How do I create my own free website?

It is easy to set up a free website.  However, we highly recommend that before you set up your free website you collect data with your application(s) so you will be able to see how the website will display your information.  Once you have collected data, there are two ways you can set up your website.  

1) You can do it through your smartphone.  Simply long press a collection or event and a share menu will display.  Choose to share and you will be automatically directed to the MajorForms website setup page.  You simply need to fill out 3 fields:  

a) Website alias field - which is the character string that will appear in the website domain name.

b) Website title - which is the name that will appear on top of your webpage.

c) Slogan - any phrase that you choose to display below the title on your website (e.g., "It's a great day.")  

Once you have filled in the three fields, press the blue button and a default website will be generated with your data including a default list of each collection and the ability for viewers to see all the itemized events, a photo gallery, and a map with event pins for each collection.   Please note that you may go to our "website builder" icon by logging into your account on MajorForms and use this extremely powerful tool to edit and make changes to your website.  We offer several editing tools and templates that you may choose for the website if you do not like the default template.

2) You can simply log into MajorForms on a PC and go to the website builder wizard.  You will be asked the same questions as above.  Once the website is established you can edit it through our website builder tool. In June 2012, we will have the ability to allow you to determine  which information you wish to share on the website.  

Can I use MajorForms' smartphone applications in foreign countries without being charged extra for roaming costs?  Does GPS tracking cost extra?

You will not incur extra roaming charges if you turn your roaming services on your smartphone off.  The GPS tracking is done using GPS satellite tracking which is free.  If you do not have internet access or lose internet access, it will only affect the real-time synchronization if it is turned on.  The tracking and data collecting are stored in the smartphone until reception is established if you desire synchronization and uploading/sharing with your website or other social media sites.  The GPS data is always recorded in the phone for later upload if you choose to use the tracker.  If GPS is not available (e.g., inside a building), we allow you to drop and drag the event marker to the requisite point on the map in order to mark an event.

What is a collection?

All data collected by the smartphone are divided into collections.  The best way to describe a collection is by an example.  A collection in the vacation journal application is a collection of events on a trip (or vacation).  It stores all the videos, images, notes, tracks, events, etc. related to the vacation collection under the title you choose.  You may store as many vacations as you wish simply by creating a new collection.What is an event?  All events recorded under a collection are displayed as pins when the map icon is viewed.

What is an event? 

An event is a subcategory under a collection.  For example when you are using the vacation journal application, an event is anything that you have documented on your vacation.  If you visit the Mona Lisa on your vacation to Europe and wish to document the fact that you were there you simply create an event.  By creating an event, the longitude, latitude, altitude, date, and time are all recorded automatically.  Any additional information such as images or videos are also associated with the event.  An event will be created automatically by simply clicking the media button icon within the application and creating a video, photo, or recording.   All events recorded under a collection are displayed as pins when the map icon is viewed.

What is the tracker?

The tracker collects GPS data (longitude, latitude, and altitude) every second (the default which can be changed) while events are being recorded. A route is then superimposed over the event map sites that shows the track taken while using your application.   If the  tracker is used for several different tracks (e.g., each day of the vacation) the routes will be shown in different colors on the map.   The routes and events  can be shared with permitted viewers via your website in real time.

How do I import a video and/or image into an event? 

The beauty of our applications is that you can import any video or image into either anew event or an existing event.  The process is the same for either a video or image so we will describe importing an image.  First, if you wish to import an image into an existing event, go to the event and click on it.  Click "edit" button at the bottom right of the event page and then click the media icon (see the screenshot below) to import the image (click either the "select image" or "select video".  If you wish to import an image to a new event, go to the events list and click the media icon and import the image (remember to hit the save button after the event is created).   

How do I view my collection and events on a map?

When you press the map icon on the smartphone or create a "map" for your website, a map is created for each collection showing your track if recorded (if more than one track was recorded, the tracks will show up in different colors) and all events will be defined on the map as individual pins.  When an event pin is clicked on the map, any data associated with that event will pop up in a separate window including the date, notes, and images.  

What is the theodolite?

The theodolite is a tool that enables the user to determine distance to and height of objects, overlays GPS, date/time, and phone orientation onto photos if desired, and records horizontal and vertical angles for triangulation. The device can also be used to touch a map to determine the distance from your location to the point on the map where the screen was touched. 

What is a gallery on  the website?

