We’ve designed the online course so you can access the content and take part without having to join any other sites or install anything on your computer. But we’ve also decided to offer alternative versions of the main course materials that let us try out some pretty cool experimental web spaces with great interactive ways for you to engage and take part in the Dharma discussions. These should also work on your computer and you can view the content without having to sign up for anything. (Note: if you’re using iOS - iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches - you won’t be able to see the content embedded in your browser but if you click ‘read’ we’ve offered an alternative view for you and indicated where there’s an app you can get that will let you use the relevant service too.) But if you do want to take part and interact with us in these new spaces, you’ll find instructions below for signing up. They’re all free to join and worth it if you like this sort of thing (we do!)…

Voicethread

Each day of the retreat, Lokabandhu will be introducing the day’s material for reflection in blog format, but he’ll also be playing with Voicethread. This is an exciting and innovative way to have conversations online, where you can view a series of ‘slides’ embedded on our site, but also leave webcam video, audio, text, or picture comments on the material under your own Voicethread account. Your comments will then show up here in the embedded version. We’ve included an instruction Voicethread below so you can see what it’s like: click the left and right arrows to view comments. Take look at their homepage for more introduction or register for free. You can download the brand new Voicethreadd app for iOS too.

Full screen version



Soundcloud

The team that runs thebuddhistcentre.com also runs Free Buddhist Audio, so we have lots of experience of working with sound online. Soundcloud is a great new way to share and interact with audio on the web. You can listen to ‘waves’ that we embed in posts here, or sign up for free and leave comments directly on the sound ‘waveform’ in response to specific things said. These will then show up in this space too! You can also get an iOS app for the service. Here’s an example with Subhuti talking about the eight Lokadhammas, Worldly Winds (note the comment with our logo on the grey comment bar at the bottom of the wave):



Subhuti on the Lokadhammas, Worldly Winds by thebuddhistcentre

Issuu

You may already have used Issuu on thebuddhistcentre.com if you’ve had a look at ‘The Triratna Story’. We’ll be using it to embed some eBooks and articles that we hope will add to your enjoyment of the retreat and your sense of connection to everyone else who’s taking part. You can see an example in our posted sample chapter of Vajragupta’s book for this retreat. (We’ve included a link to a pdf for users who can’t view Issuu or don’t want to sign up to download the documents.)