Finding and downloading audio described content will be a simple and straightforward process

Audio description on the iPlayer

I wrote last week that the iPlayer, which is the media player for the BBC’s catch-up service, could be the best place on the internet or indeed anywhere, for receiving audio described material. Yesterday, I caught up with Andrew Strachan of the BBC’s Future Media and Technology Accessibility Team to discuss how this will happen.

Audio description is an additional narrative voice added to a programme to help explain what is happening for visually impaired people.

Finding and downloading audio described content will be a simple and straightforward process. It will be possible to search for only audio described material. Additionally, each programme will be clearly marked to show that an audio described version is available.

The Future Media and Technology Accessibility Team has finished an initial round of research into the best way to deliver accessible programmes with the iPlayer. Where available, there will be three types of file to download. These will be a standard version, one with British Sign Language and lastly, an audio described version. All three types will provide closed captioning.

Audio describing content does affect file size. “To give you an example, for a standard hour long programme, the file size is estimated as 383 MB, whereas the audio described version is estimated at 636 MB”, said Andrew.

The first phase of development is concentrating purely on delivery via the iPlayer. Even while this is being done the BBC is exploring innovative ways to enhance their audio description service in the future.

One possibility being considered is the delivery of audio described programmes as audio files. This would give users the choice of whether to download a programme with or without the video stream. If it is possible to do this, then it could make downloading files dramatically faster. This is not quite as simple as it sounds, however, and there are issues around digital rights management and license agreements to be overcome.

Read more news here : Audio description on the iPlayer

 

The software offers increased productivity as well as flexibility

10 Tips For Using Adobe Photoshop

Like a brush is to a painter an essential skill in the field of graphic design is Photoshop. The software offers increased productivity as well as flexibility. The features include aspects like file browser, vanishing point tool, smart sharpen filter, noise reduction filter, smart objects, as well as camera workflow enhancements. Photoshop offers professional photo editing features, digital imaging, as well as non destructive editing.

There are so many hidden features and insights to software, that it is often impossible to know them all.
1. There is a hidden option using which you can simulate bold and italic formatting styles for fonts that do not have these options. Click the button on the type tool option to bring up the character palette. Then select text and click the arrow in the upper right hand corner of the palette menu where faux bold and italics are present. However you will not be able to warp type when formatting has been applied.

2. One can quickly flip through blend modes while trying out effects by using the keys "shift+ to change to next mode and shift- to go to the previous mode." When a painting tool is active this shortcut will change the blend mode of the painting tool. However, if anything is highlighted then the shortcut will not work. You will have press esc and then use the shortcut keys again.

3. The photomerge feature can be used to seamlessly combine multiple images to create a panorama. This feature can be accessed from the Automate menu. You can even refine the composition using tools like rotate, zoom, pan, and set vanishing point.

4. When re-sampling images one can use either Bicubic Smoother or Bicubic Sharper. You can use Bicubic smoother for up sampling and Bicubic sharper for down sampling. You can actually specify which interpolation method is to be used by going to general preferences and setting a default.

5. There are two features for printing. You can use contact sheet II or picture package. Use contact sheet when you want all images in the same size and you want to print the name below the image. Use printer package when you want different image sizes on the same page, or multiple copies of the same image, or a text overlay.

6. If you want to remove a glare on the eyeglasses of an image you should use a part of the lens that does not have a glare and use it to layer the lens with a glare. Use tools like rotate and skew and soft-tip eraser to soften the edges. Ensure the glare does not show through from below. Or, do some careful work using the clone tool.

7. The online services enable you to connect to online photo printing and sharing sites.

8. The Web Photo gallery can generate hyperlink pages that can be uploaded to a server.

9. The Picture Package option will help you prepare photos in layout with multiple size prints on one page.

10. You will never forget how you achieved a certain result because the History Log will detail every step taken by you as well as time-tracking, and a legal record. There are three choices wherein, you can create a sessions only record where, it will record only when Photoshop is opened or closed; or a concise record which will record each action including the text that appears in the history palette; or the complete editing history including the text that appears in the actions palette.

Adobe Photoshop is a dream tool for every designer and one can over time master every subtlety of the tool and crop, rotate, resize, create shapes, add layers, change text, and play with colors. It is a hands on software where the more you use it the more you will learn.

About the Author: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for Free Software Downloads, the premier website to find Free Software Downloads including free anti-virus software, free spyware detection software, free toolbars, free chat software and more. He also freelances for Free Online Games site.

