Something Interesting - A Speaking Avatar!

I cannot resist sharing this interesting find. This interactive, speaking avator (called a Voki) is a fun thing to create and post on Facebook, twitter, website or blog like this. Can create for free at www.voki.com. 

UPDATE: 

The avatar does not show up on your Andriod smartphone or tablet? 
It needs a Flash Player and I too just discovered that Adobe Flash Player is not available on Android. I found some suggestions on how to install Adobe Flash Player on Android  on the internet and installed FlashFox-Flash Browser from Google Play. Yup, the Flash works in Flashfox browser for my Samsung phone - the avatar responses with head and eyes movements and speech. Woo hoo!

Better still, take it a step further to use it to make learning fun for your child(ren). Your child may use it to record his reading and will enjoy having it re-played by his very own personalized character. The text-to-speech converter option will surely motivate your child (or even you!) to practise sounding out difficult words aided by the self-created avatar. 

There are many possible character combinations with many more choices of hair styles, colors and accessories – just let the imagination run wild! And of course, there are even more choices for paid products, Voki Classroom and Voki Presenter. 

Source: www.voki.com

There are 4 ways to give your Voki a voice: Record by Phone (US numbers Only - not sure how this works ;b), Text to Speech (with over 25 languages selections in male/ female voice), Record by Microphone, or Upload an Audio File.

Source: www.voki.com

Voki can be shared on over social media sites, embedded in a blog/ website or emailed to friends with the  the URL that links directly to your Voki’s own webpage. 

Source: www.voki.com

I am excited to explore this discovery further and see how it can be used to facilitate teaching of Phonics to preschoolers.  

My TV Just Got Smarter!

My Sharp digital TV just got smarter! I am so proud to post (hehe .. boast) that I did it, all by myself. Woo hoo!!
After many months of deliberating to buy/ not to buy from Qoo10, I finally got one last Saturday. Google Chromecast.

Since I got my Chromecast set up 3 days ago, I have been enjoying watching YouTube videos on the largest screen at home - my TV!

Huh, what is this Chromecast thingy? That was the reaction from my usually tech-savvy friend, Bee. Well, it looks like a giant thumb drive that needs to be plugged in to the TV via HDMI port (yup, the one that looks like an oversized USB port).

Source: Chromecast.com

After I did the set up, I can now project whatever is on the Chrome browser on the screen of my computer or Samsung tablet to the TV. Meaning I can now surf the internet, read emails and of course, watching movies and videos from the big screen. Pretty smart and cool, right?

However, for some reason, this did not work for my Samsung Note 2. It can only cast from Chromecast ready apps like YouTube, TED and Viki. Had to Google for help and found out that it is not one of the supported Andriod devices. Mmmm ...

For SGD65, I have upgraded my browsing experience big time. The downside is that I run the risk of being a YouTube junkie. Soon.

I got my Chromecast from a Singtel Retail Shop in Causeway Point. Just wouldn't wait any longer for deals from Groupon or Deal.com.sg which sold it for around SGD50 last year.

Sharing the videos that got me excited about Chromecast.