Thursday, September 10, 2009

QuestionPro University Sponsorship Program

QuestionPro University Sponsorship Program: "

imageHe gestionado para que los profesores y estudiantes de la Universidad puedan disfrutar del QuestionPro University Sponsorship Program:


The QuestionPro University Sponsorship program is a simple yet effective model for both universities and QuestionPro to engage students and faculty members to collect and analyze data. The University Sponsorship program allows universities worldwide to leverage our technology to benefit and enrich their educational curriculum by providing our software solution free of cost to all the students and faculty.QuestionPro will set-up a dedicated portal for students and faculty members to create accounts. All users signing up through the portal will automatically be part of the sponsorship program.



Me parece un excelente herramienta para facilitar la investigación en línea. Si es estudiante o profesor de la Universidad de Puerto Rico puede crear una cuenta en este portal. Necesita utilizar su dirección de upr.edu.



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Saturday, September 05, 2009

Ecofont | less is more

Ecofont | less is more

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Use LicenseCrawler To Recover Your Lost Software Serial Numbers

Use LicenseCrawler To Recover Your Lost Software Serial Numbers: "

Have you ever had a installation of something that you wanted to reinstall but you couldn’t? Have you ever lost a software serial number or key code? How about something that was pre-installed on your system – how do you reinstall that? I have had issues with all of these situations and I know a lot of other people that have had these issues as well.


What can you do to solve them? How can we grab the information we need from the registry? That’s right – all of that information is in there if you know where to look for it and here is a program that can do that for you automagically!


It is a neat little piece of freeware called LicenseCrawler.


Once you download this little gem you can use it to scan your machine for serials. The program is 100% free – make sure you do not pay for it! Some of the download links ask for money – don’t use them! Use the free links! The author wants the application to be free, so lets keep him happy!


After downloading the application you simply run it and it will return all the keys from your computer. When you first run the application you will see a screen that looks like this:



crawl1


You have the option of searching your machine or another on your network by replacing localhost with another machine’s hostname or IP address that you have access to.


You will need a user name and password for the remote machine with access to the registry. I would leave the registry setting set at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and simply hit that start button. The application will scour your machine and return a screen with all of your keys. Yes MUO readers it is that easy!


crawl2


The software serial numbers seen above are not real and just used for illustrative purposes. The key that comes up for Internet Explorer is actually your Windows Product Registration. You can use this key to reinstall Windows. All your other keys can be used in reinstalling these applications on another machine or simply after a format. You have to manually write them down as there is no copy and paste functionality – hey no big deal for a free application that works just as expected.


Without this application I would have got caught with having to re-buy programs or at the very least having to contact each software maker’s respective support line and begging for them to reissue another key. I HATE DOING THAT! Why should I have to?


Have you had success with another License retrieving application? There have been many of these applications over the years but this is the best one I have seen so far. It got ALL of the keys I needed. I have used something called The Magical Jelly Bean in the past but that is strictly for Microsoft Applications.


We would love to hear about your experiences with software serial numbers – either good or horror stories! Please share them with us in the comments!

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Top 5 Free OCR Software Tools To Convert Images Into Text

Top 5 Free OCR Software Tools To Convert Images Into Text: "

ThumbnailQuite frankly, I wish I knew about this simple way to use freely available OCR software back in my school days. Of course, we didn’t have camera mobile phones or inexpensive Digicams, but wouldn’t it have saved hours of copying notes!


Ah, modern technology is wonderful; take a scanned image (or take a snap using a mobile camera/Digicam) and presto – OCR software extracts all the information from the image into easily editable text format.


Optical character recognition (OCR) is a system of converting scanned printed/handwritten image files into its machine readable text format. OCR software works by analyzing a document and comparing it with fonts stored in its database and/or by noting features typical to characters. Some OCR software also puts it through a spell checker to “guess” unrecognized words. 100% accuracy is difficult to achieve, but close approximation is what most software strive for.




Maybe you have already come across our previous How to Extract Text from Images (OCR) post and used JOCR, a a free OCR software tool. Or you might have set your preference for a few online OCR tools. Then again, if you have thought up ways to exploit OCR software for productivity shortcuts, then let us give you a few more tools to play with.


We will be looking at 5 free pieces of OCR software and to start off let’s see the overlooked two that are already installed on our systems.


