IFVP 2006: Evolution from Scribe to Strategy Partners

ABOVE: Graphic facilitation by David Williams, Trapdoor Media

Peter Durand of Alphachimp Studio Inc. presented a list of free (and almost free) tools for managing the business of the business of being a scribe.

The main messages:

1. Success is dependent upon proving value to your client and their stakeholders.
2. Mastering technology is a key differentiator.
3. As small businesses, we need to improve the level of service and increase the efficiency of our back office processes.

Click link below for a list of the services and products reviewed...

[ scribing by Brandy Agerbeck ]

Many more reviews on Alphachimp Studio's Toolbox.
(For the broadest, coolest selection of stuff, visit Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools.)

MissingLink

This was designed by a team of artists and facilitators at Alphachimp Studio Inc. who have worked with collaborative teams focused on global strategies. For years, we have been frustrated by the amount of work that seems to evaporate as soon as a meeting concludes.MissingLink brings together the power of browser-based software, file management, keyword tagging, podcasting and even video broadcasting.

There is no software to download beyond your web browser.

Project Management Tool

Basecamp is a unique project management tool. Unique because you'll actually enjoy using it.

I have searched for years for a high-quality, flexible project management system. I found it in Basecamp. Basecamp is scaleable to handle a handful of projects for a sole proprietor on a tight budget, or countless initiatives for a large, distributed network. It requires no downloads or software beyond the web browser. It has swiftly become THE key tool in managing our project pipeline, with milestones, to-do lists, team members and essential files. I have set up three of my own clients with the software and they all love it because they finally have a cheap, efficient knowledge management tool that does not follow a "per seat fee." Non-profit organizations seem to benefit most from this software because usually they don't have much tech support, while Basecamp offers them a seamless way to connect a project.

To get started, go to www.basecamphq.com.

 

HelloDeo: Got a WebCam? Say hello with video!

HelloDeo is a browser-based app that serves as video recorder, player and blogger poster. Simply hook up your video camera, record via the hellodeo.com, copy the code generated and post on your blog or website.

[Submitted by Nellie Durand] 

FreedomVoice Toll Free Numbers

We finally have our own 911 number!

Well, more accurately, we have a toll free number through FreedomVoice. This on-line service provider can not only hook you up with your own vanity number, but hold music (rock, jazz or muzak), call forwarding, multiple mailboxes and even professional voiceover talent for your outgoing messages.

Want to experience how it works? Call us toll free: 1-866-99CHIMP

Yokel: Really smart yellow pages

From Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools:

Yokel makes finding local "things" less time-consuming and more cost-efficient (especially with the gas prices these days). Similar to GoogleMaps and YahooLocal but with more relevant results. And the Yokel search engine helps comparison shop online for things you want to buy offline at local stores. All you need to do is type in what you are looking for and the city or zip code you want to buy it in and Yokel provides the results. It seemed really helpful for items you wouldn't want to ship or more abstract items like a motorcycle trailer.

Bring out the GIMP!

GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.

Doug Kaye, senior executive producer of the ConversationsNetwork, was looking for a low cost imaging solution:

I'm getting tired of switching from my Mac to a PC every time I want to edit an image. (I switched my life from Windows to OS X last year, but still have many of my best tools on the PC.)

Other than Photoshop (expensive), what image-editing software do you recommend for the Mac? I need to do the usual CN stuff: crop, resize, adjust color and gamma, etc. But nothing super sophisticated.

Producer Cori Schlegel sent Doug searching for the GIMP!

Snapz Pro X

I asked the founder of PixelCorps, Alex Lindsay, what his organization uses to create their very personal and useful software tutorials.Snapz Pro X 2 allows you to effortlessly record anything on your screen, saving it as a QuickTime® movie or screenshot that can be emailed, put up on the web, or passed around however you please.

Snapz Pro X 2.0 costs $69. Upgrades from Snapz Pro X 1.0 w/ movie capture are $20.

Why take a static screenshot when Snapz Pro X 2 makes creating a movie just as easy? Snapz Pro X 2 does that, and so much more -- what a difference a version makes! Download a free demo version from our web site today or check out the demo movies we've created and see for yourself.

Yahoo Widgets

Besides hair sprouting where it shouldn't, if you are a truly a werewolf, how do you know if a full moon is coming?

Or even what day it is? Or who needs what from you by when? Or when Mariah Carey's new groundbreaking single is coming out?

What do you use to manage the dataflows in your busy little life?

If you haven't discovered them already, try Yahoo Widgets.

DropSend

Having trouble emailing large files? This great service for sending large files (upwards of 1GB) and on-line storgare. Essential for graphic types with large Photoshop files, EPS, PDFs, etc.

[Thanks to George Lampman]

Upload Photos with Flickr

The best tool on the web for cheap (i.e. F*R*E*E*!) posting of pictures for websites and blogs. We use this to upload hundreds of megabytes of photos from the events we attend each week. Saves us tons of space on our servers. See photos from The New Map Game with Tom Barnett and Alidade Inc. Visit www.flickr.com

Listen to founder Stewart Butterfield speaking at eTech.

From IT Conversations:

Starting with the thirty second overview of Flickr, Stewart describes the Flickr mission, which simply put is two fold: one, help people share their photos with their friends and family with easy and flexible methods, and two, innovate new ways of organizing photos. Stewart continues with brief descriptions of the applications that the Flickr team and the development community have implemented extending Flickr in interesting and innovative ways. These demonstrations include the following applications: FlickFox, Linux uploader, Organizr, Movable Type Flickr plug-in, WordPress Flickr plug-in, Flickr Postcard, and Flickr Worldmap.