What can I do to help in terms of programming?

[davidpretorius]

Hi All,


now that i have started down this track, I would like to offer my professional services for the good of the site members

I host websites and program .net systems mainly for the internet. I am currently working on linking PDA's back to a server over the internet for business accounting systems, but the technology can be used easily enough for us star gazers. If any of you guys have any ideas based around this technology that you would like me to have acrack at, please let me know. The moderators I assume, will put forward what they feel is best for the group based upon replies and I will be guided by them.

It may be:

1. a web based photo gallery,
2. pda / sms multi cast for a certain event from the iceman,
3. tutorials for beginners, with photos of what you can see with what combination of telescope, filters & lenses and some indication on level of difficulty
4. anything really that can use computers, the internet, a little programming that can make our viewing experience even better.

I would love to be able to give something back to the site for all to use for free.

[toetoe (Peter)]

Good onya Dave, nice of you to offer this for IIS. I am sure ther will be ideas out there worth considering. I better put on my thinking cap and see if i can put some input to this.

[davidpretorius]

Hi all,


have just nutted out how to access through code the output from a webcam attached to a windows xp machine and then stream over net or take picture ie without using the software that came with the camera. First step towards towards maybe having a cam set up with a scope and then over the net, take a shot, or having a live broadcast. (I like the web cast of the probe approaching the comet a few days ago and thought why can't we?)


Without trying to reinvent the wheel, having read the excellent article on using the webcam to take pictures, it would be nice if I could add a little program that could them layer the stream automatically from say a dob?


Anyway early days yet, any feedback / guidance would be appreciated.

[ving (David)]

Ooo! very flash sounding!!!
live stream!
be good if we could have a permanaent live stream set up on the front page....

"click here for live stream from the Ice In Space Observatory"

got a ring to it!