Thursday, February 18, 2010

Create panoramic images

I stumbled across this application via the http://libregraphicsmeeting.org/

"Goal: an easy to use cross-platform panoramic imaging toolchain based on Panorama Tools.

With Hugin you can assemble a mosaic of photographs into a complete immersive panorama, stitch any series of overlapping pictures and much more."

10 comments:

  1. I'll checkout the app. Hey so what version of linux does Albany Senior High School use? Ubuntu?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Rick,
    Thanks for the comment. We use Ubuntu 8.10 but are in the process of upgrading to 9.10 so we can begin using features like Ubuntu One's free cloud storage.
    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  3. hugin rocks. i've been using it for a while and the stitching it does makes the software you get from canon and the like look totally lame! it's a bit quirky to use but the output it worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mark you should get the XPGnome script for Ubuntu. Basically it makes Ubuntu look exactly like Windows XP so your students at Albany Senior High School will have their computer's o/s look exactly like windows xp, which is probably the operating system the students have on their own computer at home. I know a few schools in NZ that have done this. It's easy to install, so you should check it out here:

    http://ubuntu.online02.com/node/14

    Does Albany Senior High School have an IT guy that would be able to install it on the computers for you?

    Rick

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Rick,
    Thanks for the suggestion. Actually I quite like the fact that Ubuntu doesn't look like Windows ;-)
    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mark, Just don't install XPGnome on the computers at Albany Senior High School that you use. Just install XPGnome on the student's computers. Lets face it, currently when the students leave school and go out into the workforce, it's highly likely they will be using Windows rather than Linux. I wish it was different but if Linux wants to overtake windows it needs to either support windows applications like Microsoft office OR convince Microsoft to release Office for Linux(which i don't think will happen).

    Rick

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Rick,
    You're right in that few students will be lucky enough to use Linux in their workplace, but one thing is sure: they won't be using XP. Microsoft needs people to move away from XP to its newer products so they stopped supporting it almost a year ago. One of the things I like about using open source software is the flexibility that it develops in users. Someone who has access to four different video editing applications (as our students do) will be much more flexible in their use of the software and problem-solving strategies than someone who has only had access to one application. It's really an issue of whether one believes there is an 'industry standard' in software, which I don't. The industry standard when I learnt word processing was Word Perfect. The only thing that has helped me remain current is my being exposed to use new software: Word Perfect, Word, Open Office and now Google Docs. Arguably MS Word is decreasing in its relevance in the modern workplace as Zimbra, Zoho, Windows Live and Google Docs begin to take off.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How does Hugin compare in functionality with the Pandora plugin for GIMP?

    To those who think that making Ubuntu look like Windows is a good idea need to rethink. This is a very old idea (Lindows anyone? XPDE?) which usually backfires.

    The trouble is that Ubuntu is not Windows, and Gnome operates on completely different paradigms from Windows desktops. If you make them look the same, then Windows users will expect their Ubuntu to behave just like Windows as well. When it does not do this, say if a menu item is not where they expect or they cannot find the registry, it is natural for them to view Gnome as a broken version of Windows. However, if it looks different, and the user runs into the same trouble, they are more likely to think: "oh yeah - its not windows - maybe its done differently: I'll look". And there is less frustration.

    I have been performing linux migrations since the early 90s around when it first started - literally thousands of installs to date - including University of Auckland ECE School - and I have yet to find a situation where making the desktops the same actually helps users come to grips with their new OS as much as keeping it different does.

    In a school environment, it is even easier, since it is possible to guide new users through the paradigms and so acclimatise them. Its no different from getting a windows user used to a mac.

    By adopting a non-conforming environment, ASHS encourages students to develop a robust flexibility and technical competence which is almost unique in NZ secondary schools. They will also be exposed to values around openness and freedom. These will serve them well whether they eventually go on to a linux IT career or not: the lessons are relevant to a wide range of life experiences inside and outside the workplace.

    If we make all our desktops look like the market leader, then we are selling our students short. Its short sighted.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey Mark, look what i found, Windows 7 look for Ubuntu:

    http://ubuntu.sun.ac.za/index.php?title=W7_Theme

    Windows 7 is the newest of microsoft's operating system. i just installed this theme on my Ubuntu and it looks great. Bet the Albany Senior High School computers would look good with this theme.

    Rick

    ReplyDelete