Web - How to Refresh Images

The trick behind AW television stations that use rotating jpgs is pretty simple in AW... but how about on webpages?  Unfortunately, there's nothing as simple as 'create picture' to manipulate images, but a snippet of Javascript should work just as well.

<IMG src="image_name.jpg" width="309" height="309" border="1" name="refresh">
<SCRIPT language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
<!--
var t = 120 // interval in seconds
image = "image_name.jpg" //name of the image
function Start() {
tmp = new Date();
tmp = "?"+tmp.getTime()
document.images["refresh"].src = image+tmp
setTimeout("Start()", t*1000)
}
Start();
// -->
</SCRIPT>
<!-- Code End -->

I don't know much about Javascript, but I found this online and was able to re-purpose it down to what we'd find useful around here.  When we apply the code above to WTV, for example, the result is an image that refreshes... every 10 seconds.  Exactly what we coded, right!? :)

Just pop that into your page and replace the jpg source, and it should refresh the image every 10 seconds.  This is ideal for tv stations that want the slideshow to work on webpages, and it also has other applications (such as webcams).

Noticeboard: WTV Opens, Help Wanted

WTV opened today after some initial planning by Watson and the staff of WolfW1 world.  As announced today in the Activeworlds Forums, Shadow Creature and Watson. plans to build the station up in the coming weeks, and is looking for helpers and volunteers.  I dealt quite a bit in AW television back in the day as a senior staff member at VWTV... and know firsthand that there's a lot of work to be done on an endeavor such as this, so feel free to offer your skillset because they could surely use actors, builders, designers, writers... maybe even an audience member!

WTV takes after the tv stations of the past by using rotating jpgs to create a 'slideshow.'  In AW, this is achieved by applying an update parameter to the picture command.  Simply apply the following code to the action line of any object that accepts the picture command, and you'll see the image below:

Something unique that WTV appears to be attempting is that they are looking to run multiple channels of their programming at the same time.  Hopefully they'll be busy enough to justify the many channels!  AWBuilder wishes this new endeavor luck, and encourages any interested in participating to visit WolfW1 World in Activeworlds or the website at http://wolfw1.net/.

(Note: If you're viewing this on the frontpage with the related TV post, the image above may be breaking because the script is attempting to run twice on the same page. Simply read this post on its own page to correct the issue.)

Weekly Poll #1: V4 Rights in Alphaworld

For some time I've wanted to integrate viewer opinion on the blog, and I've suspected that the easiest way to do so would be through polls... but indecisive me, I never quite decided on how I wanted the polls to be formatted on here.  I did some tooling around today and I'm pretty happy with where they're at now.  It's not eating up too much of the page there. :)

I'll try to make this a regular thing, changing the poll topic every week or so.  Readers will have the chance to vote and comment on the related posts.

Weekly Poll #1: V4 Rights in Alphaworld

With the ongoing absence of Tom comes also the absence of his many services, one of which being the bot that managed special rights in Alphaworld.

The bot was well known for its dramatic setting at Pamozo Island -- where it would cycle through citizen numbers in the rights list upon request.  This is necessary because of a technical restriction in the rights list that only allows so many characters (and consequently citizen numbers) to be included in the list. The bot helped us to get around this by adding a citizen number to the end of the list when they wanted to use v4 rights, and then bumping the first person on the list off.

There's currently a debate on the forums about what should be done now that this bot is currently offline... because its been reported that it would be at least mid-July before AWI could restore the bot.  Many users feel that the right should be open for all builders, while others want a line to be drawn. What do you think?  Is what we have the best solution?  Feel free to vote, and if you're not represented in the poll... feel free to leave a comment!

Noticeboard: GZModels offering Fourth of July Specials

GZModels by Zarolene is offering a special object bundle that is summer-themed in time for the Fourth of July weekend.  The bundle includes everything you'd expect to be at a summer party... I'd recommend checking it out if you're looking for some objects this weekend.  The deal ends at the end of the day on July 5.

"When you think of the Fourth of July you think of grilling! So I have put this special patio grill bundle together. Bundle includes my Patio Grill Set, Grilled Meats, Carving Set, Side Dishes, Picnic Tables and Patio Furniture set. This Bundle is an $85.00 value at the Special price of $50.00 starting at 11:59 PM VRT June 28th thru 11:59 PM VRT July 5th. - Forum Announcement"

Those interested in this sale can followup on it by teleporting to GZModels World and viewing the sign at the world's ground zero.