SXSW Time Again!

SXSW Interactive runs from March 12 to March 16, 2004, in Austin, Texas. Until January 16, registration is $195. Take a look at the site - you might decide you want to go for the panels. (Party? What party?)

4:27:41 PM    

New changes to Macromedia Director.

(From the linked article) "Macromedia has announced Macromedia Director MX 2004, an upgraded version of the multimedia authoring tool that adds support for JavaScript, Flash MX 2004 content, and DVD-Video. The product also develops projector files for Windows and Macintosh in one step. (A projector file in Director is an executable of a Director application.) Macromedia's Director creates fixed-media presentations for formats such as disks, while the company's Flash technology is focused on web development. New features in Director MX 2004 enable richer content and easier development due to seamless workflow linkage to other MX 2004 products, according to the company. The addition of JavaScript extends development to Java developers."

ComputerWorld: "Director for a very long time has had a proprietary scripting language called Lingo," said Miriam Geller, Macromedia director of product management for Director. "With this release, we're adding JavaScript. It's important because now people who are coming to Director don't have to learn a proprietary scripting language. They can use the skills they already have." [Scripting News]

4:19:07 PM    

Collaborative Learning Tools.

Another interesting experiment. I like it because somebody is working on the collaborative online learning problem. I am not crazy about WIKIs, but this isn't exactly a WIKI. Try to figure it out, or get a German-speaking colleague to give you a hand. They might be onto something with this. -- BB

CURE against solipsism. CURE stands for "Collaborative Universal Remote Education". Developed at "FernuniversitŠt Hagen" CURE is a non-commercial tool that facilitates collaborative learning in distributed teams using standard browsers over the Internet. It tries to avoid isolated eLearning situations. It combines a room metaphor, WIKI ideas, a calendar and communications tools. (Unfortunately the manual is only in German at the moment.) You can use CURE for free. So check it out and give it a try! [Peter on eLearning]

1:06:05 PM