on.

Step 8

If you click on “Settings” you get the 2 options of desktop shortcut and disabling offline access. I would guess more and more features will be added to this area over time.

Step 9

When the little green circle has a white check box, your Google Docs are fully in sync, call Justin Timberlake.

(This is our first Illustrated How To, leave a comment with your thoughts.)

All of these new views on the world culminated in our piece on a street artist. Techlife covered how this unique artist is pushing the bounds of art, perspective and urban living while challenging all of us to think way outside any boxes or conventions. Just the kind of things we love here. Prepare to change your vantage point.

(part of the syndicated print column’s writing process exposed to online readers)

(part of the syndicated print column’s writing process exposed to online readers)

In Techlife’s day job we advise clients to, “Get a fresh perspective, take a unique look at things.” Most of the time clients ask us for help in this effort. After all, it isn’t easy to achieve a fresh perspective, but when you do, LOOK OUT! because the effect can be startling and eye-opening.

We love that feeling. When the world turns over on itself. It is exciting to realize things can be different with just a shift in perspective.

For a few years, an artist in London, known as Slinkachu has been providing a fresh perspective on life, by placing his art all over the city without permission and then photographing it. Interesting you say, but how does that provide a fresh perspective? View the following pieces and then keep reading and see how your perspective changes.

Did it change? How do you see the world now? Did it give you any ideas for seeing the world differently for your own life?

The full exhibit is online at Little People - a tiny street art project: Little hand painted people left in London to fend for themselves. We view this art as a form of Artistic Ethnography - understanding humans in their natural environment visually.

We also give Slinkachu’s Little People, two little thumbs up.

Still having trouble, need some creative perspective for your company? Contact us at perspective [at] dkworldwide [dot] com

Most of Techlife is about you, the reader. But this time I need your help. How do I make a clean break and transition to a new PC?

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While writing a recent article, on the OLPC XO Laptop, one of the all time most popular articles on Techlife, we got to meet Wayan Vota the founder of OLPC News. Wayan’s a strong, independent voice in the community of OLPC and the XO Laptop. He was featured on 60 Minutes for his work. (see 7:06 mark on Techlife TV for Wayan) I appreciated his grasp of both technology and non-profits and how the two mesh, so we sat down with him to learn more about what makes Wayan tick (tick, tick.) (unabashed 60 Minute pun for the OLPCNews readers who know me.)

Lesley Stahl discusses the 60 Minutes piece on the OLPC on Techlife TV.

Techlife: Wayan Vota. Interesting name, what are the origins?

Wayan Vota: Born on Bali to hippie folks. Got a local name in the process.

TL: Why did you start OLPC News?

WV: In the summer of 2006 I noticed there was much hype around OLPC, but little thoughtful analysis of its proposed methods and assumed impacts. I wanted to explore the details of OLPC’s implementation plan - how it expected to actually get laptops in the hands of children worldwide - in public form of open commentary and discussion. With ~5,000 daily readers, over a dozen writers, and too many contributors to count, I feel that OLPC News is successful beyond my wildest dreams.

TL: When did you first hear about an OLPC?

WV: In early 2006, a reporter for the Guardian newspaper in London called me looking for my opinion on this “$100 laptop scheme” from a Nicholas Negroponte. At that time, I’d never even heard of Negroponte, but the idea was captivating as I was exploring low-cost computing issues for Geekcorps, the organization I ran at the time. The model sounded very intriguing, but the details were lacking, making me wonder if it was just hype.

TL: When did you first get to manhandle an OLPC?

WV: I first held an OLPC at the Refresh DC Meetup where I explored its impact on website design with leading DC designers.

TL: When did you get your first OLPC?

WV: I didn’t have my own XO until G1G1, and then it was delayed until Xmas eve. With my wife working all day on Christmas, I geeked on the XO till my fingers hurt.

TL: Are you a member of any OLPC user groups?

WV: With the OLPC News XO User Group Forums I helped organize many of the user groups across America, and I co-founded the OLPC Learning Club DC with Mike Lee which he now leads. Recently, I’ve helped organize Portland, Vancouver, and NY XO users into groups of co-learners.

TL: What’s an interesting thing one of the user groups did recently?

WV: While visiting the Vancouver XO User Group, I witnessed one of the more amazing OLPC tricks: face juggling an XO laptop.

Watch for Wayan in the last second of this 60 Minutes promo on Techlife TV.

TL: Is your OLPC your primary machine?

WV: I think I’ll side with Aaron of OLPC Austria when I say that the XO laptop is an educational device for children. Its not meant to be a replacement computer for me, and my professional needs are beyond the scope of the XO.

TL: How close are you with any of the leaders of the project?

WV: While I talk with Mary Lou Jepsen and Ivan Kristic on occasion, Nicholas Negroponte and Walter Bender are not fans of OLPC News. Apparently the concept of criticism, which is integral to Constructionist learning, doesn’t agree with the OLPC leadership.

TL: What do you think they have done well to date?

WV: OLPC, and Nicholas Negroponte in particular, can be credited with reinvigorating the debate around education and technology. No longer is it why should technology empower education, but how, and how, now? In addition, the XO laptop is a revolution in computing - low in cost, high in functionality and performance in the developing world context. The first practical, purpose-build, high-volume educational computer.

TL: What do you think they could improve upon?

WV: The hardware is literally clock-stopping hot, but the software has yet to live up to its promise of high ease of use and high reliability. Hopefully, we’ll see it progress as fast as the hardware process, and have a world class system by the end of this year.

