Projects

writelab

Based upon a relatively new cross-platform rich client technology code-named Apollo (http://labs.adobe.com/apollo) - now AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime), in this tool the users can: (1) search and browse the Internet; (2) collect, tag and share bookmarks and references; (3) collect, read, tag and ... [More] annotate PDF files; (4) write and organize notes; (5) chat with other users; (6) write and annotate structured texts; and (7) write hypertexts. The rich client works both in online and offline mode. The synching of the data in collaborative writing mode is done via a server, which acts as an access proxy to the relevant data storages (mediaWiki for hypertext, Jabber for chatting, Connotea for bookmarks and references). Depending on the experiences with the users, other interaction modes will be implemented within the client if the users report to use outside tools to communicate with other users (e.g. IP telephony, video chat). The backend is written in Rails and glues together the different backends. Still no final decision on the backend (e.g. del.icio.us in addition to Connotea etc.). The application is also available in a special version for researchers who want to study collaborative text transformation. --- News 14.04.2007 A first version of the client will be made available later this year.. News 12.05.2007 Another way to describe writeLab would be to call it a Personal Learning Environment (PLE), more about the features for this in a later post. In other news, the backend will be running with Juggernaut to enable server pushing of edits. News 11.06.2007 Adobe just released Air beta (aka Apollo) and Flex 3 - lot of stuff to digest, but I like the direction. I am currently testing different Wikis as backbones, slowly settling on mediaWiki database structure. [Less]