NEIT2011+OpenSpace5+E

Eye-Fi Cards & Server Software=no SD Cards and great photo/video

Facilitators: Christopher Jung - Little Red Schoolhouse Brandi Kaseta - Cathedral School

Details:
 * WiFi SD card that transmits pictures (and video) to a particular network storage location
 * You determine the location of the folder, and service creates subfolders based on date (ie 11-11-11)
 * Works on many different cameras, but there are some cameras that are not compatible (see website)
 * Pictures taken off campus will upload once back on campus and camera is turned on
 * Cameras can also be set to go to many cloud based photo services
 * Will go to Picasa, but [|Gallery] (open source) is the facilitator's preferred picture service
 * Cost for a 4GB card: $45
 * Can also purchase GPS services
 * Card sizes available: 2GB, 4GB, 8GB
 * You can also subscribe to a service that will allow your camera to upload using public WiFi services
 * Called "Direct Load"
 * Not sure of the number of cameras that the system will support before it starts to "choke"

Tips:
 * Change camera settings to turn off after more than 1 minute to
 * Scale the resolution down on the cameras... currently using approximate 3MB
 * Make sure your wireless network can handle the traffic
 * Encourage the teachers using the pictures to organize and clean out their folders
 * You can use the lock features of the camera to prevent pictures from being uploaded
 * Done one-by-one
 * Must have the dates correct on the cameras
 * To save time on slideshow creation, have teachers just place the photos they want to use into a folder and view directly from there; no time wasted creating PowerPoints
 * There are a lot of firmware updates that must be done
 * Cannot be pushed to the cards, must have physical possession of the card
 * Takes about 30 seconds a card
 * Set up a schedule, with an announcements, asking teachers to turn in the cameras
 * Test out the system (ie the cards) first before going and buying a bunch of cards
 * Put the cards into each camera and find out which ones don't work

Questions:
 * Is there an embed code available from these Eye-Fi services?
 * Not built into the services, but there are probably work arounds
 * How do you organize your network to manage the uploading of photos and videos?
 * Folders organized by classroom, and just the teachers associated with that classroom have read/write access to that folder
 * What about power and drain on camera battery?
 * Surprisingly, no noticeable impact

Great Ideas:
 * Create a "live feed" from sporting events

Quotes:
 * "I want to use a technology that allows the teachers to be in front their kids more. This system keeps the teachers out of the lab messing with cards and cords, and in their classrooms with their students."