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May 18

App Highlight: Nostalgio

Posted on May 18, 2012 by thatkeeginlady

By Jennifer Keegin

In the last two weeks or so, my co-worker got a new iPhone 4S and my mom got a new iPad. Between the two of them, apps have become a frequent topic. After deciding it was time for me to revisit my own apps on my iPad, I came across a new app that was just what I was searching for. An app that allows me to create collages or frames within my Instagram photos.

Have you seen these images like this one on Instagram?

It was killing me. How did they do that? How did they get three pictures on one slide? The answer is Nostalgio. You can take pictures while using the app or use photos from your albums. Its available FOR FREE on iPad and iPhone.

Here’s some info from their site:

Nostalgio helps you arrange your photos into a beautiful photo collage and share it with your friends via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, and Instagram.

Featured by Apple in the Photo & Video Essentials and Staff Favorites!

Features:

• Lots of collage templates
• Great variety of frames
• Customizable borders
• Live Camera mode in all frames
• Most popular photo filters: Cross-Process, Black&White and Sepia. You can use them individually on a single photo!
• Pick a layout for your collage
• Choose photos from albums or take new ones
• Use camera simultaneously in all frames to take pictures of the same object and enjoy fun results!
• Tap Random button and let the app create a collage for you
• Rotate and resize your photos
• Save and share your collages in different sizes
• Save and share your images across multiple social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, and Instagram

Experiment – we’ve done everything to ensure the perfect result!

It takes a little bit to get used to how you place the photos, and you might have to try a couple of different templates to find the configuration you like best (which means you’ll have to start over again with the selection of pictures) BUT – its worth it. If you don’t follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you missed a few collections of pics of my little one who is quite the character. She has a very expressive face, and being able to show a few different faces she’s made on one shot is the best.

This app allows you to create the shots you want first, then you can either save it to your device and be done or you can share it.

You will have to connect all your accounts which as always takes a little time to set up.

Again, being able to put these collages into Instagram was the best-and so yes-if you start listing out the steps for creating these shots for Instagram specifically, I’m talking about:
1. Taking pictures.
2. Turning the photos into a collage of sorts via Nostalgio and then
3. Putting them into Instagram and then
4. Editing it and THEN
5. Sharing them.

If you don’t mind all the steps and using multiple apps and screens – then check it out. (It’s easier if you’re just saving them or sharing via Facebook etc.).

 

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May 17

Saved By Facebook

Posted on May 17, 2012 by brendabethman

By Brenda Bethman

Today is my day to post on a “blogger’s choice” topic. At first, I was going to go with a non-tech-related topic and write about graduation and why I think it’s important that faculty and staff show up at graduation (I personally did four ceremonies this year as part of the platform party for three schools at our university. That’s a bit excessive, but I actually like it), but the Chronicle of Higher Education beat me to it. Read it and if you are one of those folks who skips graduation, consider changing your ways next year and show up. Your students will thank you and you might even enjoy it. (As always, however, I warn you to stay away from the comments. Seriously).

I also toyed with writing about my new iPad, but since I’ve only had it for about a week or so, I want to give it a little more time before I write about it — but I will do a review soon.

Next possible topic was another one that’s not tech-related — relating to quiet times on campus. Every year, I look forward to intersession, thinking how nice it will be to get “caught up” (does that ever happen?) while the students are away. Every year I also forget that I am such an extrovert that I obtain about 98% of my energy through interactions with other people. Which means that during the “quiet” time I feel tired and bored as I need the stimulus of interacting with people to keep my energy levels up. I manage to get things done, but it’s a chore — rather like how I imagine doing what I normally do would be for an introvert.

Finally, this brings me to the title of the post. When things are quiet here, I get a little silly on Facebook (surely, I can’t be the only one) — and I really do have the best Facebook friends in the world as they rise to the challenge and come to my rescue by entertaining me. As evidence, check out this thread:


I’ve written before about my love for social media and today just confirmed it for me. It’s nice to have friends around even when there is literally no one on campus — 10 years ago I would have ended up playing solitaire or staring out the window, getting nothing done. Now I can turn to Facebook or Twitter for a few seconds to get some interaction to keep me going. I actually get more work done now during the quiet times than previously thanks to that. So the next time you hear someone bemoan social media’s effect on productivity, think of us extroverts who need a little love from our Facebook friends to keep our energy up.