OCR Using Microsoft OneNote 2007


For the occasional basic OCR stuff, MS OneNote’s optical character recognition feature is a timesaver. You might have missed it…it’s called Copy Text from Picture.


free ocr software



  • Drag a scan or a saved picture into OneNote. You can also use OneNote to clip part of the screen or an image into OneNote.

  • Right click on the inserted picture and select Copy Text from Picture. The copied optically recognized text goes into the clipboard and you can now paste it into any program like Word or Notepad.


OneNote is simplicity personified. But it’s not too great for handwritten characters or even fuzzy ones. But for a quick job, I am all for OneNote’s clip and paste.


OCR Using Microsoft Office Document Imaging


Another little used tool within the Microsoft family. It’s right there under Menu – Microsoft Office – Microsoft Office Tools – Microsoft Office Document Imaging.


ocr software


Doing OCR using the document imaging tool is a bit limiting because it accepts only TIFF (or MDI) formats. But that’s not too much of a bother as any graphic application can be used to convert an image to TIFF. In the screenshot below, I have used MS Paint to convert a JPEG to a TIFF.


ocr software



  • Open the file in Microsoft Office Document Imaging – File – Open.

  • Click the little eye icon – Recognize Text Using OCR.

  • Click on MS Word Icon – Send Text to Word.

  • A MS Word File opens with the editable converted text.

  • Alternatively, you can also use MS Paint to select a specific area and copy it to the clipboard. Open MS Office Document Imaging – select Page – Paste Page to copy the selection for OCR.


Again, MODI handled printed text ably, but my handwritten text was met with an ‘OCR performed but could not recognize text prompt’. Of course, do try out with your own handwriting.


So, now let’s leave the Microsoft family behind and look at three free tools which call themselves OCR Software…


SimpleOCR


The difficulty I was having with handwriting recognition using MS tools, could have found a solution in SimpleOCR. But the software offers handwriting recognition only as a 14 day free trial. Machine print recognition though does not have any restrictions.


best ocr software



  • The software can be set up to read directly from a scanner or by adding a page (jpg, tiff, bmp formats).

  • SimpleOCR offers some control over the conversion through text selection, image selection and text ignore features.

  • Conversion to text takes the process into a validation stage; a user can correct discrepancies in the converted text using an in-built spell-checker.

  • The converted file can be saved to a doc or txt format.


SimpleOCR was fine with normal text, but its handling of multi-column layouts was a comedown. In my opinion, the conversion accuracy of the Microsoft tools was considerably better than SimpleOCR.


SimpleOCR (v3.1) is a 9MB download and is compatible with Windows.


TopOCR


Just what I was talking about in the beginning! TopOCR, in a breakaway from typical OCR software, is designed more for digital cameras (at least 3MP) and mobile phones along with scanners. Like SimpleOCR, it has a two window interface – The source Image window and the Text window.


best ocr software


The image sourced from a camera or a scanner in the left window gets converted to the text format in the text editor on the right. The text editor functions like WordPad and can use Microsoft’s Text to Speech engine.



  • The software supports JPEG, TIFF, GIF and BMP formats.

  • Image settings like brightness, color, contrast, despeckle, sharpen etc. can be used to improve readability of the image.

  • Camera filter settings can also be configured for enhancing the image.

  • The converted file can be saved in a variety of formats – PDF, RTF, HTML and TXT.

  • TopOCR functions well with straight oriented text but the usual failing of OCR with columned text remains.

  • The software though, parses a mixed page (text plus graphics) well and processes the text only.

  • The software works with 11 languages.


For best results with your camera read there How to Get the Best Results with TopOCR page.


TopOCR (v3.1) is an 8MB download and is compatible with Windows (not tested on Vista).


FreeOCR


This free OCR software uses the Tesseract OCR engine. Tesseract OCR code was developed at HP Labs between 1985 and 1995 and is currently with Google. It is thought of as one of the most accurate open source OCR engines available.


FreeOCR is a simple Windows interface for that underlying code.


ocr software freeware



  • It supports most image files and multi-page TIFF files.

  • It can handle PDF formats and is also compatible with TWAIN devices like scanners.

  • FreeOCR also has the familiar double window interface with easy to understand settings.

  • Before starting the one click conversion process, you can adjust the image contrast for better readability.