Now Playing: MySpace members can generate a website quickly through templates
Advanced Uses For Myspace

by: David Riewe

MySpace members can generate a website quickly through templates. These templates enable users to create a generic website in very little time. For those who are just interested in making new friends or keeping in touch with old friends, this may be all the member needs. However, those who want to offer more on their website or those who simply want to create a more detailed website may require some more advanced knowledge to achieve the desired effects.

Adding Background Music in MySpace

The majority of websites on the Internet do not have background music. This may lead many novice MySpace members to believe adding music to the background is a difficult process but it really isn’t. In fact MySpace makes it incredibly simple for members to add music to their profiles. The steps to add music to a MySpace profile are as follows:

* Log into your MySpace account
* While logged in visit this web address: http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music
* Listen to the music available and select a suitable song for your profile
* Click on the link that says “Add” below the song title
* The music is then automatically added to your profile

It is important to note that users can only add one song at a time to their profile. Clicking the “Add” link on a second song will result in the original song being replaced on the profile by the new song. Songs can be removed from a profile at any time by going to the “Edit profile” section of your account and entering the “Profile songs” subcategory. Here you have the option to remove your chosen song.

Adding Videos to MySpace

Adding videos to MySpace is also not as difficult as it seems. Even those with no HTML skills can add videos produced by other members or even their own videos to their MySpace profile. The steps to add a video to your MySpace profile are as follows:

* Log into your MySpace Account
* From your MySpace homepage, click on the “Add/Change Videos” link
* You are then taken to another webpage where you can either search through a database of previously uploaded videos or upload your own video
* To search the database, click on the search videos button and browse through the available videos
* After watching a video you can add the video to your profile in a couple of ways. First you can click on the “Add to my profile” button or you can copy the source code provided and paste this code into the desired location on your profile.

Alternately you can add your own videos to your MySpace profile by first uploading them to MySpace and then adding them to your profile. When uploading a video care should be taken to ensure the video does not violate the terms of service.

Creating Interactive Features on MySpace

Creating interactive features on MySpace is a bit more involved. Members can create features which allow visitor interaction but these features require more extensive HTML knowledge. The best way to acquire the information necessary to design these types of features is to research the subject of HTML code in books or on the Internet. However, if you find a feature on another MySpace website you would like to include in your own profile you can contact the member and ask them how to add this feature.

About The Author

David Riewe is the webmaster of http://www.daves-inforama.com and http://www.daves-inforama.com/myspace.

Free lodging with many of the comforts of home.

Holiday house swapping

 Jeanti St.Clair

EXCHANGING abodes is proving popular among world travellers.

The appeal of home exchange holidays – where people swap homes, and often vehicles and even pets – is basic: free lodging with many of the comforts of home.

It is easy to imagine swapping for a holiday destination – a loft in New York, a pied-a-terre in Paris, a beach house in Florida. But what if your hometown does not immediately come to mind when holidays are being planned?

Read more news here : Holiday house swapping

Attorney relationship is based on trust you would need to only appoint an attorney
10 Critical Tips on How to Hire an Attorney

In the modern world an attorney does more than bail people out of jail. Every business including that of the World Wide Web needs the services of an attorney. But the world is full of attorneys of all kinds and sadly not all are honest.

Since a client attorney relationship is based on trust you would need to only appoint an attorney you are comfortable with and are not intimidated by. Another important consideration is what you need an attorney for. Law is a specialized field and you will need to look for an attorney who practices in the area you need help with.

Before just selecting an attorney at random it would be advisable to familiarize yourself with the way law works. Many states have websites to guide people. Check out everything before you hire a lawyer.

Set yourself a goal to locate a lawyer who you like and trust. One you can confide in and one who will care about what happens to you. A lawyer is in many ways your conscience so choose with care. Think about using a reputed lawyer referral service like this one set up by the Massachusetts Bar Association.

The 10 most critical things a lawyer must toe the line for are:

1. He must have the proper qualifications and have extensive experience in the field of law you need him for. You cannot choose a criminal lawyer to handle say a divorce case.

2. He must agree to handle your case himself and not assign you to a colleague or assistant. 3. He must be licensed to work in the area and state or country you need him.

4. He must be honest and upfront with you about the case. If he thinks you have no chance of winning he must say so.

5. He must answer your questions clearly and tell you about not just his successes but failures too.

6. He must be well connected in your area other wise the case will be a damp squib.

7. He must not be loose lipped and discuss salient features of your case at social gatherings.

8. He must lay the cards on the table regarding fees and there should be no hidden charges.

9. His experience should enable him to tell you how long he thinks your case will take and what the strong and weak points of your case are.

