Techmamas

PicScout ImageExchange Simplifies Online Image Access

This week, I'm working with a unique company called PicScout on outreach for some really cool announcements related to their company and products. Techies, graphic designers and other creative professionals who use, promote and access stock images online should know about PicScout's ImageExchange as it's cutting edge stuff. So I thought I'd put up a brief explanation of it here for anyone interested.

PicScout uses the tagline "every image gets its credit" because the idea is that all stock images online can be fingerprinted and globally identifiable with the Picscout tool suite. Their new downloadable Firefox browser add-on, ImageExchange, allows for easily identifying image ownership while browsing the web so creative professionals, bloggers, designers, etc. can license and purchase images accordingly. (Anyone who downloads the app before Monday the 14th is automatically entered to win a $250 certificate for agency images.)

ImageExchange now works with "every type of image, including rights managed, such as those from Masterfile, Life, Alfo, Mauritius; royalty free, including those from Blend and Glow, and UGC." It's pretty revolutionary when you think about it - the ability to determine who owns the rights to an image online and easily pay to use that image. Simple, legal, and smart.

PicScout also partners with the Creative Commons for image sharing purposes, and PicScout just announced that Creative Commons CEO Joi Ito has joined PicScout's advisory board.

For anyone who wants to learn more about the ImageExchange, you can participate in an online guided demo from PicScout Thursday at 1pm PST/4pm EST.

Who Says You Can't Be a Geek, Mom, Blogger & Athlete?

As TechMama's compatriot blogger and co-mom-geek, Beth invited me to blog here all about how I'm a semi-finalist in this awesome contest sponsored by Microsoft Office to win a trip to the Olympics. Needless to say, I'm really psyched.

It actually doesn't end there - the grand prize includes a trip to the Consumer Electronics Show and a brand new laptop! You know I'll be blogging about that too. But to win, I need votes. As many votes as possible. Every day. It's easy to register and vote. Just go to OfficeWinterGames.com and I'm the last one on the list of women bloggers.

I first laced up ice skates at age five, and my parents tell me that the look on my face told them I was hooked. I never had Olympic aspirations - I knew I didn’t have that kind of talent - but I also never lost my love for skating. I kept at it, even after college, and I’m proud to say I’m a national adult figure skating medalist. Meanwhile, I started using PCs in grade school, became a programmer, sysadmin and tech project manager and began writing about tech in the 90’s, usually using MS Word. I began blogging in 2003. I've been called an expert live blogger and tweeter on many occasions covering a wide range of events and topics. I started blogging about figure skating for BlogHer last year, and it's been a lot of fun.

While I have never been able to attend an Olympics, I have watched every moment of Olympic figure skating since I can remember, and I’ve sat on the edge of my seat for hockey, speed skating and skiing as well. I will blog my tail off up hill both ways in the Canadian snow for Microsoft Office if I win this contest. Please help me get there!

Free Online Safety Service From Norton Makes It Easier To Keep Kids Safe Online

**Guest post by Marian Merritt - Symantec's Internet Safety Advocate

I have three kids who love the Internet in all its forms. The oldest is just 15 and the youngest is 7. Like a bunch of bumper cars, their online activities occasionally dent the family rules for being safe online. Sometimes they forget what we’ve discussed or they are into things I never dreamed would capture their interest. It feels like I’m always a step behind knowing what they are going to download or visit and then protecting them from the mistakes they might make.

The youngest one doesn’t understand why I’m concerned about her using search engines when she was taught how to use Google and Yahoo at school. (How do I know the “safe search” settings haven’t been tweaked?) The middle child, 13 years old, wants to game online and has no problem downloading cheat codes or visiting sites with gaming tips. He rolls his eyes when I lecture about visiting these “who knows who runs them” sites and downloading files. And of course, my oldest is into all the normal teen stuff: social networks, chatting, Skyping with her friends,and YouTube. So I admit it, I need some help here.

Norton has just launched a great and easy to use service that should make my life a lot easier. It’s called OnlineFamily.Norton and is a simple way to give me the insight I need into my children’s online activities but without the usual associated headaches of traditional web filtering or parental control software. And, during the introductory period (through next January 1^st) the service (a $60 value) is entirely free!!