I had to make a presentation and I wondered if I should try using a zooming presentation editor – I usually don’t use them because most of the time I don’t need flashy visuals, and they can be quite distracting if your content doesn’t lend itself to a spatial metaphor. But this time was different.

However, I was faced with an obstacle. None of the major zooming presentation editors like Prezi (no relation to me despite the name! Though I worked together with one of their founders on a research project, Hungary is a small place…) or Ahead offer easy printing. Maybe there’s one which does, but I was in a hurry and didn’t find anything. Also, my laptop only has Linux, so Windows and (especially) Mac solutions like Keynote were also out.

I came up with a solution that worked quite well for my purposes, though it probably wouldn’t work for you if you expect full Prezi-like functionality like the rotating virtual camera, etc., and it only offers three levels of zoom, so I don’t claim it’s perfect. But since several people have been asking about it, here is the howto beyond the cut! Note that it assumes that you can make a regular presentation, and you have some computer proficiency. (If you have specific questions, comment away and I’ll do my best to answer!) (more…)

Sorry for the lack of updates lately – both of my main computers (laptop & desktop) decided they’ve had enough of life, within 24 hours of each other.

Read the scary story including meowing hard disks, laptops breaking in half, software named after huge trees, and actual useful tips on system rescue – click on the cut!

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(I’m moving random Linux stuff from my private journal to here, it’s a bit chaotic at present, but bear with me. And yes, there will be artwork, I know everyone wants the artwork and not random juicy bits of Linux! )

This entry is about using luvcview under Linux for some very simplistic video recording for your eye tracker, or any other purpose. I discovered these things while I was trying to set up the visible spectrum Starburst algorithm, but after trying out several algorithms I decided to use a different one…  so I don’t know if these will be of any use to anyone! Still, here goes.

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Maybe I’m just unlucky, but I ran into this problem head-on a few months back, and it took me a while to figure out exactly what was wrong, as none of the online howtos seemed to have any relevant information… so I’m posting a bit about that. I wanted to fit some of this on the conference poster I’m presenting this Friday (before Shabbes) but I couldn’t shoehorn everything into 90 x 150 cm and still keep it reasonably readable from a distance!

What to do if you experience framedropping, glitches, etc. while recording from two USB webcams at the same time which are not present when you’re only recording from one of them? 1. Don’t panic 2. read this quick howto!
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My new website is finally online, in time for a conference I’m attending… I hope you like it, I think I ended up with something that’s quite similar to what I originally had in mind. Rounded edges and transparency work with all the major browsers I’ve tried, and the rest should be standards-compliant. If anyone has better coding ideas for those, I’m quite open to ideas, as long as I don’t have to do rounded edges with graphics – I once attempted to make a site like that and it was Such A Pain I’d rather not try that again.

Anyway, while I was searching for a WordPress theme I came across the nastiest idea how to make money off your free theme, I thought I’d share (I was so angry!).

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