10. He must make an effort to listen to you carefully, make notes, read your file thoroughly and not just set the file aside, smile at you and shake your hand within minutes to indicate the meeting is over.

What is most essential for you when you step out to hire a lawyer is to do your homework. Ask friends, business colleagues, and others who have ever used a lawyer. Learn how to sift through the chaff and find a lawyer that will suit you most. Do not hire one that charges the lowest fees. Find one that is well qualified, dedicated, and affordable.

About Author: Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for Attorney , the premier website to find Attorney Directory including topics on civil right, litigation, defense, attorney power, legal services, prosecuting all crimes and much more.

Snacking is a major part of our lives
Now Playing: Snacking is a major part of our lives

Recipes -- Healthy Snacks

 by: Vicki Churchill

In today's hectic life style it probably feels like there is no time for healthy eating, or you simply can not find recipes that are both healthy and quick to make. As a result it is tempting to reach for the quick and easy snacks such as potato chips or candy.

Do you ever run out of healthy recipes for snacks, or find them to time consuming?

Snacking is a major part of our lives, especially when it comes to kids. This article looks at why healthy snacks are important for all the family and will provide you with some straightforward and interesting recipes.

Foods with natural colours are on the whole good for you, like red apples, yellow bananas or orange carrots. Possibly the most important thing to remember is variety, a balanced diet will keep you healthy and fit as well as feeling good.

First of all I am going to give you some snacking tips.

Always make your snacks interesting

A rice cake is better than a packet of potato chips but is probably considered boring, so why not spread peanut butter and raisins on the top, or find some quick recipes for a salsa.

Prepare snacks in advance When you have some time chop up carrots, celery sticks, cucumber portions and other vegetables, place them in a sealed container in the fridge so as soon as you feel like snacking you can reach for the healthier option

Keep snacks with you To save yourself getting caught out needing a snack when you are out keep snacks with you in your bag. Again the easiest and quickest are fruit and vegetables.

Swap food When shopping always think of a healthier alternative to what you pick up. Instead of potato chips go for low fat crackers or rice cakes. If you want biscuits chose one that contains fruit alternatively make your own (see recipes to follow)

Buying packed or ready made food and snacks usually means it will be less healthy than making your own. I will now provide a few easy recipes to make that are both tasty and good for you

OAT BISCUITS Melt in Microwave - 1 dessert spoon golden syrup1 dessert spoon cold water4oz margarine Stir in 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda(It will become frothy)Now add - 1 cup oats1cup SR flour 3/4 cup sugar

Mix together dried and melted ingredients.Roll into balls the size of a teaspoon.Put onto a greased tray and squash balls. Cook 125 degrees 10 - 15 minutes, until light golden brown.

QUICK SMOOTHY RECIPE You will need

2 x bananas

1 tablespoon of honey

2 cups of milk

1 x tablespoon of yoghurt

Method Peel the bananas, break them up into pieces and place them in a large bowl

Take a fork and mash the banana so that it changes from lumpy to soft squidgy and creamy.

Add the honey and yoghurt, mix well with a fork until it's all creamy

Place the milk into the bowl and whisk the mixture with your fork until everything is mixed and pour into glasses.

MUSTARD AND LEMON CHICKEN 4 skinless chicken breasts halved

1.5 tablespoons of Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons of margarine

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

½ teaspoon of tarragon

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken in a shallow oven proof dish

In a saucepan, melt the margarine, add the mustard, lemon juice, and tarragon. Stir well and pour over chicken.

Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes or until cooked

There are simply heaps of quick, easy, fun and surprisingly nutritious recipes for all the family to enjoy.

About The Author

Vicki Churchill is the owner of http://www.simplecookery.com, a site that specializes in Recipes and cooking tips to save you time in the kitchen.

 

Snacking is a major part of our lives
Now Playing: Snacking is a major part of our lives

Recipes -- Healthy Snacks

 by: Vicki Churchill

In today's hectic life style it probably feels like there is no time for healthy eating, or you simply can not find recipes that are both healthy and quick to make. As a result it is tempting to reach for the quick and easy snacks such as potato chips or candy.

Do you ever run out of healthy recipes for snacks, or find them to time consuming?

Snacking is a major part of our lives, especially when it comes to kids. This article looks at why healthy snacks are important for all the family and will provide you with some straightforward and interesting recipes.

Foods with natural colours are on the whole good for you, like red apples, yellow bananas or orange carrots. Possibly the most important thing to remember is variety, a balanced diet will keep you healthy and fit as well as feeling good.

