iSpot (the Biodiversity Observatory) is an online nature community
and resource. It aims to connect beginners with a supportive community
of experts and fellow enthusiasts.
Using iSpot you can share images of what you’ve seen, identify species,
discuss your findings with other members and learn more about the
wildlife you’ve seen.
We hope iSpot will encourage you to engage with nature and learn about local biodiversity.
iSpot's unique features
iSpot is a social networking site with a number of unique and exciting
features. Your profile in the community grows as you share images,
identify species correctly and contribute more to the community.
You'll be able to explore local wildlife with a range of identification tools. These tools will also be available to download on your mobile phone so the ability to identify an insect, bird or plant will be right at your fingertips.
It'll be launching soon - in June 2009.
Got extra information or live blog notes about this cloud? Add them here!
iSpot is linked to the OU "Neighbourhood Nature" course - course students are given the task of uploading several wildlife observations to iSpot as part of their course work. See link below.
Another related project is developing new keys for identifying wildlife, using a Bayesian approach to allow a variety of parameters to be used to produce the most likely identifications. See link below.
Martin Harvey
11:15pm 12 October 2009
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Discussion
Hi Doug looks really interesting - is there a link to a website you could add??
Gráinne
Gráinne Conole
8:54am 18 May 2009
Doug Clow
10:56am 18 May 2009
Gráinne Conole
1:03pm 18 May 2009
Just found this cloud - iSpot has been live for a few months now, over 1,000 registered users, lots of interaction. So far the reputtion management system seems to be doing a good job of giving people a sense of progression, and of the level of expertise they are encountering.
Martin Harvey
11:11pm 12 October 2009
Hi Martin thanks for this additional information - really useful, iSpots is a great concept, amazing that you have got some much inerest already!
Gráinne Conole
10:50am 13 October 2009
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