TeacherTabletPC

From GottaBeMobile.com:

Josh Einstein, of Einstein Technologies, has just released a fantastic tool for developers interested in learning more about developing for the Tablet PC and how the ink analyzer works, called Ink Analyzer Explorer. The program demonstrates nearly all of the ink analyzer capabilities including shape recognition, analysis hints, correction, etc. It is also a good tool for anyone else wanting to learn why and how the recognizer does what it does.

If this prompts anyone to do some ink-enabled programming, I’d really like some better ink-friendly blogging tools, better inking in Firefox/Thunderbird, and some more free ink games.

Since I’m buried under a heap of grading (well, actually, I crawled out for a quick break and decided to use the break to post here), I’ll follow the lead of GottaBeMobile.com and post a quick reminder about the changes in Daylight Saving Time in the US. As all the running around by our IT staff at school indicates, this is kind of a big deal, even though it really shouldn’t be (they were very insistent that I reboot my desktop right then and there). Chances are that if you’ve been keeping up with your software updates, you’ll be fine. Just in case, here’s a link to Microsoft’s DST Support Center. (And if like me, you’re multi-platform, here’s Apple’s Support Article and the OpenBSD4.0 Errata Page with a patch and a page from Rutgers University with lots of different platform-specific info.)

How a Blaugh Comic Is Created – With Video! » Drawings & Sketches » Archive

After scanning in the sketch, I import it into Flash on it’s own layer, and then I use my tablet pc to vectorize the final art on the layers above it. Not exactly the traditional vector artist technique, but it works just splendid for me. I have yet to find another vector program out there that can come close to matching the solid drawing tools in Flash. (click here to see video #2)

Eddie VanDerbeck of GottaBeMobile.com and Peter Rojas of Engadget both have written about Shutdown Day 2007. The notion of Shutdown Day was enough to make me create a new category: Off-Topic (though I was tempted to call it something like “Lazy Sundays,” I didn’t want to limit myself to only being this far off-topic on Sundays). I think I’m of the same opinion as Peter Rojas:

Hold on there, big guy. You want us to STOP using computers for a day? How about we all decide to hold our breath for 24 hours, too? Yeah, that’s right, we’re not giving up our gadgets for anyone. We know that some day our computers will kill us (either by rising up against us or by getting us so sucked into a six day-long WoW marathon that we forget to eat), but hey, you gotta die from something right? [...] Anyway, we’re going to show the Blame Computers First crowd what’s what and use our computers TWICE as much on March 24th — even if that means grabbing two machines and then typing with our fingers and toes at the same time.

Not that Eddie VanDerbeck disagrees:

A little over a year ago, I broke 5 ribs, removed a good bit of hide from both legs, and broke my shoulder blade in a motorcycle mishap. I was back on my tablet in less than 12 hours. I know, you are impressed how tuff I am. Not really, I was in a bit of a fog from the pain killers and could not tell you what I read or who I emailed. But dang-it, I was inking!