Working with existing social networking tools revealed several problems. The most obvious was the language barrier. I need a primarily visual interface. This is where Palabras excels. While the hypertext is essential, it is limited to individual words. I am wondering if one word, calle, for example, can be linked to street and rua in Portuguese to bring together clips across several languages with one theme. I also see how I can easily adapt a beginning video exercise to work very well with the Palabras interface by simply modifying the video exercise to include one word themes, such as water, home, friend, bed, safe, street, food, or peace.
While I acknowledge the similarities between the Palabras and Public Secrets projects, the most noticeable difference between the two is the way the individual Public Secrets clips form self-contained narratives. The short Palabras video clips do not carry the same consistent narrative form. I am wondering if there is a way to help guide the collection of video clips that allows the participants to represent themselves freely within consistent narrative parameters. How many clips are edited before uploading? Is there a way to add narration? Is there a way to include clip trimming through basic in and out points? I am also wondering if there is a way to include personal web pages created by project participants. While the code for the Palabras interface currently exceeds my skill level, I can copy and paste code with precision. I clearly see an intersection with the work I am proposing in Brazil.
Ning offers instant web space where visitors can create their own linked in page
Ning is easier to translate because of Portuguese language conversion. The Portuguese/English interface seems to be clear to user in both languages.
Ning has ads that require payment to have removed.
Ning doesn't show thumbnail of video uploaded from Vimeo video player.
Beat Garage on Ning
Blogger is more visual but has a somewhat clichéd interface
Blogger does not have any ads
Blogger does not offer social networking features
Beat Garage Blog
Orkut is an international Google social network and the Brazilian equivalent of Facebook. Unfortunately an Orkut account is required to see the page so it cannot be displayed here.
I have recently connected to this network which has opened the door to vast Brazilian resources.
I am able to access the following comunities through this network:
Hip Hop Brazil 76,000 members
Paulo Freire 55,000 members
Theater of the Oppressed 1,500 members
Cinema Nosso
CUFA
twitter
flickr
facebook
Equipment