ChronoZoom Discussions Rss Feed

New Post: Please join us on Github!

saekow — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:54:29 GMT

We have moved to Github:
https://github.com/alterm4nn/ChronoZoom

We also have a new community website and forums:
http://join.chronozoomproject.org/forum/forums/

New Post: Anyone else find Chronozoom 1.0 easier to digest?

saekow — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:53:20 GMT

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback! My name is Roland, part of the ChronoZoom 1.0 development team.

ChronoZoom is certainty a big project, and we have a long way to go =)
Regarding the image background, I agree there is work to do in that area. One idea we had last year was to have a different background image for each of the regimes. Here is an example from a mockup done last year for when inside the Humanity section:

We did not get a chance to implement the feature, if you can help please join the effort on github!
https://github.com/alterm4nn/ChronoZoom

We also agree with you that the blackness/darkness of ChronoZoom needs to go. The darkness problem is related to timelines having transparency. As you zoom in, the timelines stack up, causing the transparency to turn to black. This also explains why we cannot see the cosmos image in humanity. This year, a UI expert at Microsoft Research came up with this mockup:

More UI ideas are here in this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wtkfN1roIFs

Regarding the lack of detail in the HTML5 version, we definitely want to get back to supporting all the data types we had in the first version (based on Silverlight). The reason we cannot display lots of data in the new version is due to how these two versions were built. The first version was very simple on the technology side. It was a series of giant Adobe Illustrator documents that were rasterized and stitched together. This meant anything we could draw in Adobe Illustrator, we could include in ChronoZoom.

In the HTML5 version, we have to make small visualization code for every object we want to include. So if we want to support arrows, we need to write a bit of code to do that. In Adobe Illustrator we could just draw an arrow however we wanted, with a shadow, stroke, and gradient even if wanted. The HTML5 version is much more efficient since only what is programmed as a HTML5 element is displayed rather than streaming an entire giant rasterized image.

There is a new chart feature upcoming next month that puts us on a path back to supporting more data. For next month, curve/XY line plots will be supported, such as displaying temperature over time.

For tree of life, it is a big project in itself which many other projects online are also undertaking.

I really appreciate you taking the time to write about ChronoZoom.
Since we are no longer on Codeplex, please head over to github to see the daily issues and new features:
https://github.com/alterm4nn/ChronoZoom

We also have a community website, including a forum where I would love to have you post more ideas and suggestions:
http://join.chronozoomproject.org/forum/forums/

New Post: Anyone else find Chronozoom 1.0 easier to digest?

Nicklucci — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:00:29 GMT

First, let me be clear: I love ChronoZoom. As a platform for cataloging and visualizing lots of data, it's brilliant.

However, I'm also of the opinion that ChronoZoom's new skin, or more accurately its lack of skin, detracts from the experience somewhat. Part of the problem is that the fixed background doesn't give users the same sense of scale while navigating from one event to another. But wholly separate is the fact that these events aren't easy to resolve against the black background. Hovering over each section adds some helpful color, but the overall aesthetic is (forgive me) rather dark and uninviting.

There's something to be said for a clean design, certainly, but one of the things that made the first version so engaging was the visible depth and abundance of information it contained. I miss hunting for the faint outline of an additional layer of detail to explore, and the various tree and line graphs that tied them all together.

Speaking of which, what happened to the history of metallicity, quasar formation, tree of evolution, et al? I hope these wont be relegated to galleries. Don't get me wrong, I think the galleries are a worthy addition -- I just hope they don't replace all the great stuff that fleshed out the timeline in version 1.

Anyway, I'm clearly being picky, but it's only because I care. This is a noble project, and I'm deeply grateful its authors for sharing it with everyone. Thanks again.

-NSG

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

jaybeavers — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:56:39 GMT

We've moved development for ChronoZoom over to Github. We've made many changes in the code and it is now much easier to get running locally or on Azure. Take a look at our progress at https://github.com/alterm4nn/ChronoZoom and our plans for the future at https://trello.com/chronozoom.

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

rapuke — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:00:59 GMT

Back again for another try at running Chronozoom. I am using VS2012 and have the latest Azure SDK October 27 2012 and running on Windows 8. This is causing issues which I will document if you wish.

My first question is should this work and if not is there going to be a fix. I have other developments which require the latest environments so hope I can get CZ going with these.

I am wanting at least to get the database available locally but get the error "origin.xml missing from dacpac package" when I publish

New Post: What do you think about ChronoZoom?

Sandyal — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 05:08:51 GMT

Hi Michael,

I think Chronozoom is amazing. I was wondering if there will be a more creative way to display artifacts. Right now they appear as boxes with content.

For example, I like what this young lady did in her Scale of the Universe example: http://htwins.net/scale2/ (I like to scroll to the end of the player window and then work my way backwards. ) In this example, the graphical display and pop-up dialog descriptions make this example a bit more fun and engaging. My point here is that with a bit more flexibility Chronozoom could offer a broader reach as a teaching tool.

Sincerely,

Sandy Alto

New Post: Feature Requests - Now you've tried it, what can be added to make it better?

