Thing #8 - Flickr mashups

What is a "mashup"?

Wikipedia offers a great article that explains mashups. Basically they are hybrid web applications that take features from one application (like Flickr) and mash it up with another (like Google Maps). In this example, you get Mappr.

Like many web 2.0 sites, Flickr has encouraged other people to build their own online applications using images found on the site. Through the use of APIs (application programming interfaces), many people have created third party tools and mashups that use Flickr images.

Discovery Resources:

Here are a few examples of mashups that use Flickr:

• Mappr - allows you to take Flickr images and paste them on a map
  
• Flickr Color Pickr - lets you find public photos in Flickr that match a specific color.
  
• Mosaic Maker – create a photo mosaic from photos found on Flickr.
• Clockr - uses random photos to display the time.
• Big Huge Labs offers a round-up of Flickr tools.
• Spell with Flickr - spells out your word or phrase with photos from Flickr.
• Splashr lets you present your Flickr photos in a different view.
• Create puzzles from your Flickr photos.
  

Discover more mashups, web apps, and Flickr tools.

Discovery Exercise:

Your discovery exercise for this “thing” is to:

1. Explore some of the fun Flickr mashups and 3rd party tools that are listed here.
2. Use the mashups to create something then upload one or more of your creations to your blog (most will give easy to follow instructions somewhere on the site about how to copy the code needed and where to place it on your blog).
   
3. In your post, talk about some ways Flickr and/or Flickr mashups could be used in your classroom, library or personal life. What are your feelings about sharing photos online?
   

Have some fun discovering and exploring some of these neat little apps, but be careful. Playing with these tools can be habit-forming. You may discover that you have a new hobby!



PS: Play image above created by Spell with Flickr.