Category Internet

Which are the best games that are quick-to-play and easily accessible through Google search?

Atari Breakout

The original Breakout game was released by Atari, a gaming company, in 1976. It was hugely popular and a fun game to play. Before, you could go to Google Images and type ‘Atari Breakout and the game would appear. But now, you need to type out ‘Atari Breakout in the Google Search bar and dick on A feeling lucky Once you do so, the game will pop up on your screen.

Playing the game is simple – There are several bricks laid out on the top of the screen and you need to break them all using a ball. Whenever the ball hits a brick, the brick breaks and the ball starts descending towards the lower half of the screen. The challenge lies in bouncing the ball right back up using the paddle that you can control with the arrow keys or the mouse. The goal is to destroy all the bricks. You do get several turns to do so, but you need to be quick and attentive to win the game.

Snake

Remember the classic snake game that was available on most basic mobile phones and hand-held video games? You can now play the game using Google search with colourful visuals and sounds. All you need to do is to type Play Snake in the search bar and the game will appear on screen. For those of you who haven’t played the game yet here are the rules: You are given a grid, which is the play space. And an apple appears anywhere on the grid. You play the role of the snake who needs to devour the apple. You can control the directions of the snake using the arrow keys. Once it devours the apple, another one appears in some other part of the board. As the snake keeps eating apples, it grows bigger in length, making it difficult for you to control it. This cycle continues as long as the player loses. You lose the game of the snake hit against the sides of the play area or if it hits against itself.

The game also lets you customize and play to your liking. You can make the snake move faster or slower, and choose a different fruit as well.

Doodle Cricket

Over the years, Google has brought out some innovative and interactive Google Doodles. One such doodle was for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. This doodle has featured subsequently for other cricketing events as well.

To access the game, just go to the Google doodle archives and type cricket in the search bar. Alternatively. You can type Google Cricket and the link will appear. The gameplay is simple – You, the batsman, are a grasshopper, and the snails (the computer) are the opponent team. A snail will bowl to you and you need to hit the ball by clicking the mouse button or pressing the Space bar at the right time. If you miss, you are out. As the game progresses, the bowling speed will change. Score as many points as you can doing this. You can even compete with your friends and share the Scores.

 

Picture Credit : Google

What is the career in Vlogging?

What is Vlogging?

A vlog is basically a video blog- a blog that consists of videos rather than write-ups. Vlogs can be made on a wide array of topics from exotic travels to everyday life. The videos are uploaded on streaming channels in the form of episodes.

How it works

Vloggers regularly post content in the form of videos and earn followers. If they get a substantial number of followers, they are offered ads and sponsorships. Many brands also approach them for promotions and product placement. From do-it-yourself videos on make-up and cooking to travel diaries and online tutorials, people are open to all sorts of content. So choose a topic and go live.

What are the prospects?

Previously, it was thought that a person making content for an online medium such as YouTube may not get any financial benefit out of it. But that’s not the case anymore. To begin with, vlogging requires minimal monetary investment as there are gadgets in different price ranges, and thanks to the internet, posting content online is free. And if your videos go viral, you will be paid for ads and sponsorships. For instance, you can enable your YouTube channel for monetisation and connect it to an AdSense account. The revenue depends on your content and country- for instance, they maybe higher in the U.S. but comparatively lower in India. Once you have dedicated followers, brands may even invite you for their events and promotions.

Required skills

  • Creativity and the ability to come up with interesting content.
  • Shooting skills: Unlike professional filmmaking, vlogging doesn’t require expert camera work. Vloggers usually shoot on hand-held devices- such as mobile phones or action cameras. All you need to do is ensure that you get the sound and lighting right.
  • Editing skills: Videos and short films are usually edited using online editors that can be downloaded free of cost from the Internet. Several websites and online tutorials can teach you to use these software and apps.
  • Camera presence and a charismatic personality.

What to study?

