Sunday, December 29, 2013

Use If This Then That (IFTTT) to Automate Simple Tasks

If This Then That (IFTTT) is a simple app for iPhone and Android that allows you to automate simple tasks. If you want to email every picture you take to your grandparents or tweet about every breaking news story IFTTT can do it for you automatically. The IFTTT app integrates with many other apps and services which allows it to help with a variety of  tasks. IFTTT can integrate with reminders, contacts, photos, messages, Twitter, Google Drive, Facebook, Blogger, Evernote, and many more services.

To start using the app you can choose from hundreds of pre-made recipes or make your own. A recipe could say " If I post a new post on Blogger, tweet its title and a link, "or  "when I arrive at school,text my mom" The app constantly checks your recipes and completes the action at the correct time. It reduces the need to do many monotonous tasks. It also bridges the gap between different web based services allowing you to spend more time using the services and less time managing your digital life.

IFTTT also integrates with certain connected home systems. Using IFTTT in concert with the WeMo connected home platform you can have your lights turn on automatically when you get close to home or turn off the TV when you are far from home.

Some of these recipes can be helpful for people with executive functioning difficulties. For example, the app can automatically check the weather, and if it is going to rain remind you to wear a jacket. The possibilities are almost endless because of the customization the app offers. The app can also complete actions based on your location. You can set up the app to call, email, or text message someone when you arrive or leave a certain location. This could be helpful for parents who need to makes sure their kid has arrived to school safely in the morning. For example, you could set your childs iPhone to email you everytime they arrive or leave school.

IFTTT has an iOS app and website both are free of charge. Click read more below to view screen shots of the IFTTT app in action.












Sunday, December 22, 2013

Union Station Last iPhone Workshop of 2013


Capture: Camera+ Processed: Glaze, Leonardo, Frame -Crop'n'Frame, Text: Title FX
The iPhone just keeps getting better and the apps for creating images are amazing. Yesterday I conducted my last iPhone workshop for 2013. Looking back over the year, I worked with 145 iPhone Photography students, either participating in workshops sponsored by Capital Photography Center, Horizon Photography Workshops, Johns Hopkins University Odyssey Program or through private tutoring: AMAZING! In addition I made iPhone presentations to members of local Camera Clubs and Art Collectives. I am thankful for all the students who attended my workshop sessions! I will continue to work with Capital Photography Center and Horizon Photography Workshops in 2014 so if you are interested in a workshop keep you eyes on their site as offerings are posted this year. My next iPhone workshop will be fun at The National Building Museum on January 19, 2014. I love Washington, DC and the architecture in the city is just beautiful. The Natonal Building Museum is grand, if you have never been there its worth the trip! If you don't want to miss one of my updates the scan the QR code on the top right of my blog and join my e-mail list.
Captured: BracketMode Processed: ProHDR, Portrait Painter, ImageBlender
Yesterday, Union Station was dressed for Christmas! People were bustling through and the temperature was 70! It was a fun day! Thanks to the folks at Le Pain Quotidien for hosting the meeting part of our workshop! I was asked by a student; When do you choose to shoot with one app over another?" I made this shot below to demonstrate why I would choose a Hipsta Combo for food as an example. Hispta has a great "Foodie Snap Pac" combo of Loftus lens and DC film that is made for food photography. Knowing what apps to choose for your subject is very important to the final result. I love Hipstamatic for shooting. Now Camera+ has added a feature to shoot square with all the same great features it has always had.  Hipstamatic and Camera+ get my vote for the best shooting apps this year! My favorite processing app of 2013 has to be GLAZE! It is a fabulous painterly app with lots of unique creative customizable effects! Make lots of pictures! Have fun and share!
Wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday and a Super new year! Hope to see you in 2014!
Capture: Hipstamatic Processing: None