Tools for Testing
The Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) is currently seeking testers for myBeachCast, a new beta Android app that provides more options and opportunities for public access to beach advisories and other environmental information.
To download the beta myBeachCast app and to sign on to be a beta tester, please visit beachcast.glin.net.
The app retrieves advisory and closure data from the states of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, all of which utilize BeachGuard, a centralized reporting database for monitoring data collected by health departments across each state. Data from the other Great Lakes states will be incorporated in time for the app’s full launch in May 2012.
Funded by the U.S. EPA-led Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the myBeachCast app provides the public with real-time information on beach water quality advisories, weather and water conditions. The app allows users to discover local beaches based on the user’s location, save favorite beaches, and quickly locate other nearby beaches in the case of a water quality advisory at their favorite beach.
Comments and feedback on the beta app can be sent via email to mybeachcast [at] glin [dot] net. The development team encourages the Great Lakes community to download and use the app through conclusion of the 2011 beach season and provide input and suggestions.
The app was designed for the Android platform by LimnoTech, a water resources and engineering company based in Ann Arbor, Mich.,in partnership with the Great Lakes Commission and the states. A mobile-enhanced website available on GLIN will offer complementary information for other mobile devices. Funding is being sought to develop a corresponding native app for the iPhone.
Let's say you encountered this widget, reading in an RSS news feed linking to multi-media content:
Please click to answer poll questions below:
This skinnable search tool was developed by Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Research Inventory (ri.ijc.org) and further refined by the Great Lakes Regional Research Information Network (GLRRIN) to blend specifically with their website.
Here we have developed a version that will work well on GLIN Labs or elsewhere.
To host the GLIN Labs version, copy and paste the following code to your website or blog:
This mapping application (in development) lets you choose between very diverse data layers to display, including: social interests; aquatic, terrestrial and avian biota; physical and chemical observations; and so much more.
See: http://erie.glin.net/glin_viewer (opens in new window)
This application makes it easy to populate and generate your own customized Google Map.
Just zoom and navigate to your geographic areas of interest, and use the drawing tools to draw points, polygons, and lines; and you'll be prompted to enter descriptions, pictures and urls for each selection. You can also click to expand visual layers options (satellite/hybrid view, anyone?).
Once you've finished entering your points of interest and layer selections, the application will generate a piece of code for you to copy. [This code format is currently in testing, and requires advanced knowledge to plug-and-play. Stay tuned for future refinements to readily publish to any web page.]
Behold the power of the Yahoo Pipe.
The Yahoo Pipe is a powerful and customizable tool: it aggregates RSS feeds, search engines and even csv data files from various data sources and lets the creator customize the output--all in a single bound.
Below is a GLIN Labs pipe demonstrating video search results on "Asian Carp."
Want to try it yourself? Enter in your own keywords at the GLIN-Labs Video Search Pipe.
Another example: News on a map
To receive GLIN Lab's announcements, new releases, and important notices on your mobile device, please fill the following form to sign up: