Tru Collector VS SPLOT Writer
This week I spent some time comparing the Tru Collector app and the SPLOT Writer plugin. Both allow users to publish content to a page without requiring a sign in.
There are two noticeable differences between the two:
- SPLOT Writer focuses on text/media submissions whereas Tru Collector is image based
- The “options” to customize the content entry form are different
Since SPLOT Writer is text based, it displays submitted content in a grid form like a blog post preview. There is a split focus on media and text. On the other hand, Tru Collector is designed to focus on image display and a title.
The difference between the “options” forms is that the Tru Collector form is more customizable than the SPLOT Writer form. The Tru Collector form gives the option to display certain boxes and hide others, letting creators get rid of irrelevant options.
SPLOT Writer is nice because the plugin allows you more creative control of the overall site whereas Tru Collector isn’t as customizable aesthetically. Where SPLOT Writer excels in design, Tru Collector excels in customizability. In regards to the options form, the ability to select what is asked and what is hidden is very convenient.
VR: Will it become our reality?
This week I also had the opportunity to help propose an innovation grant for an initiative called “VR: Will it become our reality?”. This experiment has the potential to explore VR software such as Engage, Art Gate, and Web VR using Oculus Quests.
There are two main things that make this so exciting. First, Engage and Art Gate are multiuser friendly, meaning they encourage multiple people at a time to share and explore a virtual space. The second is that all three softwares give users the ability to develop their own content. VR, while being around for a few years, is still not widely accessible. The potential to experiment with VR on a larger scale (in this case meaning 2-3 Oculus Quest headsets) is very exciting and I look forward to seeing where this project could go if accepted.
