A common problem for teachers and professionals on the go is having the software you need when you need it. As the Internet gets speedier and programmers get more creative we are beginning to see software move into the “cloud” of computers and servers.
Cloudware is one of many terms used to describe software that does not reside on the user’s computer but on a central system that does most of the work and storage for your computer. This means that as long as you have a computer with a browser you can visit these sites, edit your images and save them to your computer without installing anything. These types of applications offer a lot to teachers who may not have access to the software they need to truly integrate technology into their classroom projects.
Aviary provides free online access to four exceptional pieces of software.
- Phoenix – Image editing with layers
- Raven – Vector-based graphics editing
- Peacock – “Visual Laboratory”
- Toucan – Colour swatch and palette tool
Raven and Phoenix are of most use to your average classroom project. They are extremely powerful and flexible tools that can be run on any computer with no real limitations. You can view and use all the tools without signing up at Aviary.
Here is a quick video showing some of the powerful features of Phoenix, as an artist “unzips” a kitten using multiple layers