iSoc workshops
As we announced at the beginning of the Summer of code, we will be organising workshops soon, for which you can subscribe by sending an email to Greet. These workshops offer the opportunity to take a look at what the iSoc students have been doing behind the scenes, and to pick up some useful skills as well.
The workshops will be organised in the last week of July, on Tuesday the 26th, Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th. More detailed information about place, time and subjects can be found on the Summer of code website.
The first workshop, The DataTank: getting started, is about one of the more important projects we are working on this month. The DataTank is a generic API (webservice) which makes acces to open data easier. In this workshop, we will take a look at what The DataTank is exactly, and in what ways it can be useful. After that, you can give it a go yourself and experiment with it.
The second workshop, Build your own mobile app, is just what it says on the box: how to build your own mobile app, on any smartphone. To do this, we will use HTML5 to code a simple mobile website which is accessible offline and thus functions as a mobile app.
In the third workshop, Advanced contact widgets, we will take on the challenge to program a widget for the ‘Contact’ page on company websites and such. What is different about this widget, is that it will show visitors real-time data on how to reach your office or event from where they are, using public transport.
If these topics spark your interest, you are welcome to join us. Let us know if you will be attending one or more workshops by subscribing. See you there!
iSoc update: the first week
The iRail Summer of code is off to a good start, and we’re already halfway through the second week so it’s time for an update! For some background information on the projects mentioned, take a look at each of the students’ pages on the iSoc website, where their activities are conveniently summarised; here’s what they’ve been working on so far.
Jan started from the idea of The DataTank, and together with Pieter he layed the basis of a generic framework, which will enable developers to build API’s efficiently. This framework is now functioning in so far that an infosession could be organised; a more elaborate workshop will become possible later on in the process.
A preview of The DataTank website
Tim is further developing the BeTrains application for Symbian, which is based on the Qt-framework. The DelayAnnouncer Twitter bot he made earlier can still be seen in action on the Twitter accounts @AntwerpCentral, @LiegeGuillemins, @BrusselsCentral, @BrusselsMidi, @BrusselsNorth and @KortrijkStation, but earlier this week the @GentSintPieters account got suspended, and it’s still unclear for what reason.
Screenshots of the BeTrains app for Symbian
Ruben had some difficulties last week while working on the infoscreens application of FlatTurtle. This week things are looking better; right now he’s working on the datawrapper for the database. In general, Ruben is laying the basis of the application’s admin panel.
Dimitri is working on the Kadee! app, for which Bits of love had come up with the idea and a mockup during Apps for Ghent. He is now building a HTML5 framework for it, which will also be usable for other similar apps, and which can be seen here. More specificially, Dimitri is working on a feedback system, on adding information on accessibility of venues (implementing the iRail API for example), and on using The DataTank, for aggregating info from Cultuurnet and others.
Mockup of the Kadee! app
I myself (Greet) have been working on some of the iRail websites; I gave both this blog and the iRail NPO site a makeover, added some content to the Summer of code site and cleaned up the Project wiki a little. I also did some administrative tasks, and currently I’m working on a logo for FlatTurtle and keeping the various websites up to date.
This concludes the first iSoc update; we’ll be back with more news later!
General Meeting June 2011
On Wednesday June 29th, the second General Meeting took place at the same venue as the first one, Tour & Taxis, and it was just as much of a succes! The following items were presented:
- Train SMS service ( Tuende & Navetteurs)
- Pieter introduced the iRail Summer of code (iSoc)
- TimE gave a presentation and demo of the Bèta of BeLaws
- Christophe gave a presentation on BeTrains Tablet (Android)
- Some of the iSoc students shortly introduced themselves:
- Greet
- Ruben
- Tim Besard
iRail Summer of code has started
During the month of July, iRail organises the Summer of code (iSoc). A couple of enthousiastic students and iRail members work together in the Hackerspace in Ghent, on several innovative projects concerning mobility. An application visualising commutes, an online meetingsite accompanied by an app to get together on the train, tram or bus, extending the irail.be service by implementing the iRail API on De Lijn, … All these projects and more are made possible by our partners.
Other than that, iSoc also organises workshops in July. All interested parties are welcome to come listen to the iSoc students or other speakers.
By not only working on projects individually but also helping and inspiring each other, this event aspires to share knowledge, ideas and visions, keeping the focus on durable mobility and open data.
BeLaws brings the Belgian law to the web 2.0
BeLaws, a project under the iRail NPO, brings the Belgian law to the web 2.0. The online applications “prettifies” the publications in the official Belgian Gazette, making them easier to search and read. This innovative website can be invaluable for journalists as well as for politicians.
On the homepage, the database can be searched. The results can then be filtered by type of text (decree, resolution, law, …), geographical area, and the politicians who signed the law. The displayed search result is formatted tidily, making the text more readible, but the original source text is available as well. Don’t hesitate to give it a try, by searching for “onderwijs” (education) for example.
Other than searching the Belgian law, some statistics are also available. An interactive diagram shows which politicians have signed laws together, based on the available data in the database. This way, it becomes clear to what extent certain parties or individual politicians work together with other parties and politicians, including over the language border.
The system is in bèta, so it will be refined. Some laws are still missing from the database, and searching is not yet possible in all of the country’s official languages. When the concept will be further developed, missing laws will be added and searching the database in French and German will be enabled.
The website is developed by Tim Esselens, and any questions can be directed to Pieter of iRail (+32 486 74 71 22 or through the contact form on this website).