TL: Would you consider leading the OLPC organization?

WV: Hahahah! You’re not the first to ask, yet I am no where near qualified to lead OLPC. I could contribute in the implementation process, helping design and rollout laptop distribution in the target countries, but to run the organization, you need a seasoned technology executive or a strong primary education practitioner.

TL: What do you think of the impact of $75 laptop as Pixel Qi wants to bring to market?

WV: Mary Lou Jepsen’s Display Centric Design process, which brought us the XO and she’s commercializing with Pixel Qi is a radical change in computer manufacturing that will have less to do with a random laptop price than reorganizing how every computerized device is designed - from cell phones to ATM’s. I would not even begin to know where her ideas will lead us, but I am grateful to her for the idea and execution.

TL: What do you think of the Eee and other affordable sub-notebooks?

WV: OLPC’s greatest legacy may well be that it awoke the rest of the IT industry to the demand in the sub-$300 notebook market - targeted computers offering basic functionality at prices that make them commodities. At $300, rich consumers can have a quiver of laptops to match moods, and an African can have a laptop, period, with the resulting spike in democratization of information around the globe.

TL: How is niche publishing better than general publishing?

WV: I love micro-publishing. With OLPC News I can assume a level of fluency with the subject matter that allows me to pass by the generalizations and explore the details of One Laptop Per Child with a rabid readership that knows and debates every nuisance of our shared subject matter. In addition, the readership directly contributes to the site, from comments to submitting Guest Posts to becoming writers for OLPC News themselves.

TL: Have you gotten stories that you couldn’t run for some reason? Why?

WV: Oh the stories I wish I could tell! Since OLPC News is the blog of choice for the One Laptop Per Child community, I am often privy to information that is best left unsaid. And for the betterment of the OLPC community, I leave it that way.

TL: Where do you see the future of OLPC News?

WV: I find great joy in publishing OLPC News. As long as One Laptop Per Child is a going concern, I hope OLPC News will be there to chronicle its existence - tangible proof of OLPC’s ability to inspire and motivate.

Techlife readers are really amazing. You send in some of the best things on the web. Once again loyal reader Dan found a gem, with Alan Becker’s Animator vs. Animation movie. It follows the story of a small Flash animated stick figure as he wreaks havoc on the flash desktop of his maker.

Watch Animator vs. Animation on Techlife TV

Being the inquisitive bunch we did a bit more research and found that this gem is really part of of a larger collection of work by the talented Mr. Becker. After the success of Animator vs. Animation, Alan built Animator vs Animation II. In this story, the animator does the unthinkable and risks his entire computer to a stick figure’s wrath.

Watch Animator vs. Animation II on Techlife TV

Alan’s wild success was recognized by the world,  and he teamed with Charles Yeh and Atom Films to create Animator vs. Animation: The Game, which is a blast. (pun intended). And then the duo modded it a bit and created Animator vs. Animation: The Game SE (Special Edition).

There are a lot of small touches Alan added to these animations, be sure to keep your eyes on areas like the backgrounds and text labels to catch all the attention to detail. I enjoyed Animator vs. Animation, as you can see the care and effort Alan put into his first masterpiece in the genre. Animator vs. Animation II is great second effort with some out of the box thinking and a real ending. I hope Alan is plotting Animator vs. Animation III, I’ll be watching.

Alan’s inspiration likely comes from the original Stick Art films. Stick art animations have been around for a long time, and are often violent and a bit comedic. What’s your favorite? Post the link below.

People everywhere are excited for MLB’s Opening Day. It is a day when everyone has a clean slate. Everyone has an even shot (at least the media gives that impression.)

We all know the owners and players are in this to get paid. Well once again, loyal reader Dan writes in with an Opening Day gem to give Techlife readers their shot at a payday. (Pete Rose, this one’s for you!) I was a bit skeptical at first, but it’s free money and fun too. Nearly as good as fun at the old ballpark.

CentSports is a new kind of social gaming site where you risk nothing but can win real money. First off the site gifts you $.10 to bet on sports. Lose that and get another gift of $.10 and so on. (Yep, they are unlimited in their generosity.) Start winning and you can cash out as soon as you reach $10. Sound to good to be true? Sounds more like spam you might get, right? Trust Techlife it isn’t. It is actually a lot of fun

Do you like hardwoods, frozen ponds or field of dreams? CentSports has NCAA, the NCAA Tournament, the NIT Tourney plus the full slate of NBA games. They also have NHL hockey and starting today they have baseball’s MLB all ready for Opening Day action. They are planning on adding soccer and bringing back boxing and tennis. (Apparently those pesky tennis players will retire mid-match which screws up the betting a little.)

As a person with little knowledge of sports betting it is a lot of fun to learn on someone else’s dime (pun intended). They have all the standard bets including point spread, money line, over/under and let you parlay or combine these bets to get higher payouts.

The best part is the social aspect of the site. You can see what others bet, invite friends, publicly chat about each bet made and send private notes too.

How can CentSports fund the payouts? Advertising. They have a unique feature after placing a bet you will get the chance to see an ad which can give you bonus cash if you win. (Hint: Always hold out for near the top tier of the bonus.) There are other ads scattered around the site as well.

Overall: If you like sports and are too chicken to try using your own money, you can’t lose. Literally! CentSports is sports gambling for the rest of us. No skill required.

I hope you try it out and see if you can beat me, I was up to nearly $2. Let us know in the comments what your user name is and we can add you to our friend list on the site.