Berczy Park (in Toronto) rocks.

If you like Glee, you’ll like this. If you like image processing using PHP, you’ll like this even more.

Using PHP and the GD image library*, it’s pretty easy to create a static, image-based countdown clock, which is useful for situations where javascript cannot be used (think WordPress.com/Blogger). A new image is automatically generated server-side for every minute (assuming a request is made for the clock for that minute), and all images are cached to avoid killing the server processor. Check it out in action on Gleeks United or after the jump.

Don’t have code yet, but I’ll post it when I get a chance.

Vertical version:

Powered by Gleeks United

Horizontal version:

Powered by Gleeks United

* Yes, ImageMagick could work too, but it’s too much of a pain to install.

Using Mockingbird, a recently launched Cappuccino-based wireframing tool, I was able to whip up some quick UI concepts I’ve been thinking of for the next iteration of Edit Flow. Though obviously not as fast as a hand-drawn sketch, it’s far more convenient when you’re working with other people since you don’t have to get cameras and/or scanners involved.

Mockingbird has a fairly intuitive interface, and most functionality you’d expect from a wireframing/diagramming tool. Best part: no Flash! Check out the result below. It’ll be updated as I make changes to the diagram.

See the wireframes in full screen mode.

Ever look through your list of plugins and forget just exactly what one of them does? I know they have descriptions next to them, but that doesn’t always speak to exactly what you are using it for and why. This plugin would just put a text field in each plugin field you could type some notes in there, theoretically to keep information about why and how you are using this plugin.

And since I was bored (and thought this was a pretty useful idea), I delivered. Plugin Notes is exactly what it sounds like.

Once you install and activate, the plugin adds a link “Add plugin note” that lets you add in a little note next to each plugin. It’s totally ajaxified and full of cool goodness. (Unfortunately, I was a bad programmer and didn’t make plugin gracefully degrade when javascript is turned off. Sorry, folks. Maybe next time.)

Plugin Notes: adding a note is easier than milking a cow.

When a note is added, it shows up inside a little blue box and includes the name of the user that added the note as well as the date and time when the note was added. You also get handy dandy options to “Edit” or “Delete” notes.

WordPress plugin: Plugin Notes - blue boxes make things look pretty.

Each plugin can only have one note. I can imagine there would be cases where multiple notes may come in handy, but those would be rare so I’m passing on that functionality.

The plugin is pretty simplistic, and unlikely to see any future feature additions (unless someone really, really wants one). I’ll keep a watch for compatibility with future versions of WordPress though, so rest easy.

Excited, enough? Grab Plugin Notes (from the WordPress Plugin Directory) or download it from within WordPress.

Note: you’ll need PHP5 and a javascript-enabled browser for the plugin to work.

As supplementary materials, I have attached 3 documents that I completed as part of my project:

• Technology Research: exploration of various technologies in use by the magazine industry and what movements the trends were indicating.
• Strategy, Scope & Structure: Documentation outlining requirements for the online presence and drill down into specifics, as well as a high-level architectural diagram.
• Final Analysis: Analysis of the end result of my project, including rationale for technical and design choices as well as possible enhancements for the future.

Also included is a somewhat-working version of the digital edition prototype.

The website in its current state, which has deviated slightly from the original design, can be found here: http://theboar.ca

The aim of the project was to design, prototype and test an electronic handbook to be used by volunteers new to the CanTeach program. The expectation was for volunteers to use the handbook throughout all phases of their journey (before, during, and after) as a learning and information gathering tool. The handbook was also to act as an electronic scrapbook of sorts, with tools for volunteers to capture their experiences in text.

The final prototype is below along with various supplementary materials related to the project.

CanTeach Volunteer Handbook (~3MB file; requires TK3 Reader)

Architecture diagrams

Initial Draft

Final Architecture

Strategy and Scope Document: http://www.scribd.com/full/3088149?access_key=key-2exzroa8srabm4b2nl5d

Presentation: http://www.scribd.com/full/3088089?access_key=key-1ibct2pwtngup105sysb

KiwiShake was a prototype Facebook application. The idea was to provide users with the ability to create eCards that could be customized with photos, videos, etc. It’s not even close to completion and it pretty terrible overall, but there’s a lot of potential.

I programmed the interface of the application, which involved lots of JavaScript and some AJAX work.

See a somewhat functioning prototype here: http://digitalize.ca/media/kiwi/kiwi.html

The above was the final design created by me for the project that I worked on during my first work term. The objective was to create effective resource materials for new faculty at the University of Waterloo. After multiple informational and design interviews with various new faculty members, the result of the project was a personalized stationary pad (design seen above), coupled with an online resource guide.

For full (readable) versions of these and more, please visit: http://www.scribd.com/groups/view/803-my-layout-designs