FreeOCR (v.2.03) requires Microsoft Net 2.0 framework. The Windows XP/Vista compatible 4.38MB software can also be downloaded from this alternate site.


Free OCR tools come with their own limitations. And scanning a page has to do a lot with resolutions, contrasts and clarity of fonts. From an average user’s standpoint, 100% OCR accuracy remains a pipedream.


Though the free tools were adequate with printed text, they failed with normal cursive handwritten text. My personal preference for offhand OCR use leans towards the two Microsoft products I mentioned in the beginning.


Your own say matters. Which is your tool of choice? Do the free OCR software recognize what you through at it? And more importantly, do you recognize what they throw back at you? Let us know…


Image Credit: kalleboo

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6 Most Hilarious & Fun Science Websites

6 Most Hilarious & Fun Science Websites: "

scienceAre you still searching for the fun in science? Maybe you need to take a look at its other side, the less serious and factual one. Let me tell you it exists, after all science is made by humans.


Like anywhere else, you will find all sorts of characters among scientists. Think about this: everything humans have created is so complex and diverse because it reflects the minds behind it. Just think of relationships or laws. And basically, that’s the same in science.


So let’s inspect the surprising, puzzling and fun side of science, the one you may not have expected or the one you never really took seriously. You may find that at a few of these fun science websites, there are some odd things going on. Seriously.


PhD Comics


In this case PhD stands for Piled Higher and Deeper and it’s “a comic strip about life (or the lack thereof) in academia.” The mind behind the comic is Jorge Cham, who holds a real PhD in Mechanical Engineering.


Most comic strips are actual cartoons, giving you a glimpse into the crazy life of a PhD student or PostDoc. Some comics, however, reveal the frustrating reality of life in academia.


fun science websites



Science Tattoo Emporium


The science tattoo emporium is a fun science website project hosted by Discover Magazine. As you may have guessed it features scientists with their scientific tattoos. Today, tattoos are quite average, aren’t they? It’s not all about analysis in science and this projects reveals the creative and playful side of scientists. Of course it’s also crazy to have the main subject of your job tattooed onto your body. But it’s not surprising because it takes a lot of passion to do science.


The image below shows “The Tree of Life – carbon, glucose, light, DNA, and the golden rectangle. A tattoo by Kevin Riley. On the chest of a PhD student in molecular biology.”


fun science websites


Neatorama


Neatorama is a blog that features interesting stories from the world of science in its broadest sense. It’s a very good read.


However, Neatorama is not your average blog, the creator had some ingenious ideas. The blog works a little like Digg. The difference is that you are required to submit your own work, rather than that by others. Literally anyone can write for Neatorama and add themselves to the site’s “upcoming Queue”. Readers vote on the posts in the queue and the best ones make it to the front page.


This awesome concept guarantees that you’ll only read about genuinely interesting stuff. Thankfully, the voters seem to have a healthy sense of humor and so most posts are hilarious. Isn’t the finding that drinking beer improves bone density one of the best news ever?


neat science


NCBI ROFL


NCBI is the National Center for Biotechnology Information and NCBI’s PubMed is a standard database where scientists across the globe search for research articles. ROFL is an internet acronym for Rolling On Floor Laughing.


NCBI ROFL presents funny articles found on NCBI’s PubMed. The blog is run by two Molecular and Cell Biology graduate students who procrastinate a lot. At least they remain productive and we can enjoy the result.


May I remind you that all this published research is or was officially funded? Someone decided we needed to find out about things such as the nature of injuries caused by falling coconuts, what type of people enjoy playing bingo in later life, whether accidental anal intercourse really happens, and whether garlic protects against vampires.


Before you start worrying about your tax money, calm down. The studies may not be as ridiculous as they sound. After all scientists know how to catch your attention, too.


ncbi


Null Hypothesis


It’s The Journal of Unlikely Science and it’s all about the tough questions in science. The kind that drive scientists and parents crazy. You’ll find the most interesting, weird and ridiculous stories on this website.