First of all I am going to give you some snacking tips.

Always make your snacks interesting

A rice cake is better than a packet of potato chips but is probably considered boring, so why not spread peanut butter and raisins on the top, or find some quick recipes for a salsa.

Prepare snacks in advance When you have some time chop up carrots, celery sticks, cucumber portions and other vegetables, place them in a sealed container in the fridge so as soon as you feel like snacking you can reach for the healthier option

Keep snacks with you To save yourself getting caught out needing a snack when you are out keep snacks with you in your bag. Again the easiest and quickest are fruit and vegetables.

Swap food When shopping always think of a healthier alternative to what you pick up. Instead of potato chips go for low fat crackers or rice cakes. If you want biscuits chose one that contains fruit alternatively make your own (see recipes to follow)

Buying packed or ready made food and snacks usually means it will be less healthy than making your own. I will now provide a few easy recipes to make that are both tasty and good for you

OAT BISCUITS Melt in Microwave - 1 dessert spoon golden syrup1 dessert spoon cold water4oz margarine Stir in 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda(It will become frothy)Now add - 1 cup oats1cup SR flour 3/4 cup sugar

Mix together dried and melted ingredients.Roll into balls the size of a teaspoon.Put onto a greased tray and squash balls. Cook 125 degrees 10 - 15 minutes, until light golden brown.

QUICK SMOOTHY RECIPE You will need

2 x bananas

1 tablespoon of honey

2 cups of milk

1 x tablespoon of yoghurt

Method Peel the bananas, break them up into pieces and place them in a large bowl

Take a fork and mash the banana so that it changes from lumpy to soft squidgy and creamy.

Add the honey and yoghurt, mix well with a fork until it's all creamy

Place the milk into the bowl and whisk the mixture with your fork until everything is mixed and pour into glasses.

MUSTARD AND LEMON CHICKEN 4 skinless chicken breasts halved

1.5 tablespoons of Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons of margarine

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

½ teaspoon of tarragon

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken in a shallow oven proof dish

In a saucepan, melt the margarine, add the mustard, lemon juice, and tarragon. Stir well and pour over chicken.

Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes or until cooked

There are simply heaps of quick, easy, fun and surprisingly nutritious recipes for all the family to enjoy.

About The Author

Vicki Churchill is the owner of http://www.simplecookery.com, a site that specializes in Recipes and cooking tips to save you time in the kitchen.

 

Online study programs open up umpteen opportunities for those eager to learn and earn

An Online Degree Program offers world class education with flexible schedules

In the fast paced society of today it has become imperative to earn additional degrees and qualifications in order to stay abreast with globalization and technological advancements. You need to protect yourself from becoming obsolete.

One of the most convenient ways to further your education while keeping ajob and home is registering for an online degree. This way you will not haveto take a sabbatical and go back to school full time. With online coursesyou will have interactive classes via the net, will receive course workonline, have an advisor who will guide you 24/7, and you can at your own convenience complete assignments from home.

The courses offered by online colleges are at par with majors offered in campus basedprograms. You can choose the field of study and also the pace at which you would like tocomplete the course work.

With an online course you have the added advantage of streaming your lectures anddiscussions whenever you are free. It is up to you to set up a convenient schedule forstudy. Today there are young and old registered for online courses.

With an online program you can:

1. Attend class at anytime and from anywhere. The work can be done form home, work, orhalf way across the world.

2. The way you learn is for you to decide. The courses are designed to enablestudent-centered learning.

3. The course material is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can read andreread lectures, commentaries, and discussions.

4. If you choose to, you can be a part of the online classroom discussion and clear any doubts you may have.

5. The teaching skills and research methodology sharpens use of technology. And, as computers are integral to every business environment the students develop networking and other crucial skills.

6. Online courses encompass a broad spectrum of content and learning is unrestricted. Students are allowed access to online libraries as well as course material.

7. Online courses promote team work and integrated learning.

Furthering your education means furthering your career and an increased pay. Online degrees give you credentials that will stand you in good stead in the industry of your choosing. One can earn a degree, bachelors or masters, in any field from nursing to accountancy, an MBA to a master's degree in foreign languages. Online study programs open up umpteen opportunities for those eager to learn and earn.

As a sensible student you need to first determine the courses that will benefit you the most. Ensure that the college you are registering with is accredited and has a good reputation. The school must conform to regulatory standards so that the degree you earn
is recognized. Always check that the school is listed with the Department of Education as an accredited institution.

