Information Arcade News

Have a question about an application or a project? Need advice? The Arcade offers walk-in consultations Monday - Friday, 11am - 1pm, in these areas:

Mondays — Anything Goes
Tuesdays — Video & Audio
Wednesdays — Design, Video, and Audio
Thursdays — Design & Website
Fridays — Video & Audio

Video help includes Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, and digitization of video.
Audio help includes Soundtrack Pro, Garage Band, and Audacity.
Design help includes Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, and Photoshop.
Web help includes Dreamweaver and Flash.

As always, for help beyond drop-in assistance please contact the Arcade to set up an appointment (two-hour maximum).

See the new Info Arcade resident on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_IexJPWm_M.

Arcade staff made Max’s home from an old G4 Cube. Stop by and say hi!

The Libraries has purchased a set of 32 Quizdom clickers for use in either Arcade classroom. The slide creation software (ActionPoint) has been installed at two Arcade lab stations as well as the instructor stations in the classrooms.

Not sure what a clicker is? Not sure if they’re right for your class? Check out the starter info at our clicker page.

In order to improve our services, we are always interested in hearing feedback from Arcade users. Please help us by clicking the “Feedback” button on our site menu. Thanks for your time!

Work on the new Information Arcade classroom and workrooms proceeds apace; major construction is finished and networking is next. The classroom will provide 24 Dell laptops and an instructor station with two projectors and document camera. The two project rooms will accommodate small groups sharing a computer. We are aiming to launch over spring break. Please direct questions and requests to lisa-martincik@uiowa.edu.

Our “Arcade Clinics” has drawn many patrons to our classroom and provided them with enlightening sessions on many software programs. Beginning this semester we changed the name of our teaching sessions from “WebClinics” to “ArcadeClinics” because the coverage of our teaching has continuously broadened, and now we cover not only Internet-related software but other software related to non-linear audio/video editing, digital visual processing, bibliographical software, and so on. Our sessions have been underway in this semester with great responses from the patrons. We keep having our subscribers updated with our informing emails. Check out our schedule at http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/arcade/clinics/ To receive updates regarding upcoming sessions, please subscribe for the ArcadeClinics listserv by sending an email to: web-clinics@uiowa.edu

Did you know we have Snapz Pro X? Still taking a static screenshot when it makes creating a movie just as easy? Snapz Pro X allows you to record effortlessly anything on your screen, saving it as a QuickTime movie or screenshot. Come and try making training videos, creating tutorials, and archiving streaming video on your own!
Also, for those unaware that we have negative scanners- we DO have negative scanners so just come over and use them! And lastly, don’t forget to try Windows Vista installed in one of our stations!

Here is a short list of things you can do that not many people know of.

• Digitizing audios and visuals (picture & video)
• Authoring DVDs with your pictures and videos
• Non-linear audio and video editing
• Recording voice and simple music
• Digital image production and processing
• Checking out video cameras, tripods, digitizing cables
• Getting help and consultation about your digital project

And too many things to remember and list here.

We have newcomers as well! Dmitry, originally from Moscow, Russia, is Honor student at computer engineering department, speaks Russian as well and “likes to play chess and pool” at his leisure. And Taha, an electrical engineering major, has great command of Arabic and enjoys “plinking, reading, and occasionally playing pool.” As multicultural and multilingual as it always has been, Info Arcade marches on!