Signing Time! on PBS

Look above to see a YouTube of the children's book Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. I was actually in search of an animated avatar with a disability when I stumbled across this, and had to post it.

Then I found footage of Signing Time! from PBS http://www.signingtime.com/and thought it deserves a mention. If you've been following my blog at all, you are already aware that Odiogo will read the entries aloud.

I like to play and am particularly interested in assistive technology of all kinds and plan to mention more of it here.

Not Exactly What I'd Planned . . . .

Hannah from Oddcast (thanks!) commented on my last post, and directed me to Voki.com, where I was able to successfully create and embed my character. You may have to pause the music from my Playlist to hear her speak.

Tourguides, anyone?

I think having a tourguide option on our website would make it warmer and easier for patrons to navigate, though I know some people detest this sort of thing. It could be optional, as many .com sites have it. Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego has a live, not animated version of this. Scenes always revert back to "the Chief" who speaks directly into the camera to the user; kids love it!

At Sitepal.com, I created a few free talking animated characters, which I'd hoped to embed right here for you to see, but that feature of Sitepal is not available at the moment, and a link asks for my login info, so I guess you'll just have to go to www.sitepal.com and create your own (2 are free)
In case you've never heard of Carmen Sandiego, click here for more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Sandiego

Stuck in the 80's (Musically)

See my playlist from http://www.projectplaylist.com/ Definitely fun.

Squidoo

This has nothing to do with books and reading, but what a neat site:
http://www.squidoo.com/soundtoys/

It's all about music "Museum of Sound Toys - Online Virtual Instruments, Interactive Music Guides, and Digital Media Artworks". I was actually looking for a fun interactive music widget to add to my blog when I found this, and decided it is better to add the link itself because it leads to so many good things.

Alter Egos and Avatars

I had a lot of fun creating my avatar at www.Meez.com, I can see why every Playstation, Gamecube and computer game my youngest nephew has gives the option to make your own wrestler, car, action hero, etc. Especially when you get to be "lord of all things" and choose all the characters, like in the Sims. . . .Then I saw Her Mind Disturbed Her's talking avatar from Sitepal and was (momentarily) jealous. But I know I'll be creating yet another account soon.

Pondering whether the main difference between a blog and a MySpace or other social network account is the listing of the friends and the posting of comments w/picture. It seems to me that it's equally easy to add content and change the layout.

Don't harsh my mellow

Back from vacation and just had to add the new catch phrase I picked up from reality T.V., which I basically can't stand and virtually never watch. But I do like the phrase. Hoping to find time this week to check out some more tools I've been reading about in other blogs.