DITA 04 - Images & Graphics

Graphics and images can be of many types e.g. letter character fonts, maps, photographs or satellite images and weather charts.

The most basic storage method for images is the bitmap (windows .bmp) where a grid of squares is populated by data words that describe intensity and colour of the picture elements (pixels). Bitmaps are prone to create blurred images when enlarged by zooming into an image of this type (i.e. pixellated) and these files are large memory users. Alternative file types can store a compressed version of this data e.g JPEG (windows .JPG) - this format sacrifices detail (information) to compress the image further. In lab tests an image was 3841 Kb as a .BMP and compressed to just 127 Kb as a lossy .JPG. An example of a lossless bitmap compression file format is GIF.

An alternative is using a vector image containing information about shapes (e.g. lines) and their position and length. Vector images can be scaled with shape and detail being preserved - an example is the Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.

The way that colour in images is stored and presented on the WWW uses a binary representation of a colour per display pixel using the additive Red Green Blue (RGB) colour system - all 3 colours produces white, as opposed to subtractive systems e.g. painting RYB and printing CMY systems where adding all gives black.

Due to human perceptions of colours and particularly the occurance of colour blindness in the population so primary colour schemes are best avoided for websites.

A format manipulation test image file is here: Session 3 mini website.

DITA 03 - Internet & www

Session 03 of the DITA module looks at the network of computers that make up the internet and the World Wide Web (WWW), one of the main services using the internet. The WWW has only been in widespread usage since the early 1990s but in less than 20 years it has changed the way many people communicate with each other, work and shop. Now that web 2.0 functions, such as social networking and mash ups of multiple website functionality are commonplace there is no sign of the continued impact diminishing.

Internet hardware includes servers and client computing resources networked together in a resilient way, initially created by the US military in order to ensure continuity of service if parts of the network were attacked. Each computer (or wifi router) has a unique "IP (Internet Protocol) Address" e.g. 196.196.42.xx. Protocols are pre-agreed ways of sending computer information without which the Internet and WWW would not function. An example is TCP/IP.

A key innovation which lead to the WWW was creating a way of referencing all pages with a unique code or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Resource_Locator. When structuring information for a website a protocol called HTML or Hyper Text Markup Language is used to create semantic and presentational layout and context for the information being presented. An example of simple HTML coding can be seen at this link.

Using HTML code, an index file and two linked local files an example mini website about RH Hobbies has been created. HTML files were made using a text editor and then uploaded to City University Unix servers using SSL FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Once placed in a public directory with public access permission set, the mini website can be seen at WWW.

Nikon teams up with National Geographic

The Nikon and National Geographic brands are getting together for joint advertising of their committment to celebrate the natural world and increase awareness of the vulnerability of much plant and animal life on the planet.

See link: Nikon teams up with National Geographic

DITA 02 - Text & HTML

This post covers digital data representation and the organisation of data using mark up language. We performed a number of simple experiments using MSWord, Notepad and Internet Explorer to see changes in the format of data representation in each file type. A JPEG file, as shown, was embedded in a WORD file and then in an HTML file to show the difference between "file centred" (embedded in WORD) and "document centred" (reference link in HTML) approaches to organising additional file data.

Digital computers use a binary representation implemented by hardware which stores and processes on/off states. A unit of memory storage is the byte which is 8 bits - a Mbyte is Million 8 bit bytes of data. Data formats were explored using 7 bit ASCII code to denote text characters as used in early teleprinters. Digital data is usually systematically organised into files of related data, and files into directories or catalogues (depending upon computer system).

Metadata is used to organise data by inserting additional file information carrying either semantic or presentation related information about the file. Metadata is coded into files as a Mark Up. Semantic mark up carries information about the context and meaning of the information held in the data file and so is superior to a presentation only mark up approach.

Hierachical file structures can be created, based on a "root" directory. Data organisation can also be "file centred", where additional file data is imported to be embedded in the same file, or "document centred", where additional files are externally held and referenced via a link from a main file.

DITA 01 - Intro & Blog

The DITA module of the MSc in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course at City University, London, requires the setting up of a blog to capture course learning.
Before I set up this blog (weblog) I checked out a few other commonly used blog sites like Wordpress.com and VOX.com and settled on BLOGGER because of the ease of use and professional look of the results, also I already had a Google account for a quick start.

I wanted to link the Digital Information Technology & Architectures (DITA) studies with the GIS studies which are the focus of the MSc and have a little fun by mixing in my photography hobby. The title of this course says it all - it's about the technologies and appropriate information architectures to support usable digital information capture, storage, analysis and retrieval.

The BLOGGER interface for setting up a blog is extremely intuitive and resulted in a basic blog presence on the web within 30 minutes using one of the selectable blog styles. Easy use editors allow the layout of sections and the text, images and links within sections, to be edited with a MS WORD style edit box for text. A large range of "gadgets" can be selected and dropped into placeholders on the layout customisation page and they allow facilities such as: links, blogs followed, news feeds etc to be added.

The aim of GeoTagImageSE is to act as a hub of information on the subject of geotagged photography and to record experiences of using DITA hands on. The structure supports blog posts, links, related blogs and a description of the context and blogger personal background.

Wet weather camera with GPS

It's raining outside and made me think about the ideal camera for geotagged photography in bad weather conditions. Short of going for a fully encased digital SLR system (but how do you weather proof the add on GPS attachment particularly if it's on the hot shoe?) I can't think of a better camera than the RICOH 500SE released a couple of years ago.

Photo courtesy of Ricoh USA Geo Imaging

See these links for the Ricoh 500SE at PMA show report & DP Photojournal

One on the earliest companies on the geotagging/gps photography scene were Geospatial Experts in the US and they sell a line of Ricoh 500SE and GPS module solutions which include their own software called GPS Photo Link

Best current camera for geotagging?

In my view the best current digital camera for general photography with gps tags included with the photo is the Nikon P6000.

See this link to Nikon UK/EU for product info. on the P6000 with built in GPS: Nikon Coolpix P6000.

All the usual digital camera features are there with a 13 Mpixel sensor for good sized enlargements and an easy hold grip which allows for single handed operation. The GPS takes a few minutes to lock on to the satellites, particularly after moving any distance. It can seem like an age while you wait and it seems to respond best to being left in the same position while it works out where it is. However, this disadvantage is the same on all the GPS units that I have tried, including a number of Garmin systems. Once the satellites have been locked you can walk around taking shots with the camera hanging on it's neck strap and it keeps satellite lock well showing a confirmation on the back screen in the shape of a small satellite symbol.

It is definitely a whole lot easier to carry, and much cheaper, than my other SLR based system with a Garmin Geko clamped to the hotshoe. Well recommended.

Launch of GeoTag ImageSE

Today marks the launch of GeoTag Image SE the sister blog to www.imagesoutheast.co.uk/ by Rich Hall.

GeoTag Image SE aims to provide relevant news, information and useful links to support anyone interested in tagging location information in to their digital photography and video.

Go direct to map ready image galleries supported by SMUGMUG photosharing site at this link imagesoutheast.smugmug.com