Technical advances for members of Outdoor Writers Association of America

Smartening Upwards
A New Englander Investigates Digital Voice Recorders

By Norman Jolliffe

Recently – never mind exactly when – while driving a tractor, I crushed and destroyed my cassette tape recorder. Was that good or bad? Depends. Certainly then, I had an opportunity to change myself – viz., get a replacement device for interviewing both people and talking animals. Outdoor writers – and even indoor scribblers – need modern equipment to work efficiently.

Now I could get a digital voice recorder.

Also, why not get a digital camera?

Why not get another computer? A new one. Let's say a fast one that uses Windows XP.

Presently, I use a slow computer that runs Windows ME – a PC I bought as junk and later, happily, refurbished. I did the job myself to save money. But that fixing experience was necessary and a learning curve – in other words, a "smartening upwards."

Procrastinating, which writers do often, I went to Google and typed "learning curve." I learned that a lot of companies are named Learning Curve, plus at least one novel.

Then I went to my dictionary, where I was informed that "learning curve" is a two-word noun. And the definition: "a graph that depicts rate of learning, especially a graph of progress in the mastery of a skill against the time required for such mastery."

Wow! Sounds pretty much like "smartening upwards," a northern New England intransitive verb that describes a negative brain condition.

Excited, I contacted Olympus and asked to be consigned a digital voice recorder, the DS-330, for evaluation. I checked the specs: This particular device was compatible with my computer.

However, the DS-330 is small. Its buttons are tiny. And since the talking animals I'm writing about are imaginary, they were of no help at all. Nor were the real people I would be interviewing. Under a good light, with steady hands and wearing my reading glasses, I set the time and date. Digital cameras want you to do that, too. It's annoying, but the reason is "to ease file management tasks."

Software comes with the DS-330. I shove the disc into the CD-ROM drive. I turn on the PC. The master drive freezes. I have to use scandisk to correct that problem.

The software won't load automatically. So I use start and run; but I can't remember if the CD-ROM drive is E or F.

It's F.

Yes, I accept the license agreement; and yes, Olympus, put the files where you want in the C drive. No, don't bother with Adobe Reader – I have that already.

Now Olympus wants me to plug into the USB port. I do that. At the same time the recorder screen and the PC monitor quiver briefly ...

Soon, I am encouraged with the following information:

"Voice files recorded using recorder can be transferred to PC; ideas that suddenly come up, spoken into recorder, may be transferred to PC; recorder may be used as USB speaker/microphone; recorder settings (i.e., date and time, etc.) can be changed easily; and voice files can be converted to text files, using voice recognition software."

Good. For this last item, I happen to have, actually, Via Voice and Naturally Speaking. I never could get either to work well, though, maybe due to a lack of patience and old Yankee smartening upwards.

If you want to know more, e-mail me.

An OWAA member since 1978, Norman Jolliffe lives in Jackson, Maine. He is a magazine freelancer and book author.

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Color Management, Part 2
How to Get Great Prints

By Michael Furtman
www.michaelfurtman.com

In the March/April Tech-E-Letter, I discussed the importance of calibrating your computer monitor. Doing so allows you to maintain consistent color through the entire digital photography process and send your editors (who do work in a dedicated color space, with calibrated monitors) enticing and accurate photos. Calibrating your monitor requires the use of a simple device, either from ColorVision called Spyder2 Plus or another manufacturer.

If you don't make your own prints, that's all you need to do. But if you do make prints, you've probably noticed that they don't always look the same on paper as they did on your monitor. That's because your monitor is designed to see a limited range of colors (sRGB – a standard model for representing color). But the incongruity is also because each and every printer – and each and every photo paper – has its own color profiles.

The simplest way to ensure accurate colors when printing is to, first, calibrate your monitor, then work in a computer program that uses the same monitor profile (such as Adobe Photoshop) and print from that program. In addition, make sure you use photo paper (and inks) made by your printer manufacturer. By doing so, the color profiles will match and produce consistent results.

What if you don't want to use papers from your printer manufacturer? In that case, you need to profile your papers for your printer. Some paper manufacturers, such as Ilford, provide these profiles on their Web sites. Just make sure you download the profile for your printer model. Creating your own profiles is fairly easy, too, by using a ColorVision product called PrintFix.

