Seems to me that the phrase “digital storytelling” is being bandied around an awful lot bt at the same time, pinning down a definition of what exactly constitutes digital storytelling is not as easy.
While looking up some alternatives to interactive google maps I found this presentation which lists a number of interesting online sites offering simple tools to create interactive platforms for photos, videos, slideshows and audio.
I’ve only skimmed over the options so far but Voice Thread seems to be focused on user participation with many options for commenting, either by webcam, phone, audio recording, and text. And yes, you can moderate comments if you feel the need. Here is a Voice Thread conversations about the meaning of networks in education.
And this one I’m drawn to for its oral history and memory aspects. What a wonderful way to spark conversations!
Now onto Vuvox: I love lots about this application, collage images with hotspots for audio and video and other links. I’ve attempted before to build a similar effect in flash with hotspots for audio over images but I think using vuvox would be a much simpler, cleaner and more user friendly option. Vuvox would be used quite differently to Voice Thread though, as it is not built around comments as Voice Thread is. It’s more about presenting an interactive story.
I thought this one which is audio focussed was a really successful use of Vuvox for a very aesthetic multi-media outcome:
And for a social history through interactive image collage with pop-up annotations this one about a Black American history througha bakery.