See: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html?src=qc
The World Wide Web has brought education to your computer console. Now learning is not restricted to those you have the luxury of a campus education, it for anyone with a thirst for knowledge.

About the Author:

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for Online Colleges, the premier website to find top ranking colleges online directory including topics on public colleges, private colleges, online college, college course online, information on college costs, financial aid, degrees awarded, enrollments and more.
 

How to have confidence in your life

How to Have Confidence by Adopting a Realistic Attitude

Author: Peter Murphy

To look at how to have confidence you need to understand that the typical person is always going to have some areas in their life that they are more confident than others.

If you are struggling with how to have confidence in your life, you are not alone. Most people think that self-confidence is something that lucky people have, people who can do anything and everything.

Part of the problem with confidence is we think we have to have tons and tons of it and all the time. The reality is, that not everyone knows how to have confidence in all situations.

Self-confidence is really an attitude a person has, that allows them to have a positive view of themselves and the situations life may put them. People with a confident attitude are realistic. They trust in their own abilities and believe that they will be able to do most of what they want to do in life. They know they can’t do everything.

To look at how to have confidence you need to understand that the typical person is always going to have some areas in their life that they are more confident than others.

You can be very athletic and comfortably confident in your athletic abilities while not feeling confident when meeting new people. Chances are you are confident in more ways than you may realize. The key to discovering a realistic self-confidence is to remove some of the false beliefs you may have developed.

1. False Belief:

I believe that to be successful in life I have to be competent in all the important areas of life.

Realistic Belief:

I know that achievement-based thinking is not the true way to feel worthy. I get some satisfaction when I achieve things that I set out to do, but I know that failures have nothing to do with my personal worth. I was born worthy.

2. False Belief:

The past has shown me how to have confidence in myself or not. My past is my most important guidance-system.

Realistic Belief:

As we grow we don’t have the same vulnerabilities we did when we were young. You’ve gained some awareness on what you think should continue to influence you in life. You choose which areas of the past that you’ll allow to steer the present, but you don’t have to be a slave to the past.

3. False Belief:

Everybody knows that bad things happen more than good things. The good things I do can’t be given too much importance with all the bad. People remember the bad so I should, too. Maybe if I concentrate hard enough, I’ll have less bad results.

Realistic Belief:

I know that if I win 4 out of 5 times, that dwelling on the one time I lose and how terrible I feel is not a positive outlook. I know I can’t win all the time! It’s enough for me to do well at something most of the time.

I can use how good it feels to win next time things aren’t falling my way, because I know it’s only a temporary setback.

Learning how to have confidence has a lot to do with learning how to have a more realistic attitude towards life’s ups and downs.

About the Author »

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. This report reveals the secret strategies all high achievers use to communicate with charm and impact. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www-confidence.com/

Article Source:
http://www.article99.com/view-authors/track.php?bio=5488&author=Peter-Murphy

 

If there is a solution to search engine spam, no one's going to reveal it

Spam experts at MIT lift curtain on search

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.--If there is a solution to search engine spam, no one's going to reveal it, according to experts at the MIT Spam Conference 2007 on Friday.

Nothing is going to change while there is money to be made off things like AdSense, Google's service for ads, according to speakers and audience participants debating the issue. On the other hand, the search engine that does come up with a working solution will want to keep that trick out of its competitors' hands.

"If you can't solve search engine spam, and the other guy does, your search engine is done at this point," said Bill Yerazunis, chairman of the annual MIT Spam Conference.

The situation seems to have led to a clam-up in the spam research community.

"You've heard our lead speakers about blog spam and search engine spam and that's going to get more interesting, but here's the thing. I put out the call, but I am not getting a lot of papers on search engine spam because, independently, companies think they have a profit in the solution," Yerazunis said.

"Think of this. If you were Google and you came up with a solution to solve search engine spam, would you publish it? It's a race among the big three. If Microsoft has solved it, they are going to knock out Google. If Yahoo has it, they are going to knock Microsoft out. The stakes here are billions of dollars," he said.

Yerazunis suspects that even people in the academic realm are keeping a closed lid on solutions to search spam, because the payoff is huge. If someone in academia finds it before the private companies, he's sure they're going to sell it to the highest bidder.

Because no cure is evident in the foreseeable future, education is the key to eliminating a lot of spam because much of it is originating from legitimate brands and advertisers with bad practices, said Amanda Watlington, owner of consulting firm Searching for Profit, in a speech at the conference.

Read more news here :  Spam experts at MIT lift curtain on search