Tech:Screencasts

This page explains how to create a Cyclopath tutorial video. See also Video Tutorials, the user help page listing the videos.

[edit] Recording screencasts

Recording screencasts takes quite a lot of horsepower.

On a laptop, install Audacity. Run the application. Configure it for 44100kHz mono. Position the mouse over the "record" button.
Plug in the mic and clip it on.
On the demo machine (Linux), run
```
xvidcap --cap_geometry=960x720
```
- (First run only.) Configure xvidcap to capture AVI video using the MPEG 4 (DIVX) codec, at 8 fps, quality 90. Turn off audio capture. Save preferences.
Create a browser window and size it to 960x720. Position it exactly under the xvidcap red box, excluding the window decorations.
Simultaneously (use both hands), start recording on both Audacity (type R) and xvidcap (click button).
Record the demo.
Stop Audacity (type space).
(Quickly) Stop xvidcap (click button).

Mux the audio and video together, e.g.:

mencoder -oac copy -ovc copy -audiofile <FOO>.raw.mp3 <FOO>.raw.avi -o <FOO>.avi

The resulting .avi file is the downloadable video.

This video will show you how to get started with Cyclopath and find a bicycle route for you.
Go to cyclopath.org: this page, Cyclopath main page.
From here, lots of information about Cyclopath:
- FAQ
- Guidelines on editing Cyclopath
- Help on Geowiki
What's interesting now is the map itself: the Cyclopath geowiki
Click on screenshot, application loads
Click down here, on "Routes"
Click "Find a Route"
Fill in
- 200 Union St Se, Minneapolis - an address (my office)
- YWCA - this is a point of interest
- Can route to addresses, intersections, and user-entered points of interest
Adjust routing prefs
Click "Find"
YWCA is ambiguous - 2 of them
Choose uptown one
Click "Find"
Application thinks for a while
Produces a route
See the route on map
Over here is a cue sheet
I can click on "Printer Friendly"
One last thing is the Help button
- Click this, get help on Cyclopath, including this and other videos
And that's all for now. Thanks for watching, and we hope you enjoy Cyclopath!

This video will show you how to rate the bikeability of streets and trails.
This improves the routes both for you and for everyone else.
Log in
- "Remember me" button
Orange and gray.
- Your ratings are private and aren't visible to other users.
Route from 200 Union SE to LRT metrodome.
Note that the route goes over Bridge Number 9.
Suppose that I don't like Bridge Number 9 -- red railings.
Rate No. 9 "impassable".
Important -- rate for YOU, not your recommendations for others.
- Cyclopath - sophisticated algorithms to estimate bikeability for others. These algorithms depend on you giving your personal opinion; just rate how you like it, and let Cyclopath worry how it is for other cyclists.
Save.
Re-find route -- now takes Stone Arch Bridge, and I'm happy.
Rate everything you know
- Cyclopath learns your preferences, and can better estimate bikeability for blocks unfamiliar to you.
- Cyclopath learns about the blocks and gains information useful for routing for everyone.
Each block has its own rating.
For speed:
- Ctrl-key multiselect.
- Shift-key multiselect.
Save.
That's all for now. Thanks for watching, and we hope you enjoy Cyclopath!

One of the cool things about Cyclopath is its collaboratively-maintained points of interest.
This video will show you how to browse this information and share what you know about these places.
Zoom in, purple dots are points of interest.
Not all points are labeled in dense areas; mouse over for the label.
You can move points (e.g.)
- Use the aerial photos to help.
You can edit points (e.g.)
You can add your own points
Save
That's all for now. Thanks for watching, and we hope you enjoy Cyclopath!

Cyclopath contains thousands of collaboratively-maintained notes on streets and trails.
This video will show you how to browse this information and share what you know.
Zoom in, purple halos indicate blocks which have notes.
Click on block, here's the notes.
You can have more than one note per block, and a note can be applied to many blocks.
- Mouse-over
- Click - green
- Click More
Adding a new note
Adding a new note to many blocks
Editing a note
Adding some blocks to a note
Removing some blocks from a note
Removing a note
Save
That's all for now. Thanks for watching, and we hope you enjoy Cyclopath!

Cyclopath lets you edit the streets and trails that make up the bicycle transportation network.
- What that means, for example, is that if there's a shortcut missing from the map, you can add it, or if construction has changed the configuration of an area, you can fix it up to reflect the new reality.
- This video will show you the basics this editing.
Edit geometry (West Bank trail)
- Aerial photos.
- Don't look at other sources: close the Google Earth window, put away the maps.
Move intersection - sticky intersections (21st Ave S near Rarig)
Add a new connection. (West Bank trail)
- Connectivity widgets.
- Connectivity button.
Remove a connection. (25th Ave S to W River Pkwy)
- Merge blocks
Bridge levels (Murphy Square ped bridge)
Add block (22nd Ave S)
Delete block (stray block near Pizza Luce)
Save.
Some other features, but that's the basics and should get you started.
That's all for now. Thanks for watching, and we hope you enjoy Cyclopath!

FIXME