My Pixlr.Com Alien

Pixlr.Com Review

Although photo editing tools have been widely used for years, I have not had very much experience utilizing such applications.  In acclimating myself with some of the Pixlr.com’s capabilities, I edited at a novice level, but did navigate the interface of Pixlr.com to familiarize with functions aside from ones I explored.

I found interest in Filter tools such as Waterswirl, Vignette Frame, Night Vision and Less Noise.  I also used the Flip Canvas tool to change image orientation. Waterswirl added a vertical wave affect to the photo, also allowing adjustment to the degrees of the wave’s length and height.  Next, I explored with the Night Vision effect.  I was then able to change the “gain’ level in the image, brightening the night vision.  Reducing the grain level was achieved by applying the Less Noise effect. Surrounding the picture is a Vignette Frame effect.  Below is my edited image.

            In general review, I find cloud services useful for document sharing, but prefer to keep my work saved to my computer.  As a Corporate Systems major, my early ideas and thoughts could manifest into proprietary information.  The risk to document privacy is decreased with less public sharing.  I am, therefore not such a proponent for image creation with cloud services. In review of Pixlr.com’s interface and functions, I found it useful to upload pictures from various gallery locations (IE: Facebook), onto Pixlr.  As a beginner with photo editing, I was relieved to find prompts ensuring that a user wanted to apply changes, as well as undo/redo functions. These options also made it easy to track effects that I was experimenting with.  Additionally, I found Pixlr’s response to known keyboard commands to be user friendly.  What I found to be an inconvenience as a new user was that I did not need credentials to access the editing area of Pixlr.com, but later found specific capabilities, such as Layering functions, will prompt signup.  This, I found to be an unnecessary interruption to work. 

            In comparison to Adobe Photoshop, I noticed through research that Adobe seems to offer more to the user.  An example would be the 3D graphic editing in newer versions of Adobe Photoshop.  Furthermore, plugins available to Photoshop, such as one to process raw image files (containing less processed data), advance this software beyond Pixlr.com.  As Adobe is a more widely used photo editing tool localized to individuals systems, I would be more likely to use it before Pixlr.com.

Visit Leanwagon.com

     Recently, in leanwagon.com, I found a technological tool for the weight loss plateau dilemma.  Beyond an informational weight loss website, leanwagon.com connects people with a support network in weight loss coaches and fellow weight watching teammates.  During registration, one shares limited body information, in addition to advising of habits in areas that affect weight.  Based on this data, as well as your identified trigger foods and personal goals, leanwagon.com designs a plan for removing excess weight.  Users are scored, reinforcing their accomplishments and ambition.  Continuous use of the sight combines its many tools in a creative, colorful, and encouraging manner.

Dashboard

The Dashboard capability of Leanwagon.com allows a user to review different lifestyle areas such as food preparation, exercise, and social activity.  Per category, users are offered "Adventures", spurring them to tackle a personal challenge, like eating more of the vilified steamed vegetable, or consuming seltzer water instead of a high caloric drink.  Here you can also chat with your team and coach as well as view your weight progress and meal plan.

My Coach

Ask the guidance of your self-assigned Weight Loss Coach here, covering areas such as Cooking/Nutrition, Shopping, and Fitness.  Here is my "very excited on a clear blue day" coach, Alina.  Bless her committed heart.

My Plan

This section of leanwagon.com contains the meat and potatoes (or not).  My Plan displays to end users the Tips, Frequently Asked Questions, and Rules of their specified meal plan.  Plans are chosen by users based on the eating habits they feel should be curbed. 

Daily Check In

Combines all of the technical genius of Leanwagon.com and Facebook, allowing you to take your friends and loved ones along your journey to become a leaner and healthier you. 

     As mentioned on the site, millions struggle with and know the risks of being overweight, but do little to fight it.  At 18 years old with a low fear factor, I made the risky decision to eat how I wanted.  I sailed to 265 pounds in eight years. Triumphantly, at 28 and 75 less pounds later, (over 50 of them lost in the preceding two years), I share Alina's sentiment above.  Tools such as leanwagon.com assist in stories like mine, and are yet another way to feeling happier, healthier, and more confident, as have I.

A Virtual Wonderland: Immersive Education Tool

     Though I have attended four online classes at two different institutions, I had yet to use an Immersive Education technical tool.  Prior online courses required logging into a live video stream to watch a web based lecture teaching style.  This semester in Collaborative Computing, I will be using the Wonderland Virtual World immersive education tool.  Classmates and I have the capabilities to build virtual and interactive learning communities in which we can utilize and edit other programs, collaborating as we would in person, in real time. 

     This enhances my learning experience and skill set as a Corporate Systems major by assisting me in becoming web meeting/workspace savvy.  In our competitive global business environments, we must seek communications connecting various people, economies, and ideas for the business of business to thrive.  This is one such tool moving us in that direction.

     Below, for your viewing pleasure, is my created avatar in the Wonderland Virtual World. 

     I am, by the way, very committed to those purple pants. 

A Hard Look at Hardware

   In a technologically rapid society, one feels savvy until attempting to upgrade a device, system, or console.  Those brave and patient enough to do this even biannually may then feel outdated and covered in dust.  This, even after poring over specifications, then dictionaries.  I share a similar and most recent experience.

   Preparing myself to purchase a Tablet, I decided quickly against it as a laptop competitor.  Needing consistent wiFi connection, and having less practical use than a laptop, I was quickly turned off.   In a laptop, I decided I wanted processing speed, and a decent sized hard drive.  However, my two hour school commute made the Flinstone standard 15" screen sound archaic.  The system was to be a gift, so I also looked to save ducats.  Thinking outside of my normal Dell.com and Best Buy laptop box, I found myself at Walmart, lured toward an ASUS NETBOOK.  Determined to make a round peg fit a square hole, I learned I was compromising the operational and functional greatness of a good old fashioned laptop for size.  I always did say real women have curves.

   For all its teal aesthetic glory, and $278, the Asus 10.1" 1015PX-RTL304 Netbook offered my father and I  a 3-cell battery, 1 GB of RAM, 1.66 GHz processor, 250 GB hard drive, and a .3 MP webcam with the Microsoft Starter 2010 OS.  For such a teeny system, it seemed formidable.  Prior to purchasing, I did contact my college's Technical Support team, who live to ensure that my computer does not explode.  Additionally, I emailed my professor for advisement.  From correspondence and lecture time, I learned the Asus to be a good Netbook brand, but this system to be one of lower end in quality.  The processor, at 1.66GHz would be a slow and frustrating turtle.  Netbooks are also prone to overheating and parts warping due to the close proximity of components in the 10.1" space.  A Starter Edition OS would inhibit my new Netbook's capability to access the full abundance of files needed to run certain programs, such as MS Word.  A sluggish, melting, and 50 percenter computer wasn't what a fast past student like me needs.  Enter the Netbook's nemesis...

     Instead, Pop Pop and I settled, also at Walmart, on my new baby for $298.  The HP 2000-299WM Notebook sports a  6-cell battery with a faster 2.1 GHz processor, 3 GB of memory expandable to 8 GB, a 320 GB hard drive running at two times the standard RPM.  Though the screen is nearly 6" bigger,  the built in 3 MP webcam and microphone make this deal breaker worth relinquishing my obsessive attachment to it.  Size doesn't matter when the big dog is the top dog.  Also, with more space to upgrade internally (with an already phenomenal start), and less chance of warping, this computer is my kind of gadget.