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May 16

Linkage Love

Posted on May 16, 2012 by kristendom

by Kristen Abell

I would guess that if you’re reading this post, you’ve maybe read other posts by me and understand that the role of women in technology is kinda sorta important to me. In fact, I might have a name as a big proponent of this issue. What this means is that without making much effort, I come across all sorts of great articles and information about the status of women in tech. Thank you to those who send them to me – keep sending away.

So this week, I have a couple of links to highlight current events and a progress report, and then one very cool link at the end – so you have to stick around for that one.

First off, for those who occasionally try to convince me that we don’t have an issue when it comes to the status of women in technology (those are becoming fewer and fewer now, to be fair), I give you this gem from CNet sent to me by Emily Ronning: “Why We Need to Keep Talking about Women in Tech” by Molly Wood. Sure, it chronicles an event held in Denmark instead of the U.S., but it was an event held by a major computer company – which makes it unacceptable anywhere, as far as I’m concerned. Prepare to be horrified at what happened, as well as frustrated at the minimal actions Dell took to apologize.

The next link is to an article about the current state of women in tech companies – primarily in leadership positions. It does a great job breaking down the numbers and pointing out the gains that women have made in the past several years, as well as the gains we have yet to make. Also, it has a spectacular infographic at the end that spells it out pretty clearly for everyone – pretty sure that will be making an appearance in future presentations of mine.

That leads me to my wicked cool link – to the Women Who Tech telesummit happening on May 23rd. I am way excited about this, in case you couldn’t tell. Exploring topics such as diversifying your team, leveraging technology for social justice, open source, and more, and at the ridiculously low price of $20, this promises to be an excellent investment. Not to mention the women who will be leading the conversations – Jane Wells from Automattic, Elisa Camahort Page from BlogHer, and Shireen Mitchell from Digital Sistas are just a few of the names on the speaker list. I hope you’ll consider joining in the conversation that day and learning more about our role in technology!

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May 15

Social Media Management for Graduation

Posted on May 15, 2012 by jessfaulk

Some of you may have already wrapped up for the summer, but many of you may be still in the midst of commencement and closing chaos (as I am).  Either way, I think it is a great time to reflect on ways that your office can contribute to the social media presence and online energy of your college’s graduation ceremony.  I invite you also to include your own ideas of contributions to the online buzz during graduation.

Below is a list of ideas from the Simmons College marketing department, through an awesome fellow women in tech, Social Media Project Manager, Amanda Voodre.

Goals
First you will want to determine your goals for the program or the lead up to the commencement ceremony. For Simmons it the goal is: “To actively engage the entire Simmons community before, during, and after Commencement; to provide student-centered coverage of the event; to provide live media coverage of the event; to enhance brand awareness and promote key brand messaging.”

Facebook
This year we are encouraging students, families and staff to send congratulations to the graduates through the Simmons College Facebook.  Instead of having everyone post directly on the wall (which wouldn’t show up neatly under Page’s new formatting), we build a separate commencement tab! Every comment you post will end up both on our commencement tab, in the student’s feed when tagged, and in your own timeline).

Marketing also did a great job in making commencement theme banners available (below) for all of the different departments on campus to display leading up to the big event.  These same banners were made available to the students as well so any Simmons graduating senior can theme their own facebook page!

Twitter
As one might expect, Simmons will be live tweeting the commencement ceremony from their main college account (@simmonscollege) with the hashtag #sims12.  Below the live stream of the ceremony will be the twitter stream that everyone can watch or contribute to right on the same page.  To take it a step further, Simmons has also created an informal team of tweeters. By meeting with all of the media managers for the various schools and departments and giving them a overview of the social media outlets, everyone feels more invested in the outcome.  We were also all given a list of departmental twitter handles, and known student and staff twitter handles so that everyone can make sure to @tweet at folks during the ceremony.

Pinterest
Simmons has added a board to their Pinterest page specifically for commencement.  This includes names and pictures of past commencement speakers, archive photos, and current commencement images.