  • Notabilis, Sociatrix Humanus and Maxime (NSHM) Knowledge Campus, Kolkata: B.Sc and M.Sc in Film and Television (includes digital short film making, videography, camera handling, scriptwriting and the basics of directing.)
  • Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune: Postgraduate diploma courses in Digital Film Production.

Dos and Don’ts

  • Ensure your content doesn’t violate copyrights.
  • Integrate your channel with other social media and tag social media stars.
  • Choose paid sponsorships carefully.
  • Don’t overspend on equipment.

 

Picture Credit : Google

How to start your own vlog?

Since the commencement of the lockdown, there has been an increase in the number of channels on video hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. Videos posted on these channels are called ‘vlogs’. A vlog is a portmanteau of “video” and “blog”. It is a form of blog where the medium of sharing views is video, instead of text.

Usually, a vlog means to take a video of yourself speaking about some topic and posting it on your blog. But today, with the rise in video hosting sites, the term has expanded to include any kind of videos hosted on such sites, with or without text.

A person who vlogs is called a vlogger.

Types of vlogs

Most vlogs found online can be broadly categorized into two types – personal vlogs and live broadcast vlogs.

Personal vlogs are the ones where people talk about different aspects relating to a main topic. These include beauty vlogs and travel vlogs.

These videos are usually recorded beforehand, and edited and uploaded at a suitable time. You can find personal vlogs all over the Internet.

On the other hand, live broadcast vlogs are videos aired live. A vlogger usually hosts a live video on the site and speaks spontaneously to a live audience. These vlogs remain on the site for about 24 hours after which they disappear. However, vloggers can save these vlogs and upload them later.

Some popular vloggers

There are millions of vloggers on the Internet, hosting vlogs on diverse topics. While some of them vlog for fun, some take it up as a career and make money through brand collaborations and monetization policies of websites. One of the most popular vloggers is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, whose YouTibe channel, PewDiePie, has over 100 million subscribers. He vlogs on gaming, comedy, satire and more.

Ryan’s Toy Reviews featuring 8-year-old Ryan Kaji is another popular YouTube channel with over 26 million subscribers. Ryan is one of the highest earning YouTubers. He usually reviews toys from around the world.

Starting your own vlog

If you are interested in starting a vlog, here are a few tips:

Talk to your parents

Share your interest with your parents and seek their support in helping you start a vlog. It is always helpful to have an adult around. They can also help you with ideas.

Decide on a topic

This is most important. Even before you pick up the camera and start vlogging, you need to decide on a topic. Topic can vary from travel, to food, to even Do-It-Yourself crafts. This is what will give your channel direction and set it apart from others.

Decide on equipment

Most professional vloggers invest in a camera and lights. However, since you are just starting out, you can use natural lightning and a smartphone camera. Just ensure the camera is not shaky and the audio is clear, as it can get very disturbing for the viewer otherwise.

Choose a video hosting platform

Now that you have decided on a topic and have your equipment in place, it’s time to decide on a video hosting platform. While YouTube is the most popular, there are other platforms such as Vimeo too. Do your research and see what suits you best.

Viewing rights and monetization

Before you upload your video, decide on who gets to view your content. If you are creating content only for family members and friends, you can make the video private and share the link with them. However, if you wish to monetize your content, making your videos public is a better option.

 

Picture Credit : Google

What is crowdsourcing?

When the online community (or crowd) is asked for services, ideas or content, it is called crowdsourcing. When a project is too vast and time-consuming for an individual or a small group of individuals to accomplish, they put the proposal online and invite netizens to contribute their ideas, insights and experience to complete it. The task is then divided among those who volunteer to work on the assignment either online or offline. Some projects pay the participants.

Crowdsourcing is essentially social networking used to gather scientific data, to locate missing persons, to raise funds for charity and to finance promising innovations and start-ups (also called crowdfunding).

The American Human Genome Project that mapped the sequences of all the 3 billion base pairs of human DNA was one of the major scientific projects to use crowdsourcing. The manmoth project took the help of researchers across Asia and Europe and managed to finish its task within ten years!

