Zoom that Image!
I recently wrote a post about ZoomIt, a nifty zoom and annotation tool that enables users to magnify their desktop with the mouse or the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard. Ironically, I just learned via the Free Technology for Teaching blog that there is another “Cool Tool” with the same name, yet different purpose.
This version of Zoom.it is a neat utility from Microsoft that allows users to create high-resolution “zoomable” images that can be displayed in wikis, blogs and/or web sites. Just provide Zoom.it with the link to any image that lives on the web and within seconds, users have a fantastic way of viewing that image in great detail—either by zooming in, zooming out and/or scrolling around on the image. Zoom.it also generates a link to the image that can be shared anywhere as well as an embed code which allows users to post the “zoomable” version inside their favorite social network(s).
Image file formats supported by Zoom.it include JPEG, PNG, SVG and TIFF. In addition to images, users can also submit web site pages or PDFs.
The Zoom.it service is free to use and requires no registration.
Check out the “zoomable” image I created with Zoom.it—an infographic entitled “The State of Digital Education” created by Knewton, the maker of test prep apps. For a full experience, be sure to experiment with the zooming tools that are located on the bottom right-hand corner of the image.
Classroom Connection:
Due to file size, displaying high-resolution images on wikis, blogs and web sites can be a difficult process. With that said, Zoom.it can be used to make it possible to see the details of large images that teachers and students wish to share via these tools.
Don’t have a wiki, blog or web site? No worries! Zoom.it could also be used to examine the details of large visuals—particularly infographics—that can be utilized to generate writing and/or classroom discussions.