PrintFix is a small scanning device. After printing a color chart that comes with the device on the paper of your choice, run the print through the scanner, which correctly builds a custom profile for that paper. Give that profile a name and then select it from the drop-down menu either in Photoshop (under "Print w/Preview"), or from your printer's menu. (These are typically called "output target" "destination space" or something similar.)

Finally, if your camera allows, always shoot in aRGB (Adobe RGB) as opposed to sRGB. The aRGB color space offers a wider range of colors, which will yield more pleasing photos on paper.

Michael Furtman chairs OWAA's Technology Committee. Visit his Web site for a great example of self-marketing.

Have a tech question? Send it in. OWAA’s Technology Committee will answer it.

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How to Be a Good Interviewee

By Bob Hirsch
www.bobhirschoutdoors.com

I’ve done more than a thousand interviews over the years – for radio, newspaper and magazine – and I’ve tangled with the good, the bad and the ugly. When it’s your turn to be interviewed, take pity on the poor guy or gal with the microphone or pad and pencil.

Spend a minute or two talking with the interviewer before the interview formally begins. Outline the points you’d like to make. If the subject is a monster, like global warming or population growth, consider doing two or three shorter interviews dealing with specific parts of the subject.

Answer the questions with enthusiasm, but don’t try to tell him everything you know in one glorious burst. Be brief (but not to the extent that you take the "yup" and "nope" road). Let the interviewer take the lead and ask follow-up questions. Done right, you’ll both look good.

Don’t preach or pontificate. The interviewer already assumes you know the subject. Come out of the pulpit and relax.

Be focused; stick to the subject; don’t wander off with anecdotes that have nothing to do with the interview’s main thrust.

A little humor is great, but don’t try to be a stand-up comedian. The "aw shucks, I’m just a good old boy" bit is deadly, too.

Keep it simple; shy away from too many quotes, percentages, long lists, etc. If you’ve got stuff like that, give a hard copy to the interviewer ahead of time and let him decide which to use and when.

A special note to spokespeople for state or federal agencies: Pretend you’re sitting on a stump out in the woods – not testifying before a congressional committee. Don’t TELL me, tell me. Most interviewers agree – there’s no such thing as a short, informative bureaucratic answer.

An OWAA member since 1970, Bob Hirsch lives in Cave Creek, Ariz. His radio show, "Word from the Wild," airs weekly on ESPN radio in Tucson and Phoenix. "How to be a good interviewee," which originally appeared in the September 2005 issue of Outdoors Unlimited, is Hirsch’s contribution on behalf of OWAA’s Radio Section. Radio Section members are encouraged to send newsworthy items such as job changes, awards, promotions and new shows, as well as ideas for making the Radio Section a more valuable resource, to Radio Section Head Jim Junttila or OU Editor Katie McKalip.

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Apply Now for OWAA Funds!

Through the John Madson Fellowship Fund, OWAA annually sponsors a member or members to attend OWAA's conference; the Wildbranch Workshop in Outdoor, Natural History and Environmental Writing; or other workshops and classes. Applications for the 2006 Fellowship are due Dec. 31, 2005. Forms are published in the September issue of OU and are online (members only). Take advantage of this great member benefit and send in your application!

Self-Marketing Via Photos

When I return from trips, I craft thank-you cards that feature a layout of my photos. I either e-mail or snail-mail them to the folks I worked with on my trip: the guide, lodge, PR reps, etc. It is good promotion and a quick way to say thank you.

I also have about 18 different photos on my business cards, which I lay out in MS Word. When I meet people who ask what I do for a living, I have a mini-portfolio in a set of business cards. I give them the whole stack and let them pick out the one they like.

Doug Wilson
www.dougwilsonphoto.com



E-mail on the Fly

When I travel or use someone else's computer, I access my mail remotely. This site allows me to view my e-mail, dump spam and respond to questions. When I return home, I can dump e-mails that remain into my office computer.

Spencer E. Turner

Point and Click?

Would you like to open files with a single-click instead of a double-click? Doing so is as easy as changing your system’s preset options. Open Windows Explorer (hit Windows icon key + E), select "Tools/Folder Options" then click the "General" tab. Select "Single-click to open an item (point to select)" then click "OK." These instructions should work in Windows XP and 2000.