Coho — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 22:27:23 GMT

This project is attractive because of the interactive focus. I would like to see it go one step further by offering presenters a template users can adapt to provide Big History context for whatever specific topic we choose.

For example, I might present on the relatively obscure history of Balinese people and arts. I might show on a projection screen early civilizations and Mayan colonialism, then major events in modern European, Chinese, or US political and art history. But I must be able to choose which boxes to show/omit and add my own Balinese timeline.

How far ahead is this potential feature? Thanks.

New Post: What do you think about ChronoZoom?

bobwalter — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:24:49 GMT

At the top of our to-do list is creation of an authoring guide. We expect that by mid July.

New Post: What do you think about ChronoZoom?

polczynskim — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:22:13 GMT

Reviewed the Users Guide and Lesson Plan - great stuff - but how do I learn how to actually create a new entry? Thanks!

New Post: Asian and Chinese Dynasties should be defaulted in timeline

thadguidry — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:40:05 GMT

In addition to Greek, Roman, etc...

I think Asian culture should be defaulted as content as well. Along the timeline the basic Chinese Dynasties should be accounted for: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasties_in_Chinese_history

(oops...)

DELETE THIS DISCUSSION, BOB. Just saw you have a general CONTENT discussion thread.... thanks !

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

rapuke — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:32:51 GMT

Up to this step but there is no web.config in Authoring.Azure project

11. Now go to the Authoring.Azure project and edit Web.config

a. Find connection string and inster the data source as before.

Also the Developers Guide PDF has not been updated which might be confusing.

Thanks

New Post: ChronoZoom Content

bobwalter — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:16:44 GMT

Posted as an issue by thadguidry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasties_in_Chinese_history

My wife is a descendant of the royal Han family, going back through ancient Chinese history. I simply typed "Han dynasty" and found 0 results. Ashamed of you :)

Let's try to get those in please. As well as more Asian History.

Ideally, I think I would like to be able to eventually link Freebase Event entities such as to a corresponding Chronozoom entity index. WikiData will have these as well.

Freebase plans to finalize the Topic API output by end of May 2012. Here is an alpha preview version of the JSON output for that Han Dynasty topic :
https://www.googleapis.com/freebase/v1-sandbox/topic/en/han_dynasty

I would like to see a Topic Equivalent support for WebLinks at the database level. Allowing Content Authors and Curators to say SAMEAS essentially. And be able to populate a database with existing content from Freebase, WikiData, DBPedia, etc... fairly easily. I will create a new issue for this request now.

New Post: ChronoZoom Content

BobWalter — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:13:56 GMT

Please use this discussion to talk about changes and additions to ChronoZoom content.

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

bobwalter — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:10:36 GMT

You can use the previous database with the revised code. The new sql script just removes some of the extra timelines to give you a more basic canvas to work with. There are no schema changes.

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

rapuke — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:49:20 GMT

No that is not the problem as I deleted the database and tried several times with the latest release.

I have now generated the DB successfully from the first release so something in the script must have changed..

Can I use this DB, generated using first release, with the second release?

Thanks

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

bobwalter — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:01:52 GMT

It sounds like you have left over tables from your previous attempt to install the code. Please delete the old tables and do the install as the dev guide suggests. See if tht helps.

New Post: ChronoZoom Dev Talk

rapuke — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:20:34 GMT

Thank you for the update however this time I have not even as far as last time.

Below is the attempt at setting up the database.

Cheers

Creating Permission...

Cannot grant, deny, or revoke permissions to sa, dbo, entity owner, information_schema, sys, or yourself.

(1 row(s) affected)

(6574,1): SQL72014: .Net SqlClient Data Provider: Msg 547, Level 16, State 0, Line 2 The INSERT statement conflicted with the FOREIGN KEY constraint "FK_User_Role". The conflict occurred in database "Chronozoom", table "dbo.Role", column 'ID'.

The statement has been terminated.

An error occurred while the batch was being executed.

New Post: Feature Requests - Now you've tried it, what can be added to make it better?

bobwalter — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:12:04 GMT

There could be a lot of answers to your question depending on who is speaking. I think of this discussion as a way to talk about ideas that could turn into feature requests. For example, your suggestion came up during our project planning. We didn't have time in the beta to implement it. Your description here is clear and could easily translate into a feature. It's good that it is here in the discussion group since it allows others to contribute their thinking. It also belongs in issue tracker because it is a clear definition of a potential feature and people can vote on it there.

There are no real rules about what goes here or there. The important part is that you are commmunicating with others interested in ChronoZoom. Your input is truly appreciated.

New Post: Feature Requests - Now you've tried it, what can be added to make it better?

whitmer — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:27:18 GMT

I guess I'm confused then what goes on this page as opposed to being filed in the issue tracker...

New Post: Feature Requests - Now you've tried it, what can be added to make it better?

bobwalter — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:07:48 GMT

That's an excellent suggestion. Please use the issue tracker to add this as a new feature. This way members of the community can vote/comment on your thought and we can consider adding this ability to a future release.