Colloquia
We are starting a quarterly colloquium on subjects relevant to PDL users. The colloquia is a great opportunity to learn about PDL, as well as socialize and meet other PDL users. If you are not a developer, but would like to contribute to PDL, please consider doing a presentation for a colloquium. Write to the PerlDL list if you are interested.
Previous Colloquia
TITLE: Introduction to PLplot - A modern scientific plotting library
SPEAKER: David Mertens
SLIDES: http://www.slideshare.net/dcmertens/p-lplot-talk
AUDIO: http://www.archive.org/details/AnIntroductionToPdlgraphicsplplot
DATE: Tuesday June 29, 2010
TIME: 4:00 pm GMT
ABSTRACT: PLplot's PDL bindings have a low-level and a high-level interface. In this talk, I will demonstrate how to create various plots using the high-level, object-oriented interface. After giving a quick example of how to make a number of basic plots, I will explain how to plot multiple data sets, how to select precise areas on the drawing canvas for plotting, how to create histograms, how to annotate your plots with text, and how to plot directly onto an image using the mem device.
Next Colloquium
We just had our first colloquium. You can check them out below. We will likely not have another until September or October.
Summary (you already know Skype)
A few minutes before the colloquium starts, send a message to pdl-host saying you want to join the talk. The PDL host will add you to the Skype chat room and the conference call. Ask questions during the talk by posting them on the public chat. The speaker is responsible for following the public chat and responding to questions.
Detailed Instructions (you are new to Skype)
Computer Setup
We strongly advise that you complete your computer setup at least two days before the colloquium. You don't want to be figuring out why Skype audio is not working 10 minutes before the colloquium starts.
Hardware
You will need head phones or speakers to listen to the talk. A microphone may be useful but is not required. Participants will discuss and ask questions via text chat (otherwise it is too difficult to understand each other).
Get Skype
Download Skype if you don't have it already and create an account. Test Skype: Click on the Skype Test Call.
[[img src=skype-test.png]]
**Text Chat**
Click on the blue voice bubble. A text chat box appears. Type something and hit return. If the Skype Test Call repeats what you sent, it is working.
**Audio**
Click on the green phone button. If you hear rings as well as the "Hello. Welcome to Skype" message, you are set. You can hang up. If you intend to use your microphone for the chat, you can also record a message and the service will play it back to you.
Add contact
You need to add pdl-host as a contact in Skype. You only need to do this once.
1\. Type **pdl-host** in the top text-box of the Skype window.
[[img src=pdl-host-00.png]] [[img src=pdl-host-01.png]]
2\. Click on **Search Directory**.
[[img src=pdl-host-02.png]]
3\. Select the **pdl-host** user and click on **Add Contact**.
[[img src=pdl-host-03.png]]
4\. Enter a message and type **OK**.
How to Participate
Join the talk
Send a message to pdl-host saying you want to join the talk. The PDL host will add you to the Skype chat room and the conference call.
1\. On your contacts list, select **PDL Colloquium Host** and click on the blue bubble to send a text message.
[[img src=pdl-host-04.png]]
2\. On the new window, just send a message saying you want to join the PDL talk.
Asking Questions
Ask questions during the talk by posting them on the public chat. The speaker is responsible for following the public chat and responding to questions.