Plant Services - December 2007 - (Page 33)

WEB HUNTER Potpourri X It’s time again for the annual collection of cyberspatial oddities T because a computer somewhere is sequentially processing individual pixels from your megapixel camera. Speaking of megapixel cameras, most of them have a telephoto feature. Even though the image clarity remains outstanding when you zoom in, you lose overall perspective. You might be able to frame a distant window in your viewfinder, but it’s out of context if you can’t see the rest of that building. How would you like the best of both worlds – a wide-angle photo that allows you to zoom in anywhere to see incredible detail? That’s what you can find at www. gigapan.org. Start with a high-quality digital camera. Set The visual treats the lens to max zoom. Mount the unit on an ultra-steady Maybe you’ve heard about the phenomenon sometimes called tripod. Shoot thousands of overlapping imWeb 2.0, or social networking. These Web sites ages. Alternatively, you can use a robotic feature content that is provided by the users, not Now, we’ve mount that automates the entire process. those who own or host the site. A typical example is YouTube, which offers users the chance to dispensed with Then, use software to stitch those images upload their homebrew videos for the world to screws and nails. into a single large-scale panorama image that has, perhaps, billions of pixels. Check see. Most of them have video and audio quality We simply glue the examples on the site. You can find sourcthat really isn’t ready for prime time. But, I dithings together. es for free software by searching the Web for gress. Even if you have no interest in worldwide “stitching software.” Include the parentheses fame, you might need to use video for trainin the search box entry. The overall effect is ing purposes. If so, remember a reference video similar to the map feature in Google, where you start with called “How to Make a Video” that can help make your cinea map of the entire United States and zoom down to the matographic exploits more professional. Aim your eyeballs at rooftops of individual houses. www.askthebuilder.com/How_to_Make_a_Video.shtml for the full story. Then again, you might prefer still photography. InexpenSpeaking of maps sive digital photo media offer many advantages. The cost You can’t get there from here unless you have a map. So, is near zero, so rookies can waste unlimited exposures in take advantage of the Maptech Charts Application at search of that one good keeper image. Suppose you’re atwww.sailmag.com/charts. It offers online access to nationtending some one-time event and think you got that great wide set of USGS topographic maps, NOAA nautical charts shot, only to discover that it’s a little blurry, everyone has and aeronautical charts. The site doesn’t appear to have many redeye, the background is bad or some irrelevant bystandof the navigational photos it promises. Select a location, pick er got into the frame. The software that came with your the type of map you want and zoom in for whatever level of camera allows you to edit and manipulate the images, but detail you need. In the lower right you’ll see the latitude and I’ll bet the online photo editing capability you’ll find at longitude of the cursor position in any of several formats. www.picnik.com is better. After you upload an image, use the “Edit” tab at the top to rotate, crop and otherwise make Pick up a quick $25 million basic tweaks. The real power, however, is found under the All you need to do is come up with a commercially viable way “Create” tab. Apply any of 24 effects, add text and shapes, to produce a worldwide net removal of manmade atmospheric whiten teeth - supercharge the image. Warning: the softgreenhouse gases each year for at least 10 years without proware’s response to your commands will appear to be sluggish ducing any negative unintended consequences. The contest he 11 months of diligent, intense Web research that produces this column often uncovers quite a few totally irrelevant Web sites. These online resources are in keeping with the basic philosophy we’ve followed for more than 10 years – zero-cost, noncommercial, registration-free Web sites only. I hope you find something useful in this exploration of the off-the-beaten-path “sights” that don’t necessarily have a rational relationship to the business life of the plant professional. December 2007 www.PLANTSERVICES.com 33 http://www.gigapan.org http://www.gigapan.org http://www.askthebuilder.com/How_to_Make_a_Video.shtml http://www.sailmag.com/charts http://www.picnik.com http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Plant Services - December 2007

Plant Services - December 2007 Contents From the Editor: Orange Alert The PS Files: Pressed into Innovation Up and Running What Works: Samuel Adams Facility Refreshed in Cincinnati Energy Expert: Energy's "Perfect Storm" Technology Toolbox: Know Your Position Cover Story: Get a Grip on the Steamer Piping: Outside Looking In Web Hunter: Potpourri X In the Trenches: Making a Big Stink Boiler Room: Getting Educated

Plant Services - December 2007

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