The gallery option enables the user to display a gallery of photographs and videos on their created website acquired while using our applications (you may also augment the gallery by uploading additional photographs and videos to your website).   You can create a main galley with all the images and videos recorded from all of the Majorforms applications you have used or divide them by collection or even events.  The website builder tool will allow you to determine how you use and display a gallery or galleries on your website.

Have your applications been translated to other languages?

Yes.  Most are in the process of being translated to the major world languages.  Please see each application to view the various languages available.

Is there a way to create a video or powerpoint once I have created a collection? 

The automatic generation of powerpoints is available for download by going to the "reports" tab (make sure if you have multiple applications that you have chosen the correct application).  From here you will be able to download either a spreadsheet or a powerpoint for each collection you have created.  We now allow automatic video generation to be created and downloaded from various applications in standard avi format.  For example, the Vacation Journal creates a video after you return from your vacation that includes a time sequence of events on maps along with pictures and video taken on the vacation.  We emphasize that the video will probably need to be edited to limit the size of the videos, to remove extraneous video and pictures, and to add video effects.  Almost any standard video editing software will allow you to edit our avi generated videos.  

Will I be able to charge my smartphone in foreign countries?

Yes but you must remember that in order to charge your phone you may need a voltage converter plug-in.  There is no standard plug-in jacks between countries and voltage may differ in the country you are visiting.

How do I share my data on social media websites and through e-mail?

You have to download the appropriate social media application to your smartphone and you must have a username and password to the social media site in order to share your data.  Once you have collected data, such as an event or an entire collection, you can simply press the "share" icon at the bottom of the "event" page and a popup window will allow you to click either "Share your website link with others" or "Share your map with others" and a screen will appear allowing you to choose which social media site you wish to upload your data to (e.g., Linkedin, Google+, Facebook, Peep, Twitter, etc.).  See the example of the screenshot below. Not only can you share with social media sites but you can use e-mail, Skype, and other communication systems to share your information.  One of the powers of our applications is that you can share entire collections, events or individual images or videos.  For example if you wish to share an event, long press the event you wish to share and a popup window will appear allowing you to choose either share or remove.  Choose share and a window similar to the one below will pop up.  The same process can be done to share an individual image or video or an entire collection.  Simply go to the event where the image or video exists and long press the image or video you wish to share.

Why does my map show so much scatter when I stop at an event for an extended time using the tracker (see screenshot below)?

This is the result of being in a building with an unsatisfactory GPS signal (i.e., their are a limited number of satellites that the GPS system can synchronize with to obtain an accurate position).  The scatter is caused by updating positions that are inaccurate while you are inside the building.  We have included an algorithm in our programming that  reduces scatter from variations  due to the inherent error of the satellite positions, but buildings may increase the error to such an extent that the algorithm cannot correct for the inaccuracies.  We recommend that you turn off your tracker if you stop at a site where you will be inside a structure for an extended amount of time.  The GPS satellite tracking system is owned by the US military, and they purposely build in a certain amount of inaccuracy for civilian GPS systems.   Once the new European satellite GPS system is finalized, civilian tracking systems will be comparable to the military systems.  

Why don't my tracks on occasion created from the tracker GPS positioning program precisely follow the roads I travel  (see screenshot below)? 

The problem is inherent in every GPS tracking device because of the built-in error established by the military.   The GPS satellite tracking system is owned by the US military, and they purposely build in a certain amount of inaccuracy for civilian GPS systems.   Once the new European satellite GPS system is finalized, civilian tracking systems will be comparable to the military systems.

What is the Participants folder?

The "Participants" folder is found under each collection along with the tracker and events folders.  The folder allows the user of the application to document which people were on the collection.  For example in the vacation journal application, a participant would be family members or friends that accompanied you on your vacation.   

What does synchronization do?

We believe that synchronization of  data collected on your smartphone with our server database is one of the most powerful aspects of our applications.  When synchronization is turned on, your smartphone uploads the data you are collecting via our application in real time to our servers and is accessible only by you via your username and password.  The synchronization occurs in the background periodically (the user sets the time interval between each synchronization) so that there is not a heavy drain on your battery.  Synchronization accomplishes  two major goals: 1) Your data is automatically backed up on our servers in case something happens to your smartphone or application during a collection.  2) Your data is accessible online which enables you to create reports, display the data collected on your own website to share with others including maps and media galleries (limited to what you choose to display), and/or create movies and powerpoints virtually automatically after the collection has been created. By the way, the data is also saved on the smartphone during the collection process.  If your smartphone has intermittent internet connection, it is not a problem.  Our algorithms attempt to synchronize until an internet connection can be established and then uploads the data.