Wireless mobility implies small devices with small screens. How can you pack more information into less space? Greg Elin has an answer - Fotonotes.

Fotonotes annotates JPEG files, embedding text inside pictures. As you roll your mouse over the image, a section is highlighted and text appears. The Shifted Librarian and Dan Gillmor give Fotonotes rave reviews and demontrate how it works.

It’s like html-based imaging mapping - only different - objects can be stored within the image file (jpeg only), or in a database. A picture with multiple selections (people or things) can be searched. And there’s NOTHING to download. You can do it on-line (apparently) so perhaps even a PocketPC could utilize PhotoNotes annotation feature from the field.

Here’s how to use this free software:

1. On your PC, click the thumbnail of an image.
2. The clicked image will expand in a new window.
3. Click-drag with your mouse a rectangle around someone (or something!) in the photo.
4. Click ADD STORY button add notes to the object.
5. Add your notes and story. Click SAVE STORY to save the story.
6. Your story will be saved in the image file.
7. Upload the image file.

It works automatically with Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher (fingers-crossed). Roll over the picture and your text appears. There’s no need to download anything for it to work.

To create the embedded pictures, a free (beta) Java app can be downloaded or it can be used on-line.

Roll over a small section of the photo and a screenfull of information pops up. This is handy for packing information into photos or maps. Weblogs with photos might be easily annotated.

It sounds like you need Explorer 5.5 to view it so PocketPCs may not see the annotation. I haven’t tried it (yet). Here’s a test….

…Okay, I guess I haven’t figured out the on-line version. But it DOES look easy. I’ll try the download Java applet when I get a more time (or a broadband connection).

Here’s what it’s SUPPOSED to look like…

I checked out some local maps of my hometown, Portland, Oregon, at POVA Tours, Oregon Historical Society, Portland Green Map, PortlandMaps.com, Eco Trust, Geocomm, Car Sharing, Portland Streecar, Open Studios, PSU’s Population Research and the county’s Metro Data Resource Center.

Preclick lets you upload, find, organize, share, annotate and order prints. For free. Here are Doc Searle’s photos from Esther Dyson’s PC Forum on March 24th.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Thursday, March 27th, 2003 at 1:32 am.