Hurricane Relief for Kids

Do you have kids or grandkids? Like you, do they wish they could do something to help victims of Hurricane Katrina? I found an incredible Web site that is kid-specific. The kids on the site are amazing, and they outline ways for your kids to get involved and help, too.

Laurie Lee Dovey
www.lldovey.com

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Elk Forecast

Check out Bowhunter’s Web site for the latest elk forecast for your area. A feature article under the title "Elk Forecast" provides some information, but for an easy-to-read state and provincial summary table in PDF document format, look for the Editor’s Note underneath the article and click the link.

Hunting for Answers?

This well-organized site, run by hunter and shooter Russ Chastain, provides answers to many frequently asked hunting questions. The site features specialized articles such as "Whitetail Body Language" and "Why Do Hunters Kill?" Also featured are product reviews, buyer’s guides and communication forums.

Virtual Deer Hunting

Need help visualizing that perfect hunt? This Web site hosts several virtual-reality deer-hunting games. The games are so specific that you can pick every aspect of the hunt from season to gun type to the color of your camo. You can utilize a map and compass, buck calls, antler rattles and realistic scenery and landscapes while the deer move around in real time on your screen.

Hunting News

This Web site, hosted by ESPN, contains a wealth of hunting-news briefs and articles from all over the country. It covers everything from the usual ("Tracking of Elk May Increase Antler Trade") to the unusual ("Customer Tackles Deer in Nebraska Wal-Mart"). The site also includes an extensive archive of hunting news articles.

compiled by Kristin Knight; also featured in the October 2005 issue of Outdoors Unlimited

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Meet Dr. WoodKnot

Lost as an infant in an old-growth forest, Dr. P.C. Woodknot (a.k.a. John Hong) was raised by a vegetarian wolf commune until age 10. Discovered by a band of barefoot hikers and returned to the awkward bosom of humankind, he grew up in an organic, high-tech household, and the rest, as we all know, is histrionic. If you have a question for Dr. Woodknot, submit it via the Tech-E-Letter feedback form. 

Is It Time to Get a New Computer?

Dear Dr. WoodKnot,

The other night, as I adjusted the rabbit ears on top of my monitor to get better reception, I wondered whether it was time to get a new computer. When I got my present setup, back in 1980, I was determined that it would be the last computer I'd ever buy. But now I'm reconsidering. I mean, I've updated my software and kept the virus protection current, but is there something to be said for investing in an entirely new system? If you say yes, my tech-support guru will be sad – the last time I paid him to work on my computer, he had enough money to finish paying off his mortgage.

Signed,

Retro Rhonda

Dr. WoodKnot replies:   

Dear Retro,

OK, I have some good news and some bad news. Are you sitting down?

The good news: One reason your tech guru charged you so much is he craftily installed a smaller, more modern PC inside the case of your old computer. You see, there is just no way current software could practically run on a computer from 1980.

The bad news: "Two can be as bad as one; it’s the loneliest number since the number one." If you don't understand what this means, that's OK; I don't, either. Anyway, just let your guru know you are finally on to him, all is forgiven and you give him your blessing to upgrade in the open.

For those of you who are considering replacing an ancient computer: Computers have never been so cheap and powerful. Dell.com is full of stupendous bargains and is setting the price bar very low for competitors.

Also, seriously consider setting up a second computer just for Web browsing. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Even if you have up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software, you still are vulnerable. Better to have a computer where the most important things to back up are your browser bookmarks. Don't run e-mail or other personal data applications on this browsing PC. In a future issue, I'll tell you about a quick, free and easy way to try out Linux. This would be ideal for your Web-browsing PC; also, many varieties of Linux, which are too slow for recent versions of Windows, run fine on older computers.

Good Day,

Dr. Dual PCWoodKnot

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(500 words or less), tips (150 words or less) and emerging news (50 words or less).
E-mail your articles or story ideas to Tech-E-Letter Editor Katie McKalip.   

Technology Committee:

Chair: Michael Furtman

Members: Christopher Batin, Bill Becher, Tom Cross, Martin Freed,
John Hong, Bob Knopf, Katie McKalip, Kory Mitchell, Tom Opre,
Chase Swift, Spence Turner, Randy Zellers

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Executive Director, Kevin Rhoades
Tech-E-Letter, OU Editor, Katie McKalip
Member Services Manager, Myra Gray
Intern, Kristin Knight

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