Like many Web 2.0 sites, Flickr encourages other people to build their own online applications that use images found on the site. Through the use of APIs (application programming interfaces), many people have created third party tools and mashups that use Flickr images. The tools help you find, organize, and use photos in various ways. You can create mosaics of photos, use photos in games, and find apps that make using Flickr easier or more efficient. Look here for mashups, web apps, and Flickr tools.
Mashups
For this Thing, explore some of the fun Flickr mashups and 3rd party tools that are out there. Note that many of these require a Flash plug-in.
1. Check out one or more of these and create something from Flickr photos to add to your blog:
Clockr uses random photos to display the time.
Flickr Color Pickr - lets you find public photos in Flickr that match a specific color.
Big Huge Labs offers a round-up of Flickr tools.
Spell with Flickr spells out your word or phrase with Flickr photos.
splashr lets you present your Flickr photos in different view.
Create puzzles from your Flickr photos.
2. Upload one or more of these mash-ups to your blog (most will give easy-to-follow instructions somewhere on the site about how to copy the code needed and where to place it on your blog.)
These tools are fun but allow me to proffer this warning--it is very easy to spend a lot of time playing with these tools! It could become your latest hobby!
Online Image Generators
Many of us (and to be honest, by "us" I really mean "me") don’t have the time or the artistic talent to create specialized graphics or logos for projects. Enter the Online Image Generator! These easy-to-use tools let you create many types of images – framed pictures, slide shows, comic-style captions, trading cards, calendars, and much more.
Graphics are a great way to convey information and can add some fun, creativity and absurdist punch to your Web sites. Create customized images for your PowerPoint presentations, Web pages, and other projects. And because you can't ever have nothing nice (at least not on my watch), this is also an opportunity to think about copyright and licensing issues–--some image generators use characters from popular TV shows (The Simpsons, South Park, etc.) Is this legal or is it just part of that whole great big, knock-down-drag-out-rock-n-roll-party Internet free-for-all? Both? Neither?
1. Go to Big Huge Labs.
2. Choose one of the utilities from drop down list.
3. Create an image and save it to your computer.
4. Create another image or two to illustrate your 16 Things activities.
5. Upload your images to your blog to share with others.
Resources
Blog Prompts
- Consider how you can use these tools in your assignments, professionally or for self-promotion.
- What do you think of sharing photos online? Consider copyright and licensing issues.