One article deals with the question “What would happen, if we all dropped down dead?“, how would a world without men look like? Another addresses taste buds and how to trick them. In a recent story, the author recapitulates how people in the past predicted what would never be possible and how the future proved them wrong. And didn’t you ever want to know whether the early bird really catches worms?


science


Improbable Research


Improbable Research covers “research that makes people LAUGH and then THINK.” The organization publishes the magazine “Annals of Improbable Research” and they administer the infamous Ig Nobel Prizes. Each year the most incredible and imaginative research projects in the categories nutrition, peace, archaeology, biology, medicine, cognitive science, economics, physics, chemistry, and literature are awarded with this prize.


Year-round the blog features scientific studies that entertain, spark public interest, make people curious, and get them interested in science. Are you prepared for some mind boggling questions from the world of science?


funny reserach


If you would like to discover the scientist in yourself, how about trying some fun experiments at home? Sara has covered 6 fun science websites that will help to unleash the mad scientist within yourself.


Who would have thought that science can be fun? Did we change your mind? I hope I could give you a new perspective and make you laugh.


Image Credit: clix

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3 Websites To Publish & Share Your PDFs Online

3 Websites To Publish & Share Your PDFs Online: "

pdfLast week we gave you an article about several tools to view your PDF files online, but today we’re going to discuss tools to publish PDFs online. These tools usually include viewing functionality but are not to be confused. Contrary to regular PDF viewers, these tools are focused on spreading your PDFs over the internet. They make a launch basis and distribution platform so your (personal) PDFs can be accessed by hundreds of users over the world.


Although these tools are highly similar in concept, they show differences in overall functionality and abilities. Today we’ll review the most prominent of these sites for you, so you may find the one that ultimately fits your every need. Here they are, in no specific order.



Issuu


What Issuu currently lacks in word of mouth, it makes up for in raw style. You won’t encounter anytime soon a more beautiful and fine-tuned site to publish PDFs online than Issuu – especially graphically. With slick looks, this player will continue to conquer the hearts of many nerds.


publish pdfs online


You can browse Issuu’s ‘collection’ based on category, rating and overall popularity. The level of Issuu content is very high, and you’ll encounter many professional magazine publications. If you’re looking for a good eBook read, Issuu can help you a long way.


publish pdf docs online


In terms of interface, Issuu heads a more experimental path. Away with the well-known PDF reading set-up, hello eye-candy intuitive experimentation. Issuu allows you to read your PDFs like a real magazine, two by two. You can click the page to zoom in and have a more detailed view. Intuitively flip the pages, or use the OSX-doc-like index at the bottom of the page.


The design, as well as the revolutionary interface makes Issuu my new personal favourite.


Check out a MakeUseOf PDF example on Issuu here.


Scribd


If Issuu is my ‘new’ personal favourite, whose throne did it take? Reader, meet Scribd, another wonderful PDF publishing site. If you think Issuu is too much mumbo-jumbo, this might be what you’re looking for to publish PDFs online.


scribd


The Scribd online reader once again deviates from the conventional interface – although not as extreme. Scribd also allows you to read your PDFs per page, or in a two-by-two ‘book’ format. The ’scroll’ view is the more interesting part of the interface. Simply move your mouse towards the bottom of the page and click to gently scroll down your page. Although you can summon a graphical index of pages, this mode is more aimed to userswho are off to read instead of scan the documents, and makes a great interface for reading eBooks.


Last month we used Scribd to promote the online viewing of one of our MakeUseOf manuals – The iPhone Guide. The pilot proved a success, with the document even making the Scribd hotlist. Check out a MakeUseOf PDF example on Scribd here.


Google Docs


Google Docs – for those of you who’ve been living under a rock in the past few years – is the cloud computing office application by internet and software giant Google. This free and online suite covers all bases – word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. Not everyone knows this, but besides functionality for txt and doc files, Google Docs perfectly integrates with PDF files.


Strictly following the definition we gave at the start of the article, this site might not be allowed a place in this list. However, because Google Docs allows you to not only ‘view’ your PDF files, but also gives you a (1.0) platform for spreading them, I personally think it should be given the benefit of the doubt.


gdocs


Alas, a 2.0 platform is not included, but the basic functionality for this application allows you to pretty much do what you want with it – upload your files and make them public. Next, you can share the link with pretty much everyone you know. Embedding the document is sadly not possible. Incredibly simple and easy to use, albeit limited in functionality.


Check out a MakeUseOf PDF example on Google Docs here.


Have you ever published a PDF online? It’s easier than you think! Tell us which site(s) you used and why you did(n’t) like them in the comments section below.

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