YouTube
Simmons will be posting live behind the scenes videos throughout the day from a student video blogger, Sarah Galvez (@WomanOnCampus) and streaming the entire ceremony live.

Four Square
Students can check in at commencement and Shout: I’m graduating! to receive a special Commencement badge.  This is not Simmons specific, so any student can do this at any institution and gather this badge.

Linked In
Simmons is encouraging students who are graduating this year to start networking with Simmons College students and alumnae/i.

Contests
Simmons is  having a cap photo contest at Commencement this year.  We are asking students to take a photo of their decorated cap and share it with us by tweeting to@SimmonsCollege or by posting to the Simmons Facebook page. The most creative and original cap will be featured on the Simmons homepage! You can learn about the by visiting a video from Woman on Campus.

Bring it all together
As important as the different social media channels themselves, is making sure there is a way to pull it all together.  Our wonderful web team has done that on the Simmons College Commencement “Connect” Page .  Students and their families can get all of the details about how to get involved in each platform.

I hope some of these tips were helpful in thinking about your commencement, or your next big event.  Thank you to Amanda Voodre for sharing your wonderful tips and making Simmons social media rock!

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May 14

Blog Prompt: State of Women in Movies & TV

Posted on May 14, 2012 by blackbrarian

By Anitra Cottledge

I’m not going to talk about the show Girls in this post, or all the attention it’s gotten, except to say, I’m not really interested in watching it, although it does raise interesting debate about African Americans having to choose between misrepresentation in or exclusion from film and television.

I’m only going talk briefly about The Avengers, simply because I haven’t seen it yet. But, please know that I am going to see The Avengers. I’m expecting to really enjoy it. I heart Joss Whedon, comics, and pop culture. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to enjoy it even though there are only three major female characters in The Avengers: Black Widow, Agent Maria Hill and Pepper Potts. I’m reasonably certain I’m going to like it even though it apparently still doesn’t pass the Bechdel Test because the women “never talk to each other, about a man or anything else for that matter.”

I’m imagining that the three female characters have some nuance, despite not passing the Bechdel Test. Joss’ female characters tend to have layers.

Of course, I could talk about the fact that none of the major female characters (or any of the major male superhero characters, for that matter) in the film are people of color, but that’s another, although related, story for another day.

I could also talk about how, even with some Joss Whedon layers, comic book film adaptations tend to be very gendered. Artist Kevin Bolk points this out:

All of these things are part of a conversation about women in film and TV.

My latest TV addiction, Scandal, has also generated a lot of discussion about the depiction of black women in television. Scandal, a show about a professional fixer, “just might be the first television show on a major network both created by [Shonda Rhimes] and starring a black woman [Kerry Washington]. Could Scandal be indicative of a shift towards a broader and more balanced range in depictions of African American women on TV?

I often say that the problem is one of range, of having (or not having) enough options in the type of character one is going to portray so that all the pressure doesn’t rest on one or two shows to speak to all the multitudes of personalities, ideas, beliefs and experiences within any one identity group.

When you think about it that way, this is both an individual show/film issue and a larger industry issue. In reference to Girls (which I’m still not talking about), “The Problem of Representation, as they say, is the entertainment industry’s problem, not Lena Dunham’s.”

I also think that the industry’s “Problem of Representation” is greatly supported by the virtual invisibility and underrepresentation of women in film and tv. According to the Women’s Media Center, during the 2010-2011 television season, women made up:

  • 18 percent of creators
  • 22 percent of executive producers
  • 37 percent of producers
  • 15 percent of writers
  • 11 percent of directors
  • 20 percent of editors
  • 4 percent of directors of photography.

P.S. Those numbers haven’t shifted much since the 90s.

As someone who works in a Women’s Center, I find myself often saying to people that, of course we need to celebrate and acknowledge women’s progress to date, but our job is to also remember that there is still much work to do. And that, for me, sums up the state of women in film and TV.

While there is much more to learn about women and Hollywood, I want to leave you with something to celebrate: Ten Women of Color Behind the Camera in Television Whose Careers You Should Follow. Get into it.

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