Week 8 - Free Tools
Thing 28: Play around with an online image generator
We've been working hard for the past seven weeks, so this week it's time to generate a little fun.
We're going to start by playing around with some online image generators. These are online tools that allow you to easily manipulate image and graphics to create fun images.
Check out the images on this page; they were created by using a few different image generators. For the top image, I used a generator called ImageGenerator.net. For the middle image, I used a generator called Dummies Book Cover Maker. For the image at the bottom of the page, I used a generator called Einstein Dynamic Picture.
This isn't really a Web 2.0 exercise, but what the heck ...
Here's what I want you to do:
Find a few fun image or text generators to play around with. You'll find a ton of them on The Generator Blog. Or, if you'd prefer, you can simply do an Internet search for "image generator" and find one that you like.- Write a post in your blog about one of your favorite image generators.
- Be sure to include one of the images you generated in your blog post. Often, adding the image you mocked up to your blog is as simple as copying and pasting code that the page provides. If not, you may just need to right-click on the image and then save it to your hard drive before using Blogger’s image button to add it to your post.
- Be sure to include a link to the image generator itself, so other participants can discover it, too.
And here are two rules to follow for this exercise: (1) Be tasteful, and (2) have fun!
Thing 29: Roll your own search tool with Rollyo
Here's a cool concept: Let's say you have a group of Web sites that you visit all the time. They have similar content that's updated frequently. Wouldn't it great if there were a way to search for content on these sites alone, with just one search query, without having to search the entire Internet at the same time?
There is. It's called Rollyo, and it has quickly become one of my favorite new online tools.
Rollyo is a Web site that allows you to create your own search engines (called "Searchrolls") that find content on just the Web sites you choose. Not only that, but the Searchrolls you create on Rollyo can be made accessible to the public, so everyone can use the Searchrolls you create. Likewise, you can use Searchrolls that other people have created. Here are a handful of the public Searchrolls available on Rollyo:
Your Thing 28 assignment
Here's what we're going to do with Rollyo:
- Explore Rollyo and create an account for yourself.
- Create a Searchroll for any subject you like.
- Create a post in your blog about your experience and link to your Searchroll. Can you see a potential use for tools like this?
- OPTIONAL: Add your Searchroll to your blog using the "Create a Searchbox" tool. I've added my "Accounting and CPAs" Searchroll below to show you what it should look like.
Thing 30: Create a tech-related blog post
Time for a little free-form blogging.
We'd like you to create a blog post about any technology-related subject. It could be anything at all -- how much you love Web 2.0, how much you hate blogging, a description of your must-have gadget... whatever. The entire tech world is free game here.
Go for it ... and have fun!