Flickr has an Open Interface Application (API) which just means that anyone can write a program to utilize or present Flickr data. In fact, they encourage it! There are entire websites devoted to toys, gadgets, widgets and applications for Flickr pictures (or is it pictrs?). I made the above picture with Spell with Flickr. The best part was that it was totally easy. Just type in the word, click a button and out pops some awesome letters. If you don't like the letters, click on each one for a zillion other choices.
Here is my son as a pop art icon. This can be done at the Wharholizer. I have wanted to do this for years, and have tried doing it more "by hand," but still with digital pictures. It is amazing that a simple upload of a picture and the click of one button could accomplish this! So while finding the applications and navigating Flickr and its incredible amount of content is overwhelming at the start, the mashups applications could be real time-savers once one becomes familiar with them.
We found the above creature living in a messy habitat near our home. There may be more; scientists are continuing to excavate. Magazine covers can be generated at this page by Big Huge Labs. I found Big Huge Labs' page to be one of the easiest pages to find, navigate and use.
Now, to put all of this in a library frame of reference. . . . In terms of how libraries and librarians could use all of these applications, I am in a bit of a quandry. There are the obvious ideas of using these for marketing materials, generating your own staff "READ" posters and creating pretty impressive content for library web pages and blogs. I think well-versed staff would also be helpful in teaching these applications in either a program setting or more informally as patrons ask. Beyond that, I am curious to see what other classmates come up with.
No comments:
Post a Comment