The term was first used in 2006 in an article by Jeff Howe for Wired magazine.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Which apps and videos will help you remain on top of your fitness game?

Sitting sill for hours glued to the computer or the television screen can affect our physical and mental well-being. Apart from the regular breaks you take in between your long sessions online, invest time in your fitness. Here, we list a few apps and videos you can refer to or download to start your workout programme in the comfort of your home.

Yoga for kids and family fitness

This app is not just for children, but for the whole family well. Offering interesting asanas as well as healthy recipes and nutrition facts, this app is a whole package. There are different difficulty levels in workouts to suit your needs. The animated characters that teach you the workouts are the most entertaining aspect of the app.

This app is available for free download on Android phones.

Fitness Pets

This app encourages you to stay fit in an interesting way, fun way. The app lets you choose a virtual pet and take care of it. Your virtual pet grows and develops when you walk a certain number of steps in a day. The app also has fun mini quests and games to keep you motivated.

This app is available for free download on Android phones.

Little sports

This YouTube channel has two animated characters showing different exercises. Their playlists have exercises targeting different body parts as well as full-body workouts. You can cast the workout to the television or stream it on your laptop. The videos are simple to follow and span anywhere between 10 mins and 40 mins.

Stand Up Kids – Movement break

This website aims to get kids moving and give up on their sedentary lifestyle. Under the Stand Up Kids movement break curriculum, you can find a variety of exercises that help you stay fit, not just physically but also mentally. The video are shot by coaches and physical education teachers and can be easily followed. They also have a YouTube channel with fitness videos.

Get kids moving

This interesting YouTube channel started by a health coach and personal trainer from London helps you realize your potential as a superhero. The channel has videos focused on moves from your favourite superhero and fantasy movies such as Wonder Woman, Captain America and Harry Potter. The workouts are short, fun and easy to follow. Time to put on your superhero game face.

 

Picture Credit : Google

What is a bookmark and its benefits?

The mention of the word “bookmark” brings to mind colourful designs. The bookmark offers a sense of comfort to those who find it difficult to trace the pages of the book they are reading. However, just as a bookmark lets you mark a page in a book, the feature lets you do the same online.

What is a bookmark?

Bookmarks are a feature offered by web browsers to pin webpages. While a physical bookmark lets you mark just one page of the book, the online feature enables you to pin several webpages.

You can bookmark as many webpages as you like and organise them into folders. However, a bookmark only stores the URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Meaning you can access a bookmarked page only when you are online. Besides, the contents of the bookmarked webpage can change.

Apart from saving and organising bookmarks, one can also export them.

How to bookmark pages and organise them

Bookmarking pages is a simple process. In most web browsers, next to the URL of the webpage, you can find a star icon. Just clicking on it will bookmark the page for you. Alternatively, you can visit the settings tab in your browser, select the bookmarks option and add the bookmark, or you could use the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl+D.

Once you have bookmarked a page, you can find it in the settings under bookmarks.

To remove a page from the bookmarks, go back to the setting and delete it from the bookmarks manager under bookmarks.

To organise your bookmarks, go to the bookmarks manager. Once there, you can choose the option to add a folder and name it as per your liking. The, drag and drop your bookmarks into it.

Meanwhile, when bookmarking a page, you can choose to save the bookmark in the folder of your choice.

Browsers also offer the option of exporting all your bookmarks to the computer. This option is available in the bookmarks manager.

What are the benefits?

Bookmarks can offer you quick access to the webpages you frequently visit. It can also serve as a memory bank that allows you to revisit a webpage you once liked.

Mostly, bookmarking sites can be beneficial when it comes to project work. Imagine you are working on a science project and visiting webpages that have relevant content. Instead of remembering the pages, you can create a folder in the bookmarks and add all the pages to it. This way, the next time you login, you can view all the pages easily from the bookmarks.

 

Picture Credit : Google