A Presentation using Google Docs

This presentation is about a typical day at work.



I had never used Google Docs before creating this presentation, but have made a slide show using Power Point before.  I found it to be very similar. One difficulty I had at first was getting my photos into the presentation. I couldn't seem to upload them from my computer (I assume because they were too large) and also couldn't load them from a URL after putting them on Flickr. I found out that I could drag them in from another window, so I got them into the presentation that way. Then I found that they weren't as clear as I'd like, so I deleted them and used the medium sized photos from Flickr so they looked better, although at the size it is here it wouldn't matter.
My typical day is somewhat routine and probably boring to people. I work at two part time jobs on the Health Science campus. The only thing out of the ordinary that happened is that a wall in the middle of the room got taken down. Sometimes weekends are more interesting, especially if I go to one of my walks.
If I had more time maybe I could have made a more interesting presentation, but I didn't have time to wait for inspiration before starting. Anyway, I know how to use Google Docs after creating this and it isn't hard at all.

Making a video with Animoto

Try our slideshow maker at Animoto.

This week I used a program called Animoto to make a short video. My video features the song Down on the Corner by Creedence Clearwater Revival. I chose this song because I like the group and have it on my computer in iTunes. I also thought the idea of being on a corner could work with the urban landscape photos I took. First I had to make a MP3 version of the song since I only had it in the default AAC version. My first attempt at making a video showed I had way too many photos for the 30 seconds allowed for a free video, so I had to eliminate some. It isn't easy to decide what to cut of your own photos. The first version I made didn't have the right part of the song in it and I didn't like the result. So I used the sliders while listening to the song to get it to start where I wanted it to. I couldn't get it to end up exactly right. Then I didn't like how the pictures fit, so I moved them around some. In my final version I have the courthouse showing at the time when the lyrics say "over by the courthouse" and some kids in a picture when the lyrics say "four kids on the corner", only my kids are down the alley and the timing isn't quite as good there. After that the lyrics really don't match the pictures much. I think it would be easier to take pictures to fit a song than try to pick a song to fit the pictures, especially since there isn't a way to control what is showing when except by the order of the pictures. I also thought the Tarta station and the bus pulling away would make good ending shots. It would be nice to play with something with more features to adjust the timing on the photos to fit the music better and cut it off at exactly the right spot.